Elder and Sister Garrett in Singapore!: Terra Cotta Warriers & an Indian Wedding

Hello,

Well this has been a BUSY couple of weeks. We'll start with the Indian wedding we went to two weeks ago. It was definitely a cultural experience! The hall it was in was beautifully decorated. There was a LOT of ceremony performed with the bride and groom separately by a man we called a "genie" (by the way he was dressed - or Dave said straight out of Indiana Jones). We don't have any idea what was going on, but it was interesting. The music was VERY loud through the whole ceremony with the same beat the whole time. The ceremonies went on for at least 2 hours which even included a small fire on stage as part of the ceremony (Dave wanted to ask if they had a fire permit!). There were no microphones so we couldn't hear anything and often couldn't see anything due to the family on stage. After they were finally married, they served a great Indian buffet. We left at about 10 p.m. and didn't make it back home until almost 1 a.m. due to the traffic at the border. But it was a lot of fun and almost the whole branch came out to support them.

We went to the Asian museum with the Howarth's and President & Sister Clark to see some of the Terra Cotta Warriers on loan from China. China has uncovered several pits with the soldiers in them. One pit alone has over 6,000 life size warriers in it along with horses and chariots. No one seems to know the purpose of them. Each one is different. It was fascinating. One of the interesting things at the museum was a display of gold plates that were ancient Chinese scriptures!

This last week was our first ever Senior Conference. Since everyone has to come into Singapore every 90 days to renew their Visas we decided to bring everyone in at the same time. We had 5 couples plus a single sister staying with us, the Clarks had a single sister (President Clarks mother) and one couple, one stayed in a hotel (by choice) and the rest were housed at members homes. We had the ones staying until Thursday or Friday. The first couple arrived last Sunday. It was a LOT of work planning the menus, buying the food, booking tickets, getting the house ready, etc., etc. We had everyone here Monday night for a spaghetti dinner (34 seniors) and then the actual conference was held on Tuesday at the Stake Center. We bought the food, but the Office Elders, the Sisters, and the AP's (Assistants to the President) prepared all the food on Tuesday and then served and cleaned up. They were wonderful. We also invited several Senior Couples from the Singapore Stake to the Tuesday night dinner hoping to inspire them to serve a Senior Mission! All day on Tuesday, we had each person share highlights from their areas of service. What an incredible group of Seniors! The spirit was so strong at our meetings. Wednesday the re were no meetings but everyone (4 couples left Wednesday) was free to do what they wanted. We had to be at the office to get caught up and several had doctor appointments while the rest explored Singapore. Wednesday night we all went to the Singapore river and had dinner and then went on a boat ride down the river (through the downtown area). We had the boat to ourselves. It was a beautiful night and everyone had a great time. Everyone gets along so well and we have so much fun together!

Friday morning one of our couples returned home after finishing their mission. How we all hated to see them leave. They made such a difference in so many lives in Kuching (East Malaysia). We had to leave at 3:30 a.m. to get them to the airport for their flight back to Utah. Then at 6:30 a.m. we went to the airport again to take the President and Sister Clark and the AP's for their trip, and then back to the airport again at 11:30 to take 2 couples to the airport!! We were up until at least midnight every night that week visiting with the other couples (we don't have the same rules as the young missionaries). Needless to say, we were exhausted but it was a wonderful week.

The Howarths will be staying with us starting tomorrow for three days and then on Tueseday, their replacements fly in. Their replacements will be stationed in Kuala Lumpur - not Singapore. The Howarths are released on the 26th. Their three children fly in this week and they will be going to Bali in Indonesia for a few days. How we hate to see them leave. We have become such good friends. It will be lonely here without them.

On the 27th we have 17 Missionaries returning home at 5:50 a.m. and then at 12 noon we have 19 new Missionaries arriving from the US! The logistics of getting the ones in for their final interviews with the President (over a 3 day period) and getting the trainers in for the 19 new missionaries is staggering! Transportation alone is a huge problem. We hate to see the old ones leave. You really get attached to them - especially the ones who have been serving in Singapore. Both of the AP's are leaving. We are happy for them though. Their parents will be so happy to see them and to see the growth that has taken place in their sons and daughters during their missions. The experiences most of these missionaries have had is incredible. They are truly "choice spirits". Our new group coming in is also an incredible group. Almost all are Eagle Scouts, 5 of them speak and write Arabic, and several speak several languages - one speaks 5 languages! Most of them excelled in academics and sports. I think we get the "cream of the crop" in our mission - although I am sure most missions feel the same way!

Today in Jahor Bahru, the Branch was split into two Branches. It is exciting as it will help both branches to grow. Even though it was split geographically, it will probably end up with the Chinese going to one Branch and the Malay and Ibons going to the other one. Until a new building is ready, they will both meet in the same building. We don't know which branch we will be assigned to, but for a while we will probably be attending both. Hopefully we will still see the Gregory's each week! The Church in Malaysia is so new that there are many struggles, but the people are true Pioneers and as their children grow, the Church will become stronger and stronger. We feel blessed to be a small part of the growth in this remarkable part of the world!

We love each of you and are thankful for your prayers on our behalf. We love all of you and pray for you daily.

Elder and Sister Garrett (mom and dad, grandma & grandpa, friends and relatives)