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Noticias Artículo: 2000 Jan 29 - Sis. Pritchett Comments
Desplegando 1 - 1 de 1 -- Añadir Noticias
| 2000 Jan 29 - Sis. Pritchett Comments | 10 Mar 2002 |
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Comments from Sister Diane Tueller Pritchett Yesterday, Friday, January 28, President Hinckley spoke to a gathering of 1800 Latter Day Saints in Jakarta. While I feel like I should write an impersonal, newspaper-like account of the event, I find it is impossible to do so. What you have here instead will be a very personal, very long and very biased account as seen through the eyes of Diane Tueller Pritchett, a bule (white person) who has lived in Indonesia for 15 months yet whose ties to the country via family, in-laws and friends goes back a good 20 years, maybe even more than 45 years if you count my father's connections to Indonesia via his mission in the Netherlands. Because I was in charge of the music for the event, my account will be biased to the music side of the story and to the stage-right side of the room since that is where the music people were located. If you want to know what happened on the left side of the room, or in the balcony, you'll have to find someone who was over there. I'd be interested to know if they could hear the music. President Hinckley arrived in Jakarta on Thursday. He had a dinner with President Abdurahman Wahid, Gus Dur, that evening and I believe another meeting again on Friday morning. The only good source of information on how that went was from President Hinckley himself. He mentioned his visit with Gus Dur during his talk-- but more on that later. Thursday evening we had a 90 voice choir gathered in Suharjo chapel from 5 branches of the Jakarta District-- Jakarta Raya, Jakarta Selatan, Bekasi, Bogor and English Branch for our final rehearsal. Pres. Subandriyo, the mission president, arrived at the end of that rehearsal having come from meeting the Hinckley's at the airport and delivering them to their hotel. This was the first real news we had of the prophet. It was very exciting. Given the political difficulties of late especially the trouble between Christians and Muslims which, up until two weeks ago when it broke out in Lombok, the island next to Bali and a local favorite tourist spot, had seemed far away, there was always a small feeling at the back of everyone's mind that this long-anticipated event might not happen. We have gotten used to things being cancelled due to political turmoil in the past few years. I don't think anyone still feels completely confident that riots, demonstrations, or large rallies won't intervene with plans in some way. The news that President Hinckley was actually here made it finally real. My day began early as usual with the first morning thought that I needed to make signs for the choir to indicate which voice part would sing which verse during prelude, make number cards to put on the choir chairs, be sure to take the metronome, don't forget to remind Sister Tandiman the pianist etc. etc. . . . Because the building in which the conference was being held did not have a good piano, I volunteered my Yamaha grand piano for the event. The thought of taking my piano with me to the prophet's conference has amused me to no end. This is the kind of thing you can do in Indonesia where there is plenty of low cost labor available and people are so pleasant that it never occurs to them to say no-- even to odd ideas. At 10 am 6 professional piano movers, a truck, a piano tuner and one supervisor arrived to pick up the piano. It was loaded onto the back of a very small truck-- the piano just barely fitting there. I had hoped that some guys would ride on the back holding onto the piano because after all, here in Indonesia you see 6 people on one motorcycle, people piled onto the tops of buses and trains so why not a few guys holding onto a grand piano on the back of the small truck, but the piano movers, being professionals I guess, wouldn't do it. They tied it down well and the piano motorcade set off-- me and my driver in front followed by the truck with the piano, followed by a van with the movers, tuner and supervisor. Soon after we left the house it began to rain. Given that it is the rainy season and for the past week we have had such large rains that our swimming pool has overflowed into our back yard making the grassy area in the backyard a part of the swimming pool, I was worried. The piano was well covered but when it rains here in the tropics, no covering can help. A small prayer pleading for the Lord's intervention on such a trivial, unimportant matter in the universal scheme of things (yet huge in my world) was answered immediately. The rain not only stopped then but the skies held back the rest of the day even parting to allow some sun in as we exited the conference at the end of the day-- all rather drunk and giddy on the huge Spirit of which we had just partaken. The piano arrived safely. It was welcome entertainment to the many people who were already there in their seats 4 hours before the conference was due to begin. Members of the church had left Surabaya on Wednesday, others from Solo on Thursday morning, to get to the conference. They arrived to the building bright and early in order to get good seats and there they sat for a very long time waiting patiently. I had asked choir members and primary children who were singing to be there by 12:30 thinking that in typical late Indonesia fashion I would have everyone there by 1 pm but by 11:30 most everyone in the choir and primary was already there in their seats waiting patiently. Given that there wasn't much to do while waiting, this large red-haired bule leading a huge grand piano, 6 movers, a tuner and a supervisor, a piano bench, a music stand, a large box of music, clothes (I was planning on changing there), and a small suitcase (filled with incidentals like make-up, tape, water, pens, paper, glue) was welcome entertainment. It was entertainment to watch the piano being set up and tuned. It was entertainment to watch me and some primary children figure out the numbers on the choir chairs, it was entertainment to watch me draw the pictures for communicating with the choir, it was entertainment to watch me test fuss with the microphones (don't let that thing touch the strings on my piano), entertaining to watch me figure out where tiny Sister Peni could stand so that both the congregation and pianist could see her during congregational singing. But most entertaining of all was when I went to change into my sarong and kebaya. I have never worn a sarong before so I am not very good at taking the small, demure, hip-based steps needed to get around in the straight cut skirt. When I had to step up onto the choir director's podium, I couldn't get up. I stood there for several minutes trying to angle my foot onto the podium by the skirt was too narrow, I couldn't get up so I finally had to hitch the skirt up to clambor on up-- even then it was a stretch. Fortunately the camera men had not yet started the cameras (there were two huge camera screens set up on both sides of the stage) so the auditorium was not treated to the sight of me trying to climb up to my spot on large video screen. I am pretty sure that from here on out whenever I go to visit a branch primary I will be greeted with imitations of myself trying to climb the podium in tight sarong. But here is where MY entertainment set in. The Tuellers among you will appreciate that I was DB for the day-- designated boss and the people over whom I was DB were wearing suits and had things in their ears. I had tried to convince people that I needed one of those cool security things in my ear to communicate with the sound booth, to get notice when the choir should start singing but better senses than mine prevailed on that ("won't that impede your ability to hear the music?"). Instead, I got to boss around people with things in their ears-- talk about power. My sweet nephew Andrew pointed out several times how much I was enjoying being DB. This is true. As DB, I very quickly had steps delivered by men in suits with things in their ears so I could ascend my choir spot demurely. Everything was in order, everyone was in place by 1:25. The choir was supposed to begin singing prelude at 20 minutes before 2 pm. Those of you who have lived in Indonesia will appreciate the miracle of having a full congregation, sitting quietly in place, 30 minutes before a meeting is scheduled to begin. The choir started early just because everyone was ready. At 1:45 we got word that Pres. Hinckley was ready to enter the room. The choir stood and as soon as we saw him come through the door we began singing "We Thank Thee oh God for a Prophet." I had expected this to be one of those rousing, march like renditions of a hymn which the Indonesians excel at but instead it was very subdued, a hushed singing, people began waving white handkerchiefs (ask me some day about the planning committee discussions on that) and of course President Hinckley pulled out his handkerchief and waved back. The choir finished the song and we all sort of stood there grinning at each other in delight-- the congregation at Pres. Hinckley, Pres. and Sister Hinckley at us. Ten minutes before 2 pm, ten minute before it was actually scheduled to begin, the meeting began. We all felt so happy that we were going to get an extra ten minutes. President Subandriyo opened the meeting, opening song, Pres Kencana Putra of Jakarta District prayed, opening song Come O Thou King of Kings (Datang Maha Raja), choir sang Indonesia, Isles of the Sea written by a former missionary Randy Morris, arranged by me (thank you Randy), Sis Stefanie Subandriyo bore her testimony, followed by President Subandriyo. Sister Packer then spoke. She read from the Proclamation for the Family. It was interesting to me as a foreigner familiar with both Utah and Indonesia to observe when things struck home and when things were foreign to the Indonesians. As she read the statement about marriage between man and woman being ordained by God, it sounded so out of place-- so much Americanism resonating in that particular phrase where here in Indonesia to assert the importance of marriage is redundant and the pointed language of "between man and woman" is totally lost. She went on to emphasize the eternal nature of the family which communicated well. President Packer then spoke about being Latter Day Saints, his remarks seemed to be directed more to government officials as he emphasized what good citizens of any country Latter Day Saints make. He talked about being pioneers, told a story of his pioneer grandmother and her three pairs of shoes, told the Indonesian they were pioneers in Indonesia building the church here. A rest hymn followed, Come Come Ye Saints which was exactly right given Pres. Packer's remarks. If my summary of the first talks seemed rather distracted it was because I was distracted. As district primary president, and music coordinator for the event, I felt very strongly that the primary children should have a chance to sing for the prophet. I knew the visitors from Salt Lake would love the Indonesian children as much as I do so I insisted that the children not only be allowed to sing but that they get seats as a choir together right up in front so Pres. and Sister Hinckley could see them and so that they could see the prophet and his wife. The planning committee was never really happy with this idea as they were rightfully concerned about the children behaving themselves. The branch primary presidents were also concerned about it but I kept insisting the children could do it. The children were amazing. They filled the first 4 front rows right in front of the Hinckleys and were as good as gold. Sister Hinckley sat there through all the first talks smiling and twinkling at the children. I was so enchanted watching her watch them that I didn't pay much attention to the speakers. The first thing Sister Hinckley said when she got up (after saying "I have prayed for my translator that she will make a good talk out of what I say-- which made me weepy for my friend Atin who was translating and had been so scared) was how much she appreciated the reverence of the beautiful children. She mentioned the children and their reverence two more times. It meant a lot to all us primary workers. She talked about knowing the purpose of life: "Life can be hard but when we know the purpose of life, life can be WONDERFUL. (and she says wonderful just like that.) Now as a meeting like that unfolds I begin to worry about everyone. So many people made so many sacrifices to be there, traveling long distances, taking time of work they can ill-afford, sitting for long hours waiting, going without sleep, sitting through many planning committee meetings, I began looking around me worrying "do they feel it was worth it.?" Well, the moment President Hinckley stood up there it was worth it. He got up with vigor, a booming voice, a huge smile and said, "my wonderful brothers and sisters, now wonderful it is to be with you. There are 1800 of you here today. This probably the largest gathering of saints in Indonesia ever (we are all grinning and nodding our heads now.) 1800 Latter Day Saints, isn' t that wonderful. I congratulate you. I appreciate how quietly and reverently you were sitting when we entered the room. I'm happy to be here with. Now I have met your wonderful mission president, President Subandriyo-- that little man with the big smile (the translator, Manuel Meyer did not translate "little" at first perhaps not wanting to offend). He is a wonderful man and a good leader, a little man with a big smile (Brother Meyer translated it the second time, it made everyone laugh.) But he only has one name, Subandriyo (anyone who has read an article about Indonesia in the New York Times, Washington Post or any Western newspaper will appreciate the humor of this. Check it out next time, inevitabely you will see the phrase Subandriyo, who like many Indonesians only has one name . . .) One name, can you believe it. I have three names, he only has one but it goes to show how smart he is that he can get this far with only one name. Now President Subandriyo served a mission in 1977. His wife served a mission. They met on their mission and got married after. I want all you missionaries to do the same. Marry within your faith. (This was a much needed bit of advice here. The returned missionaries are not getting married and they are not dating the many good Mormon women, it is a worry to Pres. Subandriyo). Raise your children in the gospel. Make the church grow here through your lives. Now last night I met with your president Gus Dur. He is a good man, he is working hard for your country. I met with one of your government officials. He told me if the church would reduce tithing to 1 percent, he would join. I told him we are not going to do that. The Lord has set it at 10 percent, we are not going to change that. Now I want you to pray for your president. I want you to get down on your knees and pray that he can bring about his visions for this country. I want you to pray for your government officials that they can bring this great country out of the pain of the past, to be the great country it can be. (I wish you could all see the Indonesians faces as President Hinckley spoke with a prophetic voice about their nation. Brother Meyers the translator could barely get through this part he was so choked up.) Yours is a great country. I want you to pray for your fellowcountry men. I want you to remember that we respect all faiths, that there should be no differences among us as to religion. I want you to live your lives so the light of Jesus Christ shines forth on this country. You are the seed bed of the future of the gospel here. Now I wonder, what does the Lord expect of me and you? He expects me to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart and to show that in the way I live my faith. He expects all of us to develop in our hearts and in our lives a profound love for Jesus Christ that will find its best expression in service to others. Faithful members of the church carry this love of God in their hearts, they do what they are asked to do to move the church along. . . . . Since I have been prophet I have traveled to 71 countries. In Santiago Chile there were 500,000 (I can't remember the number, was it 500,000, or 150,000 the notes break down here) members. I want you to know that those 500,000 Saints are no more on my mind and in my prayers than the 1800 gathered here. Now I don't know that I will ever see you again. I am going to be 90 in June. I am an old man. I feel like the last leaf left on the tree and a strong wind is blowing. But I will never forget you. I leave you with my blessing. I bless you that you will be able to put food on your table for your children, that you will have clothes on your back and shelter over your heads. President Hinckley spoke for 40 minutes. My notes broke down because I was so entranced with the Spirit, the people's faces, his message of Christian love and community. When he was done speaking the children, choir and congregation sang Spirit of God. The children sang the first verse. Whatever happens to me in the future, whether we leave Indonesia soon or stay another two years, whatever strange turns and twists my life takes, I will always be grateful that somehow my life path brought me to the moment of standing in front of 50 Indonesian primary children as they stood facing President Hinckley and his wife to sing the first verse of "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning and angels are coming to visit the earth "malaikat datang kunjungi dunia." The 90 voice choir, men dressed in traditional Indonesian long-sleeved Batik shirts, women in long colorful Indonesian skirts and white shirts, sang the second and third verse. The congregation joined in the fourth verse with the choir on descant. The last Amen and Amen had the sopranos and tenors on a high F with one power soprano, Sister Peni, my student, on a high b flat. My family will appreciate the power of the Spirit when I tell them I joined Sister Peni on that high B flat and didn't sound half bad. There was not a dry eye in the room when we were done. After the closing prayer, the choir stood to begin singing the postlude, Abide with Me (the good tune) while President Hinckley and party departed. As the choir made its way rather shakily through the first verse, I began to wonder what was going on with the sopranos on the melody. I glanced over at them and saw that not one soprano was able to sing they were all weeping so hard. I glanced behind me to see what was going on and saw the congregation waving their white handkerchiefs in love, gratitude and farewell at the prophet. When I looked back at the choir I saw that the tears had spread through the tenor section, on to the basses and finally rendering even the altos helpless. I gave up on the words and just had the choir hum. So with tears streaming down their faces my wonderful 90 singers hummed Abide with Me across that room of white waving handkerchiefs. Thank you to all who contributed money, prayers and good wishes to Indonesia's visit with the prophet. I can really only speak from my bule, primary president and choir director stand-point when I tell you how grateful we were for this WONDERFUL experience. But I can think I can also speak from the larger perspective of a partaker of the Spirit that entered that room with the prophet, lingering long after he was gone in the hugs and tears of the Saints afterwards, when I say thank you. I am sure that 1800 people left that room determined to love the Lord with all our hearts, to forget our differences, to serve others in living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to do all we can to keep the Spirit that entered that room with President Hinckley, brooding over these Indonesia isles of the sea. With love, Diane Tueller Pritchett. |
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| David Brewer | Mandar Mensaje |
