Plan of Salvation

So this morning I was unable to chat because there was a death in the branch and I had to go and help oversee the funeral arrangements.  A sister in the branch, her name Serima had her mother pass away this morning.  They woke up and found her dead, with her eyes open...  Anyway we went there at 9 in the morning and stayed at their house until just now about 4 o’clock.  It was a humble sight, sister Serima's house is probably the most humble I have ever seen in my entire life.  They live on the top of a hill that has no road and can only be reached by practically scaling the mountain!  Anyway they were so kind and welcoming and just loved to have us there so we stayed for a long time.  They fed us a huge meal also.  And when I say big, I at 20 fish, each about four inches long.  It was quite possibly the most I have ever eaten my entire life.  And I thought I was going to die a couple of time but it made them so happy to see us eat so much food that I had to keep on going.  Elder Nowland and I were eating for about 1.5 hours by the time we said enough :)  We shared some scriptures with them and bore testimony of the Plan of Salvation, both of which were warmly accepted.  It was a beautiful moment and the funeral is scheduled to proceed tomorrow morning.  It was raining today making it nearly impossible to get up the hill so pray that tomorrow there will be no rain and we can take the body out of the house.  That’s another thing that was a shock, the Sungai tradition is to keep the eyes of the diseased open until all of their family has been able to see her.  It just scared me, especially when you are eating right next to the body!  Anyway, at least they didn’t ask me to touch the body.  I don’t envy the family members who have to bathe her and prepare her for burial...