Summer refreshed and rejuvenated the body and soul, and we’re
rockin’ and rollin’ into a new year.
I have enjoyed year two in Indonesia so much! I have felt so much more at home these first
couple weeks than I did all last year. Also, I traded in the eight speed bicycle
for an automatic scooter and it has made such a difference in getting around here.
Another huge blessing was bringing my family to Indonesia
for a visit. The trip had its ups and
downs, like when I took my family to the airport a day late, but it is so nice
that they now know what life is like here. You all know that I love my dad, but if we
had to talk about whether or not I had eaten chicken beaks of chicken feet one
more time, I might have stopped calling home!
Now he has plenty of other things to rag on me for.
I have also experienced so much freedom from anxiety this
year. Every decision I had to make last
year was tedious and painful. This year
I have been able to make decisions and plan without all the anxiety. I have so much more to learn as a teacher and
still lots of work to do, but it is not as painful anymore. Thank you Lord for the freedom from that
burden!
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| My new students! |
I can see the Lord challenging me to go deeper now that I
have settled in. Today our pastor
preached a sermon from John 21. He challenged
us to look to Christ to ask what is next.
Last year I wanted to work with high school students, mostly out of
pride. There’s always a ministry that
everyone thinks is “the best.” I fell
into believing that working with the high school-ers was the only ministry of value. The Lord has shown me how extremely untrue
that is, and I have found great peace and joy in working with the students that
God has given me. In that peace that He
has given me, I think that He might have something in store that I wasn't
planning.
Each year, ten to twenty high school students head out to a
fairly remote island in Indonesia to do something called “cultural tourism.” They travel and stay on the islands to learn
about the culture, meanwhile the students are looking to make a greater impact
and share the good news with the people they meet. The
group works all year to prepare and pray for the people. I don’t know if that is what God has in
store, but my plan is to apply for a chaperoning position. Please be praying that God opens and shuts
doors according to His will. 
I hope all is well in America. Know that I am praying for you all even
though I am far away. In Christ we are
of one spirit. Through prayer our
community does not stop. Miss you and
love you all.
