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From Jim

Monday November 30, 2009

We got up bright and early for our class this morning at MANA. Our drivers’ father operates MANA and was there to meet us. We had a prayer that all would go well and that we would be able to teach and they would learn.

Not long after starting the class, the power went out and we lost our air-conditioning as it were. Three ceiling fans that oscillated back and forth plus one next to our table.

The class went very well and the students were eager to learn. Colleen’s sister Lois, who is an English teacher, would have been impressed how eager they are to hear and learn the language. We used songs and actions to teach the lesson material interspersed with lectures and illustrations. They were a very bright and quick learning class.

We attended a closing ceremony for a Level 2 class with the Merkleys. They and the Loughmillers taught the class and we were invited in place of the Loughmillers. They gave out certificates and notebooks to all the students. The students had a program and refreshments. The students spent a great deal of time doing Karaoke and so could sing verily well. Sister Smith and Sister Merkley discussed starting a Choir with the youth.

After dinner we finally moved into our permanent residence across the hall from our temporary residence. Home at last.

Tuesday December 1, 2009

We met with a group of new students at the Department of Social Welfare. They are eager to learn and have a quick grasp of the language. They have a tough time with the “r” sound in the middle of a word, but they never give up.

They wanted to have a class right then and there but we had not planned anything so Elder Merkley taught them some basic words and pronunciation, sentence structure and recognizing adjectives. He does a great job and is very patient with the students.

Our plans for traveling down the river have been denied by the government so we will get to participate in building benches on Friday and Saturday at the church. This is a local initiative and the branch is providing the labor to put together the benches and deliver them.

We began unpacking our luggage and getting the staff to move and remove some of the furniture so that we could have a cozier apartment.

Jacob came over for our weekly gospel study session. He continues to amaze me that he has such a good grasp on the gospel. I invited him to get baptized but he said that he was not ready yet and besides he could not attend church because of his schedule. We made plans for next week then I challenged him to pray. He knew the steps but was too nervous so I offered a prayer in his behalf. He then asked if he could bring a few friends next week to the discussions. Of course we stated that it was okay and he said he would call on Saturday of Sunday to verify if his friends were coming.

Wednesday December 2, 2009

We had our second class this morning with MANA. They are quick to pick up ideas and concepts. We do spend time with pronunciation especially with the “r” sound but with the basics that Elder and Sister Merkley taught with, we can help also.

We had our first lesson with USDA (Union Solidarity Development Association) in the branch this afternoon. There are about 100 students in that class with many attending schools during the day and taking this English class at night. All but two are single and we have several monks in this class and they add quite a bit of variety to the discussions. After the class Elder and Sister Merkley taught a dance class to the students. They really got into the “swing” of things. They did square dancing and the “Bunny Hop”. The young people really have a good time here.

This evening we attended a Christmas concert in the lobby of the hotel. A group of Wesleyan youth puts on a concert here for those that are far away from home.

Thursday December 4, 2009

Today was on off day so we spent it cleaning the room and preparing a mission budget. I also spent part of the day preparing an updated roster for our USDA class.

Sister Merkley and Sister Smith went visiting teaching to the north end of the city and were gone a long time. Typical visiting teaching I guess but Sister Smith reported they were invited by a minister of another Christian faith to do visiting teaching to her and her family. It was quite a spiritual experience for Sister Smith and Sister Merkley.

That evening we visited with Mr. Hayward Alto from the U.S. Embassy. It was great to talk to the international staff of the embassy.

Friday December 4, 2009

We went for walk this morning for exercise and to see the people in their day to day pursuits. We visited an open air market where all kinds of food, drink, tools and cloth were sold. The beef and chicken was cut up and sold right there. Culture shock, I would say, at least if not a shock to the senses.

Our walk took us down some very narrow, paved roads that lacked sidewalks. You had to trust the drivers and other pedestrians to keep you safe. Along our walk we observed walls made out old World War 2 corrugated runway pieces. They reuse everything here. We also saw concrete light poles everywhere, a private Asiatic Bear enclosure, huge tree stumps that were toppled during Cyclone Nargis and banana tree.

In the afternoon we visited the mill where benches for a project for a school were being built. This project is in cooperation with the branch that will put the benches together and paint them. While we were there, a completed set of benches was being loaded into a small truck to take to the school. There were students from the school eagerly helping and knew they were going to participate in using them. The principal was also there helping out. We found out that the mill had not arranged for transportation of the benches to the branch meeting house so Elder Merkley had to barter with the mill to get them there tomorrow for us to work on.

We then went to the Bojo market to find a few things. We purchased so gifts for the kids and some items for me to use in the branch finances. I had a diabetic problem while there (heat, lack of water and exhaustion) and had to rest several times. So by the time we got back to the apartment, I was pretty well done in.

Saturday December 5, 2009

We got up this morning and headed right to the branch meeting house. There we participated in a project building benches and tables for an orphanage. About 40 members of the branch showed up and got right to. They eagerly performed each task as required to put together benches in preparation for painting. The sisters as well as the brethren wielded hammers and saw to put them together. Everyone had a great time working together to accomplish the goal.

At Family Home Evening this evening Elder Smith gave a lesson on the family. The numbers were small tonight but hopefully they had a good time.

We are meeting with Peter, the recent convert, to discuss the gospel in more detail. He is very bright and wants to learn and deepen his testimony of the gospel. He had a spiritual experience that made him another convert to Christ from Buddhism.

Sunday December 6, 2009

Another Sunday morning to worship and pray but this one is a little different. We begin to make preparations for a visit from President Smith.

He arrives tomorrow and will begin a tour of the membership areas in Myanmar. Elder and Sister Merkley will go with them in their capacity of Country Director.

President Michael Smith arrived this evening and we were able to meet them at the airport. We spent a couple of hours discussing projects and what President and Sister Smith wanted to do while they are here. Elder Smith was invited to go with President Smith and Elder Merkley to visit the members in the homes.

Because of the late hour when we finally got home, we were up late preparing lessons for Monday’s class at MANA.