You can't buy this card!

23 February 2006
I woke up this morning with the strong desire to help the sister missionaries and I am glad I phoned them. We visited an investigator at the government general hospital. He is only 18 years old and his left leg was broken. His mother, also an investigator, was looking after him. I got to know where a newly baptised sister stay and got to visit/teach her friends. When I dropped the sister missionaries back at their apartment, Sister Serrao (from Hawaii) handed me a card and I want to share it with you. It is simple but it is very special to me because Sister Serrao and Sister Chung had made it with their hands and I am touched by their gesture.

Young Women - New Beginning "Arise and Shine Forth"

18 February 2006
The number 13 is an unlucky number for the Europeans, especially Friday, the 13th, yes? Not tonight in the Miri chapel! Tonight was Friday and there were 13 Young Women (100% of active YW) present, in this annual event that was held at the beginning of each year. Plus the leaders from the YW organisation and the guests, there were about 31 (13 turned around) people attending the function.

Guests (who made up of the girls' parents and friends) were able to view and learn what the YW organisation does from a table that displayed the pictures of the YW activities and their achievements.

Penny played the organ. Hilda was the master of ceremony; Gloria N and Jessica did the opening and closing prayer; Marina - the spiritual thought; YW theme and motto by Priscilla; talks by Chloe and Gloria G; Catherine, Christine, Penny & Fadelia did the skit. Sylviana and Bernadine join the rest in the special musical presentation (the pic did not turn out well, sigh!)

Sister Bray, our YW President, expressed her love for Sister Ivy and Sister Gloria G, the 2 girls that have blossomed into beautiful Young Women and are now in the Relief Society and Primary presidency. They would soon be completing their YW personal progress and therefore completed the requirements necessary to receive the Young Womanhood Recognition in the form of a medallion. One enters the Young Women organisation at 12 and leaves at 18 years.

It was a successful evening. Gloria G gave an excellent talk that touches my heart and brought some tears to my eyes. The skit made us laugh. We had a big delicious rectangular carrot cake to end the wonderful evening - I had 3 pieces! So nice!
I

Valentine's Night

14 February 2006
I don't care about Valentine's Day or Valentine's Night!

Everyday should be Valentine! But since it is set apart for this day people could remember by, I decided to invite the missionaries and some of my 'single' and 'unattached' friends for dinner.

None of us remembered to take pictures before we started eating. Only after the 2 brother missionaries had left for their appointment, the table almost cleared and almost time to disperse, did we took out our cameras.

My Valentine's friends: Elder/Sister Ott, Sister Chung, Sister Serrau, June, Priscilla, Amy, Elisha and Esther

Sleeping Beauties

Monday, 6 February 2006
The afternoon was hot outside, the fan was blowing in their direction while they slept. So peaceful and oblivious of what was going on in the room.

21 months old Doris was sleeping in a 'sarong' or the 'sarung'. 6 years old Agnes, who was also sleeping, had unknowingly rolled underneath the 'sarong'. And 8 years old Ellis, was also sleeping (not in the picture) not far away.

First Baptisms in the Miri Chapel

5 February 2006
We saw 2 baptisms after the block meetings. The baptismal meeting room was packed!

Little Sister Ashley was baptised by his father, Brother Vicente.

Brother Ruddy was baptised by Elder Rowley

First Sunday Meetings in the Miri Chapel

5 February 2006
Another history in the making! Our very first Sunday in our own Church building, the first in East Malaysia! So many people turned up - members, non-members.

Brother Kevin, Elder Gibbons, Brother Clever, Sister Boston and Sister Chung. We are going to miss Sister Boston. She will be leaving us the next day.

Another Brother Kevin with his family and yours truly!

Brother Vincente with his family and yours truly!

It was indeed a Beautiful Sunday! I am so happy to be part of it!

More Pictures of the Miri Chapel

4 February 2006
More pictures of the new chapel, from inside and outside of the fence.

Moving to the New Chapel

4 February 2006
Time to move to the new chapel and clear the existing meeting-house. There was a good turn-up of members to help. Too busy myself, until I forgot to take pictures of the first truck loading/unloading to the new chapel.


Elder Rowley on top of the truck!