April Update

Small groups will wrap up at the end of this month and we are currently planning the last youth group. I have been continuing to use different venues to reach out to the girls whether that will include cream baths, helping with homework, working out, or spending the night and spending time together. God has been teaching me a lot about wisdom and patience as the girls have been sharing with me their struggles.

This month, I've been involved in one small group with the 9th-11th grade girls on the book Captivating. It has been really great this quarter to stay more low key in terms of small groups and planning because it is my last full month to just spend quality time with the girls here. I have enjoyed the small group...maybe it's considering the fact that I'm not leading it for once and instead it's one of the senior girls. The small group is in a more relaxed setting and I get to just talk with the girls about the heart issues that we go through instead of having to be so focused on "teaching." Formal teaching is great, but I think a majority of "teaching" or "discipling" is based more on the way you live and the time you spend with others instead of some 3-point lesson you make up which truthfully, I don't think I can remember a full lesson that I've learned from youth group or sunday school. Since I've been getting to know the girls better and better, it seems like my time is always occupied by trying to spend as much time as possible with the girls before I leave. It gets hard at times because I feel myself already pulling away and imagining how hard it will be to leave these girls whom I have grown so incredibly close to after walking with them through their joys and struggles. However, I guess that's something to give thanks to God for because that just means that God has worked inside of me and through me which is what my reason for being here was. For if I wasn't sad about leaving, that would only mean that I never really connected and shared my heart with the girls here.

Jr./Sr. Banquet at Kayu Arum Resort

The Junior class organized a banquet for the Seniors that was held at the local resort, Kayu Arum. They were trying to surprise the seniors with having dancing at the banquet considering the school has never allowed dancing before. However, they researched the rule book and found out that there could only be dancing if it was taught and supervised by a trained instructor. Luckily, one of the teachers had taken dance classes during college, so he ended up being the instructor. We first learned the Tango and would alternate partners every 5 minutes. We then learned the Salsa which was probably my favorite, but also the most tiring. Lastly, we learned how to swing dance. It was alot of fun, even though I was drenched with sweat by the end and when I twirled, the sweat with fly off my hair...haha...At least I had no one to impress!

Horseback Riding in Bandungan with the Paula and her family

There is a mission organization here known as New Tribes Mission and they have a two month orientation for all the new families filled with lots of fun excursions and getting familiar with the country. One of their activities was to go horseback riding in one of the neighboring cities, Bandungan. They invited me to come along since I've never been. It was absolutely amazing. I felt like I was in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" with all of the beautiful hills, trees, and waterfalls.

O.C.'s Women's Retreat in Solo, Indonesia

My organization, O.C. International, held a women's retreat this month. It was held at the Lorin Resort in Solo, a city about 1 hr. away, for about three and a half days. It was so relaxing as a majority of our time was eating meals together and talking, alot of sharing and praying for each other, shopping, reading, or watching movies. I was so refreshed by the whole retreat. God definitely knew that I just needed a break as I was an emotional wreck and drained from all the uncertainties of the future and having to leave all the girls. God revealed to me so much when I was there and gave me peace. It was not necessarily by the speaker, but just through the conversations I had with the other women that I'd have to say conversations were ordained by God. I'd love to write it all of what God had showed me while I was there, but I'm afraid it might be too long to write here, but if you'd like to know, just e-mail me and I'd love to share!

(All the Salatiga O.C. women) (The Bandung and Salatiga O.C. women)

(Scarf Shopping! Of course! :) ) (Small prayer groups)

(Out to dinner with all the ladies at

an amazing Italian restaraun, Solo Mio) (Just Me! )



Atik's Wedding

I along with Mr. and Mrs. Fosdal were invited to one of the girls that were part of Karen's home-stay English program just two months ago. Weddings or funerals in Indonesia are typically held right in front of the house on the street. They just block off the end of the streets and put a tent in front of the house and place some plastic chairs around. We arrived on "indonesian time" which means that if the invitation says 9:30 a.m. you don't leave your house until about 10:00...even that might be considered early because the wedding may not even start until 10:30. Except for this time, they did actually start when they said they would. Oops! When we arrived, they walked Karen and I up to the very front at the seats of honor, even though we were extremely late. I asked Karen why they would do that even though we weren't even that close to Atik consider we just met her about 2 months ago. She responded that because we are white and are accepting enough of their culture to even just show up. It was also very interesting how they split all the men and women up, even if they are married.

(This little girls cracked me up because she just walked over to where I was sitting and gave me these horrible looks...soo I decided to take a picture of her while she was doing that and show her what she looked like...she then ran away from me...but not for long, she kept coming back and giving me these dirty looks....oh well! I guess if you're cute, you can get away with anything)