Riding the Hide! Hold on Baby. It's a Long Way Down!

Pinch and Grams at the Taman Safari with the Elephants and Missionaries. Who should watch who in this Zoo.

Missionaries and FEI men ready for a day of packing supplies for Parliaman delivery

School Backpacks for earthquake victims

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Closing Ceremony Lembang Water Project August 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Yayet, John, Han King, and the Lurah of the Village

Blueprints show elevation and terrain that require proper pipe for water flow to the villages in the Lembang area. This project will serve approximately 47,500 people in the three villages. 

What in the hell are we doing?

Han King and John look on as the project progresses. Many hours of planning happened before the actual work began. This project started with Elder Walker and Elder Davis. Hopefully, it will come to completion soon. 

The village women are anxiously waiting. They are getting their men folk out of bed in the mornings and saying, "We are tired of hauling water. Get this project done."

This is the sort of shovel these Indonesian men use.

The village men dig three feet trenches to place the pipe. Then they come back and cover it up. Smiles show their excitement for the project that will bring water to their villages. Hatur nuwun!

Not an easy job

The AW pipe first laid has been removed.  Now heavy PE pipe is used. PE pipe is more flexible and will stand more pressure in the line; thus, less likely to spring a leak. 

The bonding of PE pipe requires Tyco's special machine.

Wawan and Putres align two pipes for the heating process. Pipes must be cut properly, placed in the brace straight, plates heated, placed, and clamped together. This machine along with a generator was carried up and down the mountainside. Technical difficulties stopped the process often but finally after three days and much work the lines were connected. (Men stayed on-site over night to prevent vandalism.)

Pipe laid across Air Terjun Maribaya

LDSC and Villagers several months ago laid the pipe up and down steep mountainsides and across rivers to fill holding tanks that would distribute water to three villages; Desa Mecar Wangi, Desa Pager Wangi, and Desa Langen Sari

Pressure Control Valves may be the problem for lack of water flow.

John and Wawan share a tight area as they work on the pipes. 

Pressure Control Valves removed.

The leaking of these two pipes caused erosion of cement and lack of water flow. Now what? Add a steel cylinder between the two-chazam-water flows and no more leaks. 

Water tanks hold 500 gallons of precious water

Pipes run from the tank along the side of streets, around walls, and to village homes. Edi-site supervisor, Yayet-head of clean water committee , Wahyu-LDSC worker, and Han King-project manager inspect connections. 

Rohana has been carrying water in ten gallon containers for home use.

Edi, Yayet, farmer Sudarma and his wife Rohana, Deena, Pranyoto, Wawan, Wahyu, John, Han King and Villager celebrate water coming to their home. 

Water in my bathroom!

Can you imagine "NOT" having running water to your bathroom? This sweet woman no longer needs to spend hours waiting in line for water. And often when it is her turn, the water is gone from the pool she dips into. She is very happy and will be attending the closing ceremony of the Lembang Water Project August 15, 2009.

Oooh So Nice!

The first bath with running water to my house. I love it!

First Girls' Camp in Indonesia

White shirts with Young Women logos, scarves, and smiling girls showed up July 8, 2009 for the 1st Girls' Camp in Indonesia. 

Leaders followed Sister Halverson's expertise and promoted camping skills, certification, flag ceremonies, day hikes, night talking, presentations, good food, Indo porta potties (you can only imagine), and gorgeous landscapes, sunrises, and sunsets. It was a week not soon to be forgotten.

Twin Waterfalls

You can't see the other waterfall but they are so powerful. Sister Halverson and I hiked up to this one but couldn't get very close-so much spray. This country has the most outstanding natural features once you get away from the cities. The girls loved it. The hike was four hours up steep mountain hills but coming down was fast. The girls were tired, leaders beat. But what a great opportunity to be out-of-doors. Girls slept well that night.

Flag ceremony

The girls faithfully pulled out of their tents at 6:00 for flag ceremony. They prayed, read scriptures, and stayed happy. We are enjoying their sweet spirits and enthusiasm. The leaders are dedicated to these girls and the new idea of camp. Some of them thought it was boot camp. Others relaxed and enjoyed the experience.

John presents the values through rope making.

John presents to the girls with the help of Pres. Iwan how important values are as the girls twist twine to make rope. We also presented Peter Yarrow's 'Don't Laugh At Me' character ed. program. Fun night around a campfire high in the mountains of Malang.

First Girls Camp in Indonesia

The girls came from East Java (Malang and Surabya Branches) to attend their first camping experience. Sister Halverson invited me to come along. We had a great experience in the jungle with water falls and girls. Didn't see but one spider-thank goodness. Hiked four hours into twin water falls that were spectacular. Ate Indo food. Tented. Enjoyed the cool days and nights. Absolutely beautiful landscapes. Participated in special activities including the Iron Rod and testimony meeting. Promises of Facebooking each other.

Cruising on a ferry

We drove over a three mile bridge just completed; the longest bridge in Indonesia. Then ferried back to Surabya. It felt good to be on the water and feel the cool breeze from the ocean. President Marchant and his wife and the Elders went with us. We saw big tankers, medical ships, and tiny fishing boats.

Cigarett Factory

Went to a cigarette factory. They mix cloves with the tobacco to make the cigarettes even more potent. They are illegal in the U.S. But not in Indonesia. Many people smoke here. Many young people smoke so they don't have to eat. It takes off the hunger edge. They make millions from this factory and pay the help better than most businesses. Quite the place in Surabya. 

Orphans rescued

The little baby was found at the orphanage in the garden two months ago. Someone dropped him off. There are thiry five resident children but over a hundred attend school here. They are self- sustaining. Children take care of each other with one mother and father requiring five daily prayers a day. Happy faces! 

Ronny Nata's Family

We traveled for many miles in Cikidang to get to their cabin. Ronny built it and they spend the summer months there with the kids; Aliefia and Bariq. Setia is between the kids. Both children speak very good English, attend outstanding schools, and hope to go to college. Aliefia plays the violin and will graduate next year.

Mom and Dad and little Boy

What did you say?

Elders in Zion or the backyard.

The coat just brings on an attitude. Patrick gave this blue coat to John. The Elders loved it. Check out these humble servants.

Elder Torrens

Elder Moreno

Elder Elliott

Elder Worwood

Purnawan Family

The Purnawan family treated us to a Saturday at China Town, several fun museums, and Mc Donalds french fries and ice cream. They are really a lot of fun. And they know so much about the culture of Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and China. Hendra is the accountant at the Mission Home. 

A Little of Home Tradition

Favorite picture. Octoberfest with the Grands and Cousins Josh and Alexa. We have a tradition that includes a hayride-scavenger hunt, shrimp boil, pumpkin cutting, rocket launching, (this year a deer butchering), and lots of fine times together. Parents were sitting on the hay wagon in the background. We are so blessed!

A sunrise in Vernal

I took this before we left. This is down the road a bit from our home in Vernal. Just thought you might like to see how beautiful sunrises can be even in our hometown of the Uintah Basin. Man, we miss that place! But we miss all of you more! Indonesia is nice-but not HOME!

The Crew

Thanks to this crew, water travels over hill and dell to eventually flow to homes. A celebration is definitely deserving to these fine men and their hard work.

The Meek shall inherit the earth.

This woman is one of many who receive water near her home. Words can't express love between a brother and sister of our Father in Heaven. 

One of the many distribution tanks.

Taufik and his crew have been on this project one-and-a-half years. It is complex and will cost more than you want to know. Just think of all the good people that have made this happen. We wear our LDS Charities' shirts with pride as we see the benefits.

Moab of Indonesia

Each jeep moved slowly across the boards laid out across two beams. Quite a little drop if it caved in but the drivers were careful. Only way to the water projects.

The government travels with us today

It is a beautifully sunny hot day and we travel up the steep hillsides in bouncing jeeps to see water projects. Amazing how the projects wind all over the mountains and finally arrive in the homes.

A beautiful morning in Jakarta

Moroni's emblem in the rear window heralds in a new day in Jakarta. This day we are traveling to a far distant (due to traffic mostly) water project in Nandung. This project will be completed in July. Around forty families will benefit from the water distributed down pipes to the villagers' homes.

Where is Waldo?

Cleft palate lip surgery in Bogor for twenty three patients is a success. This is the best project we do that has immediate success. These good doctors give of their time once a month to operate for two days on patients four months to adult. They are pleasant, careful, and work with little equipment. There are six or eight doctors and that many nurses. What a service of true love.

Bono our driver and John buying pineapples.

After a long day to a water project, stopping and buying pineapple is a must.Twenty pineapple for $10.00 isn't bad. And then they throw in an extra one or two. The pineapple are sweet and so delicious. We share them with everyone around.

Elder Millecam stars in 'The Good Sumaritan'

The presentation to the educators was full of fun. Sister Anderson used several men to portray The Good Sumaritan. John just 'happened' to be one of the bad guys who walked by and ignored the Levite. Actually, he didn't ignore him. He stole his shoes and ran away leaving the man to die in the streets. This only escalated the situation. The next man, Elder Subandriyo, walked by took and took the poor guy's glasses. Finally, the Good Sumaritan came by and helped. It turned out to be a comic instead of a drama. The lesson was well taught...but not sure if it was a good example!