Our Mission to Sri Lanka

We traveled to Colombo early this morning and then in a van with the other missionaries to Galle.  The young elders and sisters had a great time! We saw a  woman making lace doilies...Chuck took a video. It was very interesting to watch!  The beaches were beautiful with crystal clear water. Sister Lathen and I waded while collecting coral. The men swam. The water was like a bathtub...also no waves where we were.  A monkey jumped up on my backpack and was looking for something to eat while the sisters braved having a python flung around their necks! All in all, a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!

Samantha’s family came to Church!  Aruna is 17...youngest son of Samantha. He wasn't home when we first visited them in their home. It was great that he came to Church!   Daphni is their family's friend that they invited to come with them to church. Our number of investigators keeps growing by leaps and bounds without our doing anything except standing back to behold the Hand of the Lord!! After Church, Elder Lee taught Brother Roy with Rumesh and Brother Prem. Luckna and I made lunch for Rumesh, her, Elder Lee and me.  Then we  went out visiting. What a joy it is to teach a family!!  Father, Samantha, Mother, Damayanthi, Daughter, Darshani, Son, Sameera, and  Grandmother, Isabel.   Their Son, Aruna, was not home for the lesson...he is attending Seminary to become a Catholic Priest. We also visited Nishadi who is a Return Missionary. She is engaged to be married in October to a Buddhist man.  

We went to Chilaw today. I taught English to Niluka's family and to Shirantha! Here are my students:  Niluka’s husband, Ravindra, her mother, Manel, her niece, Shammi, and her youngest sister, Wasanthi, and of course, Shirantha! Niluka is wearing red! Niluka's sister, Shermila had us visit her friend, Sumithra, when we were in Chilaw two weeks ago. She came to Negombo for a Family Home Evening and dinner two days later. Today, Rumesh and Elder Lee taught Sumithra and her Mother, Rathnawathi, Son, Nimsara, and Daughter, Shehani.  Sumiethra's Husband, Kumar, and Father, Jayasiri were not taught. Suneetha is a close neighbor who walked over while Rumesh was teaching...the Shepherd is gathering his sheep! We visited the "compound" on the way home from Chilaw....everyone is related! They live in their own little village (like a small neighborhood) along a little dirt lane. The photo is featuring Sister Kokila, with youngest daughter, Pathmini, and granddaughter, Baby H...

We had a wonderful Zone Conference today.   Kumar picked us up in the morning. We picked the Mortensens up at a hotel near the airport and then met Lathens, young elders and sisters for lunch! After lunch, President Mortensen conducted a Training. It was good to be together and feel the Love of Christ.  

We visited Brasiliya (Riyasha’s and Princi's sister) and her mother-in-law, Vialet.   Very large framed wedding photos stood on the floor of the front room...this is very common in Sri Lanka. On the wedding day, the bride is in white, and then at the homecoming reception, the bride wears a red Kandian costume. They had the pictures and flowers wrapped in plastic! Brasiliya’s baby boy, Niken, is so adorable!...so big and healthy and only 5 months old. Later, we dropped by to say hello to Sujani's family.  Anil was home. Elder Lee talked to him and told him he loved him, and then went out on the porch and cried! Anil was abused by some foreigners--men from Scandinavia who groomed him by giving him gifts. They found him on the beach with his friends when he was 10 years old. They continued the relationship for years when they visited annually. They eventually let Anil marry. When Sujani got pregnant, he was afraid the one whom he called "his father" would be mad, so he g...

We  have a lot of fun teaching English! These are some of our students that came early tonight. We have 26, with our numbers growing each week! Darshika helps us with translation. Her Mother, Renuka is starting to attend. We love their family! 

Brother Prem Britto was baptized today before our Church meetings.  The Lathens taught him in Colombo. Elder Lee baptized him. He will attend the Negombo Branch. Elder Lathen confirmed him in Sacrament Meeting. We love Brother Prem!  

This is the beginning of our Saturday Seminary...We are excited to see what this young Return Missionary can do.  We are hoping that they will have games and activities each week after the lesson and maybe even refreshments! We visited “the Compound” where many related families live together in a little “village”.

We taught Aakash a lesson and then he had to take off. We taught Amama the Plan of Salvation while we were waiting for the kids to get home from a funeral. Then,  Amama surprised us by  teaching the Plan of Salvation in Tamil to Hari and Preveen! Later, Shirantha took us to Vimukthi's house...the family consists of: Sandun 18, Vimukthi 26, Brother Devin and Sister Kusum. We visited, looked at pictures, showed a video, and shared testimonies...we were about to have a prayer and leave when they pulled out string hoppers and dahl and then, watched us while we ate!! Sara's family came over to share in the visit and meal. She and Vimukthi are "unofficially" engaged. She will leave on her mission in April and they will marry as soon as she gets home!  Lawariya is a dessert made from string hoppers stuffed with coconut and honey...flavored with cinnamon. We actually ate these before dinner was served!