I haven’t really been able to tell everybody about the work I have done because my first country was Indonesia, a censored country. But I realized that if I don’t tell you all that I have been up to then I will just be going through this all alone. So without further ado, I will summarize my time on the field so far. First off I am going to start with the ride to our home for a month. Our host picked us up at the airport that night, after 2 days of travelling for us. There were 8 adults in a van the size of a station wagon along with 6 huge hiking packs. We were all jammed into that van for an hour on our way to where we would be staying, which turned out to be a storage unit. Our host showed us where the light switches were, how to filter water, told us to watch out for snakes and lizards that would suck your blood, and then he was off. We were standing alone in a storage unit in the middle of Indonesia.
As we got to know our host a little bit more he invited us to eat breakfast at his house each morning, thereafter we would go out to treasure hunt, or evangelize, in downtown Bali. We had to use code words so that we didn’t attract attention. When we were treasure hunting we would be out all day going to schools, hospitals, malls, and universities. After a full day, we would usually go to a connect group in somebody’s house. Sometimes that meant we were at a villa with a pool and a jacuzzi, or a one-room apartment that a whole family shared. On Friday nights we led a small children’s program. About 30 kids would come, we would teach them English through songs, games, and bible skits. At the end of the night, we got to read through the Bible story in English and then have them read it in Bahasa. There is a certain kind of joy you feel around children, and I will miss those munchkins with all my heart. Especially you Bagas!
The month was about halfway through in Indonesia when a lady from our church died. Sarah lived in a tiny apartment with her daughter and mother. But when she died she couldn’t leave anything for either of them. We sat in the morgue for hours with Rosella, then through a wake, funeral, and cremation. After she laid her mother’s ashes to rest, a family friend offered to adopt her so that she could stay near her friends and at the same school. That was a huge answer to prayers! He even offered to adopt Rosella’s little grandmother too. When all this happened, her church family was also ready to help. There were at least 3 families that were going to adopt her had the family friend not adopted her.
The death in the church threw our regular schedule for a loop. Instead of treasure hunting, our host wanted to take us to a refugee camp from the volcano on the Island. When that fell through, an old friend randomly called our host about teaching English in his little village. So, for three days we lived at a Hindu temple teaching English to little Indonesian kids. They grew so close to our hearts in such a short time. We visited all the local cites like waterfalls, markets, and rice fields. Then one morning we were asked to do a photo shoot which happened to be a legitimate photo shoot for the village. They are starting a new social media appeal to tourism and we are now the face of their city. There wasn’t a minute that went by while teaching in that temple that I didn’t know God was with us. How else would these village leaders let us teach the Bible in a Hindu temple or sing prayers to God just a few steps from their altar? I will always remember acting out the Good Samaritan with the Hindu temple standing tall behind us.
A teammate and I went back the village the day before we left the island. I was so happy to get to see them again! But what made me even more happy, was knowing that the kids in the village were asking questions. At first I was nervous because one of the men in the village said he didn’t like it. Several of the kids had been asking their parents and teachers about Jesus, who he was and what he did. Why was he able to calm the storm? When I heard this, I know it came as a warning from the village leader, but to me it was hope. Not only did the children understand our English, but they understood our stories about the bible. Because we took the chance, those kids will always have those seeds inside their hearts and God will water them somehow.
I am learning now that short-term missions can be so many different things. It can be hands-on like construction. Disaster relief like feedings to refugee camps or villages in need. My favorite so far is when we host a VBS or talk to a random stranger about Jesus. It’s that little seed that we get to plant when we talk about Jesus to somebody who has never known the love of God. It’s probably the most awkward thing I’ve ever done. Especially when they are openly Hindu or Muslim and think you’re crazy. I am convinced that God will reward you for your boldness though.
Indonesia was a crazy adventure that I could probably write a whole book about, but since I promised a summary that’s what I’ll stick to for now. The people I met there, the places I saw, and the food I ate will forever have an impact on me. I don’t ever want to forget Bali, and I don’t think I will ever be able to. God is working in Bali.
