20 August 2009 email excerpt

~laundry room letter writing~

Rhondeauvians (Naomi & Daniel) take part in the
fun and games at an Indonesian Independence Day party.

I love Indonesians. Already. I'm so glad you got the chance to meet them, to know them, to feel some part of the things I've been feeling this past week. Day after day it's a mixed blessing of terror and anticipation, counting down only 10 days until this is over and the mission really begins. But having met the Leo family, and daily speaking Indonesian, it only feels right. And that makes me feel strong. And it all comes together in a lovely little round of determination and a lot of hope. I can't bear to leave, I can't wait to go. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. There is always a bit of both, with so much to love.

But part of loving is leaving behind, and that makes it all the sweeter. Elder Nixon and Elder Garrett brought us our mail today (we have a P-Day arrangement that involves our envelopes for a Dr. Pepper or two) [Editor's note: Dr. Pepper at the MTC?!? Huzzah!]. Nixon hopping across the sidewalk so as not to step on the cracks. Greenwell and Meek caught up with us at lunch, sharing their swedish fish and chatting dalam Bahasa Indonesia. In the laundry room I wrote letters and talked to the Mongols, who told me that Mongolians do not understand the dual-consonant pronunciation of "OK" and simply say it "oak." You know? Just the simplest little things that I wish could live on forever, but know they're only so sweet and simple because they're meant to pass away.

I've been so blessed here.

There's really not much to say about this week at all---just packing in the preparation so we might have some chance at getting through our first few months in Jakarta. We're past the point of outlines and memorization though, so it's hard to keep focused. P-Day's been strange, sorting through clothes, deciding what to take and what to leave behind. And every day in class being reminded that there are only 10 days. 9 days. 8 days. Etc. So, you know. Life goes on, as it tends to do. Only it feels like it's going much too fast these days and then not quite fast enough.

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kasih selalu,
xoxo
E