University Student Learns ‘Valuable Lessons’ Abroad

By Nancy K. Crevier

Josh Whitmore, the son of Rick and Eve Whitmore of Newtown, returned home Wednesday morning, November 14, from the island of Java in Indonesia with two years of what he termed “valuable lessons” under his belt.

Josh, a sophomore at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), a requirement for young men who are members of the LDS when they reach the age of 19. Agreeing to serve, Josh sent in his application to the committee in Salt Lake City, Utah, and awaited the decision on where his mission work would take him. “It could be anywhere,” said Josh, from stateside to across the ocean.

In August 2005 he was notified that he would be going to Indonesia. “I was excited to be going back to that region,” said Josh, who had lived for five years in parts of Asia growing up in an “IBM family,” notorious for frequent transfers.

Prior to departing for Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, Josh spent two months at the Missionary Training Center in Provo where he learned the very basics of the Indonesian language, particularly church vocabulary, and learned about the culture of the country he would be visiting.

The purpose of his mission, as is true for all young LDS missionaries, was to share the gospel — something that would pose a challenge in a nation where the majority are of the Muslim faith.

The Republic of Indonesia in South East Asia is the world’s fourth most populous nation and the most populous Muslim majority nation, although not an Islamic state. The more than 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago have been influenced over the centuries by foreign interests as diverse as China and the Netherlands, leaving behind a religious legacy of Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestants, and millions of Muslims.

Josh was not daunted by the culture that forbade the common LDS missionary practice of going door-to-door to introduce the LDS beliefs to people, or even the strictures that prevented him from striking up conversations on the street about Christianity. “It was interesting because of the Muslim influence. We were not allowed to proselytize, so we had to spread the word of God just through conversation,” he said.

For instance, said Josh, he and his companion might be walking down the road and hear, “Hey, where you going white guys?” Not surprised to be singled out as Caucasians, an aspect far more intriguing to most of the people he encountered than his religion, the locals were happy to give directions and invite them in out of the tropical heat for a cold drink. In the course of conversation, they were frequently asked what brought them to Indonesia, and when they explained their mission, Josh found that people’s curiosity opened doors.

Josh and his companions tried never to flout the restrictions on proselytizing. “Nothing serious would happen, but people would be upset and we wouldn’t set a good example for the church,” he said.

Every new missionary is paired up with a companion, explained Josh, and the two to four young men live together in houses rented by the LDS for their use. Every four months or so, he moved on to another city, and there he was paired with new companions. “A lot of them were Indonesian members of the LDS. It made it easier to communicate and get around,” Josh said, although within five months he felt fairly comfortable conversing in the Indonesian language.

Even though he was in a country with vast natural wilderness and cities bursting with people, Josh’s schedule did not allow him time for a lot of recreation or to explore the country. He would rise each day at 6:30 to exercise for half an hour, then spend the next few hours of the morning getting ready for the day, partaking of personal study, and studying with a companion before embarking into the city streets to meet with members and nonactive members of the LDS, and hopefully to encounter others who would offer him the opportunity to share his faith. Along the way the young men would enjoy the local cuisine available from street vendors, both spicy and mild flavors that he came to love. “Usually we would get home about 8:30 or 9 pm and talk about the day and then go to bed,” said Josh. As part of this mission, Josh’s only contact with home was through the mail, e-mail, or two phone calls allowed each year, one on Christmas Day and one on Mother’s Day.

What might seem like an isolating existence to many Americans was not at all for him, he said. “It was difficult at first, but you realize that it is only two years, you get over it, and you enjoy it,” said Josh. Through his experiences, Josh learned to take the focus off of himself and to focus on others. “I learned about myself, I learned how to work with others, and I think I learned a lot of people skills that many people my age haven’t had time to develop yet,” Josh said.

Bringing the word of God as he believes it and lives it to others in a predominantly non-Christian nation was far more interesting than discouraging, said Josh. “We were very well received by Muslims, as well as by the other Christians there. Nobody hated us. I never felt in danger,” said Josh, who lived in the cities of Bandung, Bekasi, Solo, Surabaya, Bogor, and Jakarta while on his mission.

The politics of Indonesia can be unstable and he and his companions sometimes encountered Muslims with mixed views of Americans and the war in Iraq, but it was never a problem, he said. “We really did not discuss politics or world events,” he said, as the mission was to grow in faith and reach out to others about the LDS faith.

Living very simply in the midst of poverty — each home usually had just a small refrigerator, a mattress-type bed, a desk, and a very simplified washing machine — Josh came to appreciate the comforts of home, he said. He was often invited into local resident’s homes while out during the day, but said that no matter how tiny the home, no matter the conditions, he was continually impressed by the strong spirits of the Indonesians. “They are very loving people, very friendly, I found,” said Josh. “You learn that real happiness is in family and how you live your life, not in the material things.”

He is gradually adjusting to Western civilization again, said Josh, since his return to the states. It is especially strange to hear English spoken, and the crisp autumn weather is a shock to a body that has been living in the steamy tropics for two years. The immense wealth that is evident in our culture is particularly overwhelming to him right now, said Josh. “Sometimes I feel we have way too much. I realize now that there are millions of people in the world who have barely enough to survive each day.”

He will return to Brigham Young University in January, and until then Josh hopes to find a way to become involved in community service here, as well as use the time to prepare for his return to school and to visit with family.

And coming off of a two year hiatus in a country where Christian holidays are very low key, Josh is looking forward to the lights and festivity of the Christmas season.

“It was an amazing two years, though,” said Josh. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”