This is it! - and it's not a (bad) Michael Jackson movie. We landed met amazing Ps Fera and set off on our way. Our first cultural experience was traveling in a car. The golden rule is whoever is biggest has right of way. Intersections and roundabouts are an interesting test of faith in your driver. There is also an interesting system of horn honking to let people know what you are doing. Other interesting points were a four wheel drive VDub, a man with a massive gun in an intersection, wheel chair guy, & a guy carrying walls (yes walls) on a rickshaw bike.
The following posts will, in all likely-hood, not be in any chronological order but detail various activities, experiences, and touchy feely stuff (and yes that was the heading in my journal) that each of us have been internalizing really complicated feelings in our heads... bro.
One of our exciting, fun, and varied activities was saddling up and heading off to meet some of the church members in the surrounding area. This entailed heading off and meeting the locals in the midst of their everyday lives. It was amazing (this word will get some serious usage) to just see the completely different culture. From such a small exposure it is hard to even comprehend the magnitude of some differences but just enough catch a glimpse. Life here is vastly different, many people earn a living through making rice products, growing fruit, or making shuttle cocks. As we wandered about we met people along the road or peering out of their houses and workplaces at us. For some of them we may have been the first ever white people they have seen in the flesh.
With our limited Indonesian and Javanese we said hello, good morning, thank you, and smatterings of broken English. When spoken too the curious and often blank faces would burst into radiant smiles. With the language barrier we weren't here to share the gospel by preaching from street corners but to share and show the love of God through smiles, handshakes, and taking the time to visit people. At times it could feel like we weren't doing anything special but to them it made all the difference (others will elaborate more on this). Everywhere we went we were greeted with warmth and gusto, and people were so generous. How many of us when entertaining guests would make a special food run to the supermarket, and give the best, and in some cases, the last of what we have?
This love, generosity, and complete need to rely on God daily has made a significant impact on us. How this we translate into action now and when we return is still an on going process.
I shall end there and write some more later. Be prepared for a flurry of posts.
Sitting on a deck at Mount Hope, hopefully not getting eaten alive (have yet to be bitten, puji tuhan)
Manjoe
"The Christian Life hasn't be tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried."
- G.K. Chesterton
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