Trains and YSA

The time really is flying by now and I spend a lot of sleeping time thinking of things that need to be done before we go and sometimes it is just so overwhelming.  I don't know if we'll be able to finish everything on our "Things To Do" list, but we will try.  The Allen's will inherit a lot of work, so they will hit the ground running.

This week we took a trip on the North Borneo Railway.  It was on a very old steam engine train.  There were actually workers whose job it was to keep the furnace filled with the chopped wood to make the steam to make the wheels on the train go round and round.  We went with Elder and Sister Crookston who came over from Sandakan.

                                                                The Steam Engine

                                             The Crookston's and Read's on the train.

The view of our railroad car.  It was very nice inside.  Each couple had their own table and each table was set with wonderful china and glasses.  Kinda like the tiffin style.  We had a continental breakfast of different pastires and juices when we first got on.  The train made a stop at the town of Kinarut where we visited a Chinese Temple.

They had a lot of these statues in different poses.  We thought this one was interesting.  On the way home we were served a four course lunch that was great.  It was a fun way to spend the day.

On the 8th, 9th and 10th we attended the East Malaysia Young Single Adult Convention at the Borneo Paradise Beach Hotel.  There were about 38 YSA's and about 18 adults.  We had a terrificly good time.

 There were workshops on learning to be a teacher, preparing and bearing your testimony, and sacrifice.

We also learned to dance.  Elder and Sister Vaughn were the instructors and taught the YSA to do the Cha Cha Cha and some line dances.  Everyone got involved and learned some new dance steps and some of them even held hands while they danced.  Amazing!  Maybe there is hope for marriage among them yet.

 We also put together some hygiene kits together for a Children's Government Home that takes care of children from the age of newborn to 18 years.

We had an activity where the YSA had to work their way along a rope with many detours and deadends blindfolded.  There were people stationed along the way who were either trying to help them reach the finish line or they were trying to keep them from reaching the finish.  The YSA really loved this activity.  They eventually all found their way, but there were a lot of life lessons they could learn along the way.

 Their closing activity was to paint a banner for the convention and they each put their handprint on it.  They did really well in not getting the paint all over the floor, themselves or each other.

The senior couples at the YSA Conference.  Everyone had such a great time.  All the hard work and preparation really paid off.

Our last full week here is really jam packed all ready!  The Allen's will arrive on Wendesday or Thursday and I have so much to do to get everything ready for them.  We are really starting to get more and more anxious every day now and we are also getting a little sadder every day that we will soon be leaving.  Such bittersweet feelings.

This is about your last chance to drop us a line and let us know if you remember us and if you have liked reading our blog.  We will be reporting on our Mission  Aug. 25 at 11:00 am in the Roy 30th Ward building at 3300 West 6000 So.  We would really like to invite everyone to come.  We have missed you all so much and would really like to see you there.  And of course, there will be a lunch after.   Please Come!  See you soon!   E/S Read