God allowed my current team and I to revisit the friends that hosted my team in 2018.
This is a wanna-be short recap:
Traveling cheaply from Bali to west Java: A 10 hour Bus ride, onto a ferry, then staying at the train station in Surabaya from 12midnight to 5am. Then a 14hr train ride.
The team and I arrived the night of the 18th, and were greeted by our friends at the train station; they took us to a warm homestyle restaurant. And because of the long Travel, the next day we rested!
We stay at a school, so every morning we have our mats packed up by 8am. Then we go to a morning study through the Psalms from 8 to 9am before class starts.
Tuesday 19th
We had a Bible study at night. We went through one if my favorite sets of verses in Matthew 6:
Going through scripture slowly & with a translator causes me to go more in depth. If anyone gets an opportunity, I would recommend it.
Wednesday 20th
While the kids are in class, the moms wait in the lobby area. This is an opportunity to speak with them; useing Google Translate for more in depth communication. They sang a patriotic Indonesian song, and “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban. We shared songs with them too. After each song my friend translated the lyrics & meaning.
Of course this time was followed by many of the woman wanting photos with us.
We were invited to a Board meeting with a prominent Christian School (not the one we sleep at, that one has Muslim and Christian teachers and it is very community based), to discuss /plan for being guest teachers.
Thursday 21st
I went to a Mobile Clinic with Joe, Jackie and many of the teachers from the school we stay at.
We weaved through back streets of closetogther homes and little food shops, and in home pre-schools. Admits the tightly woven alley ways there was a community space where we set up shop.
It was a free Clinic that is set up in a different area once a month, and it’s for the elderly or and those who cannot afford to go to the Apotek.
I helped call out the names of the patients and gave back rubs to older women. While Jackie filled prescriptions. And Joe talked with and prayed for the people waiting.
Friday 22nd
3 major events happened:
1)We were invited to the Irma’s (a woman I met last visit), midwifery inauguration ceremony at a hospital.
In the span of 5 hours, we got fed 2x, did several TicTok videos. (Its a huge fad among all ages here)
We saw a traditional music performance with a local instrument made of wood, and various reids that you rattle, called an Angklung.
I was expected to perform with my team.
We sang “All In All”, and Irma sangmost of the song with us!!!
As foreigners, we were the honored guests, or the spectacle / photo op. But I am a ham, so I love the showering of attention. Many indo. Woman make everything jovial!!!
2) Our host took us to a popular floating market, a special nature attraction that renewed us.
This Luak animal licked my face. It also produces the most expensive coffee in the world.
3) Last time my team was there we stayed at another branch of the school, and we prayed for provision for the family. We got to re-meet the family, and see the nicer home & school house that God provided, as well as worship and pray with them.
Sabbath Saturday 23rd
My teammates Joe and Tito got to pray for and share with shop owners and their cab driver.
I got my phone stolen, but have decided to not worry about it. I immediately put it in Gods hands. But I did spend almost 5 hours with the mall security! That ended in photos too!
Read my next post for Sunday through Thursday.
