Blessings...

I’m simply grieved when I consider the masses of those who have never had someone present to them the story of the One in which I follow. Each day is a constant reminder of the great need that exists for all people to hear such news. I live among numerous groups of people who have never heard accurate Truth. Therefore I desire to adequately respond to the responsibility that has been given to me by my Father in presenting His story among these people. His love for them is enormous and abounds greater than even my own mind can comprehend. It is through Him alone that we must trust and place our reliance upon at all times but we do need wisdom regarding our part for these people. 

I feel honored to share that my parents just recently made a visit here to Southeast Asia. I appreciate their sacrifice in coming to take part in my being here and I appreciate all of those on my team who offered much cultural insight and help in my planning their stay. I believe that our time together was extremely blessed. It was a true gift that I refuse to take for granted. They greatly contributed to our efforts here and for that Rebekah and I are thankful. 

My mom and our homestay mom connected extremely well. My dad was well liked among many of the young gentlemen we visit with on a regular basis at an English club that we frequent. I believe that these connections from the two furthered our relations with these nationals. During their stay I had a national friend come up to me with great excitement. He then made the statement that I needed to quickly talk with my Father because my Dad was sharing. This brought me much encouragement as in that moment I saw the enthusiasm and understanding within a national. We had many opportunities during my parent’s time in country. We were also able to enjoy one anothers company while sharing in a new culture together and I believe they now have a better understanding of our needs in this place and so they can take it back home to those who are faithful.

  My dad is an Lt Firefighter. So, we decided to visit a fire station in our city. It was thrilling. The national firefighters saluted my dad with respect and so in return my dad did the same. They even gave us a ride on one of their brand new fire trucks…unfortunately; it died three times during our ride. This did not give us much hope if a fire was to actually happen but it did reveal to us more of the culture in which I live. Thank you Mom and Dad for coming. 

 

I believe my Father has continued to reveal to me the importance of the believing community taking part in the lives of one another. Through the writings of Paul and my own experiences here in Southeast Asia I have come to recognize the value of community. I do not believe that we were created to live individualistic lives apart from others but rather I believe that we were created to understand the idea of a corporate reality. This idea is so clear to me as I read through Paul’s letter. It is even evident within the culture that I now live. The people of my island are so willing to offer help for the sake of another. Many will lay aside their own agendas simply to help another in need. I believe we have much to learn from this concept. A communal sense of living also offers great respect for elders on our island. Something I have grown to love about this culture is the respect demonstrated from the younger generation to the older. When a young person meets one who is older, it is customary to gently bow and take the elder’s right hand and bring it to the forehead of the younger person. This applies to people of all ages. Rebekah and I do this to those who are above us. Small children demonstrate respect to Rebekah and I by executing this gesture to us.

Happy Independence Day!!!

It is so hard to believe that Rebekah and I are now halfway through our stay here in Southeast Asia. It has taken our entire time in country to gain establishment to live in this place. Becoming established has been necessary however we now have much more we desire to accomplish prior to our departure in December. However, I have learned that if nothing else, true accomplishment is gained when we are obedient and faithful in the daily aspects of life and from this glory shall come. As I reflect on the writings of Paul, I am reminded that it is not of myself that good can be offered but rather it is only through His strength, “helping in our weaknesses” that good is brought so that others may know Him. I have also realized the importance of the believing community to be united. Paul wrote that we are to “love one another not of hypocrisy but of devoted love to one another.” This is crucial in daily living.

Followers of the majority religion just recently finished their month of fasting. The week immediately following this time is considered a national holiday. Everybody is off of work and out of school as everybody celebrates by visiting the homes of close relatives and friends. The first day of the week is the most important. This day is for special family members only. Typically the family all gathers in the home of the grandparents. The second day they visit their next closest relative’s home. The third day is for very close friends. The fourth day is for visiting neighbors since your neighborhood is considered a family community as well. The remaining days of the week are spent visiting various other people. We were invited into many homes during this week and so we gladly accepted. We went from house to house visiting with various members of our community. We went to the chief of police’s house, neighbor’s houses and various others as well. While in the homes we discuss the previous month they have just experienced as well as daily conversation of how each other is doing. They all prepare many foods for this special holiday. The food is mostly fried and sugary. They really enjoy these treats. The majority religion of our country requires women to cover their heads. We however do not need to cover while living here. This is so because our country has six official religions. We are recognized as followers of one of these six. Since our recognition does not fall within the majority religion, we are not expected to cover in the same way. We do however choose to display extreme modesty aside from covering our heads since the majority religion is so prevalent here.

As I, along with our closest national friend, was having lunch in the home of some locals, the homeowner asked me if I enjoy “climbing.” I responded by saying that I enjoy leisurely rock climbing. She reacted with great enthusiasm and then invited us to attend an event with her later that day…Independence Day for our country was August 17. However, due to the majority religion, most of the country was fasting during that time. Therefore, it could not properly be celebrated and so Independence Day was just recently celebrated and will continue to be celebrated over the next week. Independence is celebrated through a nationwide tradition. As our country offers many varying cultures on each island, it is this tradition that remains the one true tradition throughout all of the nation’s islands and therefore it holds great importance among the people. The tradition is a display of teamwork among all people. It is called Panjat Pinang. Everyone is to gather around a very large pole carved from the trunk of a tree. The pole is covered in oil and decorated at the top with the nation’s flag as well as “door prizes.” The men of the community are expected to climb the pole and grab the door prizes. However, it is not just one man at a time that is climbing but it is six, seven, maybe eight men climbing on top of one another, using the body of the other as height for reaching the door prizes at the top. The men climb on top of one another’s shoulders of the man below, while at the same time helping the next man to do the same. Because the pole is covered in oil it takes many attempts with the guy at the bottom struggling to hold all of the other men on top of his shoulders…As the nationals saw me, the foreigner, approach the celebrating crowd, they all turned and invited me to join them in their climb. I now realized the reason for the enthusiasm previously displayed from the homeowner who asked me if I liked to climb. Haha. Although, this would have been thrilling, I chose to remain a female face in the crowd, among the other women. The climbing men never made it to the top but the one at the bottom was in tears trying to do so. One man was trying so hard that he even continued to hang onto the pole even after the other seven men below him had fallen. He single handedly took off his shirt, while hanging fifty feet in the air, and from his shirt he made a hook around the pole for him to hang onto. The men are very strong in the way they can grip the pole with their hands and feet. It is an impressive skill that was fascinating to watch. I look forward to more celebrations that are to come! Happy Independence Day!