I ncredibly beautiful
N ew religion dynamics
D ifferent ministry-style
O pen hearts
N icest people
E xperienced Holy Spirit
S aw people’s hopes and dreams
I mmersed culturally
A dministered love
INDONESIA was incredibly beautiful. While my team and I were no where near Bali, the city of Medan and the island in which we called home for a month’s time possessed a beauty of its own. We had the chance to see Lake Toba and hike through lush, green mountain passes to visit villages. Hearing monkeys holler at you through the jungle walls as you walked was an experience I will never forget.
INDONESIA held a new religious dynamic than other parts of Asia. While Muslims were the popular religious group, I will say I did not expect as many Lutherans as I met and crossed paths with. Then there were the Protestants like us. The Lutherans were not fond of Protestants and quite frankly I could never really understand why. Talking with them reminded me of home. They were closed off and didn’t want to hear at all what you had to say. The Muslims were actually more open to speak and talk about God and Jesus than any other group. It was interesting.
INDONESIA presented a ministry-style similar to more of my short-term mission trips than other ministries on my race. Every day brought an unknown schedule. A new village. A different school. A fresh way of presenting the gospel. Etc. For my Type A personality of plans, organization, and timeliness this was a struggle. Indonesia definitely stretched me and grew me in my flexibility in that way!
INDONESIA welcomed us with open hearts. The people we shared our testimonies and God’s love with received it better than I imagined. Prayer was welcomed just about everywhere we went. Talking about God and Jesus, even if it seemed as though we were just learning about one another, was easy and not confrontational. When we caught ourselves in places not knowing how to get home or give directions in their language, their generosity to help was mind-blowing. The people of this country just really welcomed us well.
INDONESIA had the nicest people. Our friends (AKA translators) had such beautiful hearts. They were willing to go with us even on our off days and adventure days to assist in communication and get to know us. They helped with making purchases and living life like an Indonesian. They molded us to fit into the culture and taught us some of the language. Our host and his family were also amazing. The loved us well. Constantly driving us to ministry sites, participating in ministry with us, encouraging us, caring for us when we were sick, cooking for us daily, etc. I seriously could call them my Indonesian family. Mamma and Pops were the greatest!
INDONESIA provided time and space to experience the Holy Spirit. No, Indonesia is most certainly not the only place in which the Holy Spirit shows up, but it was within my month there that I experienced more of Him than before. We got to see people humbled by the Holy Spirit in such a way that tears were brought to all of our faces. The Holy Spirit was invited in each village, in each English lesson, in each long car ride, etc. He never failed in showing up. The Holy Spirit also moved a lot in my personal life. Hearing God’s voice and being able to learn and grow was definitely a highlight concerning the Holy Spirit as well.
INDONESIA is filled with people who have hopes and dreams. Some of those people were part of our ministry host’s team. Dreams to travel. Dreams to pastor. Dreams of leading worship on an international scale. Hopes in long-lasting friendships. Hopes in learning languages well. Hopes in finishing school. So many hopes and dreams within our new-found friends. They weren’t the only ones though. Children we taught longed for education and reached for the chance to be loved on. Adults we spoke to requested prayers of healing and spiritual renewal in their subconscious way of seeking true hope and true salvation. Hopes and dreams really do stretch among each and every nations.
INDONESIA immersed me culturally. Living in a 5 star hotel would be nice, yes, but living among natives of the country you’re visiting brings an entirely new perspective. You live as they live. Their schedule. Their food. Their language. Their personal friends. Everything. You become one of them. Even to the way you dress in a sense. Tourism is wonderful and relaxing, but when you step into the realm of the culture you break down barriers. We were no longer foreigners, but we became an American Indonesian friend for the month. It was a beautiful thing to learn their ways. I would not have wished it any other way.
Last but not least…
INDONESIA was a place we admits teared not only the love of Jesus, but also our love. Showing the love of Jesus is easy when you have an escape to your own room or friend group to relieve stress, but showing the love of Jesus when you have no escape, share your room with 7 people, and live with your host family is much more difficult. As appreciative as I am for the chance to live in community and crossing cultures within my team and with my host, cultural differences can create stress at times. Thankfully with a team that emerges themselves in Christ and a host who does the same, grace was extended when needed. God chose to love us, and it is a memory worth reliving to see how we chose to administer love to each other, our host family and friends, and the people of Indonesia.
