HARI MAMABEAR - May 14

HI FAM N FRIENDS!!

This week was realllly good, and really hard, but something that gets me through everyday is my go to comfort song- Heavenly father, are you really there and do you hear and answer every child's prayer? This song is mah ANTHEM you know it! I be singing this all day everyday on my bike!! On the real though, I take great comfort in keeping a constant prayer in my heart and that Heavenly Father has and will always be there to help me.

I testify that He does answer our prayers! He answers His children's prayers. He is there and He is listening.

One thing that struck me this week- When your trials are not a result of disobedience, it is because God knows that it is time for you to grow just a bit more. How thankful I am for trials and for God who loves us soo much and knows and wants the absolute best for us.

and when it gets hard- when you are biking up a ginormous hill, or stuck in the rain, or nervous to teach, or whatever is hard for you- dont forget to picture me screaming this to you: YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!! or picture Shia LaBeauf screaming JUST DO IT!!!!

ANYWAYS I GET TO SKYPE MAMA BEAR SOON AND THE FAM SO TALK TO YOU SOOOONNNN HAHA I will try my best to stop my crying, but I can't make promises ;;))))

LOVE YOU MORE THAN I LOVE COCONUT WATER!!!!!

xo Sister Ratu :)

5.5 cabes and more :,,,)))) - May 7

Selamat siang fam!

We had zone conference and stake conference this week! I am on a spiritual high and I am so thankful to be a part of Heavenly Fathers great and marvelous work :) 

HIghlights of the week- 

ZONE CONF/STAKE CONF- One thing that stuck out to me more than anything... What is the reason behind all we do? Why am I here in Indonesia? Why do I want to teach repentance and baptize converts? Why do I want to learn the language? And the reason is out of love. I am here because I want to be here, because I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and because I love my Heavenly Father. I want to learn the language because I love the Indonesian people more than anything and I want to be able to really communicate and connect with them on a different level. I want to teach repentance and baptize converts because I really love this gospel so much and I know the joys and blessings that come from this gospel!! And most of all- God loves us!! So important, and it's so crazy that so many people don't know that. Our actions, thoughts, words, etc. should be prompted by love.. just think about that for a sec! 

SO MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT AND SPREAD UR LOVE AND THE LOVE OF CHRIST OK FAM!!!!

SPLITZ- Since my trainer is also a STL, I have the blessed opportunity to go on splits with all 10 sisters in our zone. Sooo much fun and sometimes stressful because a) still new b) i still get lost, but also c) so many finding experiences that are near and dear to my heart! and i also adore the sisters here!!

CABES BABAY- 

If you really knew me, you would know that spicy food is my jam. I feel very blessed to be in a country where spicy food is everyone's jam!!! My regular is 5.5 chili peppers in my gado gado or whatever else is being made, and the spice factor is so real. You know its good when your nose starts to sniffle and eyes water with tears of joy of course! I would say my goal is 7 chili peppers, maybe 9. I do have a year to work on it ;) I have also found my calling in life- that is, making SAMBAL!!! (chili sauce) picture will be attached next week since I can't this week!

Everyday is crazzzzy here and I love it!! I am very much happy to be here and most of all, I really am so thankful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I am so thankful to know that whenever I feel so lost, or so hurt, or whatever the heck I am feeling, that He understands. He knows. And that I need not to worry, because He is always standing beside me.

LOVE YOU ALLLLL AND HUG YOUR MOM <333333

CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU FAM ON SKYPE NEXT WEEK WAHOOOO!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Sister Ratu :)

2 months in Indo :,,)) - May 1

SELAMAT SOREEEE KELUARGA!!

Sorry this week will be short and sweet!!! I am loving Indonesia and don't get me wrong, it is so hard being a missionary, but the rewards of it are so incredible! I feel really blessed to be here.

I hit my 2 month mark in Indo and sometimes I feel like I still have been here for 2 days hahaha. ITS CRAY, time flies and I have been out for 5 months already (almost)! Especially as a greenie, it is easy to think of 101 negative things, but then it is EVEN EASIER to think of 101 things to be grateful for. I am grateful to be a missionary, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, to love, to speak indonesian even when I sometimes don't understand what they/I am saying:))), to be in the sun, to drink coconut water, to be sweaty and to smile and what a time to be alive!!

A source of great comfort: 2 Nephi 4! I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers! He loves us so much! He wants us to rejoice! And this gospel is what brings us happiness... so be happy!! YEAH DONG!!! Never forget that He always wants to hear from His children.

I love you all! Hug a pug for me ya? :)

xo Sister Ratu 

(or another new nickname this week from a member- Sister Ratu Minuman lolol)

INDONESIA ROX AND U ROX!!!

week 8: A 19 Year Long Prayer

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet my sweet family that I have never met the whole 19 years of my life. It was really a special, really sacred moment, and I don't know how else to describe the experience besides the fact that I felt like the hole in my heart was filled! I always felt like a piece of my heart was missing since I never knew my grandparents, sisters, cousins, etc. and I simply found that piece of my heart in their arms that glorious day. My cute family in Manado!! I love them so so so so sooo much!!!!!

I met my Oma and Opa and my two sisters, and I met my cousins, and aunts and uncles. It was easily the happiest moment of my life. I just spent a couple of hours with them, and it was the coolest thing because I felt like I have already known them. I know I have! Before life on Earth, I knew my family! I knew that I have always loved them so much. This miracle was clearly from Heavenly Father and my testimony of His Plan has been strengthened immensely. My testimony of prayer has been strengthened because I know that God truly does answer prayers! 

Every night for the last 19 years, I have knelt down and asked for Heavenly Father to bless my family in Indonesia! That one day, please, let me meet them. One day, I want to hug them and know them and that one day came true. It was a joyful reunion indeed, and I felt the Spirit very strongly. It felt like heaven- and heaven is only heaven because the people you love are there. 

I felt very blessed to be with them and finally hug them! They are AMAZING! Angels! Filled with so much love and happiness and joy! And I KNOW that one day they will accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ because I felt it right then and there. I know that God lives. I Know that He answers prayers. I know that miracles can happen, if we trust in God's timing, and rely on Him. I know that I can be with my family forever- through God's Plan of Salvation. Through His Plan of Happiness! This gospel is true, everlasting happiness! 

How thankful I am to know that yes, God does have a Plan, and yes, He does want His children to return to Him. He has provided us a way, that through Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we can receive a remission of our sins. We can be freed from sorrow and guilt and pain. That through the principles and ordinances of this gospel of Jesus Christ, we can live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families forever. I know that families can be together forever! What comfort and joy that brings to my soul! there is truly no greater joy that the joy that comes from this gospel!! 

I love you all my sweet family and friends!! This gospel is TRUE!!!

dengan kasih,

Sister Ratunuman :)

Happy tears x1763829140839475093 I love my sweet family :)

week 7: IF YOU ARE READING THIS & YOURE A DOGE, DONT HATE ME

How goes it my sweet family and friends!!!! :)

This week was filled with a lot of realllllly crazy moments and I don't even know where to start. First, I ate durian which is a fruit I ate when I was young, especially from Asian countries, and here in Indo, it is just so incredible!! (Disclaimer: Cover any dogs ears nearby) Second, I hate myself I hate myself I hate myself because I ate ANJING haha doge :( I ate dog and I hate myself because it was actually so delicious but I also teared up because if you really knew me, you know how much I love doges.. 

And by crazy moments, I also mean days where things are going really well, and days where things feel.. well.. yeah. But through it all, I have found complete peace and comfort in Jesus Christ. When I start to forget about my worries and forget about myself, and bike down the street and greet every person I meet with a smile and a 'mongo', then my day is suddenly better. There are days where you need to have a constant prayer in your heart and I guess this week was one of them- just all in a row hahahah. 

Something really neat though- we keep meeting people throughout the week, then meeting them again at the most random places. There is this man that I literally see everywhere and everytime I felt very prompted to talk to him. NEVER DELAY A PROMPTING!! This man's name is Pak Augus and turns out he lives right next to a few members and whether he accepts the gospel now or later, I am sure that one day he will accept it!! 

Alma 26:12!!! In His strength I can do all things :') Happy tears, I just love this gospel. There is nothing I would rather be doing than being a missionary here in Indonesia. 

Here is my address if you wanna send a letter to your sister out in Indo ya! :) 

Jln Senopati NO115, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan Indonesia

ps- I am out of time but I will write about this next week because yeah, there is a LOT to write about AHH... I got to meet my family in Indonesia!!! HAPPIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I promise I will write about it in my email next week, but I am out of time, and it will take awhile for me to talk about it :) MIRACLES HAPPEN. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. HIS PLAN IS PERFECT!!!!

I love you all!

xo Sister Ratunuman :)

Hugging my oldest sister Sisilia for the very 1st time!

This is my Opa Pai (Mom's Father), he is very ill. Please Pray for him.

My Oma Ratunuman (Dad's Mother)

My Oma Pai (Mom's Mother)

WEEK 6: "Oh yeah.. You're allergic to the sun"

This week in the land of Jebres, I found out that-

1) My skin does not do well here and I have broken out in heat rashes for the last month. Thanks to some handy dandy cream and some antibiotics, they have finally, ALAS, vanished, and now my skin is back to being irritated and itchy free. All this was due to an allergic reaction to the sun, according to the doctor in the apotik. He recommended me to wear a jacket (what's new) so I don't get any darker too HAHA

2) Martabak manis will change your life forever!!! I have never eaten something so delicious and so heavenly.  ENAK BANGIT 

3) SEPATU RODA (roller blades!!)The kids here know what's up and they blade the streets of Indonesia!! Hahaha, almost every street I go on, there is a group of kids just full on blade brigade. I would say it's a tender mercy ;) 

4)ok another tender mercy tho- ES KELAPA aka coconut drinks here are straight up the real thing. I had 4 in the last 2 days, and I am going to be drinking some more today. You know it baby!! I always thought coconut water was good, but here they are a dream :,) there's a coconut water man in front of the church, and I believe that before we enter the gates of heaven, the angels there will give us es kelapa as we stand in line ;) 

5) TRANSFERS and I am still in Jebres and yay, i really do love it here.

funny: We met a really nice old man, who gladly let us in and let us teach him. After the lesson, he put some oil on his hand and slapped our foreheads. I was so shocked and confused. He then adopted us as his cucus (his grandkids). It was possibly the funniest thing, but hey, now I have a godfather here!!

simpatisan: We met some Catholic Buddhists, two sisters, older, who still have a solid testimony of Christ, and are now practicing Buddhism. As we were getting to know them, they straight up said that they are looking for happiness, and peace, that is lasting and real. We were like OK YA LEMME TELL YA BOUT THE GOSPEL THO- and we were soo excited to teach them about the Book of Mormon, and the Plan of Salvation. It was so great and I am excited to watch them grow and learn in this gospel :)

With all fun and games aside, General Conference was so amazing and I am so so so thankful for this gospel. The overall theme that I picked up was Rencana Keselamatan aka Plan of Salvation. The Plan of Happiness!! Words can't describe my gratitude for the knowledge that God is our loving Heavenly father who wants us to return to Him and He has provided a way! Happiness comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ and I can testify that all my sources of true joy come from this gospel. I can truly say that the reason why I smile is because of this gospel, because of the knowledge that we can live with Him again, with our God, our families, forever, in eternal happiness :) Mosiah 2:41!!! 

anywho i love you and i pray for you every night!

dengan kasih,

Sister Ratunuman :)

because i miss sister nuku and love her!!

sister sri and her nasi goreng!! so yum

always comparing skin colors ;)

kitab mormon!!

 distrik!

THE REAL BLADE BRIGADE haha MY HEART <4

es kelapa 

 indo

biggest spider ive ever seen in my life.. i have never been so petrified hahaha. its squished here, but i swear it was almost the size of my hand

 ibu hyde!

WEEK 5: Long live HITAM MANIS

How goes it my lovely family and friends?!!

Every day is a blessing to be here in Indonesia. I do not think I can ever actually put into words how much I love this country and the people here. The people are so so amazing, truly, I have felt so much love for them and serving here has made me feel just a snippet of our Heavenly Father's incredible amount of love for each of His children.

 My love for the gospel is deepened everyday- the little things COUNT!! BY small and simple things are great things come to pass!! I have never experienced such power through reading my scriptures and pouring my heart out to Heavenly Father. I have literally felt His love so strongly!! With that comes a deeper love for our Savior Jesus Christ. I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it will bring you to really know our Savior. If you don't know Him yet, please, GO AND SEEK HIM!! And of course, being in this lovely country has increased my love and appreciation for my parents, Meidy and Merchi Ratunuman <3 <3 <3

Sooooo many things remind me of you! Literally, I have a list of things in my journal called "Growing Up with Indonesian Parents" HAHAH from eating with our hands, taking our shoes off, certain slang words, certain foods like bakso, sate, mie goreng, yakult, etc., feeding people always hahah I just love it sooo much. One of my favorites- Mom and Dad called me Hitam Manis ALWAYS growing up/to this day. And now I come here, and everyone calls me that. Biking down the street, at church, with strangers, everywhere hahaha. (Hitam manis means like black and sweet and attractive, I agree with the black part, not sure about the other parts HA) but hitam manis taken literally tho, mosquitos will not give up on this piece of dark chocolate and if anyone has advice on how to prevent/treat mosquito bites PLZ SEND!! BUT OTHER THAN MOSQUITOES HAHA I LOVE EVERYTHING HERE! I JUST LOVE INDONESIA THIS PLACE IS SERIOUSLY AMAZING

Mom and Dad, thank you so much for all that you have done for our family. I really do love you so much. Every blessing I have experienced in my life comes from Heavenly Father, who blessed me with my parents, who were born and raised in this beautiful country, moved to America, and raised our family there. To be submerged in your country, and your culture, really has been amazing and has strengthened my sincere respect and love for you. So thank you so much, I love you so much! I know God's Plan is perfect, He needed you to go to America so we can find the gospel. And for that very same reason, I am here serving in Indonesia, to find those- such as us, who were seeking the gospel. The joy from this gospel of Jesus Christ is beyond my comprehension and I am just so thankful for it. 

MISSIONARY WORK IS SO GREAT! There is nothing I would rather be doing. Saya tahu bahwa injil ini dipulihkan dan juga bahwa Yesus kristus selalu berada untuk kita. Saya sangat bersyukur bahwa kita bisa hidup dengan keluarga kita selamnya melalui injil ini :) there is only one way to happiness, and that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I seriously love you so much!

dengan kasih, your hitam manis,

Sister Ratunuman 

INSERTED ARE SOME DOPE PIXS ENJOIIII FAMMMM ;) 

some cuties on the street:)

HAHA in n out, its like i never left home :)

 keeping away from the sun am i right??

my cute district

 sweet sites!