"The Noisy King"

I forgot about a fun experience in Kuching! The King of Malaysia got into town the day before us, and be and his entourage were staying at the same hotel! They had red carpet rolled out and the building was crawling with police. Any time any of the group would go anywhere they had a police escort with sirens blaring - and the front policeman yelling at people to get out of the way. It was kind of funny. Elise calls things as they really are, and now calls the king of Malaysia "the noisy king".

Day Six (Sunday 2 August): Sibu

Elise woke up a little crazy today. I wasn’t sure if she was happy or upset all morning – it kept changing. It was kind of nice to only have her to get ready for church. I decided that patience isn’t like charity – pure love. A little charity is given to me for each of my children; I don’t have to split it up to share between my children. Not so with patience. I only have a finite amount of it and it has to be shared around. So when I only have Elise, she gets all of my patience. :o) Anyhow, she woke up tired again, and was moody all morning, which was unfortunate, because we had to leave the house at 8am and attend 2 branches. Everyone here loves my sweet Elise – she is so different than anybody they have ever seen with her soft, golden hair and fair skin. Everyone touches her hair and strokes her cheeks and says “cantik”. The kids line the halls and just stare at her. She looked like a little princess today – Ann had a blessing dress made for Deanna’s new baby…but the woman who made it must have missed the “newborn” dress part, and the dress fits Elise. :o) It is white and sparkly, and combined with her new fancy shoes, she makes quite the picture!

I played the piano in Sacrament meeting today for both branches, because they normally just use CDs. It was fun, except I don’t know Malay numbers (with the exception of tuju), or any Malay, so I just guessed when I was supposed to play, and looked for others to help me with the numbers. :o) It worked! Oh yeah, I almost passed out just before the 1st branch began. I had been playing prelude for about 15 minutes, when 10 minutes before the meeting was to begin my pulse started racing, I started sweating and then felt all tingly and started seeing spots. With 5 minutes until the meeting began I decided it would be better to get up and walk to the back of the chapel (where Stephen was) than pass out on the piano bench in front of everyone. I made it back there, and apparently was rather pale, had a couple apples and water and sat with my head down for a minute. I was able to go back and play for the meeting. Sheesh. Dumb piano bench cut off my circulation! I was kind of glad that I had passed out before (in the temple, go figure) so that I knew what was coming and could prevent it. :o)

With new branches they only meet for 2 hours, so we went to Sacrament meeting and then I went to Primary with Elise and Ann. Ann taught the CTR class (3-8 year olds) and spoke in Malay! She is amazing with her Malay – she was translating the testimonies for us during testimony meeting, and is, of course, fantastic with the kids. It is so fun to see her in action, and not just teaching, but speaking another language! She even texts in Malay!

Everyone wanted to meet us, I think especially Elise. I know another word: chu-chu means grandchild. What wonderful, welcoming people! It was fun to recognize some of them from our previous visits. Stephen talked with one young man who got his email so that he could write to him. Sister Daong gave me a beautiful beaded necklace. She said that she didn’t make it because she didn’t have enough time and she was leaving town today. So kind.

After the 1st Branch meeting Elise and I sat in the library and had a little snack. She was very tired and a little pouty, and didn’t want to talk to anyone. We had a little chat where I told her how excited everyone was to meet us – especially her – and how sometimes we have to put aside out weariness and grumpiness to make others happy. Sometimes you just have to smile and forget about yourself. A pretty heavy lesson for adults, let alone a 7-year-old, I know, but she did it, and I was so proud of her! She came out of hiding and shook hands with everyone who came by, let them touch her hair, and smiled while she did it. Many adults haven’t learned that lesson – I really am proud of her. She has been amazing this entire trip.

This afternoon was spent relaxing. Stephen, Elise and I came home after 2nd Branch’s Sacrament meeting (Ann went back when she saw that Stephen was going to stay home with me – she didn’t want to leave me alone after my exhausting morning). We all took naps and when I woke up Stephen had biscuits and gravy all made up. Yum! We spent the evening at home, mostly being entertained by Elise, who was soaking up all the attention. We went on a little walk and I saw coconut, dragon fruit, mango and eyeball (that isn’t the name, but I can’t remember the real one right now, and that it what the fruit looks like when it is peeled) trees.







We just finished talking to my boys!!! I’ve been missing them terribly every morning – it gets better as the day goes on. They are happy and don’t miss us at all, which really is a good thing. They have been having so much fun with Grammy and Papa – making boats, selling lemonade, playing with cousins…it was so good to hear their little voices. I’m so glad Elise is here with us – I only have 2 to miss instead of all of them!

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!

Day Four (Friday 31 July): Sibu

We did a little more shopping today – I bought an abacus for Mason, made from real jungle wood. :o) He is going to LOVE it!!

The flight into Sibu was pretty rocky. I felt bad that Gene and Ann have to fly like that all the time, but even they said it was a pretty bad flight. Ann said that she thinks the beginning pilots are given the Kuching-Sibu route. I was practicing my deep breathing and holding my belly on some of those bumps! President Clement picked us up at the airport – I guess he picks up all the missionaries when they get in. He lives in Sibu-Jayu and drives a taxi there.

Gene and Ann’s home is beautiful. They say it is pretty big for just them, and they are welcoming all the noise Elise brings. :o) There are 3 bathrooms, and they are pretty cool, because there is no separate shower area; the whole thing is tile and you just shower in it. I love it! After making visits tonight I took a cool shower – didn’t turn on the hot water at all, but the water was hot by the time it reached my toes! It is so hot and humid here!

At 5pm we went to a neighborhood called Sentosa (pronunciation here is very similar to Spanish) because Gene and Ann do a mini-seminary lesson with a 14- and 17-year-old sister and brother. Their parents (Igal & Tara) don't speak a lick of English, similar to my Malay, but they smile a lot and were very kind. They fed us chicken curry, rice, corn and watermelon (and don't tell the health department lady, but I ate some watermelon), as well as juice (which I really can't drink - they don't use filtered water) and hot Milo (like hot chocolate, but not so sweet). I've never had chicken curry before, and it was GOOD! Elise loved the rice and corn. At the end of the dinner Ann invited 5 kids who were playing outside to come in and play Book of Mormon Bingo. It was fun – the kids are so cute! It’s nice that smiles go across language barriers, because my Malay is limited to only a few words: tarimi kasi (thank you), cantik (beautiful), bagus (good), anuk (child), tuju (seven) and selemat pagi (good morning).



During the lesson there were a bunch of kids playing outside in the front, and soon Elise slipped out to the porch to watch them. She also wanted to see the rooster and chickens. After a little while she came in and quietly told me, "I feel a little embarrassed because they all have black hair and I have blonde hair." I told her that I understand completely how she feels - how many people did she see with spots all over them like me? But then I reminded her of the color of her eyes and told her to look at the other children's eyes - they were all brown, just like hers. She brightened up and ran outside again. This experience is something I'm so glad we can share with Elise. She is soaking everything up and not being very shy at all - even when the people touch and exclaim over her hair. :o)

After visiting with Raymona and Alexander we went to visit the newly called primary president, Umban. She is probably younger than me, and she and her husband have a 7-year-old boy. They lived in a house similar to Gene and Ann's, the exception being that they lived in one room. Other families rented out the other rooms, and they share the kitchen and bathroom. All their belongings were in that one room, and most of the space was clear. A bed (a mat on box springs) for them, a mat for their son, a tv, a small refrigerator and some shelves for clothes. That is it. Sister Umban also brought us snacks, and fortunately we had an Iban elder with us to translate, so he could explain why Elise and I couldn't have the juice (doctor's orders, you know).

These people are amazing. So happy and willing to give us all they have. I was so done being a tourist in Singapore and Kuching – so glad to be home in Sibu!

Day Three (Thursday 30 July): Kuching

Stephen and I were both worried about adjusting to the time change (we are 15 hours ahead of Corvallis here), but it has been very smooth. None of us have had any problems. We are exhausted by 8:30pm and up at 5:30am, but it sure works! It’s nice that Gene and Ann are on a similar schedule.



This morning we went to the Sarawak Cultural Village, about 45 minutes outside of Kuching. It was amazing. There were 9 or 10 different native houses to tour through. Everything from a Chinese farm house to an upper-class Malay house to a tall house (built 40 feet of the ground) to an Iban longhouse. Multiple (20-30) families lived in all the houses except the Chinese and Malay. The natives are very communal. I use the present tense because many people still live in longhouses. Many saints live in longhouses, so we’ll get to visit some real ones. I took lots of pictures at the Village, because I’m not so sure about taking pictures where people actually live. I don’t want to offend anyone. This is a tall house:



All the beds we have stayed in have been VERY firm. Where we are now (the Grande Margherita Hotel) we have adjoining rooms with Gene and Ann, with 2 full beds in each. Elise has slept in Gene and Ann’s room, so I get my own bed…with 4 pillows! Fantastic. I’ve slept pretty well here. :o) Our hotel looks over the Sarawak River, and at night there are big boats with lights that float up and down. It is really pretty. Friday night there are boat races, but we’ll be busy in Sibu.

Here is the building the Kind was in town to dedicate:

Day Two (Wednesday 29 July): Kuching, Malaysia

This was the most exciting day because we met up with Gene and Ann!!! It has been so fun having Elise with us, because she is so excited about everything, and dances and sings her way through everything. We got to the hotel about 45 minutes before Gene and Ann, and Elise bounced off the beds and checked the door every couple of minutes while waiting. She was doing outside what Stephen and I were doing inside. It was wonderful to see them!! They are so busy with all that they do – we can’t wait to get to Sibu to see them on their home turf – to meet the people they have grown to love and do a little work with them.

We walked around the hotel area and bought some things from some Iban shops. Things are so inexpensive here; 1 USD = 3.5 Ringetts, and, for example, a pretty box that is carved from jungle wood is 19 RMs. Hand-carved! Jungle wood! I’ve had some fun shopping. I haven’t spent all that much money…not as much as I could have if I had more. :o) I put Stephen in charge of the money, so I don’t spend as much (really because I don’t want to deal with it). I find what I want to buy and have him buy it. It’s sort of a check on me, if he would ever say
“no”. I guess I’m pretty good at saying “no” to myself. Stephen would buy whatever I want – he knows I’m good at saying “no” to me. :o)

It is very different eating here – I’m just not hungry. I eat a good breakfast, but when we are out in the morning I’m so hot that I really don’t want anything. Same with dinner. All I want to eat is fruit and a salad. At the hotel here they have both, but it isn’t very Malay to just eat those things. I have to make myself eat during the day. And I need to drink lots of water…it just kills me to have to buy it. But I need to.

Day One (Tuesday 28 July): Singapore

What a beautiful city! So clean and green, and no beggars anywhere. I wonder where they go? Anyhow, I was amazed that with all the skyscrapers and buildings there were so many trees and flowers. Everything is immaculate – people even scrub the tile sidewalks with soap and water! We went to Chinatown and found some great stuff – little gifts for the folks back home. :o) There was one booth that had names written in traditional Chinese characters. I got all of the kids’ names. It was especially neat because each character has a meaning, and on the back of the picture they wrote what each meaning is. They didn’t have a “Mason”, so the artist drew it for us. It was fascinating watching him do the calligraphy – so beautiful! Elise found some really pretty scarves, and we got a dragon puppet for Mason. I guess in China frogs and turtles are good luck, so we bought a good luck frog for my dad.

We walked around some other places – I felt so safe there. But, the next highlight of the day was going to a little hole-in-the-wall shop to buy a Joss stick nativity set. The man who makes these figurines continues an 80-year-old family tradition of using ground up wild cinnamon trees and water and molding it into beautiful shapes. Traditionally these shapes are put on Joss Sticks, or giant incense sticks used in religious ceremonies. We bought two nativity sets – a small one for my mom and a bigger one for us. I’ll probably give my mom the bigger one, tho, because we don’t have anywhere to put it at the moment. :o) We also bought some of the powder – the dough (I don’t know what to call it exactly) is so neat! The man there was so nice, also, and let Elise play with some and make shapes – he brought out beads and strings and she made shapes for her and the boys. He gave us drinks and was so great. We’re going to take Ann there when we go back next week.

Let's skip a day!

The flights here (Singapore) were long (duh), but went very smoothly. It was really weird to skip almost an entire day, but we are doing great with the time change! We flew out of Portland (the boys are staying with my parents) to Tokyo to Singapore, arriving here at 1am on Tuesday morning (10am Monday, West coast time). Elise was able to sleep quite a bit on the airplane, which I was very grateful for!