We were suppose to spend most of the week working with Vino.  The missionary that was due to go to California.  He was to leave in May but we just got clearance from Homeland Security last week.  His date has been moved to June 28th.  This week he was to come and fill out his paper work for a visa but his father had a heart attack.  He is going to have open heart surgery soon.  Vino was here at our apartment earlier today and said he would be over to start the paper work tomorrow.  Actually it is all on the computer now. Vino's mother is very supportive of him and tells him no matter what happens to his dad, he most go and serve the Lord!
We finished our Temple Preparation Class today.  We had all the brothers and sisters in the class over to our apartment for lunch after Church.  We had fried rice, homemade bread, cabbage salad, fruit tray, veggie tray, deviled eggs, banana bread, chocolate cake and ice cream.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and visiting.  After we finished eating we showed the video, Together Forever.  There were lots of laughter and tears as we viewed the video.  I'm just so grateful that I do know that families can be together for ever.  I felt so much love in the room as we watched this video together.  Many of these brothers and sisters are the only members of their families.  They so much want their families to partake of the gospel and its teachings.  As I gave the closing prayer I asked Heavenly Father to soften the hearts of these brothers and sisters families so that they could draw closer as a family.  Of course I was in tears when the prayer was over and so were many of the brothers and sisters.  As they left each of them gave us a hug.  The brethren usually don't hug you but they all did today.  We felt very close to each of them. 
I can feel my love growing for these people daily.  As I was reading in Alma 31: 34-35, I too want to help the people in this area come unto Christ.  I know their souls are very precious!

Temple prep group

Dilitha, Raj and Bro Timothy

Buddhist's Flag



Pandal of Buddha's life



Lanterns in daytime

Nighttime lanterns

It was Vesak here in Sri Lanka.  For those of you that don't what Vesak is I will write what the Insight Guide to Sri Lanka says: Vesak, celebrated on the day of the full moon in May, is the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals, celebrating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death,  all of which are believed to have occurred on this one day.  Buses and cars are decorated with streamers and garlands, while shops and streets are decked out with myriad paper lanterns.  Tiny clay coconut oil lamps are lit in villages, while in the cities electrically illuminated pandals are put up, depicting events in the Buddha's life. Because it is considered meritorious to offer gifts of food and drink during the festival, you will find specially constructed roadside booths(dansal) where both are offered free of charge.  The fare on offer ranges from rice and curry to Vesak sweetmeats.  The devout dress in white and visit their local temples to spend the day performing religious observances, fasting and praying.
We got to enjoy Vesak a little when we returned from a dinner appointment at Raj's house.  Raj is the only member in his family that has remained active in the Church.  His mother, sister and father also joined years ago but are now less active.  Raj's mother invited us to dinner.  She had a lovely meal.  She started out by serving us butter cake and a fruit juice.  Other members of the family didn't partake.  Then after awhile they sat us at the table and brought a small dish filled with water.  We washed our hands and asked for some silverware.  Since everyone here eats with their fingers.  They brought forks for us to use. We asked if they were going to join us.  They replied that they were only feeding us.  They served us: string hoppers, potatoes cooked in coconut milk, curry, and a chicken curry dish.  The father kept saying, "eat more."  We were both stuffed when dinner was over.  On the way home it took us over an hour and half to get home.  It would usually only take a half hour.  It was a wonderful evening.  Anura kept driving around the block to show us the sights.  There were so many people all over the place.  We've never seen so many people like this.
The Colombo District Relief Society held its birthday celebration on Saturday.  The sisters from Kandy and Negombo joined us in Colombo.  We had 95 sisters in attendance.  They demonstrated macrame, facials, talked about a proper diet, and had a sister talk about journaling.  Then a simple journal was given to each sister.  We also were treated to a dance by the sisters from Negombo.  Everyone received a rice pack for lunch.  Elder Meyers and Elder Fluckiger spent their time caring for 22 children.  They showed videos, colored, played games and other activities.  All had a wonderful day!
On Sunday Sister Meyers was released as Branch Primary 2nd Counselor.  The new president Sister Premila was sustained with counselors Sister Primali and Sister Meyers.


Children playing duck, duck, goose



Negombo sisters dancing



Kristina-recent convert



New Primary Presidency: Sister Primali,
President Premila and Sister Meyers

 

The weeks are beginning to pass quickly.  We started the week with news that Sister Rosemary's father, Eric Carl Rozairo, had passed away. He was 89 years old.  They had his funeral on Wednesday at 4 pm.  We were unable to attend the funeral due to our commitment to teach  English class at that time.  We went to the funeral home and visited with the family and expressed our love and condolences.  Brother Rozairo was living with his son, who is a Catholic.  His son decided that he wanted to do a Catholic service so the LDS people weren't asked to help with the service in any way.  Rosemary said that she would have the grave dedicated later.
On Friday we went to visit with one of our institute students, Raj.  Raj has been a member of the Church for about eight years.  His sister, mother, and father were baptized at the same time as Raj.  Raj is the only one that has remained active in the Church.  He is 23 years old and a very dedicated member of the Church.  When we arrived at the humble home Raj was very surprised.  He was the only one home.  In a while his mom came home and we had a lovely visit.  I told her that we would like to invite her back to Church.  That the Lord loved her and He wanted her to come back.  She told us that she and the other members of her family were attending a church near their home because it was easier.  I said we each have choices to make.  Know that you are needed and missed.  She said that she couldn't come this week but she would be there in a few weeks.  The next day Raj came into institute class and said that his mom had asked that we come to dinner on Tuesday.  We said we would be glad to do that.  Raj said that his mom was very impressed with us and happy to see us.  Raj's dad is an Elder so they were active for a while.  It would be wonderful to see them reactivated!
Today we went to Negombo. Elder Meyers and I both spoke in Sacrament meeting. This is the first time that we had to have a translator.  It was very difficult to have a translator.  You can only say a sentence or two before the translator is repeating what you say.  I had to really concentrate on what I was saying.  After Sacrament I helped with music in the Primary.  Sister Fluckiger played and I helped them sing.  After Church we attended seminary/institute class.  It was taught in Sinhalese so we didn't understand most of what was said.  They do read the scriptures in English.  To complete the day we had lunch with Elder and Sister Fluckiger. 
HOORAY FOR ISRAEL!

One of our English classes

Sussiladevy and Raj

I'll begin today's blog by saying, "Happy Mothers Day!" to all you mothers.  Mothers day is not celebrated here in Sri Lanka.  When I went to look for a card for my Mom I couldn't find one.   So I purchased one that was a regular card that expressed my thoughts.  The children in primary made cards for their moms and then the moms came into primary and the children sang, Mother Dear.
We taught classes as normal this week.  We taught three English Classes, two Seminary/Institute Classes, a Missionary Preparation Class to Nadene from Kandy, and we finished the Temple Preparation Class at Church today. We also had inservice with the seminary teachers on Friday.  That is an all day event when we do inservice.  We always have lunch after inservice.  We enjoy having these sisters come to our home and getting to know them better.   We were suppose to teach our first Missionary Discussion today but our investigator didn't show up.  That happens a lot around here.  You arrange for things and the people don't come. It is disappointing but we just pray and carry on.
Elder Meyers did interview a brother for baptism on Wednesday.  He is from Negombo but he works here in Colombo so he stopped at the Church after one of our classes and was interviewed.  That saved us a trip to Negombo.  This brethren has been investigating the Church for over four years.  It is exciting to see him take the step to be baptized.

Bro Romesh

Some exciting things have happened this week.  We started out on Monday by going to Sister Eashani and Brother Nihal's new apartment.  Brother Nihal is a colonel in the Air Force here.  He came with his driver all dressed in uniform to pick us up. The driver jumps out to open my door.  I was very impressed.  We arrived at the home and Eashani, Dilitha and Shamitha were waiting for us.  Elder Meyers was invited to dedicate the home.  It was a wonderful prayer and you could feel the Spirit.  Eashani showed us around the apartment and then served refreshments to us. The driver drove us home and treated us like a king and queen.
We worked a lot this week in preparing for Saturday's activity with the seminary and institute students. We did a scripture treasure hunt.  The kids loved it!  We had 34 youth attend with 10 adults coming also.  Brother Sunil gave a talk after the treasure hunt on how the scriptures provide us with all answers in life and how the Savior is our true treasure.  After the talk lunch was served.  We had rice packs, cabbage salad and chocolate crinkle cookies.  I made the cabbage salad and the cookies. They ate all of what I had made.  They had never had the chocolate crinkle cookies before.
Today we only had Sacrament Meeting.  There were at least 10 protests going on in the city of Colombo.  It is Labor Day here and they were protesting the UN.  I guess it has to do with some war crimes that the UN is trying to look into.  All public transportation was shut down and the leaders were afraid that there might be some violence.  Everything went great!  No problems that I'm aware of. Elder Meyers and I were asked to attend a funeral for Sister Beatrice Matilda Liyanage.  We had never met her but we did as we were asked.  About a half hour before we were to leave Brother Muthu called and asked if Elder Meyers would give a short talk.  We took music that had been printed to sing with the group.  There was no piano so guess who got to start the singing, you're right, it was me! When we arrived at the home they escorted us into the room where the body was laid out on a brier.  The husband, daughter and a few other relatives were in the room.  Lots of people were gathered outside.  We greeted the family and then sang a couple of songs with the group.  Then Elder Meyers gave his talk.  I've  never been so hot and sweaty in my whole life!  Sweat was pouring off my face, arms, back side and everywhere.  My clothes were soaked through.  After singing another song, we went out and sat outside with the people.  After about 45 minutes, the family went inside, said their goodbyes and in a few moments the pall bearers came out with the coffin.  They put the coffin on their shoulders and walked all the way out of the neighborhood.  When they got to this point they put the coffin in a car and we all drove to the cemetery.  The coffin was lowered into the ground and relatives threw dirt on the coffin.  The grave diggers finished covering the grave. It was very hard watching the family as the grave was covered.  I'm glad we don't do that in America. Then Elder Meyers gave the dedicatory prayer.  We said our goodbyes to the family  and headed home. It was interesting to see how funerals are done differently.

Dilitha, Shamitha, Nihal and Eashani



Carrying the coffin out of the
neighborhood



Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt