Relief Society Activity

Boy am I far behind in blogging. Below is the Relief Society Birthday Party at our little Branch. One of my sweet friends here, Karen McKinley, is the Counselor over Enrichment (yes I know the name has changed but what the hey, I almost said homemaking) and spearheaded this event. Because I was always helping her anyway she put me on the Enrichment/homemaking/whatever committee. We just love working together. One time she asked me if I would be able to drive to an activity and I said, "sure". After I hung up the phone, Scott reminded me that I didn't drive. I seemed to forget that little detail. Called her right back and said I couldn't drive but would be happy to loan her my car and she could drive us both. The sisters below are angels. I just love associating with them.

As always, the cute Elders seem to come to our Relief Society Parties. It is fun to have them there and we make sure that they get something to eat. Elder Mattox, but we called him Elder Madu, has since finished his mission and gone home to Florida. Elder Pulver replaced Elder Wall. He is also a great Missionary. We manage to have the Elders over for dinner several times during the month. In fact, as each Elder gets a transfer we do a special dinner for them and they get to choose whatever they want for dinner. Elder Madu was so funny. I asked him what he wanted for the main dish and he said pork, I asked him what he wanted for a side dish and he said pork, then I asked him what he wanted for dessert and he said pork. Well for the main we did Scott's famous pork tenderloins, for a side dish we did squash sauted in onions and bacon and for the dessert we had brownies and icecream. I just couldn't quite grant all his desires. He seemed okay with the choice.

May Day!

What ever happened to May Day? We don't celebrate it in America anymore. In many countries of the world it is celebrated as International Workers Day, but in my mind that has always seemed to be associated with Communism and the militaristic pageantry of the May Day Parade on Red Square in Moscow.

This is what Wikipedia says about May Day: "May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be exchanged." I can imagine that there were lots of slow runners back in those days.

I remember celebrating May Day at Santa Fe Trail Elementary School in Overland Park, Kansas. The teachers would erect a Maypole and about 10 or 12 kids would take the end of a colorful streamer attached to the top of the maypole and, half going one direction and the other half the other, weave the streamers around the pole and then undo them again by reversing the pattern.

Mostly, I just remember it being kind of a rite of spring. Winter's over and Summer's coming. Anyway, we don't do that anymore.

Tobi's been gone for 2 weeks now, and from all reports, has really enjoyed her visit home. She has officially approved our new family addition, Leila Jade Keddington, who made her appearance on April 14th. (Welcome to your first May little one.) She has seen all the kids and grandkids (7 now, with one more on the way).

She'll be back home again in about 44 hours. Yes, I've missed her. When we were younger, I used to have to leave home for weeks at a time for assignments with the FBI and that was hard, but I think it's gotten harder to be apart, the older we've gotten. Anyway, it seems that way.

Happy May Day Everyone! Go dance around a Maypole!

Scott

Easter Service Project

We have challenged all of our children to do a family service project each month for this year. Scott and I have been working hard at this project and it has been so wonderful.

In March this year I asked Scott if he wanted to help with the Embassy Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast. I told him I wanted it to be a true service project. So I called the lady in charge and told her that Scott and I wanted to do this. That we would bring a dish to eat and come early to set up, serve, hide the eggs, play with the kids and then clean up. Well she didn't say no. In fact she was very grateful.

We started at 8:00 a.m. for the set up

Then Scott hid the eggs, if you can call throwing them on the lawn in perfect view, hiding.

Then Tobi helped to serve the food, it was very yummy.

It was so much fun watching the little ones pick up an egg then run across the lawn passing 10 or more eggs to get the next one.

The Easter Bunny was one of our tough Marines. He was an absolute doll to wear that outfit in all the heat.

It was a very fun great day. Scott and I had so much fun doing this service project.

Malaysia - Year One

Wow, I can't believe it. One year ago today Scott and I flew into Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to start a new adventure. We were met at the airport by TDY Agent Richard Brake and an Embassy Employee who helped us get through customs, got our luggage and drove us to our temporary new home at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. On the way to KL about an hour drive we excitedly looked out the windows to see what our new home looked like. It was green. Green everywhere with lots of palm trees. The cityscape came into view and it was breathtaking. So hard to believe that we would actually be living here for at least the next three years.

The Ritz-Carlton was really living in luxury. It has beautiful pools with waterfalls and lush green landscaping. On my Saturdays, I spent many an hour down by the pool with the waterfall reading and relaxing with an occasional dip in the cool refreshing pool. I even stayed under the protection of an umbrella during the rain storms. We had a suite, which made it so nice since I had to start work in just a few short days. This way, Scott could stay up late and I could get up early in the morning and not bother each other very much. Every night we had a treat put on our pillow and houskeeping every day. The hotel staff would call us by name, Mrs. Tobi and Mr. Tobi. I still chuckle over that. Except for work we felt like we were on an extended vacation. Actually, Scott was. Every day I would get a taxi to and from the Hotel to get to work. Sometimes I had to wait a bit to get a Taxi from the Embassy, but the most I ever waited was 15 minutes and that was only one time. It was actually a very convenient way to commute.

We stayed in the hotel for a month before our apartment was ready for our occupation. We had their wonderful buffet breakfasts almost every morning and then many times we would just have an appetizer and soda at night. We also loved walking over to the Pavilion Mall and get dinner there. It would have been such a carefree time if it hadn't been for the stress of learning a new job.

We moved into our new apartment in May. It was so beautiful. Scott and I had to keep telling ourselves that this was our home and not just some wonderful vacation villa. Our furniture had not yet arrived but the Embassy furniture was actually very beautiful and we were very comfortable. It was good about a month later when our kingsize bed with the rest of our boat shipment finally arrived and I finally got my apartment all fixed up. It is truely an oasis. It is hard to leave it to go anywhere we love it that much. Scott has loved the BIG pool. He got on quite a workout regimen. Unfortunately with work that has suffered.

The Church has been such a highpoint of living here. We are so involved, which is good and bad. Sometimes it can be a stress but we feel that so much of the reason why we are here in Kuala Lumpur is to help with the Building up of the Kingdom of God in this part of the world. It is very exciting.

Work, what can I say about it. I can hardly stand to look back on how stressed out I was the first few months. I was incredibly blessed to have two wonderful bosses who have been so kind to work for. My ALAT Chuck O'Neal took so much time to explain so many things to me. He never ever got the least upset with me (and boy he sure could have). I will ALWAYS be grateful to both of them. It was hard at first but I feel that I can hold my own now and have become a big asset to our office. I would do anything for them and I know they would do the same for me. My Legat actually came about 2 months after me. We have kind of learned the Legat work together.

Scott and I are empty nesters for the first time. We had to leave home to accomplish this. I wasn't sure how this would be. I have actually very much enjoyed our children and various nieces and nephews that have come to make their homes with us. But having Scott all to myself has been wonderful. We have had so much fun together. Life is easy here and we are having the time of our lives. It is fun!!!

We haven't traveled that much but hope to do a lot more in the coming years. We have visited Phuket, Thailand; and Penang, Bukit Fraser, Ipoh, Seremban; all in Malaysia. There are so many other places we want to see.

I wonder what the next year will bring?

Tobi

The Year of the Tiger

Happy Chinese New year!

Last Monday (2/8) Tobi and I traveled with some of our friends up to Fraser's Hill and Ipoh and returned on Wednesday. We have written previously about our friend Yap Miow Lin, who we met here in KL on our first Sunday here back in March of 2009. Well, she recently got married to a man named James Willis, a dermatologist from Idaho Falls, Idaho. They were married in the temple in the states and then came here for a traditional Chinese wedding for her family and friends.

James, brought one of his daughters with him, 10 year old Micah (he has seven children); and a couple of good friends from his home in Idaho Falls, David and Linda Jamison. So on Monday, the seven of us got in our cars, (James, Miow Lin and Micah in Miow Lin's car, and David, Linda, Tobi and I in our car) and drove up to Fraser's Hill. You may remember me talking about Fraser's Hill from last June's Youth Conference which was held there (when I returned home with at least 100 mosquito bites). Well this time it was much different. It was nice and cool up in the hills (I just can't call them mountains) and we had a very peaceful and relaxing time. On our way to Fraser's Hill we stopped in the little town of Kuala Kubu Bahru because we had to wait for our turn to go up the hill. During the daytime hours, traffic is only allowed one way at a time on alternating hours, so if you miss your cut off time, you have to wait an hour. Well, we missed our cut off time, so we stopped in KKB (as it's called) and went to one of the little mom and pop stores and got some fresh watermelon and pineapple and some sweet corn ice cream.

When we finally made it up the hill we found our little bungalow, unloaded our luggage and went to dinner at a little Chinese open-air restaurant near the resort. This was the first time I had actually felt cool air since I've been in Malaysia and it was quite nice. This time we were armed with mosquito repellent but I don't remember seeing many mosquitos at all. At least not compared to June.

The next day we had a nice breakfast of Roti (Indian flat bread) with various dipping sauces, Nasi Lemak (coconut rice with shallots, dried anchovies, egg, and sambal chili, and Milo, which is the local type of hot chocolate.

After breakfast we kind of broke up and went and did our own thing. Tobi went back to the bungalow and I went on a hike through the jungle. I saw some enormous tree-sized ferns, hanging vines (some covered with thorns. It caused me to wonder if the occasional thorny vine was the origin of Tarzan's yell.) I also saw a family of monkeys, but since I didn't have any food with me, they weren't interested and made a hasty retreat into the canopy. Coming out the other end of the trail I realized that I wasn't exactly sure where I was, but after an hour or so of walking I made it back to the bungalow, none the worse for wear.

After a quick shower we loaded up again and headed back down the hill (after once again missing our departure time and having to wait nearly an hour) and were on our way to Ipoh. On our way to Ipoh we stopped once again at KKB and visited with the Dass family. Paul Dass is in our District Presidency and what a wonderful family he has. He and his beautiful wife are of Indian descent and they have four handsome sons. The eldest is serving a mission in Colorado and Wyoming, the second is set to start his mission in Singapore (the home mission). They told us their conversion story and it was very inspiring.

Ipoh is a city in the northern part of Malaysia and, in contrast to Kuala Lumpur, is about 70% ethnic Chinese. On Tuesday evening we went to visit some of Miow Lin's friends from when she was serving as a missionary there. We were treated to the absolute best Chinese meal I have ever had. Soups, and salads, a dish with ostrich, savory fish and chicken dishes, prawns, ....... It was wonderful. We ate way too much, but enjoyed everything.

On Wednesday it was back to KL for Tobi and me, while the others packed into Miow Lin's little car and drove on to Penang.

One of the highlights for us was getting to know the Jamisons. We had ample opportunity since they were staying with us in KL and then we drove in the same car for two solid days. David and Linda had never traveled outside the U.S. before. It was fun to see their enthusiasm about seeing new things and places, and trying new foods, etc. As we talked and got to know each other they related to us the tragedy that their family experienced several years ago when their two youngest, a three year old girl, Aisha, and her five year old brother, Vaughn, died in a fire inside an old camper shell in their back yard. Several years later (and after having two more children) the Jamisons wrote a book about their experience as a family. It's called "The Crown Without the Conflict." (If you are interested in reading their story search for ISBN 1-59971-073-0 on this website: http://www.isbn4authors.com/database/index.php)

Meanwhile, back at home, I am in the process (finally) of getting a job at the Embassy. My security clearance finally came through and I am in the 2nd interview stage. We'll see what happens.

spent the afternoon and evening at the Renners house in Seremban. Great food and great company. We have grown close to this family since we got here. Tennyson is a big guy with a big heart to match and is a gifted writer and what I would call a philosopher. Anne is a beautiful Philippina with a heart of pure gold and the most beautiful alto singing voice. They have 3 little kids, Janella, who is the image of her mother, Zach and Jezreel (aka Baby Deuce, aka Booger), who are cute little boys who are interested in anything to do with guns. They are also raising Tennyson's three teenage boys from his previous marriage. They are handsome young men and have great personalities. Tennyson (age 17) Garrett (age 14) and Ethan (age 13).

Life is good here in Malaysia. We are enjoying our experience immensely. We realize that we have been greatly blessed. We thank you all for being part of those blessings

Road Trip to Penang

We decided to take advantage of the American holiday to travel to Penang for the weekend. (Tobi gets all American and Malaysian holidays off) We plan to do things on American holidays because on Malaysian holidays travel and accommodations are sometimes difficult. So, on Saturday morning we cranked up our GPS, loaded the CRV, and headed up the E1 highway. It's about a 4 hour drive, so similar to driving from SLC to St. George. The scenery is a little different however. Lots of green. Oil Palm plantations and rubber trees and just plain jungle, north through Ipoh and then west to the coast. Across the causeway and bridge to beautiful Penang. You may remember that we traveled to Phuket, Thailand back in September and I think we both liked Penang better.

We stayed at the old, historic Eastern and Oriental Hotel, established in 1885 by the Sarkies brothers. It has hosted such luminaries as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham. It started out as two separate hotels, hence the unusual double name. We had a very nice suite with top level service.

We went on several long walks, visited the Cheong Fatt Tse Mansion, had some superb outdoor meals while watching the evening darken, spent some relaxing time by the pool, and met some interesting people. The E&O has been a destination for Brits on "holiday" for over a hundred years and it still is. We met a couple from England who come to the E&O every year in January and spend 3 months there. As you may not recall from your history lessons, Malaya was administered by the British for about 150 years until 1958, when it was granted its independence.

The weekend was over before we knew it but we had a very nice drive back home on Monday and we are back into our regular routine.

Scott and Tobi

Special Night

Last night I attended the baptism of Zohaib Zafar. It was the result of quite an amazing series of events. Flashback to 9 months ago when Tobi and I arrived in Malaysia and started attending the Kuala Lumpur Branch. Among all of the new faces was a beautiful young lady in her early twenties named Zobia Zafar. I later learned that she was a convert of about a year and was from Pakistan. She and part of her family came to Malaysia to avoid the religious persecution against Christians in her country. Her brother, Zohaib, had gone to jail at the age of 15 on trumped up charges and due in part to the fact that he was a Christian, there was no urgency in adjudicating his case. He remained in prison for the next 8 years.

Zobia and her mother came to Malaysia and in a short time, Zobia found the missionaries. She readily accepted the gospel and was baptized in 2008. Several times in talking with her or listening to her bear her testimony she always mentioned how concerned she was with her brother's circumstances. She always asked the members of the branch to pray for her family and her brother in particular.

Recently something happened to allow Zohaib to be released and he was able to join his family in Malaysia. Last night he was baptized. Zobia was asked to give a talk at the service and when she stood up she asked if it would be alright if she gave her talk in Urdu since her brother's English is not the best. She controlled emotions that were obviously close to the surface and, though we couldn't understand the words, the meaning was clear.

It is unusual to have a baptism on a Thursday night, but the timing was important because this morning Zobia Zafar became Sister Zafar and for the next 18 months will be serving in the Singapore Mission which includes Singapore and Malaysia.