Letters: 28 May 2006

Thanks for those who have been concerned about the earthquake here in Indonesia. For those who haven’t heard, it was yesterday morning (Saturday morning) near Jogjakarta, a town in Central Java nearly 400 km to the south east of us. All day yesterday and today we have been watching for updates on the news and on the internet about damages and casualties. We got together with some friends on Saturday night (one couple from the US Embassy and one couple from the Canadian Embassy) and both of them kept getting phone calls to take care of things relating to the earthquake – locating US citizens who might have been in the Jogjakarta area, coordinating relief efforts, etc.

Thursday of this week was a public holiday – no work or school. We got together with members from our branch and put together some packages with toothpaste, shampoo, soap, toys, etc. for children (and their families) in a cancer hospital. We then went to the hospital to give the kids the toys and to play with the kids for about an hour. There are so many needs for help & assistance here in this country. We need to do more things like that.

The rest of the week was somewhat normal. The boys had a primary party yesterday, which including the cub scouts receiving some awards they have earned over the past year.

Here’s a letter that Grant wrote about his experiences over the past little while.:

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Yesterday I got some turtles from the Powell’s (some good friends of ours). Then we got a haircut and left the turtles in the car with our driver “Cartim” (Charteem). When we were riding home from the haircut place we decided on some names for the turtles. We thought for a while, then Nash thought of a name for the big one it was “Ted” next I thought of the name “Ricky” for the little one. Then we realized that Ricky would sound better for the big one and Ted would sound better for the little one. When we got home we thought that little Ted would be better so we started to call him little Ted. Then when we were washing the bowl I was holding Little Ted and he about bit me. Then we decided to call him Snapper, but we decided it wouldn’t be a good idea.

On Thursday we did a service project at a cancer hospital. We gave toys to the children that had cancer and we played with the kids for a while. We also gave them toothpaste, soap, and other stuff like that. When we got home I went on a bike ride with my friend and then I went to lunch with my friend. And then we watched American Idol and then we went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner.

On Saturday morning I went on a bike ride with my Dad and after that we went swimming. Then we had a Primary party. At the Primary party we swam, jumped on a trampoline, ate pizza, and had rootbeer floats. I also got awards for Cub Scouts. I got the Bobcat badge plus belt loops for Chess, Computers, Language and Culture, Music, Badminton, Baseball, Soccer, Swimming, and Table Tennis.


Luke wrote his letter on a piece of paper, so I scanned it in. I hope you can read it:


Luke drew this picture of what he wants to do this summer: