Bintulu

Here I sit at mom & dad's. East Malaysia is just what you'd picture Borneo to be, lush and green. It's killing me not to get out in the jungle and do some birdwatching. We have seen quite a few birds just driving around town.

"Brother Wong" picked us up from the airport. He isn't a member of the church but is the taxi driver everyone from the church uses. It was funny; we loaded in his cab and he proceeded to tell dad everything that went on in the local branches since they left.

Mom and dad's house is nice. I have some photos to post. I'm not sure if I'll have time right now. We never seem to have much down time (except at airports where they haven't had web access). When I get home I will post photos and a slide show.


We had a nice morning. Just hung out at mom and dad's, finished up laundry, etc. Dad fixed us breakfast- just like home. It's fun being with mom and dad, just seems normal.

Church was at 1:00. We went early because dad had a meeting at noon. The church is just a converted store in a strip mall, but nice inside and airconditioned. Everyone came to shake our hand. Language was interesting. Everyone speaks Iban, some speak Malay, a few speak English, scriptures and manuals are in Indonesian and Hymn Books are English. We didn't understand any of church, except once speaker and the Sunday School teacher would throw in a English sentance or two every once in a while for our benefit. We thought that was nice. The kids ran wild in Sacrament Meeting. I admit I didn't help much. I thought I'd make a paper jumping frog for the cute girl behind me, Emily. All of sudden all these kids were crowding around my chair, handing me pieces of paper, and saying "frog, frog". I have a picture to post of Emily and her brother Jackson. He is nine and spoke English quite well. He would translate for her, but she could say "thank you" to me for the frog. They both giggled a lot.

After Sunday School we went with mom to Young Women. Only three showed up. None of the leaders ever come so mom goes so the girls just don't go home. She has them take turns preparing the lesson, however the girl who was supposed to teach today didn't come. We chatted with the girls a bit. They were really cute. One, Jarinee, spoke English very well and translated the conversation for us. Evelyn understood some of the English, but didn't like to speak. Amelia's family doesn't think she needs to go to school, so she only spoke Iban but could not read any of the scriptures. Amelia and Evelyn are cousins and joined the church 2 months ago. Evelyn is going to teach YW next week for the first time. They were really cute girls. About half way through YW the rain started pounding on the roof so hard that we couldn't hear each other, we had to move our chairs into a tight circle so we could talk. I wanted to run outside and look at it, but I guess it wasn't appropriated. The downpour lasted about 10 minutes. By the time we were out of church, the sun was shining again- but the air was very humid. It is much more humid here than anywhere else we have been.

After church, mom taught a piano lesson so dad, Janet and I walked around the shops where the church is located. Most were closed but every afternoon/evening all the local people set up food stands along the shops (in the parking lot) and down the streets. It was very interesting. A guy with live and dead chickens as well as eggs had his truck set up with a scale to sell the chickens.

We drove right to some members house (the are in another branch- just the daughter and mother are members). They had offered to show us some traditional Iban dancing. We sat on their floor and had a drink and communicated a little. Only the daughter spoke English, but after a while more relatives showed up and a few spoke English. The grandfather is 110 years old! He was alive back when the Iban were headhunters. He has old tatoos on his arms. I'm sure his life story is incredible!

Jacqueline and her mother danced for us. I have a video to post. Then they wanted to teach me how. So after they finished I danced with them. I tried to show them a little tap dancing, and thought the floor was going to give way. (The house is on stilts and the wood is not very sturdy- one of the other couples here fell through someone's porch) We had a lot of fun with this family. The mother went and got some traditional clothing and they dressed me up. Unfortuneately, both mine and Janet's camera ran out of film and dad forgot his. I guess this was something that was just to be in our memory! I did get a shot of the whole family and some dancing. They all came out on their porch and waved to us as we drove away. I so wish I could post a picture. They were such nice people!!!

Tonight we had dinner at the Luthey's, the Roberts also joined us. Nice to meet my parents friends.