Ascension Day

I grew up in a Christian nation, but never once celebrated Ascension Day.  Not until I came to Indonesia. May 17^th is Ascension Day.  The day Jesus ascended into Heaven. Even though the majority of the nation doesn’t understand the significance of this day, the government grants a holiday and most people get a day off from work. Not a bad holiday for a nation that isn’t Christian, is it?

My church here celebrates Ascension Day by joining together for 10 days of prayer and fasting. Our theme is “Unplugged” and we are committing to unplugging from media for at least 12 hours each day and allowing the Ancient of Days to fill the void it leaves. We meet together nightly to encourage each other and pray for barriers to be broken in lives, for salvation  for loved ones, for relationships, for guidance through upcoming times of transition, etc…  We dedicate 10 days to seeking Him wholeheartedly. 

So, basically I’m anticipating God. I am looking for Him and seeking after Him, and since He is for me, I know that I’ll hear from Him.

Year-round Birthday Gifts

As a child, I would hear about practices in other cultures that were so vastly different from mine. The kind of culturalisms that make you think either, “Wow, I’m glad I don’t live there,” or “That would be kind of cool!” 

Living in Indonesia, I’ve been able to experience a culture that:

• eats strange meats.
• uses only the right hand for doing things because the left hand is used for…. well…. other stuff.
• doesn't consider belching and …other gas passings inappropriate. In some places it can even be a compliment for a good meal.
• still uses witch doctors.
• practices giving gifts on one’s birthday instead of receiving gifts. This has mostly effected me at the Chinese school where I teach in the mornings. On a student’s birthday, the parents bring in 19 gifts for the classmates as well as gifts for all of the teachers. The gifts are typically a compilation of snacks that the child likes.

Sometimes though, I get some pretty outrageous gifts. These are some birthday presents I’ve gotten from students:

Well, this one is a class cake. For a pre-kindergarten class. What? It's huge.

We all got our own Angry Birds cakes!

A candy jar. Chubby white girl with curly blonde hair. I'm so glad I have straight hair now or else I'd think it was me. ;)

And the winner for the strangest present of all? 

I opened the box and there was this. A WHOLE fried chicken. Yup, there's it's head. It's feet were interlocked underneath it.

I've never had to do this with a birthday present before. It was strange, but I was actually really thankful for it! haha

Fifty-five

55 days.

7 weeks and 6 days.

One month and 24 days.

That’s all that’s left.

Plans have changed a bit and I won’t be returning to Indonesia in July. I don’t need to go into all the details, but just letting you know that June 16^th is it.

I have no idea how my time in Indonesia has gone by so quickly. I was standing in church this morning during worship when, out of nowhere, I thought, “I have to take my name off the ushers and greeters list!” I do it the third Sunday of the month, and I won’t be able to do it in May, and by the third Sunday in June I will be back in America. Last Sunday was my last turn!

I’m entering into a season of “lasts” here.

In case you don’t know this about me, I am strange when it comes to saying goodbye.  If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to me, I’m typically very composed and matter-of-fact about the whole ordeal. Dry eyed and smiling. In the moment.

To me, saying goodbye is a grieving process that begins long before the departure. In church this morning I teared up many times when I began thinking about leaving this dear church that I have come to love. I have learned countless lessons and matured in my faith here. There are friendships I’ve made here that will last. I’ve been in denial about my impending return to the States, and when my friends mention it, I have retorted, “That’s a long ways from now. Let’s not talk about it.” :)

I think from here on out though, the reality of my leaving is going to settle in, and it’s going to hit me at strange times and places. So, for my Indonesian friends, just as a warning, if my eyes fill with tears when we’re together, don’t worry, I’m alright.   I’m thinking about how hard it will be to leave.

Only God knows if /when I will be back in Indonesia. I have already let Him know that I won’t mind coming back here if that’s in His plan for me.  :)

And for my friends in Idaho, I’m really going to need your help in readjusting to life there. I have so, so, so much to look forward to when I come home, but nonetheless, it will come with challenges. Here’s a “thank you,” and a giant hug in advance for listening to my many stories about Indonesia.

Uh... yes, I speak English.

Some moments in class recently (These are from students between age 4 and 10^th grade):

• Amn't isn't a contraction.
• Even though to their little ears, "widow" and "weirdo" sound alike, they are not.
• When you say, “I am so very boring,” instead of “I am so very bored,” it doesn’t mean the same thing. If I laugh when you say the wrong one, I’m so very apologizing.
• Reading stories about people who are living in oppressive and abusive countries should make you feel upset/sad/angry/determined/something other than indifference. 
• It’s important to identify racism and call it what it is. And then move to change.
• “Miss Jamie, you speak English??” “Why yes, (student), I do.”  This is 7 months after being his teacher. SEVEN MONTHS. What language he was trying to understand when I was teaching him, I have no idea.
• For a short essay response I was amused to read that one student’s life inspiration is Justin Bieber.  I was saddened/disturbed when another student refused to answer the same question because she has no inspiration.
• “Miss Jamie, you’re a bule??” (a white person) “Yup!” “AWESOOOOOOME!!”

New Hair

Maybe this is the most girly post I will write? But I was entertained by some of these reactions to my new hair:

“You lost your curly!”

“You have no hair!”

4-year olds didn’t have the words.  They just made motions of pulling their hair straight.

“Oh no!”

“Miss Jamie, I think I like your hair straight.”

“You look more feminine.” – uh… thanks?

“You look prettier.”
"I like your old hair better."

“Did the wind blow your curls away?”

It is so strange to me when people give unfiltered opinions here.

So yeah, I had my hair professionally straightened.  It’s so easy. It dries straight. If I wear a pony tail and then take it out, my hair has no line in it. I will probably become bored with it in a few months and really miss my curls, but for now, it’s so nice. 

Decisions

So far in 2012, I’ve decided/noticed….

• all ants must die.
• I love people in places all over the world, and more than ever I realize that Heaven is home.
• I pray more now than I ever have in my life.
• to get a motorbike! Well, it’s really a scooter, but most people just call it a motorbike here. It’s exhilarating! Just today I rode the furthest I ever have ridden: from the western side of Surabaya to the east.   In a land where there are not very many traffic laws I’m learning how to be aggressive and defensive at the same time.
• to get reunited with chili peppers. Though chili and I took a break for a while, we got back together. I put chili, sambal, on almost everything now. I even made macaroni and cheese last week, and realized halfway through my meal that I couldn’t eat another bite without sambal. Maybe I’m more Indonesian than I realize?
• that my housemates, Stan and Helen have been the best surrogate parents for me here that I could ask for. Everything from a homemade meal, to cheesy jokes, to life advice/counsel/opinions, this couple has made my stay in Surabaya so wonderful. I’m blessed to know them and so thankful to their family in Canada for letting me borrow them for this year.
• common sense is not common.
• rice and noodles are staples in my diet.
• to come back to Idaho to teach for this upcoming school year. The emotions that come with typing that out and posting this on my blog are indescribable. I have become comfortable with my life, my job, my friendships, my church, the food, (etc. . .) in Surabaya, and I will miss it so very deeply.  I also deeply feel as if my time overseas is not complete, but for many reasons, I feel at peace about coming back to Idaho and returning to my job as a second grade teacher.  Right now, my plan is to fly to Idaho in June for a dear friend’s wedding, and then return to Indonesia to finish out my contract through the end of July.  I’m already trying to figure out how to incorporate my love for Indonesia into my classroom. I think it can be done.
• that whoever thinks long distance relationships are easy is out of their mind. I miss Tony.

Sometimes I'm a big complainer.

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.