the big picture

Well, I'm nearly at the six-month mark of being in country, and I'm feeling it. Don't get me wrong - I'm not homesick. I just had a moment today when I realized (again) the things that I decided to miss when I signed up for this. Life is going to be much, much different when I return; there's no avoiding it.

Please don't think I'm complaining. I know this is where I'm supposed to be - I am 100% confident in that. Sometimes, though, that confidence is shadowed briefly by what I'm missing back home... and I lose sight of the big picture.

What is the big picture? It's the simple truth that this world is not our home. We're like pilgrims, awaiting a greater home, being refined like gold in fire. This truth got me through a really hard time in my life, and it's one I still have to keep my eyes on. With it in mind, life looks a lot different. It's suddenly okay if things never turn out like we think they will. It's okay if I'm not there to see my best friends say "I do" or for big changes in my family. It wouldn't be if this life is all there was. But it's not.

This life is not about us. It's not about being successful, comfortable, or even happy. We have a purpose that is much greater than ourselves. It's called his glory. And it's better than anything we could have imagined on our own.

This world is not our home. Life is not about us. His glory is worth it.

"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing JC my L0rd. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain JC and be found in him, not having a righte0usness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in JC, the righteousness from G0d that depends on faith... 

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the L0rd JC, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." Phil 3:8-9, 20-21

To end it, here's a video of something I'd be missing out on if I were still in the States:

 

long beach

One of the definite perks to living here is the beach. There's a road into town that follows pantai panjang - or long beach - and it makes for a gorgeous drive. While I often drive alongside it and enjoy the ocean air, I realized the other day that I had only really been to it once, and that was with a friend when it was packed full of people. So on my day off last week, I decided to enjoy some alone time at the beach. Since it was in the middle of a weekday, the beach was pretty deserted. It was so refreshing... here are some photos:

 

"What does the L0rd your G0d require of you, but to fear the L0rd your G0d, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the L0rd your G0d with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the L0rd?" Dt 10:12-13

funny translations

Learning another language definitely has its challenges. Some things don't make sense at all. Things get lost in translation and I have no idea why they use the words they use. Other times, though, you just gotta laugh...

(We drive over a speed bump - which are everywhere, by the way.)
My friend asks, "What do you call those in English?"
Me: "That thing we just went over? Speed bumps. What do you call them?"
"Polisi tidur."
"Wait... polisi tidur... as in 'police sleep'? Like the police are sleeping and have the speed bumps do their job for them?"
"Hahaha yep. Do you know what we call the little spots on your arms?"
"You mean, freckles?"
"Yeah, those! But we don't call them freckles. We call them tahi lalat. It means fly poop."

I wonder if we can adopt those phrases in the States. Speed bumps are called "police sleep" and freckles "fly poop."

motorcycle girl

I am now a motorcycle girl. Before you start picturing leather jackets and skull caps, though, maybe you should take a look at the little dinker of a thing they call a motorcycle. It's more or less a bicycle with a motor attached.

Driving here is not a leisure activity. It's fun, sure, but I do not do it to relax like I did in the States.

People are pretty much crazy. And not because they speed and do crazy tricks, cause a lot don't. It's little stuff. It's not wearing a helmet. It's driving on the wrong side of the median. It's not looking before you pull out in front of someone. It's making two lanes into three... four... five lanes. You quickly learn the dimensions of your vehicle and just how much space you need to get through or around or by someone. And it's cramming four people on a two person bike. I've seen entire families on a motorcycle - the Dad drives, a child in his lap in front, Momma in the back, and a baby in between. And none wearing helmets. Seriously.

For me, the rule is: no sudden movements. Don't do anything that would surprise anyone. If you're going to pull out in front of someone, do it confidently but not suddenly. If a car comes ridiculously close to you, don't jerk over to the side, because you'll take out the motorcyclist who's next to you. As long as you pay attention to what's going on around you and stay calm, you'll be fine.

I've got a confession to make: more ugliness has come out in me while driving here than it ever did in the States. If I ever need to be reminded of what I've been saved from, all I gotta do is go for a drive. That being said, my pr-yer life has also increased greatly since I've been on the bike, haha. I am extremely grateful, though, for being able to drive, as well as for the four months I had riding in this craziness without having to manage it myself. Dad knew what he was doing. :)

Usually I wear long-sleeves while I drive for two reasons: more protection and people can't tell as easily that I'm an American, haha.

And now for some photos of one of the cutest girls in the world - meet Loren. She's the daughter of one of the Ibu's in my life, and she is the most adorable thing. Once so shy she wouldn't speak a word or even come close to me, she now chatters endlessly about things beyond my language capabilities. Love this girl.

 

Also, if any of you are interested, I try to send out a monthly email (really it's become every 6 weeks - my bad) with more specifics on life and work here. If you'd like to be added to the list, just shoot me an email at: rachel_stone26@eku.edu.

mati lampu

I have never heard so deafening of rain as I have living here, and tonight is no exception. It's so loud, I can't hear my kosmate as she yells from 10 feet away. Skyping with my family is pointless if it's raining simply because they can't hear me. Thankfully, it's a little quieter in my room, but not by much.

More often than not, with the rain comes mati lampu, which literally means dead lights. Power outage.  This actually happens about once a week for who knows what reason, but I more or less assume if there's heavy rain, there will be mati lampu. Over the rain, I can hear the other girls groan as our lights go out and our fans stop. I get up and light the four little candles I have around the room. Though small, they give off a surprising amount of light in the darkness. Combined with a nifty headlamp my dad made sure I brought (Thanks, Dad :) ), I can see and get around no problem.
 
Sitting here as the rain pounds on the roof with no lights is a little unnerving. I'm not a huge fan of storms anyways, and the dark doesn't help. I know some love them - they jump at the chance to watch the lightning and the rain. Not me. The little kid in me comes out, in more ways than one. I have built many forts in my basement during a thunderstorm. If I had more furniture in my room here, I probably would be building one right now... and yes, I am 22.

In the roar of the rain, I am reminded of a passage, and I open my book and read it:

"Ascribe to the L0rd, O heavenly beings, 

Ascribe to the L0rd glory and strength. 

Ascribe to the L0rd the glory due his name; 

 Worship the L0rd in the splendor of holiness. 

The voice of the L0rd is over the waters; 

The G0d of glory thunders, the L0rd, over many waters. 

The voice of the L0rd is powerful; 

The voice of the L0rd is full of majesty. 

The voice of the L0rd breaks the cedars;

The L0rd breaks the cedars of Lebanon...

The voice of the L0rd flashes forth flames of fire.

The voice of the L0rd shakes the wilderness...

The L0rd sits enthroned over the flood;

The L0rd sits enthroned as king forever.

May the L0rd give strength to his people!

May the L0rd bless his people with peace!"  

Suddenly, rather than unease, I am filled with awe and wonder. What a great G0d. With this same voice, he spoke the world into being. He is king, reigning with all wisdom and power, doing great things we cannot comprehend. The Creator of the universe. G0d. And this same G0d knows me. More than that, he loves me. He redeemed my soul. He has given me life. And he walks with me. G0d.

"To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only G0d, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

ibu kos

I would like to introduce to you my Ibu kos, the house mother. She didn't really want me taking her picture, so I had to sneak one.

This woman is so funny. She's afraid of gas, so our stove burners are kerosene. And we don't have doorknobs on any of the doors either - something about she's afraid if there's an earthquake, we won't be able to get out, I'm not sure. But despite her... oddities, she is incredible, and she makes sure I'm taken care of. 

One day, when I was first learning to drive, I was getting my motorcycle out, and she came out and followed me to the road:

"Be careful! Go slowly! People are crazy, they drive really fast, but you, you make sure to go slowly. Don't (demonstrates revving the gas while trying to grab the brake). Make sure to wear your helmet! Be careful! Slowly!" 

"I will, Ibu. Yes, Ibu. Of course, Ibu. I will be safe. Thank you, Ibu. I will, Ibu."

On another occasion:

Ibu: (in bahasa while demonstrating closing my door) "Make sure you close your door and window in the evening because nyamuk."
Me: (confused look) What's nyamuk?
Ibu: Nyamuk! Bzzzzz (slaps her arm)
Me: Ohhh! Mosquitoes!
Ibu: Ya! Nyamuk! Bzzzz (slaps her arm again)

Today, as I was getting out my bike, she came and taught me how to use my turn signal. "Now, when you go out, you push this this direction. Ahhh, see? Like that. And then you push this, ahhh, it stops. If you want to go that way, you push it like, ahhh. Like that." Thank you, Ibu, for teaching me what a turn signal is. Sweet lady.

Her sister lives next door, and she has three kids. They are the most precious little ones, but they are also very fast-moving, so snapping pictures of them is a little difficult. But here are a couple I managed to get.

 

Digging in the dirt with a shard of pottery

This poor little guy fell off this ledge thing... you can even see the dirt in his tears. Poor thing.

They only played for a little bit, but I managed to snap a picture before they knocked it over.

Beautiful girl

"Bless the L-rd, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." - Ps 103:2-5