February additional Pictures

CCTV keeping an eye on Sister Schmid

Doing Missionary work, but first, let me take a selfie!!!

History Museum 

History Museum

History Museum

History Museum

History Museum

History Museum

February Update

Mom and one of her many, many friends!!!

A minimum of 7 shirts a week.

Schmid Family Tree display in our apartment. Two framed 4-Generations Certificates, Mom and Dad Photo Memories book  & Family photographes. This is the first thing we see when we enter the family room.

The Family History and Proselyting in "Tandem" Mission is making  steady progress. We realize that if we want to be successful in the end, we have to keep, goal minded, plugging along. At times, we feel that, in a sense we are a couple of "modern day pioneers."  Later in this update why.All the past 55 some years together we experienced that the great moments were memorable. Some even fabulous. Rest assured what made us successful was to base most of our efforts on "Consistency."  Athletics was my source of information. No consistency, no victory. Mom's source was in consistent, applying strict, punctual keeping track of everything of The Family with added awareness & implementing of timing. She perfected that while managing the home & 5 children who, no surprise, all had complete different personalities & characters.  Not excluding demands of personal attention & needs. Was she challenged by the "Fab-5"? Absolutely ! Most of the time. Because Schmids since centuries perfected the art of stubborn & persistent. How she did it?: Giving each of  them personalized & customized attention.It became her "secret" to victory and success of sorts. Remarks of, "You treat us all differently" when responsibilities were given and privileges were temporarily taken, were made from time to time.

Back to today.

All that, including the training at the Provo MTC would have gone "bunkers" if we would have insisted and persisted to gravitate that approach to what we do here. Since it's not about us but 100% about them, Mission work that is, we have gone in "huddles", "pow-wows" and extensive flexibility training more than we expected. Including to be most flexible to each other. Note that at this stage of our lives, flexibility is becoming somewhat challenging in a variety of ways. We've become habitual in much. Also, we do not jump off the couch that easily  anymore. Run down or climb up stairs with a different pace. Even though we have a "hand written" shopping list ( we don't know how to use electronic ones on our gadgets) we often notice that we forgot items from that list. 

*** We are trained to introduce and implement fabulous Family History Plans. In addition the exciting 4-Generations Asia Initiative to get members and non-members' four generations "Online", thus names become "Temple Ready".***

Our most energetic Mission President added the well received Proselyting to our responsibilities here. That part, including him being inspired to have us labor in Surabaya. We never questioned why. We perceived it was Inspiration on his part. Since a while we know for sure it's been Inspiration. Why? We pondered about how to couple the two responsibilities into one. Family History & Proselyting that is. Eureka! At one point planning our MILT I got it. We will start our Teaching part of MILT with a question:

"What do you Know about Eternal Life?"

Answer or no answer, it starts a very interesting conversation. Why ? That single question, the visited will not Immediately realize. We both do ! It clearly couples (links into today's lingo) Family History to Proselyting. Proselyting is about bringing people to Christ. Both combined ( in tandem) attach it all to:

1. Jesus Christ. 2. The Restoration & 3. The Book of Mormon.

Back to now again:

We get distracted from our daily plans way more that we desire. What is the challenge here? The way things work here. The way people use the time and respond to opportunities. Sticking to their ways,  most do not jump on created opportunities immediately. Ironically the word for time in the Indonesian lingo is "Jam". Really? Yes!  It has caused us to be "jammed" or in a "jam" often.

Some examples that "jam" us: 

1. Just the traffic here is the biggest surprising, chaotic form of the English word for "Jam". Twenty four seven, three sixty five that is.

We cannot plan more than one visit to the Family History Room at a time. When someone is scheduled for 2 o'clock pm. (jam 2 sore, pronounced: 'jam dua sorrrray') showing up at 3,30 pm or not at all, is no surprise. Occurs regularly. No malice intended at all. Rescheduling is an absolute normal part of scheduling. You keep options open all the times.  I learned from a "belanda" ( pale face) that 2 o'clock pm is the time that can be stretched like a rubber band till, potentially, it snaps. No show & reschedule that is.

2.Getting discouraged is aided by the fact that our progress in speaking the local language, even though it is progressing very well,  is not going as speedy as we expected or desired. Why? If folks speak slow we can somehow follow the conversation. The only thing, apart from "slaloming" a motorized scooter ( sepada motor) that they do "poison rapidly fast" is speaking. What do we do for a response? Tried a lot of 'things'.We have recently, finally  found the "silver bullet" to counter our frustration with our performance. Ironically, most ironically we turn to the very people who at the cause of our obstacle ( Jam ) to get things done in a "Timely Expeditious Manner".

3. We watch the traffic as by-riders ( tough for Mom, she likes to be in charge of driving instead of just "enjoying" the ride)  The chaos in traffic here woud instantly cause continuous "Road Rage" at home. Not here. People just about immediately move on. The people of whom many have next to nothing of wordily possessions don't let another negative bother them.

4. Getting soaked by the "Hujan Deras ( heavy rain) or "Jalan Banjir". ( streets  changed into rivers) That includes riding their scooters and cars in foot high water covered streets, hitting covered pot holes in the process.

Miraculously: They stay friendly as ever, humble as usual & most of the time smile contagiously. Just loudly & spontaneously laugh things off instantly.

*** Complete therapy to us. So, we love going to Church and participate in activities. Us feeling down, tired & being discouraged is gone instantly. We feel inspired again. Our usual work ethics based on commitment is back. We have become a little more patient and used to the way things work out here. ( Will we ever?) We can handle another week of mediocre electronic equipment in the Family History Room not working at all. Find others lending us their laptops. Hook them up to our personally purchased portable WiFi called a "HotSpot". We gladly, voluntarily fork over the monthly paid service. Result of the regular "Therapy" sessions: Invigoration maximized. The show must go on and sure it does and will. We're determined to have faith that things will improve. As long as we do our part The Lord will help us.

Okay. What are the exciting improvements ? Many more attending our 4-Generations Online Program with Certificates of Completion presented during the Sacrament meeting as requested by us. The "trophy" approach for years in my Tennis business to encourage folks who would otherwise never get "External Recognition" for their tennis skills, works just fine in our mission as well. It's like holding out a "carrot" of sorts. Irony? Carrot in the Indonesian lingo is the same as the Dutch word for carrot: "Wortel" ( like many words are the same in Dutch & Bahasa Indonesia. A sign that the Dutch history here left a permanent mark on todays' Indonesia) Three Certificates presented last Sunday. Five more next Sunday. Perhaps even more since miracles do happen. Last Friday the fulltime young Elders organized a "Cabang Dua Film Night" and thirteen investigators plus many members attended the feature movie  (short version) of The Joseph Smith Story.  By the way the word for movie here is another Dutch word: Film. Our new Branch Presidency is a clear sign of things gravitating another notch to the level of changing a Branch to a Ward. Next Sunday another baptism & more "on deck". 

Elder and Sister Schmid.

Happy Chinese New Year at the Mall

Wedding dress display

More wedding dresses....

Wedding dresses....

Honoring the Chinese New Year in our apartment's Lobby.

Celebrating Chinese New Year at the Mall

Mom taking it all in at the Mall.

This weeks pics...

Exciting day, Sunday 28 Jan. Four more families completing 4-Generations Online. Another 3 next week.

Mon. 29 Jan. we made a test visit to the huge posh Galaxy Mall. We added that location to our MILT activities starting next week.

All 3 AC units were "power wash" cleaned. About time. Lots of black grime removed.

This weeks pics....

MILT proselyting in the Royal Plaza Mall a picture with a group of friendly smiling Ladies. Everybody happy.

Visit to Mrs. Tutut.at her food & snack 'Warung'."

Sister Schmid giving Family History presentations Agus

Today Surabaya Cabang 2 made "World History."  For as far as I know this is the 1st time in the history of the Church that 2 persons received their  "Personalized" 4 Generation "Certificate of Recognition" ( I spontaneously  "invented" the not officially recognized name ) from a Branch President: President Didit Dwinanto Sianipar of the Surabaya Cabang Dua, at the start of the Sacrament Meeting today, Sunday 14 January 2018. He personally handed out the earned, sought after & prized documents. The Certificate shows the 4-Generations of the recipient beautifully framed behind glass.

*** Not only that, we think, history was  made as well since the recipients were a Young Lady, member of the YW Program & a Young Man of the YM Department. "The Future of The Church is stepping up." What an exciting moment for the Branch it was this morning. On the 3rd picture, both honorees and the Branch Family History person, Br. Angga (white shirt).
President Didit and his wife will be completing their Online 4-Generations next week.

An Investigator having lunch on the steps in front of the Chapel with her 2 daughters right after the block.

Elder and Sister Schmid.

Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

We are "Looking Forward to the Future". for us it means we are excited to have started 2018 in the Indonesia, Surabaya District mission field. We can also look back at this past year when we initiated our 2 year Senior Couple Mission. It has already proven to be quite an adventure. 

Going back some 54 years when this companionship actually started. Two independent minded, strong willed & enthusiastic young people looking forward to creating a bright future for themselves "coincidentally" boarded a ship to go to a far away from their comfort zone place. Both for different reasons. They met a couple of days after boarding in Holland, sailing to Australia, not knowing much about, or speaking the unique Aussie English. Fourteen days later at a "pit stop" in Singapore they decided to get engaged to be married. Most passengers & crew stunned. "Are you serious?". "That's never going to work !" The overall response and more chuckles, giggles & even cynical laughter. Half a year later they married in a simple ceremony at the Courthouse, accompanied by two recently made friends. A sort of "elope" wedding. No presents, no honeymoon trip. Back to work the next day. They rented a garage, converted to bungalow. From day one with the desire, commitment & hope, like all newly weds, to build a strong relationship that was going to withstand all road blocks, critics & alike. For better or worse. Very much in love with each other.

After some years, the strong bond between the two gravitated to the "Original Seven". Adding five children. A strong Family build on the principle motto & sound basis of becoming Survivors first. Mostly due to both their experiences early in life surviving WW II concentration camps in Indonesia. Both matured individually & as a Family. One of the two, she, becoming the most efficient "Domestic Engineer". Micro managing everything & all. Getting up before everyone else to make sure everything was maintained in methodical order & well organized. Being completely dedicated to her five children. Knowing & remembering where every penny to be spend was spent. Knowing off heart  from the start when, where & what preventive medicine "shots" were taken. When a child made an attempt to leave the room, she sensed without questioning it the reason from the moment the child got up.( "Hawk Eye" at all times) Then never missed an opportunity to make a momentary correction or give an assignment like: "Tidy up your room after you found that color pencil, will ya!" Often the child turned around in amazement, wondering how she knew not even asking what it planned todo. Her domestic life was based on: "It's all about them, so I have to know everything about them."

Her partner & companion, he,  out to becoming a respected & recognized expert in his professional field of Athletics and Tennis. Success based on having positive visions for & about every single person he taught and coached. Developing his own unique system. Always finding positives, small specks of daylight of opportunity. Specifically dedicated & committed to the youth in sports. There were no losers, only winners. Creating inspiration & motivating encouragements for those who would never receive "External Recognition" for their skills. Several times disregarding options that could have made him wealthy. Choosing for less lucrative options because he preferred the environment, management and people & in the majority of instances, were therefor  easier to work with. His approach also based on: "It is all about them". 

*** fast forward to some 55 years later. Eventually the "Original Seven" split up.  Family ( capital F) went their own way. Plotting out their own futures. The two original two companions became "Empty Nesters". However they tried to find ways to keep all "Original Seven" to live close together. Including moving to an area where it was most possible that they stayed close together. Leaving another lucrative business opportunity behind. Family first. Fear of The Family splitting up due to two children studying abroad and potentially staying there after graduation initiated the moving all permanently to the USA. Not an easy proposition due to emigration policies. Result:  Enjoying a developing extended Family. Apart from the 5 children, now 4 daughters in law, 18 grandchildren & thus far, 1 great grandchild. All with inherited characteristics & personalities of being very independent individuals.

*** Finally the two original companions had time to get up late, relax, spend the days enjoying the fruits of their labor, Family friends and acquaintances. Why would we break away from our comfort zone into an uncertain future adventure? There could be no good reason right?  Could it be in search for a re-start of the unique start of many years ago? Together again as companions all by ourselves in a foreign country ? Again not being able to speak the local language? Was it a longing like a line in a country song of way back: "Together Again" ( Buck Owens, I think). Could it become a repeat shocker like the one when they were engaged to be married a long time ago?. 

Ignoring all that & more, we both, in tandem, decided to serve a Senior Couple Mission. We received our calling to labor in the country of our birth. Both completely ignorant to what  was going to become of it. Perhaps it would be an adventure like the one way back then. Including a foreign language they had not spoken for seventy some years.

We soon realized it would be a time of both working in the exact same environment. Also realizing that working in two complete different places and environments had caused us individually to separate as a couple through our separate  "daytime" activities to quite an alarming extend. Including from understanding each other's "turf" had been, for the most part "worlds" very far apart. Both our "Daily Activity Worlds" also slowly caused us to drift apart as individuals as well, while our Common Ground, *** The Family *** stayed as strong as ever.***

The Family had survived brilliantly all the attacks, storms & forces to split us up over the years. Realizing full well that over the years neither this Family was spared vicious attacks to falter.

To date it has shown clearly already that literally, mentally & emotionally being a few feet away from each other 24/7/365 x 2 was not an easy proposition at all. But worth it of every sincere effort. Every day: We leave our apartment together. Spend the whole day together. Come home together. Have to be patient with one another together all the time. Not just at convenient moments. Anger has no place among missionaries. When present, have to be taken care of instantly, swiftly. The first few weeks we felt completely "Held Hostage" by each other. It is slowly developing into a great working relationship on a 50/50 basis. When we do our MILT activities every day, we have worked out a "Plan" & daily schedule that is starting to come together very well: "When one is engaged in a communication with an investigator, the other literally steps back quietly." Then the "switch" takes place. The quiet one opens up, the other backs off. We take turns already smoothly.

" H E B A T " ( Great, awesome, exciting etc.) Are we tired when we come home? You bet ya! Every day.Sometimes even experience the great feeling of "Exhaustion". 

The other side of this coin; Get out, take a walk by ourselves is over until the end of June 2019. Give up? The only option we both accept is and has always been  a Family motto: "We are going to give it our all to make this work". Part of it is that I have to, among others, eliminate completely to push my partner into aggressively exercising my way. My companion has to, among others, completely eliminate micro managing me like she so brilliantly has done with the "Fab-5". It is a daily effort to becoming a "Fabulous Two". 

It is also  making sure that we do not stress out under the pressure that we, most of the time enjoy.  Will we be victorious. We shall see when & after we return home. The result of getting stressed into a "Burn Out" stage will be unlikely. Why? We meet and are daily among the people of Indonesia, Surabaya and Cabang Dua. They certainly are the most friendly, humble & happy with, in many cases, no apparent worldly possessions. We love Indonesia, the Indonesian people, the members of cabang2, We love the young full-time Missionaries who are giving up so much more than we do & who teach us so much. It includes the local Church leaders, as well as our Mission President & his wife. We love the customs, the traditions & not to forget..... the food & cuisine here.

Coincidence we are in Surabaya? Think again. 

Elder & Sister Schmid.

Happy New Year!!!

This past week has been another eventful week for us. We're still enjoying a steep learning curve in our Mission.

Early in the week we made an appointment for Friday 22 December with the US Consulate in Surabaya to have a document Notarized. On Wednesday, the 20th we received a phone call to change the appointment to Thursday 21 Dec at 1.15 pm. We took off early in order not to miss the time. At one point, we made a "pit stop" to get us back on track. Finally, we arrived at the high walled facility way out of town but still in Surabaya. We were greeted by one armed uniformed guard at a small area. A rigorous & methodical checkup followed. Identification was checked. Our names appeared on a list. After leaving small water bottles on a table we were allowed to enter through a heavy door with a bullet proof window. Inside that area we received another thorough check up. Including passing through metal detectors. My shoulder bag & Sr. Schmid's purse was hand checked with another metal detector by one of the 4 Officers. Finally, we were OK'd. The officer signaled another one at the other side of yet another heavy bullet proof door. Once passed, we looked at more officers keeping a close eye on us. We were cut off from the outside world & had entered inside of the compound. In the middle, a high building. I guess, with a quick look, the inside of the high walled compound must be covering an area of a few acres at least, it appeared. 

The whole area was well manicured landscaped. Through metal fencing on our side appeared other buildings. We walked in the direction (given by yet another armed guard ) of the office building. Another door was opened electronically. We arrived at the waiting room.

We noticed one other family of parents with 3 young sons. We said hello & took a seat. The mother, a native Indonesian was summoned to, I guess, another bullet proof window. A conversation ensued. At one point the lady turned around & quite disappointed uttered a few words to her husband. She then joined him sitting next to him. It became clear that she did not get the answer she had hoped for. Then Sr. Schmid was summoned to the same window. I got up and explained why we were here. The consulate employee informed me that Sr. Schmid was the person to be dealt with. I sat down, introduced myself to both parents. They informed me that the mother was not allowed back into the USA since her "green card" had expired. Her desire was to have it promptly renewed here so the whole family could be home just before Christmas. She now was forced to stay here all alone. Then Sr. Schmid joined the conversation. She had to wait for the document to be notarized. 

*** Surprisingly, after we listened to them the lady asked us what we were here for and why we were in Surabaya. Surprised but ready to seize the moment, we explained we were on a Church mission here. Instead of showing their utter disappointment about being forced to be split up for who knows how long they both listened intently to our introduction of the Family History 4 Generations Program. We handed them our business card. Explained how they would be able to go online to mormon.org. We handed them a 4 Generations pamphlet & explained how the filling out should be done.

Then I surprised them. I informed them that we had a similar problem with trying to get a "green card" for our daughter. Including the enormous difficulty to realize our righteous desire. Same Symptom. About the same cause: procedure prevented a timely Solution. The sheer confidence as persons we showed during our introduction of the Church, their questions & subsequent presentation of the Family History Program appeared to create some comfort with the two parents. I informed them that our Solution came when a member of our ward got notice of our dire situation.

That member told me he was a retired employee at the office of the Federal Attorney General. He invited me to his apartment. He then took my information and simply said: "I will see what I can do.". Not long after my daughter received as the last member of my family, the coveted "green card.".

I suggested that they should find out if they could create a similar situation by knowing a high ranked person with the Federal Government who could make a few calls on their behalf. They felt very encouraged and left the waiting room. Somewhat later Sr. Schmid was summoned back to the window and received the notarized doc. 

Here is the "kicker": That member who helped us had just arrived in our ward. Several weeks after he offered his assistance, he and his wife moved back to where they came from. 

Here's the lesson we learned last Thursday.

Why was our original appointment changed? Our two families were the only ones being in that waiting room on Thursday 21 Dec. '17. That allowed us a very private & personal conversation without interruption. Even though I can imagine that every word of it was recorded. We experienced similar "green card" issues. The mother of this family is faced with a potentially long separation from her family in a faraway country, no less. They felt encouraged by our suggestion and the confidence we showed overall. Including that it will work out & will result in a happy ending soon. The person who helped our daughter moved in, helped us. He moved out as soon as our "green card" issue was resolved. It is clear to us that The Lord was involved in us meeting this family last Thursday at the place & time. The lesson The Lord is clearly teaching us is that He has prepared and will put us in touch with specific people who are ready to receive The Gospel at most unexpected moments & times. We are reminded to be ready and in tune with The Spirit. That way we will not miss the opportunities coming our way during our Mission here. He. The Lord, also makes it perfectly clear to perform in such a way listening to His promptings that we are ready to welcome the individuals at any time. Expected or not. To prevent, deal with and resolve any and all distractions the "miserable one" will put in our way. 

The moral of the story is that meeting this family at this place at this day & time a "Coincidence?". Please think again.

 Elder & Sister Schmid.

Christmas lunch at Sr.& Br.Sunglao. Fabulous food & Great company.

Mom at work at the Family History Center...

Sister. Jatmiko

Sunday 24 Dec. '17. Visit by Sister. Jatmiko Of the Jakarta Indonesia Mission Family History Department.

Surabaya, "Royal Shopping Plaza" Food Court with "Makanan warung".

Hypermart cash registers

Surabaya, Royal Shopping Plaza.

Surabaya Royal Shopping Plaza.

Was impossible to get this kids attention. Completely absorbed by this "gadget". Even though he was in the middle of an overcrowded food area & with a terrible ear deafening "music".

Sister Schmid wanted "Euro" food for a change. I instantly went to work with fresh Indonesian ingredients.