English Fellowship

Speaking English is something I take for granted. I can pronounce most words with little thought and can read complex sentences fluently. I might not know or understand all the grammatical rules associated with English, but it automatically is displayed in my speech (most of the time).

The week after Easter, friends of ours began an English fellowship group at their house. It was open to anyone who wanted to learn/practice English. We viewed this as a great opportunity to get to know Indonesians. My Indonesian language isn't that strong, but maybe we could find some middle ground using a mix of Indonesian and English and establish friendships. 

Most Saturdays we sing, listen to a Bible based lesson, and discuss various topics in small groups according to gender. One Saturday a month is a fun game night. 

 My friend asked us to consider leading small group discussions. She said," It's easy! You'll answer easy questions like where does God come from..." I thought to myself if that's an easy question my friend might want to continue looking for more capable discussion leaders! 

Our family decided to check it out together. We committed to participate each Saturday. Kate comes and plays with others while we build relationships with others. 

The lessons help to lay a "firm foundation" (which is the name of the series) by starting with discovering who God is and the progressing to creation and eventually through the life of Christ. It has been such a blessing for me to evaluate the firmness of my spiritual foundation. As Christians it can be easy to accept things that others say as Truth, without evaluating it through the lenses of Scripture. So we build our fundamental beliefs on half truths or thoughts that have shifted through years of memories or even church history. These half truths cause cracks in our foundations, which can cause the whole structure to be weak. 

Here's one truth that I go back to after each lesson. We've been talking about creation. Everything that God created- land, seas, sky, fruits, trees- He didn't *need* any of it for survival. So, why did He create it?? He created it with US- me and you- in mind. He is kind and loving. God knew that humans would need land, food, and light to survive. He created them in an order that shows His kindness towards us. He didn't create people first and then those things we need in order to survive. He's thoughtful and orderly in everything He does. God had a plan from the very beginning, and no one was there to give Him tips or suggestions on how to create things. He spoke and from the power of His voice *everything* happened. Wow. So now when I look at creation, I can see how even from the beginning God was expressing His love towards all mankind- not just those who would choose to love Him. 

Another truth that is helping repair the foundations of my Papuan friends is that God's power is greater than any evil or power of this world. Satan's power is strong here. My friends have seen spirits do things that mimic God's power, but are counterfeit. It's difficult for them to accept that good and evil are not equal in power. They (and Westerners too) tend to view God as ultimate good and Satan as ultimate evil, equating them with equal good and equal evil powers or abilities. BUT, friends, here's the Truth- Satan was in Heaven with God at some point (Isaiah 14:12). We know that God created all things (Colossians 1:16) and this must include Satan. God, the Creator of everything, has more power and authority than anything He has created. Therefore, Satan or other spirits can not have equal or more power than God. The powers of darkness may mimic the power of God, but do not be mislead that does not make their power equal. In Exodus 7, Moses and Aaron approach the throne of Pharaoh. God tells them specific instructions. Aaron throws down his staff and it turns into a serpent. Pharaoh gathers his magicians and sorcerers, who throw down their staffs which turn into serpents. I image that Pharaoh is feeling a bit smug, possibly thinking God lacks respect or honor because his magicians can perform the same "trick". Then something incredible happens- Aaron's serpent/staff swallows up the other serpent/staffs. Do not be mislead- others may mimic God's power and authority, but God stands sovereign over all His creation. 

"Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).

Would you pray for us as we re-evaluate our own foundations and as we help others as they begin the process of laying their own? 

Micah 6:8 A Nap Time Project

A little over 2 years ago, we returned to Indonesia with a four month old baby. I had tried to prepare a room for our little one before we left. The walls were painted, but that was it.

Here's a known fact about me: I am not crafty. It takes me *forever* to borrow someone else's idea and actually do it. By "forever" I mean my craft plans usually never pan out. 

Before our return, Josh dropped me off at a Joann's fabric store. I experienced instant culture shock. After almost running out of the store due to the mere selection of fabric, I regained my composure and noticed the pre-cut fat quarter squares tucked neatly away. Those pre-cut squares probably kept the employees from having to hold the hand of a pregnant, emotional woman who had no clue what she was doing. 

I'm happy to say all those squares were put to use only a few months after we returned...thanks to my craft-loving friend Michelle. I decided that we should keep Kate and get her settled in her room.

About the same time, I decided to buy four blank paint canvases and tubes of white and a rose color paint. No paintbrushes... what was I thinking? Finger painting? 

Today on May 20, 2016- two + years after buying *four* paint canvases, a project was COMPLETED! 

The project itself has been in the works for at least 3 months or more. It started out as this:

Cute, right? Super ambitious. Even looking at it now, I'm wondering how I thought I could do something like that after not having many experiences with paintbrushes. 

So, after 3 (or more) months, I adapted my idea to this: 

Only SIX words rather than 50 million. Now the only problem was the font- How do you make a beautiful font on a canvas with no craft/art talent? Easy. You look it up on Google. 

Choose your font... Wait. Microsoft Word doesn't have super cutsie fonts like that. So you have to go to these font websites and sift through millions of fonts that eventually all start to look the same! Then you have to add them to MS Word. 

Save your document.... as a PDF. This helps keep the fonts the same even if the computer that's opening the document doesn't have the fonts. Lesson learned- that cost me 2 trips to the printer. 

Print the document using the "mirror" setting on the printer. This prints your document backwards, so when it's laid flat on the canvas it reads correctly. 

Paint the canvas.

Trace the words with playground chalk. Lay the document flat and then trace the words with the tip (the non-brush side) of a paintbrush. This will leave the outline of the words on your canvas.

Mirror printing results

Fonts laid flat

Trace printed side with sidewalk chalk

Lay chalk side down and trace with point of paintbrush 

Traced words 

Next paint the traced words on the canvas.

Paint traced words

The final product:

I have never done anything like this before. While painting the words, I thought this looks terrible or maybe the paintbrush is the wrong size... Eventually I fell into a "groove" and finished. I love it. These words from Micah 6:8 are reminders of how God wants *me* to live. 

One day this will be hung in Kate's room. 

It may take another 2 (or more) years before my next project. 

Thanks to Kelli and Karen for letting me borrow paintbrushes. Thanks to Josh for buying me four paint canvases two years ago, knowing that a project may or may not ever be completed. Thanks to Kate for sleeping so I had some "work time". Thanks to Nickel Creek and Southern Gospel Radio channels on Pandora for providing music that kept me in a happy place while expressing myself creatively. 

Now... on to those picture frames that I bought at the same time... 

1 Avocado and 1 Lemon, Please.

Usually a scroll through my Facebook feed introduces me to a variety of new, delicious-looking recipes that are simple to make. The only problem is that the ingredients can't be found locally, so after I wipe the drool off the computer I move on with my day, promising that some day I'll make that. Last week there was a recipe that we could actually get ALL the ingredients locally- avocado hummus. 

Kate and I walked to the grocery store to look for 3 items- bread, a lemon and an avocado. 

Indonesia is still generally a cash society. Employees are often paid in all cash. Businesses tend to have bank accounts, I would say the majority of the population does not have a bank account. We have an Indonesian bank account and have one ATM card, so we have to coordinate when we withdraw money. You must have small bills to pay for parking. 

So on this day I had a small amount of money on hand and no access to the ATM card. I rarely choose a good avocado and am often disappointed with the inside when I cut it open. I squeezed one and it felt like "the one". Avocado in hand, I went to have the item weighed prior to check out. The lemons were stocked right across from me, so I chose one lemon that looked on the small side. I had it weighed and asked for the price, quickly determining if I had enough money. The total would be right at the edge, and I might be the lady who deletes items at the register just so she can pay with the money she has. 

The cashier totaled my avocado and lemon- 28,300 rupiah. I looked in my bag... 28,000 in bills and 300 in coins. Exact change. Uang pas. That's all the money that was in my bag. 

It may sound strange but I was really thankful to God- that was my dinner plan and it would have really complicated the day if there was not enough money. It was a small reminder to me that God has provided and will provide for my needs both big and small.  He even cares about giving good things like 1 perfect avocado and 1 lemon. 

Papua United Soccer

A few short months ago I was completing a Master's degree that took up so much of my time. I found myself asking God what was next? Did He want me to get back into the classroom at HIS or move my focus to a different school or help write math curriculum with another team or continue with my sole focus being momma? Ideas were presented and all options just didn't work out for various reasons. I have no problem with being momma but have this deep desire for community, to work/serve alongside people frequently.

The Lord is amazing! 

A group of us meet each Sunday night to play a game of co-ed indoor soccer. The first week I felt like I was for sure going to die right there in the middle of a game. Since that first week I feel like that is less likely to happen, although is still a possibility! Through that Sunday night soccer, opportunities were given to play a friendly game against a local Papuan girls team (Papua United). We have played outdoor soccer and indoor against the girls ranging in age from 13-16. 

A couple weeks ago the guy currently heading it up approached me and my friend and asked us to consider joining the girls on Thursday afternoons to run some drills with them. Last Thursday we had another friendly game and about 20+ girls showed up. This Thursday was the first day we were running drills and we had 8 girls. The 8 that showed up were so gracious in my extremely limited attempt to communicate using Indonesian! I learned there's a difference between the lines on the soccer field and the girls standing in line- yep, there's SO much to learn! 

Who knew (God is the answer!!) that in early elementary school I would start playing soccer on the Wild Things and eventually be coaching internationally!? I love that this game has opened the doors for clearly communicating the Gospel and pairing it perfectly with good character. 

Would you pray for these girls to feel encouraged and loved deeply by us as we coach? Would you pray that the girls would gain strength in their dependence on the Lord? Would you also pray that Kari and I would be good examples of women of good character and love for the Lord?

Check out PU website to learn more about their ministry http://www.papuaunited.org/