I know that it has been a while since I have updated my blog and I apologize for that, but I did want to finish with my May blog. For my last month in Indonesia, I felt myself already pulling away and I wasn't so emotional. I was pretty much just trying to finish everything up and plan a trip that I took two of the highschool girls on to Bali. The school's graduation was an emotional time for alot of the students, teachers, and families. It was so amazing how united the missionary/school community was in Salatiga. I have a new perspective on the importance of unity and relationships among fellow followers of Christ. During my last few days in Salatiga, it was somewhat surreal that it all was coming to an end with an unassurance if I would ever see these people ever again. It did finally hit me as I said my last goodbye to one of the jr. high girls whom I really connected with and pretty much became a part of her family from all the time that I spent with them. I was able to stay strong while I said goodbye, but rushed out before a flood of tears began to pour.
Afterward, I, along with two other girls, Nasreen and Michelle, were dropped off at the bus station and took a 17 hr. bus trip to Bali. It was actually a really nice bus with lots of leg room and reclining seats, and the $15 price wasn't too bad either. :) We slept most of the way which made the 17 hours seem alot shorter. We got a taxi to our hotel and after arrival we settled in and freshened up a bit. Nasreen was craving McDonald's for about three weeks prior to Bali, so that was our first goal. We decided to try to save money and walk to the nearest McDonald's, but the supposedly "15 min. walk" ended up being like a really long, strenuous 45 min walk on the beach baking in the hot sun. Okay, well, maybe it wasn't that bad, but we did get sore for the next couple of days because of that "walk." One thing that was kinda weird was that there were alot of Europeans in Bali. As you may or may not know, Europeans tend to be alot more "free"...? in terms of clothing. Then there was me and the two M.K.'s who have been sheltered in our little muslim village for the past year in which wearing short sleeves could potentially be considered as "immodest." So I guess that's when the "reverse culture shock" started to happen for me because we were wearing jeans and t-shirts walking down the beach where everyone else was practically naked. We were for once "overly modest." Another time when I felt the "reverse culture shock" was when we went into the little supermarket to buy some shampoo and I became overwhelmed by the wall full of different types of shampoos. I was like "Who needs this many varieties?" considering I came to really enjoy the simplicity of having to choose between only two shampoos in Salatiga.
We were able to rent motorcycles from a taxi guy for only $5/day. It was really nice to have the freedom of being able to go places whenever. So we took an adventure one day to try and find this place called Sukowati which had really cheap souvenirs. However, it was across town and they told us it would take about an hour to get there...an hour if you know where you're going that is...meaning if you are not from around there and considering there are no street names only visual markers...it took us about 2 1/2 hrs. Nasreen and I thought it was actually really fun trying to pull over every 15 min and use our broken Indonesian to ask people how to get there. It was like an adventure that made it much more rewarding when we finally got there. We dressed up a couple of nights and went out to dinner which was pretty fun, and we even took Salsa dancing lessons one night. Overall, the trip was really relaxing and went smoothly and it was just what I needed to make the transition a bit smoother.
From Bali, Nasreen and I took a flight to her house in Jakarta and stayed there for a couple of days. It was finally time to come home and Nasreen dropped me off at the Jakarta airport. I was mixed with emotions and was ready to come home because I didn’t want to have to say even one more heart-wrenching goodbye after Nasreen. I was filled with joy anticipating seeing my family and my friends who were only two flights away, but out of sorts thinking that it’s all over with. During the plane flights, I was able to just pray and remember all that God had brought me through in the past 10 mos, and all the big and little lessons that He had taught me about Himself. As I was flying into the San Francisco airport and counting down the minutes until we landed, I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited. I rushed out and went through immigration, got my luggage, and came out with a huge smile seeing some of my best friends and my parents waiting for me! As we were driving back home, I asked them if we were going to go out for dinner or something, and they told me just wait until we get home and we’ll figure it out from there. That’s when I was starting to wonder if something was up. When I got home and came through the door, some of my other friends were there to surprise me. They had decorated the house and brought lots of food, but I was just so glad to see everybody and “catch up.”
As for the summer, one of my goals was to prioritize relationships. That is one of the lessons that God has taught me this past year. I’ve always been somewhat of a workaholic and buried myself in work, school, and church activities because it was easy for me. I liked the fact that I could go to work or school and know exactly what I had to do and what was expected of me to “succeed,” and I didn’t have to deal with relationships which take a lot of time, effort, and at times can be painful or wearisome without having a lot of gold stars on the world’s “succession ladder” such as jobs, prestige colleges, etc… However, God taught me that relationships are what life is about especially the ultimate relationship of pursuing to know Christ our Lord. I’m not saying that I’m planning on not having a job or going back to school ever again, but finding that balance and not seeing spending time with people as less worthy than getting a 4.0 in my next chemistry class.
For this next year, I got a waitressing job at P.F. Changs( in Pleasanton if you want to come visit! J) and am taking some fun classes at Las Positas while possibly starting up some bible studies with some girls whom I have mentored in the past. I am currently applying to Moody Bible Institute for the spring of next year hoping to major in Women’s Ministries. For long term future goals, I’m still not exactly sure where God will be leading me, but I’m open to a lot of different areas even if that means going overseas. I’m just trying to enjoy life right now and take it one step at a time trusting in the Lord and watching where He will lead next. Thank you so much for supporting me with your prayers and finances because God has really blessed me this past year through whatever support you have given me. I have learned so much more about whom Christ is and who I am in Him, and hopefully was able to share His light to the students that I worked with and the Indonesians there who were lost that I came into contact with.
Afterward, I, along with two other girls, Nasreen and Michelle, were dropped off at the bus station and took a 17 hr. bus trip to Bali. It was actually a really nice bus with lots of leg room and reclining seats, and the $15 price wasn't too bad either. :) We slept most of the way which made the 17 hours seem alot shorter. We got a taxi to our hotel and after arrival we settled in and freshened up a bit. Nasreen was craving McDonald's for about three weeks prior to Bali, so that was our first goal. We decided to try to save money and walk to the nearest McDonald's, but the supposedly "15 min. walk" ended up being like a really long, strenuous 45 min walk on the beach baking in the hot sun. Okay, well, maybe it wasn't that bad, but we did get sore for the next couple of days because of that "walk." One thing that was kinda weird was that there were alot of Europeans in Bali. As you may or may not know, Europeans tend to be alot more "free"...? in terms of clothing. Then there was me and the two M.K.'s who have been sheltered in our little muslim village for the past year in which wearing short sleeves could potentially be considered as "immodest." So I guess that's when the "reverse culture shock" started to happen for me because we were wearing jeans and t-shirts walking down the beach where everyone else was practically naked. We were for once "overly modest." Another time when I felt the "reverse culture shock" was when we went into the little supermarket to buy some shampoo and I became overwhelmed by the wall full of different types of shampoos. I was like "Who needs this many varieties?" considering I came to really enjoy the simplicity of having to choose between only two shampoos in Salatiga.
We were able to rent motorcycles from a taxi guy for only $5/day. It was really nice to have the freedom of being able to go places whenever. So we took an adventure one day to try and find this place called Sukowati which had really cheap souvenirs. However, it was across town and they told us it would take about an hour to get there...an hour if you know where you're going that is...meaning if you are not from around there and considering there are no street names only visual markers...it took us about 2 1/2 hrs. Nasreen and I thought it was actually really fun trying to pull over every 15 min and use our broken Indonesian to ask people how to get there. It was like an adventure that made it much more rewarding when we finally got there. We dressed up a couple of nights and went out to dinner which was pretty fun, and we even took Salsa dancing lessons one night. Overall, the trip was really relaxing and went smoothly and it was just what I needed to make the transition a bit smoother.
From Bali, Nasreen and I took a flight to her house in Jakarta and stayed there for a couple of days. It was finally time to come home and Nasreen dropped me off at the Jakarta airport. I was mixed with emotions and was ready to come home because I didn’t want to have to say even one more heart-wrenching goodbye after Nasreen. I was filled with joy anticipating seeing my family and my friends who were only two flights away, but out of sorts thinking that it’s all over with. During the plane flights, I was able to just pray and remember all that God had brought me through in the past 10 mos, and all the big and little lessons that He had taught me about Himself. As I was flying into the San Francisco airport and counting down the minutes until we landed, I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited. I rushed out and went through immigration, got my luggage, and came out with a huge smile seeing some of my best friends and my parents waiting for me! As we were driving back home, I asked them if we were going to go out for dinner or something, and they told me just wait until we get home and we’ll figure it out from there. That’s when I was starting to wonder if something was up. When I got home and came through the door, some of my other friends were there to surprise me. They had decorated the house and brought lots of food, but I was just so glad to see everybody and “catch up.”
As for the summer, one of my goals was to prioritize relationships. That is one of the lessons that God has taught me this past year. I’ve always been somewhat of a workaholic and buried myself in work, school, and church activities because it was easy for me. I liked the fact that I could go to work or school and know exactly what I had to do and what was expected of me to “succeed,” and I didn’t have to deal with relationships which take a lot of time, effort, and at times can be painful or wearisome without having a lot of gold stars on the world’s “succession ladder” such as jobs, prestige colleges, etc… However, God taught me that relationships are what life is about especially the ultimate relationship of pursuing to know Christ our Lord. I’m not saying that I’m planning on not having a job or going back to school ever again, but finding that balance and not seeing spending time with people as less worthy than getting a 4.0 in my next chemistry class.
For this next year, I got a waitressing job at P.F. Changs( in Pleasanton if you want to come visit! J) and am taking some fun classes at Las Positas while possibly starting up some bible studies with some girls whom I have mentored in the past. I am currently applying to Moody Bible Institute for the spring of next year hoping to major in Women’s Ministries. For long term future goals, I’m still not exactly sure where God will be leading me, but I’m open to a lot of different areas even if that means going overseas. I’m just trying to enjoy life right now and take it one step at a time trusting in the Lord and watching where He will lead next. Thank you so much for supporting me with your prayers and finances because God has really blessed me this past year through whatever support you have given me. I have learned so much more about whom Christ is and who I am in Him, and hopefully was able to share His light to the students that I worked with and the Indonesians there who were lost that I came into contact with.
