Day Five (Saturday 1 August): Sibu

I didn’t feel so hot today. My legs ache terribly, and I get winded just walking up the stairs. My legs hurt so bad today that I wanted to cry. I did cry this morning – I’m really missing my boys, and I think the jet lag is catching up to me. I gave myself permission to cry this morning, and just get it all out so that I could have a good rest of the day. I remembered what President Hinckley’s dad told him: forget yourself and get to work. Once I am out of the house and meeting the people I am fine, but, oh, how I miss my boys!!! My achy body wasn’t helping matters either. After a little shopping in the morning (where I had to make myself move – I sat down every chance I got), we came home and I slept for 3½ hours. I felt better after that, with the exception that my knees hurt worse than before. I think I am pretty spoiled with my pillow-top mattress at home. :o) However, I also think that I figured out my knee problem – I am walking around flat-footed all the time. I should have brought my tennis shoes with my arch-support inserts. Wearing Gene’s tennis shoes seems to be helping, and I must say, I look good in a skirt and tennis shoes! :o)

Tonight Sister Lina was baptized. A short aside – here the saints go by their first name – Sister Ani, President Tony, etc. – because their last name is their father’s name. For example, I would be Claire anuk (child) Duane, and Elise would be Elise anuk Stephen, so I am Sister Claire. I like it. Anyhow, the baptism began about 40 minutes late, because the man baptizing Lina thought it was at 8pm (I think, but I guess that baptisms frequently begin pretty late). It was a beautiful baptism – it was done completely by the people who live here. There was no white skin involved, except as onlookers. It was wonderful to see the newly-called (2 weeks ago) branch president help Brother Richmond know how to baptize, and beautiful to see the Priesthood brethren perform the ordinance.



Afterwards (by this point Elise was incredibly tired – poor kid woke up tired!) we went to the newly-called 1st Branch president’s home. President Tony and his wife, Ani, were having a little party for the elders and Elder & Sister Jones, to celebrate Tony’s birthday. Tony is 34, and he and Ani have three kids – Andrew is 4, Eli Ani is 2, and Aaron John (named by Gene) is 7 months. I was afraid that Elise wasn’t going to make it through the rest of the evening (it was nearly 8:30pm when we got there), but she took right to Eli and Aaron and was perfectly happy. CUTE kids!! I got some cute pictures! They have gospel art picture kit pictures up all over their walls in all of their rooms (3), and had church music playing in the background. They are a wonderful family; I’m so glad we could meet them. Elise fell asleep on the way home, and was completely out when I got her ready for bed.



One of the elders had brought a Durian fruit from Kuching as a gift for Tony. Have you ever seen “the king of fruits”? As Elder Campbell said, “It smells like garbage and tastes like gasoline.” I can attest to the smell part, but I didn’t try it!