Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men who are happy and glad to be father's and who treat their wives and children with respect.  I was so blessed to have a wonderful father.  He worked hard to take care of his family, he taught us the gospel by example, and he was a lot of fun.  I miss him but I know he is happy where he is at, especially now that he can be with his own father who he lost at such a young age.  I am grateful to have a husband who exemplifies fatherhood also.  He shows love and respect to me and his children all the time.  I am grateful for the other fathers in my life -- especially the wonderful fathers of my nine terrific grandchildren.  I am grateful that Mark, John and Neil are great fathers who teach their children through their example and their loving ways.  I am grateful for good brothers and brother-in-law who further exemplify what it means to be a Dad.  I have been surrounded by good men and I am truly grateful.  After being over here and seeing how many fathers put other things above family, I know I am truly blessed.  I was counting the number of priesthood bearers of any age in our branches on Sunday.  In KK1 branch there were about 60 people there and maybe 10 of them were priesthood holders.  In KK2 branch there were about 50 people there with about 8 priesthood.  I wish the priesthood would step up to the plate and realize what blessings they have and support their families and branches more than they do.  Thank goodness for the women of the branches.  They are angels.  They come week after week and bring their little children and have no priesthood to rely on in their homes.  But, each week as I look at these little children I see little girls who are clean and dressed so cute and little boys (all the little boys) who have their hair combed and their faces scrubbed and are all wearing white shirts and ties.  I just hope when they get older they will follow the example of their mothers and remain strong in the church and help to build it here in Malaysia.

This is a picture of Sis. Roslin and her children at a Branch activity.  LtoR:  Larry 6, Henry 10 and Roslin holding Jeanette 20 months.  We taught Sis. Roslin and kids the follow-up lessons after baptism.  She is a delight and I love her kids.  Henry is quite the artist.  I always try to take him some blank paper whenever we go to their home as he loves to draw but they can't afford paper.  I try to take suckers or some treat for Larry and Jeanette also.  Henry had a birthday last week and Roslin asked if I would make him a chocolate cake.  After all the meals she fixed for us each time we went to teach, how could I refuse.  They live in the most humble home you an imagine.  The only furniture is an old table with some chairs.  They sleep on the floor on just thin little mats.  But they are a wonderful family.  Roslin is trying so hard to raise her children right.  Her husband isn't a member but he does let her come.  She also told me she is pregnant again.

 This is President Francis of the KK1 branch -- a great man.  He is a widower.

Me giving an impromptu talk at a YW Camp activity.

The four YW who came to the camp activity:  LtoR  Ebony, Tiffiny, Samantha and Crystel

We are leaving for Singapore on Wednesday to get our VISA's chopped and to have a senior conference.  This will be the last time we see Pres. Clark and Sis. Clark.  They are leaving for home on June 30.  They are from Oregon and have a home in the Lincoln City area where our family spent a wonderful week at the Oregon beach.  We'll have to visit them the next time we go.

If anyone who reads this blog went to my friend Suzi Nicholson's viewing/funeral, would you please email me and tell me about it.  If there is a copy of the program you can scan and send I would really appreciate it.  I'm still having a hard time processing that she is gone.

Has anyone read the book Corrag by Susan Fletcher that I recommended a while ago?  I would also like to know what you thought of it.

Has anyone been reading the BofM?  what have you thought about that book?  Pretty terrific isn't it.

Ben just told me, right now, this very minute, that our first project we developed has been APPROVED.  I am so excited.  I will tell you all about next blog.
Everyone take care and thanks for all your love and support.

Funeral Traditions

This week I thought I would share the traditions and ceremonies associated with a funeral in Malaysia.  The whole process is quite touching.  It is not so different from our services, but there are some special things they do that have special meaning to them.  We had an elderly gentlemen in our branch die on Friday afternoon.  He was 84 years old.  He and his wife have been members of the church for six years.  They were former pastors/ministers in their previous church.  They will always greet you at church with a Halleljuia (sp?) and when they leave they always say Praise the Lord.  They are a wonderful couple.  They live with their daughter and her family who are members.  There are also some other children who are members I think.  He had cancer two years ago and as a result he had a hole in his throat and couldn't speak, but he was still delightful.  They called and told us he had died on Friday afternoon.  It is the custom here that you go right to the funeral home and greet the family there after a death.  When we got there, they were still busy with the embalming process.  Some priesthood brethren from the branch were there and they dressed him in his garments.  There are no temple clothes so he was just buried in a nice suit.  After we had been there for about 30 min.  they brought bro. Anjun out and laid him in a clear see thru box.  (Think the one Snow White was in).  Other people came and visited with the family.  The next day they had a service at 7:00 in the evening at the funeral parlor.
When I walked in I was asked to play the keyboard.  At first the keyboard was way too high.  I couldn't even see the keys, let alone play them.  The keyboard was eye level.  Someone came along and adjusted it for me, they almost let it hit the ground.  So I ended up being the keyboardist for the program.  The branch president spoke and then his daughter Dorcas spoke.  Dorcas is a one-woman missionary force.  She has brought so many people into the church it is truly amazing.  When the service is over, as you leave the room, there is a cash box and a book set up for you to sign and make monetary donations.  Then they hand you a "Thank You" envelope with two pieces of candy and a 20 cent piece in it.  On Monday they had a service at the branch building.  I was supposed to play again, but someone else told me not to worry, they would play.  To "play" on the pianos here, all you need to do is push a button and off you go.  Of course, I play not push buttons but I was happy to let someone branch take over this duty.  This time bro Anjun was in a casket with a small window opening over his face where you could just see his face but not touch him.  Again the branch president spoke and the district president spoke and then we all got in a line and walked past the casket to pay our last respects and to meet the family.  Then we went back to our seats.  Then it was the family's turn to go up to the casket.  It was very touching and very sad and very hard to witness.  They are a very emotional people and there was loud crying and wailing.  Some members draped themselves over the casket and had to bee helped away.  It was particularly hard when they closed the casket.  Then we all went to the cemetery.  Ben had been asked earlier that day if he would dedicate the grave.  We both thought they might want someone who spoke Malay to do it so his little widow could understand.  But Ben dedicated the grave.  The grave site was in a very sad part of the cemetery.  Not one blade of grass.  Just dirt and weeds and litter.  Think boot hill only worse.  They had dug a grave and the coffin was placed on ropes and lowered into the grave.  After Ben's prayer, we all took turns throwing handfuls of dirt on the coffin.  Then they started with shovels to fill in the grave.  The grave had no vault or liner.  Just a hole with the casket.  This was another very hard emotional time for the family and friends.  One lady was on the ground with grief.  I thought maybe she was having a seizure, but she was just extremely overcome.  Bro. Anjun's son really had a hard time also.  He kept crying and screaming "Bapa"  which means father.  Someone had to come and hold him upright.  Later that night we went over to sister Dorcas' home to meet the family and have something to eat.  I hope the family found comfort and peace in the services and know that Bro. Anjun is alive and better off.  The funeral was kind of a mix of Mormon and Malay traditions.

Some of you have been asking to see a picture of the car we drive, well here it is:

Sorry.  The image is on it's side.  Not a bad little car don't you think.  It's small but it really can get us around town fast.  Oh wait

I guess this is more like the car we drive.  Small but adequate.  We got a flat tire on the day of the funeral.  We must have driven over something in the weeds.  Ben is doing much better with the driving now.  I'm not nearly as hoarse from screaming and my knuckles are not so white, gradually getting pinker.  And I'm not sucking so much air out of the car anymore either.  I can almost relax a little, almost.  It is really just a coke can on wheels.  Pray that we never have an accident because you know how sturdy coke cans are.

Well, we wish you all the best and hope you are enjoying the gospel.  We are.  It is wonderful to serve in so many different areas.  We have submitted our first humanitarian project that we have developed ourselves.  Pray for us that all will go well with it and that the brethren in Hong Kong will accept it.  I'll write more about our project at a later time.   Love ya all

Doctor Report

Hi all -- We just walked in to the apartment from seeing the kidney doctor.  So many of you have expressed concern I just thought I'd update the blog and let you know what the doctor said.  Both the doctor and Ben think the stone has passed.  The doctor did a scan this morning of both kidneys and said things looked good.  If Ben does have more pain, he needs to come back to the doctor/hospital and they will decide what to do from there. But for now, Ben is pain free and we'll keep praying things stay that way.  Thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts.  We know it really helped.  Love to all E/S Read

When I got up this morning to check our email as I do every morning, the first thing I saw was an email from Kathy telling us about the death of my friend Suzy Nicholson.  She was killed in a tragic car/taxi accident in NYC and her 11 year old grandson was hurt.  The taxi driver was also killed.  Suzy was a wonderful person.  She was the secretary of the Geosciences at WSU so we interacted everyday.  We would go walking every day about 10:30 to get our blood moving again.  She was so great to talk to and share life stories.  I remember when I left WSU she said she wouldn't be able to come to our farewell because she was going to be in NYC then but she said I'll see you when you get back.  I'm truly heartbroken and saddened by her sudden tragic death.  She was a light in the world and did so much good.  I'm having a hard time processing that she is gone.  People as wonderful as Suzy should still be here.

This week we had district leadership conference.  Elder Subandriyo of the 70 came to conduct the training.  He is a wonderful witty spiritual man and the members are so lucky to have him come.  He is native Indonesian so most of the members could relate to him better than some white dude.  Some of the people had to travel 6 to 7 hours by bus to come to the meeting and then turn around Sunday afternoon and travel 6 or 7 hours back.  I'm always humbled by what they are willing to sacrifice for the gospel.  We complain if we have to travel 15 minutes farther than our ward house for meetings.  I'll never complain again.

Last night the Elders, BP and us went to visit a young member man who had a stroke a few years ago.  It left him with a limp and difficulty in getting around.  He hasn't been to church since his stroke so we went to see him and his wife.  We talked about temples.  He said that he wanted his family to go to the temple.  He MUST work on Sat. and Sunday but he wants his wife to start attending and paying their tithing so they can go to the temple in a year or so.  I sure hope and pray he can find another job and that they will make it to the temple.

On Friday President Clark called and wanted to take a trip to the Tip of Borneo.  It is about a 3 hour drive from KK and his plane didn't get into KK until about 1:00.  Well, we made arrangements for a car to take us up to the Tip and we went with President Clark and the two AP's.  We didn't get there until about 5 and the sun goes down at 6 so we didn't have too long to spend there.  I hope we can go back sometime and spend more time, possibly even stay over night.

Looking up the path that leads to the TofB overlook.  It was pouring rain and blowing so hard.

The marker at the TofB.  We look like two drowned rats, which we are.  We were soaked.

See the flag blowing straight out?  See us looking wet?

View of the So. China Sea where it meets the ocean at the TofB.

this beautiful rainbow came out just before it got dark.  I love rainbows.
Well just a little bit of the Ramblin' Read's.  Please let us hear from you.  We enjoy your comments.  Love to you all.

And it came to pass. . .

What a week we have had.  The highlight has been Ben's kidney stone.  On Monday the 21st he was in such terrible pain that we decided to head to the hospital.  We got there bright and early, about 5:30 am.  We were able to meet with a doctor, who we think was Indian, who was working the night shift and I think he was anxious to be done.  But he was kind and set us up to have a scan done.  We went and had the scan done by a very nice, speaks English very well technician.  We think he was Indian.  Then we met again with another doctor who said he would have to wait for the scans to come to him before he could read them and decide what to do.  They sent us home and said to come back the next day after they read the scans and they would know what better needs to be done.  Ben was still having pain, but not quite so bad.  He didn't get much rest again Monday night.  On Tuesday when we were back in the hospital they said the scan showed that the kidney function which should have been between 50-150 was over 200 so they would need to do a CT scan.  So they set us up for that.  All this time Ben is experiencing terrible pain.  After the CT scan we had to wait for the doctor to read it.  This doctor was a specialist and wouldn't be back to our hospital for about an hour and then he had to see patients which were in front of us before he could see Ben.  Well Ben could hardly do anything by this time because of the pain.  They ordered a shot for him which really knocked him completely out.  At least he was sleeping and not in pain.  When we met with the doctor he said he thought the best thing to do was to get it blasted.  We told him we would have to wait until the next day to do that as we needed to have it pre-approved by our insurance (or so we thought).  Well they sent us home with pain medication which seemed to really help because Ben was able to sleep all night and be pain free.  When we went back on Wednesday morning we met with the actual doctor who would be doing the blasting.  He is a kidney specialist, again from India.  He looked at the scans and the CT and gave us two options: 1.  Blast it or 2.  He would treat it with some medicine which would hopefully open up the urether and let the stone pass.  We asked which he would recommend and he said #2.  Give it some time and see if it will pass on it's own.  So we chose door #2 and they sent us home with some medicine to dilate the urether and more pain pills.  The doctor said if the pain gets so sever that the pain medication doesn't help, to return to the hospital and they will blast it immediately.  So far Ben has been doing quite well on this regime.  He has only had one small episode of pain which the pain pills quickly zapped.  But, he still hasn't passed the stone.  It's just a waiting game.  You wouldn't believe how many remedies are out there.  Everyone we talk to has some "sure way" to get rid of kidney stones.  we may end up trying them all before this is over.
On May 17 we went to the Island of Gaya for a closing ceremony for some humanitarian aid LDS Charities had given the school after they had a fire.  LDS Charities gave them some books, paper, binders, school supplies, etc.  We had the ceremony so the could thank LDS Charities officially.  Here are some pictures:

Riding the boat to Gaya.  Front left clockwise:  Pres. Francis president of KK1 branch, Rosalina (with the KK school board), Sis. Kate RS Pres. KK2, Sis. Audrey RS Pres. KK1, and Elder O'Driscoll.

Stage with LDS Charities Banner prominently displayed.

Ben speaking.

Student receiving some of the supplies.  LtoR  student, Che Rose Bakar, Principal, Ben, and President Ling, district president.

Some of the girl students.  Boys are on the other side.  I felt bad for them because it was hot and they had to sit there for about 2 hours.  I don't know how the girls stand it all covered up like this.

We had a nice lunch after.  LtoR  Elder O'Driscoll, Elder Howell, Sis. Audrey, Sis. Kate and Pres. Faustos.
It was a nice day and gave the church some good publicity.  There were three newspapers there to cover the ceremony.

I thought you might like to see one of the favorite flavors of ice cream here.  Yes, it is corn ice cream with kernels of corn in it.  They love their corn here.  They have stands that will sell you a "Cup of Corn" like in a sno-cone cup and sometimes they will add berries or something to it.
Everyone have a great day.  Hopefully, this too shall pass and we can give a clean report next time.  Love to all.  E/S Read

Thank Goodness

We had a really nice trip to Sibu last week for our Senior Conference.  It is always fun to get together with the other "old folk" out here.  We had a nice surprise too.  One of the new senior couples is an old high school classmate of Ben's.  It is Bob Brady and he and his wife Mary are serving in the city of Mukah and arrived here about three weeks ago.  It was so fun for Ben to see an old classmate.  Thank Goodness for old friends and new ones too.

We had a great time at Senior conference and really enjoyed hearing from our Mission President, Pres. Clark.  He and his wife will be leaving June 30.  We will miss them. The new President is President Manes and we will be serving with him for the majority of our time here.

After Sibu we flew over to Kuching to take care of some welfare/humanitarian business.  Here we met with Francis Johen who is with Cheshire Homes from the UK who we partner with to provide wheelchairs.  He took us on a tour of the city.  Kuching in Malay means "cat"  and they have lots of cat statues throughout the city.  The even have a cat museum.  It is a very nice city.

This is a picture of Francis Johen.  When he was a young man of about 15 or 16 he was very athletic.  One day he started to run a high fever.  After a few days he had lost the feeling in both his legs and it left him paralyzed from the waist down.  He had know place to go so he ended up living at the Cheshire home for 4 years.  They took excellent care of him.  Now he uses crutches/wheelchair.  But he kept up his education and went on to become a lawyer and now is a very high ranking lawyer with the government.  It is a very inspirational story of never giving up and over coming what life may throw your way.  He also is now giving back to Cheshire homes by serving on their board.  Thank Goodness for people who continue to serve and give back no matter what life hands them.

Francis Johen is in the front and some of the others who work at the Cheshire home.

Sorry.  Just lie down sideways to look at it.  This is a picture of the new Kuching church house which was just dedicated the first of the month.  It is really a pretty building and they are so happy to have an actual church house to meet in.

We also had some meetings with the person, Patrick Panai, who is helping us with some water projects in the "interior".  It was a very successful trip and we really enjoyed it, but it did put me behind with other things going on.

When we got back from our trip our AC was broken.  We were able to make do by staying in the rooms that also have AC.  Two techs came and fixed it for us on Friday.  Thank Goodness!  Then on Friday afternoon our clothes washer broke.  I really had a lot of laundry because of our trip.  I felt guilty complaining about the washer being broken when 75% of our branch members probably still do all their laundry by hand.  Anyway, a repairman came and was able to make a temporary fix until he orders in the parts to fix it permanently.  Thank Goodness!

Thursday night Ben awoke about midnight in excruciating pain and vomitting.  He had a kidney stone again.  I asked if he wanted me to try and drive him to the hospital.  I think he was more terrified of me having to drive than he was of the kidney stone.  I gave him some Tylenol and after awhile the pain eased up.  On Friday he said he was sore but not in terrible pain anymore.  Again Friday night he awoke in terrible pain and again I gave him some tylenol.  Again it took the edge off so he was able to get a couple of hours sleep. On Saturday we went to a friendly pharmacist we know here and she gave him some pain medication to take and advised him to see a doctor if it didn't clear up.  Whatever she gave him really did the trick, it killed all the pain and he has been doing fine all Saturday night and all day Sunday.  Thank Goodness.  Just pray that it stays away.

We are continuing with our teaching of new converts.  They are all marvelous people and they teach us much more than we teach them.  It is so wonderful to see the light in their eyes because they now know the truth.  Thank Goodness for the gospel.

I wanted to mention a book I just finished reading that was left here by the other missionaries.  Heads up to all you book club people too.  It is a wonderfully written book that I just thoroughly loved.  It is called "Corrag" and is written by Susan Fletcher.  It is based on a true story.  Give it a read and let me know what you think of it.

Also, Kathy made me the most wonderful video for mother's day.  I just sobbed and sobbed it was so touching and so good.  If you get a chance you can pull it up on YouTube.  I guess you'll have to ask Kathy how to do that as I'm tech illiterate.

Thank Goodness for all of you!  I wish we could hear from more of you but I know your lives are busy just like ours.  I do appreciate those of you who have dropped a line or left a message.  It really helps.  Sometimes I still get really really homesick.  I love you all      Sis Read

Give me the Power

Last Monday the power went off about 3:30 am.  We know because we woke up and it was really really warm.  It didn't come on again until about 11:30 am.  Something big blew up is all I know and it was quite a widespread area that was without power.  It really made it hard to do any work with the computers not working.  And it was still very warm.  The next day while we were working the power went out about 2:00 pm.    About 3:00 a really nice wind came up so I opened all the windows to get the breeze blowing through and at least stir the air.  It helped a lot.  The temperature didn't lower, but it still felt better.  It's funny here.  When a rainstorm blows in, as it does almost every afternoon, you would think it would make it cooker, but it doesn't.  You open the windows hoping to get the cooler air, but the air temperature hasn't changed.  I miss the cool rain.  Anyway, while we were waiting for the power to come back on and all the windows were open and the wind was blowing through, we heard a really big BANG.  The wind had blown the door shut in our bedroom.  I'm sure you have all had the same experience.  I went to open the bedroom door and it was locked.  Not to worry, we had an envelope marked "Keys to bedroom doors".  Got the keys out of the envelope and tried everyone of them.  None worked.  We tried everything we could think of.  We even called the building supervisor but he told us they don't keep keys to the doors in individual apartments.  So we ended up having to calling a locksmith.  He was here within a half hour and had the door open.  He charged us Rm50 (about $15). After he left we found a key which was in the bedroom which would open the door.  That key is now in the envelope marked "Keys to bedroom doors".

Last week we ha a baptismal service.  Six people were baptized.  That was so awesome! There was a mother, Welista, and her two sons Prichard (11) and Eric (9).  There was also an 8 year old boy from the branch, Sylvester; the boyfriend of a girl in the branch, Jeko (18); and another young married lady named Senciea.

Here are some pictures:

This picture shows Jeko and Sylvester.  Jeko is 2nd from left and Sylvester is in front of him.  Jeko's girlfriend is standing by him.  Jeko's girlfriend comes from a family of about 8 children, including a new baby. They live in very humble circumstances that would make the Chicago projects look good.  The baptizer, Bro. Charles,back right, is the brother of the two twin sisters who left on their mission a few days ago.

Another picture of Jeko, Sylvester and Charles.  I thought Ben had taken more pictures, but I guess not.

One day we were picking up the Elders at their apartment and another car pulled up.  There was an older white lady inside.  We noticed because seeing an older white lady is not too common here. (I guess that's why I get lots of stares.)  She got out of the car and was using a cane.  When she almost got to where we were she tripped and fell and went down hard.  Ben and I and the driver of the car rushed to pick her up.  She kept saying she was ok, just embarrassed.  For some reason her glasses were really foggy so she couldn't see all that well.  After we helped her up she looked at me and said, "Well good afternoon Sis. Read.  I'm Sis. Greenwood."  Imagine, another sister falling right at our feet.  She was from Australia and she keeps an apartment in KK.  She loves KK and hopes to spend more time here in the future.  She usually comes and spends all of the month of December.  The branches know her well.  A really delightful lady.  Said she will soon be 80.  She always gives all her left over food to the Elders before she leaves so they were glad to get to know her too.  By the way, Natalie, she told us the Canberra is pronounced Can BRA.  Maybe you already know this.

On Thursday we leave for a Zone conference in Sibu.  We will spend the day and a night in Sibu and then we are flying to Kuching.  We are going to be meeting with some humanitarian partners in Kuching, one is a guy who helps us with the water projects and the other is a guy who helps us with the wheelchair projects.  We thought it would be nice to meet and visit with them since we were flying that way anyway.  We will return Saturday night.

We got our first official mail delivered to our apartment on Tuesday.  It was from Jason, Julie and girls.  Thank you so much.  It was so fun to get some mail.  E and A, thank you so much for the pictures.  I have put them on my refrigerator.

We are still enjoying the work and staying busy with humanitarian and welfare as well as all the teaching the branches have for us.  We hope all is well with you all too.  Love and miss each and everyone!
E/S Read