Our small team met up with an Ukrainian couple (Ivan & Kate) who live here in Bali as well as another believer named Ezra. After connecting with them, we were bestowed with an amazing gift of being able to travel around Bali enjoying an incredible mix of cultural experiences and standard tourism.
Bali is home to a large population of Hindus and you can see temples as well as idols all throughout the city. We began the day going to Ubud and visiting the water temple where people come to pray, give offerings, and receive cleansing. I was concerned the sarong we needed to wear to enter the temple would not fit but very thankful it did because even in the midst of a misguided faith there was beauty.
Tirta Empul- Cleansing Area
Tirta Empul- Offerings
Walking around Tirta Empul
From the water temple we went to a coffee plantation to see how Balinese coffee is made. Here there was also the infamous Kopi Luwak which is harvested from coffee beans that have been defecated from an Asian palm civet (similar to a mongoose). This is said to be the most expensive coffee in the world and it was extremely smooth in taste as our group tried some along with various other local teas/coffees.
Bali Purina
For brunch we went for a traditional Indonesian suckling pig meal where we were the only non-locals around. I personally like local cuisines so this along with our dinner meal later which was even more traditional made my heart smile.
The Monkey Forest was an absolute blast. Here there are semi-free ranging monkeys all throughout the jungle forest. They would take stuff from people and randomly jump on you especially if they thought you had food. It was a blast monkey-ing around with them for awhile.
Ubud Monkey Forest (Photo courtesy of J. Simmons)
My favorite part of the day was also the hardest: Rafting. I have not been white water rafting before and nerves were high going into this portion of the day. It was a cross between being super excited and scared from the moment we began the hike down to the river to the time we showered off afterwards. My legs were literally shaking trekking through the jungle to get to the raft. Part of me wanted to bail and not continue but part of this year is about doing hard things and conquering fears.
Being in the raft, I had to place my trust in G-d, the guide, and my raft-mates. I was placed in a raft with people whom I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen but whom I needed. The journey down the river was breathtakingly beautiful and full of crazy good moments. To me, I could see how this journey relates to life and listening to the Holy Spirit. The guide would yell directions out and we had to do what he said in order to stay on course and remain safe. The more in sync we were with him and each other, the easier the journey. Difficult moments were less scary when we were in it together.
Rafting down Ayung River
I’m not sure any of my team mates could ever relate to how much courage it took for me to go rafting but it’s funny how I came out on the other side having had so much fun in the midst of fear. I thoroughly had a blast and would do it again. Ivan even reminded me how strong I am and not to ever give up. There were a couple moments where I could have gone further with trust but I know breaking free from some strongholds takes time. What I accomplished yesterday was powerful as I took one step closer to being fully alive in Christ knowing “that he who began a good work in (me) will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6
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