Looking Back

It has been a week since I returned from my trip overseas, and already I'm falling back into my bad habits. I sleep late and wake up late, I spend most of my time reading silly fiction novels, and I eat at weird times of the day (although I am eating more now, which is a good thing). But what this fall back into my old habits has shown me is that it is so hard for people to change, even when we want to.

My wild adventure to several small villages in Sumatra may have helped shaped my views on poverty, education, and medicine, but, for some reason, it hasn't been able to keep me from falling back into laziness. It's the same way with the people in Aek Matio, who want to become more economically stable, and know that the training and credit union they've received are means to that end. They know that they need to improve their farming techniques and the way they manage their money, but no matter how hard they try, they don't change.

What I'm coming to realize is that true life transformation doesn't come from traveling to faraway countries, helping the poor, or working your way up the economic ladder. No, those can be life-changing experiences, but the actual life-change comes from Christ. I've seen it in the lives of my friends and family. In Sitabotabo, we could see how those who walked with God had such joy in their eyes, and could work wholeheartedly for God's glory. In my own life, I've known the joy of realizing that Jesus loves me in the darkest moment of my despair, and experiencing the life transformation (still in progress) that follows.

As I learn more about microfinance, I am amazed at the simple brilliance of the idea. But the success of these small credit unions really does depend on its members; whether they are willing to set aside some money each month, whether they are ready to start a business with the money they borrow. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." We need to share the gospel and encourage people to have a personal relationship with God before even introducing the concept of microfinance, and the desire to work, save money, and send their children to college, all for God's glory, will follow.

Home

After a one-day rest in Singapore, my grandma and I finally made our way home. We are now safely in Seattle with our family.

This trip was difficult, but it was worth it. I got to spend time with people who truly live in poverty, and learn about their hopes and dreams: Many of the people in Aek Matio long to see their children go to college and then come back to further the success of their village. I got to learn about how God has used microfinance and education to help families in Sumatra Utara fulfill those hopes and dreams for His glory. And, most of all, I got to see how God can work in the most impossible of situations: Giving me strength when I thought I couldn't make it through a difficult hike (I was having a stomach ache), granting joy to those living with little, and bringing hope to people that others might consider hopeless.

I cannot wait to see how God will use these experiences and this project in the story of my life, and in the bigger story of His glory!

P.S. The photo is of the spicy shrimp and pate dish my grandma made in Singapore. It was delicious!!

Lampung

My time in Lampung was quite an eye-opener. I got to experience the life of doctor researchers living in Hanura, a village in Lampung, and serving the surrounding areas. Each work day, we would go out in the afternoon and go to randomly selected households with children under 15-years-old, asking for blood samples to check for malaria. The goal of Dr. Ayleen, Dr. Deka, Pak Pri, and Tri under the guidance of Professor Inge is to understand the different patterns of malaria incidence related to season changes.

I was really grateful to get to help out by organizing blood samples and doing finger pokes (you don't need much blood to check for the Plasmodium parasite). And I was even more grateful to get to interact with the families, especially the children who were excited about us being there.

Compared to Aek Matio, the people in the villages near Hanura had a little more exposure to the outside world. They live much closer to the city that the people in Aek Matio do. Similar to those in Aek Matio, the people we visited were usually not educated beyond elementary school, and usually worked as farmers.

This trip has been amazing! I'm now back in Jakarta, spending time with my relatives. I leave for Singapore on Sunday, and return to Seattle on Tuesday. I absolutely cannot wait to be home, and I will be there soon! Praise God, He's kept me safe and strong throughout this trip.

Off to Lampung

I had a wonderful time in Siborongborong, Aek Matio (believe it or not), and Danau Toba. The Batak people are so kind and welcoming, and the food (ex. sangsang, pork cooked in its blood, and rice) was actually not bad. The coffee from Siborongborong was especially good.

I was able to talk with Pdt. Hotmaida Siahaan, who started the credit union (CU) in Aek Matio, as well as two other CUs in Siantar and Siborongborong. It's pretty amazing what the CUs have allowed women to do. One woman was able to start a better sewing business, and several families have been able to send their children to college. The CU in Aek Matio is still really new, and the results are not yet apparent, but based on the pattern of the older CUs, it will hopefully help the people of Aek Matio expand their horizons and come to value education.

Teaching English and Bible stories/studies in Siborongborong was an amazing experience. The students that Ci Mega and I had were so special, and I don't think I could ever forget how easily we all became friends. They were so excited to get to know us, and to learn more about God's Word. The opportunities to share God's grace in my own life are particularly memorable. I will be praying for the youth in Siborongborong. They have so much potential to do amazing things that bring glory to God.

Danau Toba was absolutely beautiful! It was a nice place to rest and reflect on all the amazing things God had done in the past week and a half.

Our mission team is now all over the map! Marilyn is still in Danau Toba. Indra and Katherine are in Jakarta, busily preparing for their engagement party. Mega is in Jakarta visiting family and friends. Clara is in Siantar with her Batak grandparents. And I'm about to leave for Lampung tomorrow morning. What a busy trip this is. Thank God for my kind relatives and friends! I don't think I could have made it this far without them.

Jakarta

There were many things I had forgotten about Jakarta. But after four nights of waking up to the smell of bensin (gasoline) and the sounds of honking, I am just grateful that I have been able to sleep!

On Tuesday, I got to meet with Professor Inge from University of Indonesia. She was very kind and gave me advice on what to expect in Lampung. I need to be very careful and do everything I can to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes there!

I leave for Medan tomorrow, and I am so excited to meet up with my friends who will be going on this mission trip as well. I will be looking into the effectiveness of microfinance loans and education in helping women in poverty reach their God-given potential, which is basically what Women's Enterprises International seeks to do. I am nervous and excited about going to Aek Matio village. I've heard stories about the conditions there, and I will definitely need God's grace!

I hope the observations and friendships I make in Aek Matio and Siborongborong will be helpful for the people there and bring glory to God.

P.S. Please be praying for my grandma from Jakarta. She fell and broke her wrist the other day. Thanks!

P.P.S. The mosquitoes have been biting me like crazy. I think my feet just got bitten sitting here. And when I get mosquito bites in Indonesia, the skin around them swells up.

Expectations and Anticipation

I leave for Jakarta tonight! It has been a wonderful time in Singapore; adjusting to the new time of day, eating lots of good food (especially all the tropical fruits we don't get in the U.S.), spending time with friends and relatives, meeting a bunch of my parents' college friends (see picture), and attending a Catholic church service for the first time (I guess you could call that experience a pew swap).

I'm not really sure what to expect when I go to Jakarta, Medan, Siborongborong, Aek Matio, and Lampung. I do expect it to be radically different from the U.S. and Singapore. I remember Jakarta having these huge shopping malls, really bad traffic, and--amidst all the Mercedes-Benz and BMWs--poverty. One memory of a girl outside an expensive restaurant begging for money still breaks my heart to this day. I struggle in encounters with poverty in which I want do something to help, but I don't know what would be in their best interest.

That's one of the reasons why I'm excited to go on this mission trip with our church (GKI Seattle) and Women's Enterprises International, and see how microfinance loans and education really make a difference in helping people, particularly women and children, in poverty. While I anticipate culture shock and probably getting sick, I am so grateful that I can have this experience and see how God is working in the lives of the poor.

Before I go...

Hello friends and family,

I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who are supporting me on this trip! Whether it be through prayer, finances, or friendship, I appreciate it so much.

I especially want to thank my mom, dad, grandma, brother, and sister for putting up with my terrible packing skills. I'm slow, inexperienced, and confused. Thank God that somehow all the baggages ended up the right weight (probably thanks to my mom's superior clothing folding and item distribution)! And that my sister so graciously let me borrow her cell phone for this trip (it's multi-band, so it works internationally).

Thank you, Father, for my wonderful family and for your grace in packing. Thank you also for this opportunity to go on a missions trip with awesome people who love You dearly. May many hearts be turned to Christ and may You be glorified.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

My grandma and I leave for Singapore tomorrow, so please be praying for our safety and health. Thanks!

P.S. Going to Singapore and Indonesia means bringing tons of gifts and orders for our relatives. Because of that, Tash and I bought out Top Food's stock of pork rinds...yum. :)