Bumpity, Bump, Bump...

I have arrived safely in Living Waters Village! The ride here was long and very bumpy, but it wasn’t actually as bad as I thought it would be. It took us about 12 hours to get here, but for some reason was actually very manageable. The roads we drove on were pretty ridiculous. There were potholes everywhere, and the potholes that were filled in were filled in with chunks of rock, big sharp pieces of rock. It made for an interesting drive. But, I am now here and don’t have to do that drive again for just under 2 months.

Since arriving there has been quite a few things going on. As we drove in we were met by a group of people. It was a bit intimidating meeting so many people at once, but the nice thing was many of them were Westerners so they speak English! It is nice to have people around that I can talk to because for the most part I don’t understand what is being said. I look forward to learning some Indonesian while I am here. Not only will it be helpful as I teach, but also fun to learn.

Saturday:

I had the opportunity to meet the teachers I will be working with. While there I got to join in on a time of worship and prayer, I didn’t understand a word that was said, but it was extremely powerful to listen to all of them worship God in their language. It was a huge blessing to be a part of it and I look forward to many more of those opportunities ahead of me. Besides teaching English I am also going to be pulling small groups of students who are struggling in school. I will be working with them on reading and math, which I am very excited about. This means, however, I will be teaching them Indonesian, which means I actually have to start learning some Indonesian pretty quickly. Please pray that I would learn quickly, and also be able to remember what I am learning.

I also got a tour of the property, which was unbelievable! The ministry owns about 600 acres of land and to see all that is going on here was amazing. There are so many different projects that are in the process right now it blows my mind. To describe in words all that is going on is pretty near impossible. Between the children’s houses being built, the bakery, medical center and so much more there is a ton of expanding going. At this point there are over 300 kids living here and still growing. I have yet to see them all together but am looking forward to when I will see them all in one bunch.

I wish I could post pictures to share the beauty that I am surrounded with both of God’s creation, but as well as what God is doing here through this ministry, but at this point it’s a bit too difficult.

Sunday:

Wow!! I have now seen all 300+ kids who live here in Living Waters Village all in one room. The first time was last night for a birthday party for everybody who had a birthday this month, but this morning at Church was even more amazing. I thought yesterday was powerful listening to the teachers of the school worshiping God in their language now imagine over 300 people coming together and worshiping the God of our the universe in a different language. It was mind-blowing and beautiful! Watching these kids worship God and seek God with everything they have was so encouraging. Again I understood none of what was being said, but it didn’t matter. The passion and love for God was there which says so much.

Tomorrow I start at the school, something I am very excited about. I’m looking forward to starting to work with the kids and hopefully start to learn more Indonesian.

Please continue to join me in prayer as I get ready to get started with everything that I will be doing and that God has for me.

Tuhan memberkati (Lord bless you!)