I just realized I haven't blogged in over a month. Maybe I'm going to bet fired from my own blog? Maybe.
A ton has happened. At least I think it has... I have a TERRIBLE memory. terrible. So really, I'm pretty sure things have happened. Now I'm trying to look back through my pictures to see what I did this past month. If there isn't a picture, there's a good chance I've forgotten it.
I really should be better at taking more pictures.
Oh well.... well, here are just a few things that have been going on here:
I started taking lessons in bahasa Indonesia (language Indonesia). I really should have started these months ago. That would have made life a little easier. Just after only 4 lessons, I am able to understand so much more of what's being said. I even feel as if I am able to exercise my gift of eaves dropping again.One of my favorite phrases is, "gak papa," which means "no problem." Literally translated, it means, "no what what." I have to keep from giggling when beginning English language learners don't know the correct way to translate it and respond with, "no what what" when we're talking about something.
I learned about the "dating bridge." Let's just be clear, though: this is not a romantic idea. There is one overpass in particular in Surabaya where there is a side walk that goes across the bridge. By day it's just a regular sidewalk, by night it becomes a dating hot spot. Couples bring blankets and spread them out, then eat food and snuggle, much like you might do if you were to go on a picnic. Just substitute a grassy knoll for a cement sidewalk, and beautiful scenery for traffic and exhaust smells. Cars are literally feet away. I don't understand it.
There are days that my friend Karen labels as "I can't stand Indonesia days." Those are the days when you get more irritated than normal at the cultural differences, food differences, the language, etc. . . and you just want to go home. I'm so thankful these days don't happen very often. I had a couple of these days a few weeks ago and I found myself complaining. Quite a bit, actually. (Budi and Bao Bao, I'm sorry if I've let you down ;) ) Most of it was in my head (praise God for filters), but some people were unlucky enough to hear me complain about the taxi system, my students who had ditched class on presentation day, how far away I am from home and loved ones, the slow pace of life, and my inability to communicate, just to name a few. I'm thankful that God is in the business of building character and gently gave me an attitude check. I am learning more and more about how to be content in my situations: I can do all things through God, who gives me strength.
And the thing about all of it is that even in my moments of homesickness, I have never doubted my decision to be here. I still know down deep in my gut that this is where I am supposed to be for now. That's an assurance I'm okay with having.
I will add more later on, but for now, I'm going to go to sleep since it just passed midnight here. I hope that's "no what what". :)
These are a few prayer requests:
1. Pray that my visa is processed. Yes, this is the permanent visa that I included on a prayer list back in November. My paperwork is still in progress, which means that it is sitting in a pile somewhere on somebody's desk. My employers are so good and wonderful and want to run their business in an honest, God-honoring way in the midst of a corrupt nation where it is expected that you need to bribe someone to get anything accomplished. Please pray that their commitment to honesty will bear fruit and they won't have to continue paying fees for extensions.
2. The term is ending in a week and a half. Pray that students will end strongly and they will be proud of their hard work. Pray that God continues to use my interactions with the students to point them to Christ.
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