Soul Searching As A Woman

As we finished our last session with the kids in Niki Niki, we gathered outside under the bright, sun-filled, gorgeous blue sky. Standing in the dirt surrounded by rich green palm trees, all the kiddos  posed with us (the team) for a group picture. We smiled for several shots. As soon as the group pictures were over, the little girls turned around to me and emphatically yelled in Bahasa Indonesia (their native language). I was clueless until Henok said to me, "they want a picture!" So we took a picture, just me and the girls and a few boys who wanted in.

The next day, our team ventured - which I use with emphasis on the daring, risk-taking meaning of the word - out to the Anglican church in Niki Niki to teach a confirmation class. The class had about 20 candidates. Some of the kids from our English lessons were hanging around, too. After the class they provided us some hospitality with food and coconut water then, again, we took photos. The older women of the community flocked to me. They all wanted to shake my hand. They all watched me as I ate and drank and interacted with my team members. As we took photos, they held my hands, hugged me, touched my face and told me "pretty." During the group photos, I had one woman holding my right hand/arm, another hugging me from the left, and several others trying to touch me. They would smile at me and tell me things in Bahasa - I still have no idea what they were saying!

I have many other stories of the women and young girls appreciating my presence. It meant so much to them to have an American woman visit! They rarely see white people and Americans yet they know of the greatness (i.e. the wealth, success, freedom) of our nation and the Western culture; to have Americans visit is exciting. But what's more precious to the women and young girls is to have a WOMAN visit. 

Most of the women in the village have spent their adult lives (probably adulthood beginning in the teen years) having children, raising children, and working the fields and farms and sewing/making things. It's the quintessential "have babies and take care of the home" life. They have a low level of education and likely have not been very far out of the village, certainly not out of the country. The girls have more opportunities if they are able to go to good schools - which more often than not means going off to school in the city. So, to them, to have an American woman visit who has the freedoms we Americans have, is educated, and is able to teach and travel is exciting. I imagine it was pretty exciting to have someone like this who took the time to visit them and was interested in their lives. 

I tell these stories - and note that I have MANY others that are similar - to encourage you all that sometimes just your presence is enough! As much as our work in Indonesia was ministry, simply our presence there was ministry! 

More specifically, I want to encourage all of you women and young adults! In 1 Timothy 4 verse 12, Paul charges Timothy to not let anyone look down on him because he is young but to continue loving people and setting an example to other believers. Women, we likewise can be charged to not let anyone look down on us for being women, but to continue to love and set an example for other believers. We as young adults and women who are believers have a special role and place in the Kingdom. We are no better than men or those of another age, but we are no less either. 

I was able to have an impact in ways that the men on my team could not. I am not diminishing their roles and the mighty impact they made on the trip, but I am recognizing the different role I had. I was able to reach the women and young girls in a way the guys couldn't. That alone made the trip worth it to me!

Ladies, please consider the impact you can have! Don't underestimate your role in the Kingdom. Be bold and courageous and stand firm in the faith! (1 Cor. 16:13) We in the Kingdom are ALL called to ministry and witness at some level. Women and youth, do not forget this! You have a special place, a special role, and a special call! 

A Pastor's Testimony

After our last session with the kids in Niki Niki we were welcomed into the home of Pastor Jonathan and his wife. We sat around a small gathering room in the back of the house. It was set just 20 feet or so from the ministry building. We sat sipping our coffee, enjoying fresh fruit from the backyard, and listening to the testimony of the Lord's servant.

Several years ago, Jonathan's wife gave birth to their son, Emmanuel. He was severely ill and in a Jakarta hospital on breathing machines. After 3 days and no improvement, the doctors told the parents there was nothing they could do, that they needed to take him off the machines and he likely would not survive. Pastor Jonathan prayed and cried out to the Lord, telling Him that if He saved Emmanuel, he - Pastor Jonathan - would move back to West Timor and serve the Lord in ministry there. 

At that time, Pastor Jonathan worked in a career for a well known organization. The Lord worked a miracle and, without medical explanation, Emmanuel survived. Pastor Jonathan knew he had to keep his promise to the Lord so he quit his job. His boss called him crazy! 

After getting things in order, the family moved back to West Timor, to a small, poor village in the tropical mountains.  Only a few weeks after beginning their ministry there, Pastor Jonathan received a phone call letting him know that a team from Trinity would be coming to minister to the children and members of his church there in Niki Niki. (This was the team that made the trip last year, paving the way for our ministry this year.) He took this as confirmation from the Lord. 

His son is still disabled and they now live in a poor area after giving up his career job. Now, Pastor Jonathan leads the church, is working toward and awaiting ordination, and his wife serves the children in music ministry. It's not easy for them. They've sacrificed a lot. But they serve the Lord humbly and with gratitude. They are impacting the village community in deep, lasting, transformative ways.

 

As his story concluded, we gathered around these humbled servants to cover them in prayer. It was powerful. The Spirit was surely present. Everyone was either shaking or crying. As we prayed for Emmanuel, his mother wept. You could feel the heat radiating between your hands and their shoulders. It was not body heat, but Spirit heat, like heat being transferred from your hands into their bodies; the Spirit in you transferring His Power into them. It was a touching moment of cross-cultural believers coming together before the Lord. Powerful. 

Please be in prayer for this wonderful family and the ministry they are continuing in Niki Niki! 

Soul Searching Stories Through Pictures...

July 10, 2015 **This was supposed to post while I was in Singapore, but the internet failed me once again. Now that I'm back home, here it is...**

By the time I regained internet connection in Bali, I fell ill (as did 2 of my teammates) and consequently have not posted in about a week. Please forgive me. To make up for it, I will spare you from a long post and just show you the wonderful faces of our babies in Niki Niki! Enjoy! And, as you feel led, please pray for these wonderful kids and the sown seeds!

Playing ball with the kids

Starting Clifford

 

Telling the story of Gideon

Lining up to march with Gideon

About to blow the trumpets!

Marching in the Light of God

 

Henok playing the guitar!

"Do as I do" game with Jason...Disco!

Pastor Jonathan on the guitar.

Singing a prayer song in Bahasa Indonesia

Indonesian dancing game

Searching for Souls in the Tropical Mountains

Yesterday was our first day of ministry in Niki Niki. This part of the country is absolutely beautiful, just gorgeous! We are up in the tropical mountains surrounded by palm trees, radiant sun, and what seems like the bluest sky I've ever seen! It's another snip it of God's amazing masterpiece of creation!

As we arrived, the children sat cross-legged, patiently waiting, just like the kids in Batam. But these children would prove to be a very different group. About 50 children attended our program in the small concrete building located in the village next door to Pastor Jonathan's house. The building is a single room, about the size of my parents' living room (they have a "great room," but still). It's a concrete slab with concrete walls and a tin roof. No ceiling, just the wooden beams and tin roof. Windows are cut out of the walls and doorways, but no doors. The natural light shines through beautifully! And the orange tarp on the floor adds a touch of color.

The children are incredibly well-behaved. As we arrived, they sat quietly. Pastor Lucas's wife led the children in singing to warm up! They sang in Bahasa Indonesia (the national language). It was fun to watch and hear them. They were so into it. They enjoyed praising the Lord!

As Chris and John administered name tags, Jason and I led the children in "Jesus loves the Little Children" and "Father Abraham." They picked up the English versions very quickly. It was much smoother than the group in Batam. We began our teaching with prayer then reviewing clothing, colors, numbers, and body parts. Of course, we had to do "head, shoulders, knees, and toes."

Lucas then told part of the story of Gideon (Book of Judges) before we let them color their angels for the craft. Our craft is a construction paper trumpet to go along with the story of Gideon. They colored angels and wrote "angel" to decorate the trumpet, again, to accompany the story. We made the trumpets out of their decorated paper last night and will return them today (day 2).

We had a break for lunch which was at Pastor Jonathan's house. Delicious fried chicken, rice - of course - and amazing fresh fruit from the back yard: oranges, bananas, and papaya! With the extra break time, we played ball with the kids! Chris and Lucas led the older kids in soccer while Jason and I led volleyball with the younger kids. It was a blast!! These kids are so fun! And they LOVE that we play with them!

After lunch, I read them Clifford and Lucas acted out the big, red dog! They loved it! It was fun to read to them, and Lucas was a great dog! It's been a long time since I've heard a bunch of kids laugh like that!

Chris then taught family members, shapes, and big versus little. Then, we taught introductions. This was a little much for them, but they still made progress.

Jason led a "do as I do" game with dancing and fun movements! We threw in some random songs here and there to get the children active and participating. Sometimes they just need a change of pace!

Overall, these kids are phenomenal! Very well-behaved, wanting to do as we do and learn. They are kind - we don't have any trouble makers. They observe us and want to follow our example. Even some of the parents would watch and want to join in the games!

We had a wonderful day and I am excited for what today will bring! These children are truly a treasure, and in just one day have blessed my soul! I pray the Lord touches their lives in mighty ways and raises them up to great heights!

Stories and Tidbits from Batam

Before I move on to posts about Soe and Niki Niki, I want to share a few stories and random tidbits from our time in Batam:

Me and Lilis

Testimony: One of our adult English students was Lilis (Lee -lis), a very kind woman who is actually quite fluent in English. Her son, Kevin, was one of our interpreters at the children's program. As I encouraged her that she raised a wonderful, funny, smart son, she offered to me that Kevin is the reason she is a believer in Jesus Christ. She explained that she had been a Muslim. When Kevin was little, he suffered from severe autism. However, through prayer, Kevin was healed in Jesus' Name. Lilis couldn't help but believe and gave her life to Christ! She now serves the Lord with a kind, sweet spirit!

About the church: At dinner one night, I was able to engage our host, Henok (Hey - Knock), and ask him about the Anglican church here in Indonesia. Currently, the Anglican church in Indonesia is under the authority of the Bishop of Singapore as a member of the Diocese of Singapore. But they are hoping to be able to become their own diocese soon. To do this, they need 6 parishes. To be considered a parish, a congregation must 1. be economically self-sufficient, 2. have an ordained minister, 3. have at least 150 members, 4. OWN its own church building. It is difficult here to meet the requisite number of members and economic status. Even more, it is very difficult for churches to own their own buildings because of the law. For a church to buy a building, the law currently requires it obtain the consent of the neighbors. As you can imagine, this can be difficult, especially when others have an interest in keeping the church at bay. But, as Henok explained, the current Indonesian president is working to repeal this law. He has much opposition, though. Henok is hoping the Anglican church in Indonesia will meet the required 6 parishes within the next 5 to 10 years. Be praying it be so!

Durian

Food: Overall, the food here is wonderful! It can be quite spicy. They eat chiles with every meal. And you haven't had a meal unless you've had rice. But the meat is wonderful and the veggies, if there are any. Mostly, the diet is rice and meat. They have wonderful fruit juices and smoothies! And, of course, coffee and tea.  Durian is also a local custom. It's a fruit. It smells disgusting. It tastes funky. And it has the texture of - what we would guess to be - snot. Nonetheless, they offer it to guests as a delicacy and it is polite to at least try it. It's doable for politeness, but I won't be voluntarily eating it for fun or enjoyment. I will say, though, if you make it to Indonesia and are offered durian, try the most yellow piece you can - the more yellow, the more sweet!

Adult English Sessions: The adults were wonderful to work with. Chris and I taught the intermediate level course. We taught regular and irregular verbs in the simple past and present tenses as well as the past perfect tense. We reviewed subject conjugation and subject-verb agreement. The students wrote a short passage about their families that we corrected to help them individually. They were quite proficient in the language. I was most impressed by their questions. They asked very specific questions. It showed their competency as well as their desire to learn. They really directed our teaching through their questions.

Searching for Beauty: Last Day in Batam

Monday, June 29, 2015

Today was our last day in Batam. It has yet to sink in that we will be leaving the amazing people here, but we had one last adventure together as we traveled out to the very end of this cluster of Indonesian islands.

It took over an hour and 5 or 6 bridge crossings to get there. But the views were absolutely stunning the entire way. At the end of the island we visited a little park area. There were tire swings and rocks to climb and hermit crabs. We stared in awe, climbed around, and marveled at the glorious sites while listening to the natural soundtrack of waves crashing against the rocks. Pure bliss!

After our time at the park, we visited a Vietnamese refugee camp. It was quite interesting. There from 1979 -1996 and much bigger than I expected.

We left the camp and went to the beach! Woo! Although we didn't know we'd be going to the beach so we didn't bring swimsuits. Not to worry, that doesn't stop us! Jason and I took a kayak out which was quite peaceful, other than the threat of Chris and Lucas dumping us over as they were swimming.

Lunch was served on the deck at the beach and was delicious. Calamari, veggies, chicken, crab, rice - all prepared according to local culture. Doesn't get much better than that.

On the drive back to Batam we stopped at a dragon fruit farm to try the fruit and juice. A.Ma.Zing.

Once back in Batam, before heading back to the hotel, Rev. Henok and Kamty (our host and hostess) welcomed us to their home. It was beautiful. I love seeing how the locals live. We sipped an amazing jasmine tea and tried the famous Holland Bakery cakes. As always, we laughed and swapped stories. Henok told us a story of a monkey sneaking into their house to eat the fruit sitting on their table. Part of me wishes I had cool stories like that from back home, the other part of me is glad I don't have to worry about monkeys in my house! ;)

Our visit was wonderful. Today was a day to relax and take in the Lord's marvelous creation. I just kept thinking how amazing it is that He has created each place in the world so differently and with its own beauty. There's no doubt, though, that Indonesia is stunning. It elicits a spiritual response. This kind of beauty is truly a spiritual experience. God is good!

Tomorrow we fly to Kupang which is on Timor island on the other end of Indonesia. Pray for our safe travel!