// i n d o n e s i a //
month 1
We arrived at our ministry site (okay that feels like years ago), a school in Indo on a Saturday so naturally the school wasn’t open the next day! Our host, whose name I want to protect, told us one of his friends would be going to a wedding and we should tag along… because that’s totally normal. Seth Barnes told us that if we ever got the opportunity to go to a wedding we must! Well day 1 and done, that’s what Expedition does!
So hell yeah! I could get down with that after 50 hours of travel. We threw on our semi fancy outfits? Questionable. Hopped in the auntuk (the UberX of Indo) and drove through the back roads and all the alleyways of Indonesia until we came upon what felt like a monstrous line of Muslims all dressed in vibrant lehengas (traditional garb) – must be the place. We jumped out to eyes darting in our direction. Oh do I look different? lol
Within a couple of moments of digging through our bags and snagging our cameras, a man comes to us with the biggest grin and a magazine in hand. He points to a supermodel on the inside that he swears is my beautiful teammate, Kara. Haha same same, but different. He had the magazine as if he KNEW she was coming. We all giggled together and followed the line into the part of the street where the celebration began. At least that’s when we thought it began, the celebration really started a few days prior, they can last up to a week here in Indonesia! This one was 3 days . The day before was the day her husband gave his vows (That’s commitment yall!). The bride isn’t obligated to make anyyyy promises 😉
Just kidding.
We turned the corner to a dream! Big leather couches, huge golden domes, tents with drapes of vibrant color, extravagant oriental rugs, photo booths and more food than we could ever dream of. The bride and groom were seated in a golden chariot being wheeled down the street as performers put on their best show in front of their very eyes. I imagined myself on the set of Aladdin singing “a whole newwww wooorrrrlddd, a new fantastic point of viewwww. No one can tell us no! Or where to go! Or say we’re only dreamingg. A whole newwww worrrldddd.” Dancers and actors. Fire and men on stilts. People trying to snap selfies and secret photos of us.
Then the bride spots us and waves us over to her throne. She says “you must be Pa’s friends! I am so over joy you could come to my party” (with a single head nod and a grin from ear to ear).
We were directed to the children’s section seated in the sun off to the side of the ceremony. I assume the bride was upset with this because a family member came for us and put us under the tent in the back. Then another family member came and told us we must sit in the front row. Once we were seated in the front row, the show of dancers came alive and before we knew it the bride’s brother came for us.
“Come with me she wants you to put on traditional makeup and kebayas and we will go back to the house and then hurry back”. We looked at each other stunned, our excitement glowing on our faces and followed him to the house.
“Dude. Who are we?? Is this really happening right now? Haha! They are dressing up Jesus and inviting Him to their Muslim wedding!?”
Little did we know, the bride had something else in mind. When we returned to the wedding all fitted and made up, they feed us like kings and queens (inevitable). People came by our table to give us the thumbs up or tell us how beautiful we looked. The bride’s family saying “These are our friends! These are our friends!” And before we knew it the bride asked that her friends come up to the front. Our team went up and she said “you are my bridesmaids and groomsman, yes? Stand here and please help me receive my guests”. Okay… sooo you are dressing up Jesus and putting Him IN your Muslim wedding?!
EL. OH. EL.
A few moments later, she asked for 2 of us to work the photo booth and 3 to man the guestbook and then Stephanie, Jeanne and I to continue helping her greet the guests. The greeting here is angelic. It’s called the adab. You meet each other’s eyes and with your hands held in a prayer-like motion you point your fingertips towards each other. Gently feel one another’s fingertips then slowly bringing you fingertips to your lips or forehead.The children take your hand as if they were to kiss it and press it to their forehead as a sign of respect. It will bring you to your knees melting in the sweetness. Little did these guests know, they were receiving a blessing from each of us in the name of Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah in Arabic). All 1,500 that were invited. YEAUP. Not a typo.
But they wanted more from us.
They wanted us to go on stage to dance with the performers. We obliged, of course.
Then they asked if we would sing a song on stage. So naturally we sang a worship song, “Oh how he loves us”.
We just sang a song about how much God loves us at a Muslim wedding.
When people love in this capacity, when people invite you into life with them in this way, you realize that you are enough, you are so enough, you are more than enough. Isn’t this exactly what Jesus does for us? He invites us in and tells us that we are more than enough!
And so are they.
This is ministry.
The party began at 9am and went all throughout the night. We became their family and they became ours. She invited us to stay the night (yes on her wedding night) and we politely declined. That was more than enough love to comprehend for one day! The bride and groom, now our brother and sister, insisted that when they returned from their honeymoon, we bring our things for a sleepover. Four days later, the day they returned, we were back in the living room where we had our makeup done and were dressing up in the kebayas. Only this time, we were sitting around the coffee table, drinking tea, eating snacks, laughing and singing along as Steph played her guitar and sat with them just as Jesus would have.
photos captured by // ben.towne and jeanne.roeser
The moment our sweet friend noticed us
You must be in our wedding! Go to my house, put on traditional make up and dress and hurry back!
“Photo! Photo! Photo! Free Style! Free Style!”
No you are my bridesmaids, please help me receive my guests!
The adab.
before.
We clean up nicely!
4 days later our sweet friends were back from their honeymoon and we went up to the mountains for a sleepover in the village!
We are now family.
If you want to be a part of this thing please consider joining us in prayer! Add us to your prayer list. Even consider marking a day a week you will pray for us.
.and.
I JUST HAD TO EDIT THIS PART OF MY BLOG BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!!!
Give me a hot minute to process!
Insert watery eyes.
How did that just happen.
No way.
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For those of you that decided to support me after I left the states. I am utterly blown away. overwhelmed would be an understatement.
I could never find the words for how I am feeling.
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I am beyond overwhelmed by the number of people who are a part of this thing and the support my team has back in our home towns. I love you humans more then you can comprehend.
in His strength, xx Kate
