Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I assume everyone is tired of turkey by now.  This was a very different Thanksgiving for us.  They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here so we decided to do as the Sri Lankans and not celebrate too.  We spent the day visiting with some of our sisters in the branch who live very far away. 
The first sister we stopped to see was Sister Daisy.  She has been a member for a year and a half.  She was baptized in Germany.  I asked how she met the missionaries and she said it was by accident and that accidental meeting led to her baptism.  She is an older lady that lives alone.  All of her three children are working abroad. She has been talking to her neighbor Rohini about the Church.  She invited Rohini over while we were visiting.  Roheni had some questions so Elder Meyers answered them for her.
Our next sister lived even further south.  This was Sister Ginna.  She was baptized in Cyprus.  She is a very happy lady!  I have never seen her without a smile.  She has a huge garden and works all day to keep things weeded and cared for.  She gave us some lady fingers(okra).  I was happy about that!  She knew we were coming so she went to the store and bought all kinds of biscuits, cookies, and pop for us.  What we couldn't eat she sent home with us.
As we were headed back to Colombo, we saw an area that had been hit hard by the Tsunami in 2004.  I asked Anura why things looked so bad.  He then talked about the Tsunami.  It hit the area the day after Christmas.  The members were at Church.  When they heard what happened they hurried to assist the people.  He said it was heart breaking to see death, damage, and the devastation that the Tsunami had caused.
On Saturday Elder Meyers and I traveled to Negombo.  Elder Meyers interviewed Brother Tharindu Uduwerella for baptism.  He is a young man from Kandy.  He is dating a girl in Negombo so he took the lessons from the Kellerstrasses.  He is 21 years old but he decided not to tell his family that he was getting baptized.  He was afraid that they would disown him and kick him out of the house.
Saturday evening we attended a special baptism.  That was our granddaughter, Lydia's baptism.  Jason made arrangements for us to watch the program through Skype.  It was very special to hear the speakers, the singing, and hear as Jason baptized and confirmed Lydia.  What a special occasion!  Of course we had a few tears as we thought of our family and the great blessings that they bring to us in this life!  We look forward to much joy and happiness with them through the eternities.
Today, Sunday, we went back to Negombo to watch their Children's Sacrament Program.  I needed to do this since I am a counselor in the Colombo Branch Primary Presidency.  The program was wonderful and the Spirit was strong. 
We are happy and staying busy trying to help these wonderful people.  We testify to you that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, and Redeemer!  Be happy and know that you are loved.

Rohini and Sister Daisy

Sister Ginna

Papayas in Sis Ginna' backyard garden

Sis Gianna's garden

Negombo's Primary practicing for program

Almost Elder Milan with Tharindu

We had the YSA group over for a family home evening on Monday.  We had six in attendance.  Elder Meyers did a lesson on service and showed a short video.  He used part of Mandy's talk that she gave in Sacrament Meeting a few weeks ago.  The family was a lot better behaved and attentive than our children used to be. After the lesson we had a spaghetti dinner.  Of course I had to make it totally from scratch.  They all seemed to enjoy it.  Spaghetti is something that most of them had never had.
Sister Premila spent the night with us because she lives so far away.  We skyped with her fiancee who lives in Alaska.  It was fun visiting with him.  She stayed up talking with Matthew until midnight but Elder Meyers and I went to bed at our usual time.  Premila was up around 5:30 the next morning and went to work.
Elder Meyers finally passed his kidney stone.  We went to the hospital on Wednesday with President Anton.  We saw a kidney specialist and he ordered some test to make sure all was well.  He had an ultra sound done for $17, urine test $2, blood test $30,and the visit with the doctor was $11. Isn't that amazing! The test were all good and the ultra sound showed no stones. We were so happy and Elder Meyers is feeling a lot better. He just needs to get his strength back now.
President and Sister Funk came to Sri Lanka and held training for the senior couples, which includes us.  Elder and Sister Kellerstrass joined us in Colombo.  Friday morning was spent in training and interviews with the president.  Then we took everyone to Hotel 168 for lunch. We had Chinese food.  It was wonderful and we were all stuffed.  We sure had fun visiting with each other. President Funk had interviews so we dropped him off at the church.  Sister Funk came to our apartment and stayed with us until President Funk picked her up around 7pm. They left after a simple dinner of scrambled eggs, toast, and apple goodie.  President Anton and Anura joined us for dinner.  You would have thought we had fed them a steak dinner.  They are always so gracious.
Saturday was the Adult Session of District Conference.  It was held here in Colombo and web cast to Negombo and Kandy.  Then today, Sunday, everyone met in Negombo for the General Session.  Dinuka and Gihan, our English students, rode the bus with the Colombo Branch.  We were excited to see them.  They came and sat with us.  We introduced them to President and Sister Funk.  They wanted us to take a picture of them.  The conference ended with Priesthood and Auxiliary Training. Elder Meyers was asked to give a training on record keeping.  I understand he did an awesome job! It has been a weekend filled with the teachings of the gospel. 
President Funk gave our mission statement today.  It is 3 Nephi 5:13.  Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. This statement applies to us as missionaries.  We all need to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and declare his word to his people because everyone deserves everlasting life. 

YSA at Home Evening

Pres Robert Williams-2nd Counselor to Pres Funk

Rochelle Anthony-Sis Sheron's new baby

Gihan, Sis & Pres Funk and Dinuka
at District Conference

What a week we have had!  It has been filled with joy, excitement, and memories.
Monday was Sister Meyers' 59th birthday.  The celebrating started early that morning with skyping with most of our children.  After skyping the doorbell rang and there was Anura, our tri-shaw driver, with papaya, bananas, and sesame candy.  As he was preparing to leave, President Anton, Sister Ann, Codi, Milli, Anjeli, Mightily and Jared came bearing gifts and food that would last all week.  They also brought a birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday.  We had a wonderful day visiting and answering phone calls.
Wednesday, our English Class threw a party after class.  The men planned, prepared and decorated for the party.  Dinuka, Gihan, Krishnan, and Nishanta were the party planners.  Nishanta is the baker so he did most of the food with the others paying for it.  Nishanta made a cake that said, Happy Birthday, Sister Meyers.  He made it in the shape of a book.  They all said that that was our English book.  On the other side of the book he wrote in Sinhala, Wishing you a long life.  As I rode away in the tri-shaw with tears in my eyes I thought, what will I be like on the last day when I have to say good-bye to them? It is just amazing how much love we feel for these people that we work with!
Thursday the Colombo Branch held an Open House.  The Relief Society and Elders Quorum Presidency planned and carried out this program.  They selected several clips and put them together to make one continuous video that showed the believes of the Church.  It was wonderful! There were 115 people in attendance.  65 of those were either less active members or non members.
We had invited several people to attend.  Four of our English students showed up.  They were Dinuka, Gihan, Susan, and Helen.  After the program was over I asked Susan and Helen what they thought about it.  Susan placed her hand over her heart and said, "It feels good inside."  I looked her in the eyes and said, " I know, that is because it is all true." Dinuka and Gihan came up to us and asked if it was ok if they came to church on Sunday.  We quickly replied, "That would be great!"
Elder Meyers continues to have pain from his kidney stones.  President Anton has kept him supplied in pain medication but he wants to have a scan done sometimes this week to see what is going on.  It is amazing how the Lord blesses Elder Meyers to do any assignment that he has and then when it is over the pain returns.
Today is Sunday and who should appear at the doors of the Church?  You are right, Dinuka and Gihan.  They stayed for all three meetings and attended our Gospel Principles Class.  They asked so many questions.  It was sooo exciting!  They had a hard time understanding about a God that had a body and on top of that he has a son, Jesus Christ.  We gave them a Bible and some pamphlets. Elder Biggs had given them a Book of Mormon earlier.  We assured them that we loved them and didn't want them to feel like we were pressuring them into the Church.  We told them we would always be their friends.  They left smiling and saying they would see us on Wednesday for class.
Sister Primali brought a surprise birthday cake to Primary.  At the end of Primary all the children sang Happy Birthday to me and we all enjoyed a piece of cake.  This is the first year ever that I have had three birthday cakes.
This week we have had memories of a year ago.  On the 6th was the 1st anniversary of Asher's accident and on the 8th was his death.  We have relived those memories.  Some good and some very unpleasant.  But we know that Asher lives today.  As we were reading the scriptures this week, we read what Alma said to his son, Corianton about death.  In Alma 40:11it says: Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection--Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.  Asher has been taken home to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Asher is happy.  I think he has probably learned not to use his favorite word anymore, honky.  He understands the total plan.  I'm sure he is cheering for us and all his family to be happy and live a good life so that we can see him again.

Sis Ann watching Deb open her present

Sis Meyers 1st Birthday cake

Sis Meyers 2nd Birthday cake

Wednesday's English class celebrating
Sis Meyers' birthday

Sis Eashani with family and friends
at the Open House

Sis Rosemary feeding her family members
at the Open House

Elder Meyers was so excited on Monday morning.  He got a shipment of 150 pieces of garments.  He had so much fun sorting and putting them into packages for the members.  He also received 200 pictures of the Hong Kong Temple.  A picture for each member of the district to have one for their home.
We got a call from President Anton one day so we dropped what we had planned and went to visit a member's home.  The mother was overwhelmed with her autistic 15 year old son.  He has never had any training and neither has his parents had any training on how to handle him.  He now climbs their fence and gets away from them.  The mother wants us to help figure out a way to get him into a home.  They don't have much so they want the Church to help if possible.  We told her we didn't know the answers but we would look into it.  It hurts our hearts to see such faithful people have such struggles.
At our Wednesday English Class the students brought goodies to celebrate Dinuka's 35th birthday.  We didn't know it was his birthday but Dinuka, Gihan, Nishanta, and Krishnan arranged everything.  We certainly enjoy this class!
We are planning on going to India in December.  We have been invited to attend Zone Conference, therefore we need to get an India Visa.  We finally got to the office after several changes and turned in our application.  We go back on the 14th of this month to turn in our passports and hopefully be granted the visa. 
Sister Funk's stake in Colorado made some materials for our primary to use.  Several of the items were for the music leader to use in teaching the songs to the children.  I loved that since music is my responsibility.  Some of the 8-11 year old girls made some friendship bracelets and also sent those.  Our girls loved receiving these bracelets.  They will become pen pals with the girls in Colorado.
Elder Meyers woke up this morning with pain in his right kidney.  We called our doctor, President Anton.  He was over at our apartment within the hour with pain medication.  Elder Meyers went to Church but still has some slight discomfort.

Realize what a blessed people we are.  The Lord loves us. Trust Him. Remember to be still and know that He is God!

Kate, Milli, Codi and Shamindri with
friendship bracelets

Dinuka's birthday party