For last year's trip, our Pastor actually had gone and surveyed the place before the actual trip. This year, all of us have no clue, where we're heading, whom we're meeting, all communication with local church/organization was done through emails and phone calls.
I was pretty surprised to find out that Banjarmasin is the 2nd largest Muslim city after Aceh in Indonesia. Big mosques can be seen even from the airplane as we approached the city.
Our 1st destination was 5 hours away from the city where we landed. We're being picked up by the members of local church and Pastor Erwin who's leading the mission team. a little background on Pak Erwin, he used to lead the church in Banjarmasin, and then decided to go out and do mission-work instead. I was just in awe by that story alone, because a lot of us would seek the comfort in settling down (with work, family, etc) but yet he choose being away where financially uncertain and serve in these little villages that we're visiting. One of the member that went with us on the mission trip was previously a Muslim and was led to Christ through Pak Erwin. And as I met him in person, he's very humble, approachable and close to these villages that he ministers. I am truly touched by what he's doing. These villages where we visited were quite behind, some still doesn't have electricity.
Back to the trip :)
It's one of those times where I find myself most dependent on God. You see there're these little things that worry me:
1. bug (mosquitoes and its friends)
at home, I'm the only one who always get bit - -" and plus with my sensitive skin, bug bite on me usually gives me swollen skin and leaves a "forever" scar. I came prepare with all kinds of bug repellent
2. bed & bath
I don't live at a hotel where they change your bed sheet and towel everyday, but I do have the comfort of knowing that my bed and bathroom is clean and no random things will fall on me while i'm sleeping :D I came prepare with sarung and flip flops.
Despite all the preparations I bring with me, I have to say a little prayer everytime. "God help me as I want to go to sleep. God please be with me as I go take a shower. God please don't let anything fall on top of me when I'm sleeping, etc".
And surely God listens and He answers me in His way and I could come back one piece, praise God. Through ibu Esther, who also sensitive to bug -> I couldn't escape the mosquito bites, even so, ibu Esther bring this medicine, that reduce my swollen to no scar :)
Our 2nd destination was in this place surrounded by river, so the only way to get there is through bridges. There's this bamboo bridge, really shaky and only has strings each side. I mean: people could really fall down easily from this bridge. I was really scare crossing this bridge, but I have no choice I need to get across. Through Melinda (the Banjarmasin mission team) God helped me. She would hold my hands as I cross the river, everytime :) God is so sweet, until the last day, I was able to cross that bridge myself, no-human hands, only God's hands :) I'm an Indiana Jones for God. (It's really 10x scarier than the suspension bridge in Canada)
It's the fastest time in my life God had answered my prayers.
When we're still on our way to the village, I was joking to yossi. She offered me a bread, and so I told her, "No, I don't want roti, I want ayam goreng." and then we laughed. She even opened her pringles for me saying that "this one is the closes to ayam goreng." and then alvin said "don't get your hope high (because it might be tough to get ayam goreng)." So we finally stopped for lunch at this restaurant. And our team came down, a lot of us were busy going to the restroom. While waiting for the restroom, just out of curiosity I checked the lunch we're having, for they already prepared at the table. Guess what? it's ayam goreng!!! :D
This ayam goreng had comforted me so much for I know God is with me on this trip and He listens to my prayers. I had so much confidence in praying for the people there too :)
Children's KKR time is amazing. It's so wonderful seeing these two ladies from domba kecil who dedicated their lives serving God. All 3 villages, 3 different messages, 3 different needs, all met. On one of the KKR the message was about obedience, and it so happened there's this kid who's quite naughty and loud and the beginning. When we're singing he would talk and play/bug his neighbor that ibu Esther had to come separate them. But after the message, at praying time, he prayed so wholeheartedly, that made my heart melt. WOW! I got reminded that God's word has power! power to change :')
Got close with some of the kids there too, it's a wonderful experience, they walked us back to where we're staying, they crossed the bridge no problem - -" they even run on it! I really hoped they turned out to be a woman after God's heart. I would love another opportunity to visit them again :)
I just want to end this with something ibu Leoni said:
"kita aja yang dari kota ke desa udah kayak gini ga betah, gimana Tuhan Yesus yg dari surga ke dunia."
It humbled me :')
I am deeply loved
and guess what?
you are too :')
