Wooden homes

Kuching is a city of extremes.  We see huge beautiful home, the most expensive cars in the world and then we find many of our church members living under the most difficult circumstances.  At the end of the airport is a community of wood structure on stilts.  The waste water from the houses puddle under the homes.  The first picture is Elder Petersen and Elder Crosland visiting Marina (one of our Seminary students) homes,  Second picture is Doris' (another student) home.  The last picture is the home of six.  Very tiny home.  The father works back at the family compound seven days a week.  He is home for one night a week to see his family.  The mother and children live in Kuching to give their children a better education and chance at life.

When we see our church members at church they are alway neat and clean.  We have no idea what their home life is like until we go to visit.  Then they share with us what little they have with honor.  Transportation is such a problem to get them to church.

My heart aches for them.

President Ezra Taft Benson said "We are commanded by God to take this Gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today.  Only the Gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction.  Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace.  Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family."

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be the greatest help for these people.  I know that from my own family background.  It makes us better people and then we can pull ourselves out.  I some times feel helpless for them but I am seeing them take hold of the gospel, their spirits lighten, they see and seize opportunities and children reach for higher education to better themselves.  It seems like such a slow process at times.  I want a better life for them now.  I hurt to see them struggle so hard.  I am their cheerleader as they pull themselves to higher heights.  I love and care so much for them.