It is pronounced “Bat-wan.” Get it?
Anyway, this past week has been exhaustive, and I’m finally getting a moment to organize my thoughts and reflect on all that has happened within the past week, as we landed in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia over a week ago.
To anyone that knows me, I prefer planning as opposed to decision making that happens in the spur of the moment. God has revealed to me that I have some areas to grow in, and I’m glad that He is teaching me.
That is not to say that I’m completely one way or the other, as I understand the necessity of both, however, while I’m in a country I don’t know (it’s different from reading about it), with people I’m still getting to know, where the English is either hit-or-miss, there was a great degree of uncertainty that gripped me and almost made me immovable.
On day one, my team and I got word of an opportunity, through a local man of peace here, about a Hindu Temple in Batuan where we could go encourage children in their learning of English, and we all said yes (though I had some remaining uncertainty). I kept quiet the entire time (shocker, I know), and didn’t move one way or the other as we traveled.
After my team and I prayed, and I read and studied the word, I received a newfound applicable peace that has surpassed all my previous understanding. And I’m continuing to be renewed through this, as it is a daily process. And that’s where a shifting in me has happened (and is continuing to happen).
The rest of the week was simply amazing. I learned to trust God in a whole new way, and the week looked something like this:
Video credits to my teammate, Tyler. Awesome stuff.
God is good, what He does is good, and though at times it might not feel like He is safe, He is good.
I’m learning to not live by my will (though it may feel comfortable), but by His (which is trusting Him in the uncertainty). So I’m not living by two will’s, Batuan…
And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:7
