Two years later...

I know, I know.  It has been over two years since I updated this thing.  Please forgive me.

As a quick way of reintroduction, Caren and Wes have been working in Indonesia since Dec 31, 2010, and the past year was our busiest to date.  Over the course of 2013, Caren worked to oversee the guest house in Jakarta, and I worked in the field office as the field financial coordinator.  Two big events occurred over the course of the year as we welcomed our daughter, Lucy Misgana on August 16^th, and in December made a move about two hours from Jakarta to another city, Bandung.  The CMA has many workers in Bandung, and we have moved onto one of the organizations properties which is colorfully called “Green Gate” because of its entrance.  Green Gate was once the site of the Alliance’s international school, but is now a site for Envision, another branch of the CMA which hosts interns, study abroad students, and short term teams.  Wes has moved his office into one of the available spaces in one of the buildings, and for the time being our family is living in an apartment on the campus as well.  Without having the duties of the guest house in Jakarta, Caren is using her time to learn from the current director couple about the goings on of Green Gate, and wishes to particularly invest her time into working with students from Toccoa Falls College who come to do a semester abroad, interns from Envision, and short-term interns who come for summer projects.  Wes will continue to work with the Jakarta office from a remote location, and will also help with some of the administrative duties at Green Gate as Green Gate currently has three other organizations renting office space in the old school buildings.  We have moved up our next home assignment in order to help accommodate things happening in Indonesia and will be arriving back in the States for three months starting in early March.  

Elijah was a man just like us

I have been in Indonesia for almost a year now!  Throughout this year I have been blessed by older women investing their lives in me.  They have mentored me, shared stories from their lives, and even shared mistakes and regrets of theirs with me in hopes that I wouldn't make the same ones.  When I see these women and see what the Lord has accomplished through them I sometimes feel out of my league, like these women are "spiritual giants" and I'm just a spiritual worm.  When I start to dwell on this, I tend to focus on how my life lacks faith compared to them, and that I haven't done anything worth while for the glory of God.  However, I was reminded while reading James that Elijah was a man just like us.


James 5:17-18  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.


And Elijah was serving the same God I am.  A God that put on the flesh that I am so ready to be done with.  The flesh I struggle with every day of my life.  He came out of heaven and put on that flesh, and did not sin. Then He took the death that I deserve, but He rose again in glory! And He, in His grace and mercy, allows me to live through His Spirit.  And even when my faith is lacking and I don't want to do what He wants me to, I can do it.  I can do all things through Him.  There's a saying that goes like this, All people are weird until you get to know them.  I think it's the opposite.  I look at these women I was talking about and think they are "spiritual giants," but as I get to know them, they are people just like me.  They mess up, but they trust that God has redeemed them and that He continues to form them in the image of His Son.  This is my hope.  I will continue to run the race, even if I stumble or turn the wrong direction every once in awhile.


Merry Christmas Everyone!

Will I Follow?

I sit here writing this after hearing the news that a missionary pilot in Papua crashed today with either one or two passengers.  I sat with a worker from Papua as she told me some stories about this pilot and his love for the Lord.  Flying a plane into the interior of Papua is not an easy task, in fact it is quite dangerous.  This pilot, Paul, actually kept a keychain of pieces from other planes that have gone down.  This keychain was a reminder to him that if the Lord calls he will follow, even if his plane crashes.  What a witness, he did just that leaving a wife and two children behind.  We praise the Lord that Paul is now with Him, but we join in grief for those left here.


God really convicted me through this.  Last night I was pretty upset because I will be missing one of my best friend's wedding.  Yes, this is a sacrifice.  But, seriously I just got to skype (what a wonderful thing) with her, see her face, hear her voice, and continue to be a part of her life.  Is missing a wedding as far as I will go to follow the Lord?  Am I willing to sacrifice my life?  I want to surrender all, like Paul, like so many that have gone before.  


"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:10-11


Will I obey God even if I don't see the promise, like Abraham?
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth." Hebrews 11:13


I surrender all.  

Boleh Bermain?

I am going to miss hearing these words everyday.  They mean "can we play?"  I am leaving about 15 kids here in Bandung when we move to Jakarta.  Some days I hear these words, cringe, and think I have better things to do with my time.  These better things usually end up being Facebook or Pinterest.  Unbelievable.  How much time did I lose with them?  Oh, but how much gained by knowing them!  They are eager to learn. Willing to Teach. Creative.  Energetic.  Hungry for Love.  Content.  Forgiving.  Fun.

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 Matt. 18:3

Update

It has been quite some time since I have updated you all!  Let's see...what has happened?

Language

         On Monday we will start our sixth and final unit of language.  This is both exciting and terrifying!  We are both ready to move to Jakarta and start our "official" ministry there.  Wes has been without a job for about 3 months too long, we both need to him to be working on something!  Although language could be a full time job it lacks the accomplishment feeling that men need.
        How am I doing with language you ask?  Well on some days I feel like a rockstar who can understand and reply to everything people throw at me.  But then there are those days, which are more frequent, that I wonder if these people are even speaking the language that I have been studying for the past six months.  I will say that I am at a point where I can at least describe what I am thinking, in a very roundabout way.

Field Forum


      For one week in June we had the privilege (and obligation) of attending the annual field forum for the workers in Indonesia.  We even had the president of the CMA and the VP of IM attending.  It was so great to get to know the workers which we are here to serve and hear their amazing stories of how our King has worked.

Almost all of the Toccoa grads in Indonesia

        Did I mention this forum took place in Bali?  That part was just an extra bonus.  Wes and I stayed for two days after forum.  The first day we spent exploring Ubud which is up a mountain and had all sorts of artwork.  The second day quite a few CMAers went to a waterpark called "waterbom."  The day was epic and lots of fun!

Pottery

       We have had the last two weeks off of school for summer break.  One neat thing that we did was make pottery.  There is an org here started by Indonesians that teaches people with handicaps, mostly deaf, how to make pottery, paper, batik, and carvings.  These are the people that taught us!  It seemed mostly normal to be communicating with hand gestures and facial expressions.  We had a great time and hope to do it again!

     
ETC.


     I am thrilled that I am able to go home for my big brothers wedding in August!  I have yet to meet his bride to be, but inside sources say she is a "gem".  I am overwhelmed with joy for him and cannot wait to be there to celebrate!  Wes and I hope to be moved into our new Jakarta home before I board the plane to America.  This will have to be done between our final evaluation on August 8 and when I leave on August 11!  Should be an exciting couple of days!  While I am in the States, Wes will start his training with Larry in the office.

Current book that I am reading: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp  
    She also has a blog at www.aholyexperience.com.  I am joining in the memorize Colossians in a year.  I am  just in week one.  A guide is available under her tab "Free Gifts for You."  For those of you that are slow at memorizing like me, I think this is a great tool! 

Prayer

Prayer is a powerful and mysterious gift.  I will admit that I really don't understand prayer.  I don't understand how God can be sovereign, we can have free will, and yet prayer changes things.  It boggles my mind when I sit and think about it.  I don't understand why some prayers are answered and others seem to be ignored.  I don't know why Danny died when I pleaded with God to save him, and why others are saved from facing death at that moment.

However, the more I seek God, the more I realize that prayer is going to be a large part of my ministry here in Indonesia.  Praying for the workers here and that their work would be fruitful.  Praying that people are healed from physical and spiritual ailments.  Praying without ceasing for Indonesia.  Although I don't understand prayer I believe in what the Scriptures say and I cling to God's promises.

Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7


The veil was torn in two so that we may approach the throne. Matthew 27:51


Many before us, like Abraham, never saw the promise but were obedient Hebrews 11


All things work for the good of those who love him! Romans 8:28


"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matt 21:22


And the list goes on and on.  I choose to cling to these passages.  I choose to believe that God hears our cries and that He answers.  It may not be the way I would do it, but he has good plans for us, so I trust him.  It may not even be in my lifetime, but He has shown Himself faithful.  I know that God answers prayer.  I know that during the dark times of my early adolescent years when I seriously considered suicide that my mother and a group of women were praying for me, so instead of finding death I found the One who gives eternal life.  I know that while the faithful were praying Peter escaped prison and death.  I know that through years of prayer someone dear to me has turned back to the Lord.  God hears our prayers. If you believe this will you join with me this week in praying for the nation of Indonesia, the nation with the largest population of Muslims?  Will you pray for people like my friend Ibu Ema and Ibu Emas who are living in darkness?  Will you pray for the workers that are here and that God would send more, because we know the harvest is plenty but the workers are few?  Let us have faith that God is going to move!

Pesta Ulang Tahun (Birthday Party)

I had been anticipating this event for weeks.  I was so grateful that my birthday fell after a few months of language school, but before we moved to Jakarta.  In Indonesia it is expected that you throw your own birthday party. Perfect.  I needed something to bring the women from my compound into my home.  Just any meal would not work, because they think it is rude to talk while eating.  So a birthday party it would be!

Our helper, Ibu Ema, was so excited to throw this party, and she worked so hard. She worked so hard that the next day she worked, she said maybe just a few guests for Wes's birthday.

Ibu Ema making Yellow Rice

Between 15 and 20 women showed up to my door around 4:00 all dressed up, and of course a bunch of children.  I was so excited.  Ibu Ema's daughter had written a speech for me, so that I would not forget to say anything.  After everyone had entered the house and had taken a seat on the floor, I gave my speech.  They were very gracious when my pronunciation was totally off, as they always are.  After my speech they sang "Selamat ulang tahun" to me and I blew out my candles.  Next, as if we were getting married again, Wes and I fed each other cake (their idea, not ours!)  After this everyone filled up on the delicious food Ibu Ema had made!

Reading my Speech

Meal time!

The ending was a little strange.  After everyone was finished eating I wanted a photo of everyone.  As soon as the photo was taken (thanks Wes!) they said goodbye and went home.  

Unfortunately you can't see everyone!

Since my party the women have been more open to me.  Not that they were harsh toward me before, but now they invite me in their homes, hug me tight, and seem to care more about our lives! Praise the Lord that He answered your prayers and my prayers.  We serve a Great and Powerful God!

Please continue to pray for these women and for LOTS of opportunities to talk about faith.  Blessings to you all!