I am going back to Indonesia!

This is a reflection from 2014 which I never published.  It tells the story of why and how I returned to Indonesia nearly nearly 3 years ago as an SVD lay missionary at St. Paul Major Seminary-Ledalero near Maumere, Flores, in remote Eastern Indonesia.

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It is with great joy that I announce my return to Indonesia in September, 2014!

Since returning from my trip in April, I have processed about God's powerful healing and intervention in my life while I was there.  I am changed.  Following much prayer and consultation with my spiritual director, pastor, close friends and family, I have discerned that I am to return.  As an official guest of the Bishops' Conference in the Diocese of Maumere on Flores Island, and for the Fall semester at the seminary, I will again be exchanging ideas about the universal Catholic Church and experiencing more of the Church and local culture there. 

While there I will continue discerning God's will for the next stage in my life.  I have placed myself
at God's disposal, having sold my house in Fort Worth along with most of my worldly possessions.  I I couldn't be more excited.



Here I am, Lord.  Send me! -- Isaiah 6:8

Check out this great song if you'd like:  Let them See You

Traditional Weaving and a local Catholic Hospital near Ledalero, Maumere Indonesia

I like to visit Lepo Lorun, a fantastic place in Nita, Sikka, Flores, Indonesia -- near St. Paul Major Seminary, Ledalero, where I am an SVD volunteer lay missionary.  Lepo Lorun is a living museum dedicated to education and the preservation of the fine art of "tenun ikat"/hand-weaving, not only in Indonesia but world-wide. In many ways, it is a dying art and the founder, Alfonsa Horeng Ikat Flores, is dedicated to keeping the art alive. Father Kamilus "Milto" Seran, SVD, recently made a documentary film about their work, and he took me there personally. You can click here to see "LEPO LORUN UNTUK DUNIA", a short documentary about Alfonsa and her mission. 
 I always look forward to taking my friends here when they come to Maumere. 

Hand spun thread, organically dyed, awaits the traditional "tenun ikat" hand-weaving process. 

The traditional weaving process known as "tenun ikat", still very much alive in Flores, Indonesia.  

Nearby in Kewapante, Sikka, on Flores Island there is a hospital and dental clinic run by Holy Spirit Servant Sisters (SSpS).  Visiting their hospital has been a comfort to me as it provides health care in an atmosphere of Catholic faith and spirituality.  I takes me back to the days when religious sisters ran so many Catholic hospitals in the United States.  In every room there are religious pictures, symbols, crosses...evidence of our faith everywhere.  And the Angelus is played over a loud speaker at the appropriate times for all to pray.  What a comfort for the sick!  The dental clinic is run by a sister and a lay assistant.  The sister is not a dentist, nor is the assistant.  But may people prefer to come there for dental care because of the pastoral approach of the sisters.  The rector of the seminary once told me he likes to go there because they do a good job pulling teeth.  (!) 

The entrance to the dental clinic leads to a "comfort room" to help alleviate dental anxiety.

 The dental chair

I Can See (More) Clearly Now

Having opened my eyes to a more global perspective as a member of the universal Catholic Church, I see more clearly now the impacts and implications that social problems in the 3rd world have on all Catholics, perhaps especially Western Catholics (e.g. in the USA and Western Europe).

I am preparing to write my thesis about the experiences of suffering in remote Eastern Indonesia and impacts to peoples' Christian faith, hopefully with an eye to hope and positive thinking.

"For much of the post-colonial period, the Church in Africa was consumed with two primary challenges. ... the second was facing the mind-numbing social problems of the continent, such as armed conflict, chronic poverty, environmental degradation, ethnic and tribal conflict, and HIV/AIDS." -- John L. Allen Jr. Much of the above is still true in remote Eastern Indonesia.

John Allen continues, about Africa: "However, what emerged from the Rome summit is a sense of growing maturity, a conviction that African Catholicism has passed out of childhood and adolescence into adulthood and is ready to enter a new phase." Add this to the statistics that show that, in 30 years' time, 30% of the Church's priests will be Asians.

Attention Catholics of the North: The church of the Southern Hemisphere is coming, or will continue to come, to a church near you...from Africa and Indonesia, and Vietnam and India. This is our Catholic Church! And this article is an excellent read!

Happy Holy Week, y'all.

#Iamforeverchanged #Ilovemylife #WeareonebodythebodyofChrist

 

You can read John Allen's article here: 

http://www.angelusnews.com/articles/an-african-moment-rome-summit-marks-launch-of-african-catholicism-2-0 

 Altar flower arrangement in easern Indonesia

 Hanging out with seminarians at St. Paul Major Seminary, Ledalero, Flores, Indonesia

 Palm Sunday, 2017 at St. Paul Major Seminary in Ledalero, Flores, Indonesia

 Hanging out with novices for the Holy Spirit Servant Sisters (SSpS) from Kewapante, Flores, Indonesia

Muslims, Catholics and Protestants working together to planting 500 trees in Flores, Indonesia.  Led by SVD Fr. Hendrik Maku #reforestation  #Wearetheworld

School Update

Hello all!  Well, I am making progress toward getting my student visa.  I have been fingerprinted at the police station in Maumere, have been certified as a good person by local government officials, have filled out many forms --sometimes trusting in others for what the documents said or what I should answer--, have paid out monies, and now have these official documents to show for it.  All have been sent to the Indonesian Department of Religion in Jakarta by Fr. Hubert.  They will hopefully approve and then send on to the Immigration office.  Fr. Hubert ("Umberto" on fb) and his assistant Kardus have been wonderfully helpful during the process. 
  
School begins on August 18, I think, and my existing social visa will expire around 1 September.  We are hopeful that my new student visa will be in place before my existing one expires.  In the meantime, I must remain in Indonesia, lest my current visa end before the conversion to the new one is approved.

I am making progress in learning the national language.  I have been more formally studying the national language with a tutor for a couple of weeks now.  He comes to the seminary 3 times a week for 2 hours each time.  He is a good teacher for me, i.e. patient, creative, and persistent.  And did I mention he is patient?   ;-)  

  
That's the school update for now.  I mentioned in another blog post and email that I just returned from a great trip to a remote mountain village...a once in a lifetime kind of off road trip where I saw the natural beauty of God's creation in places not many people get to see.  I met people who are genuine and wonderful, living simple lives sometimes without electricity, who have large families and great faith in God and the Catholic faith, and who all live together, as relatives, in a small village rich in ancestral history.  I was there with a priest friend who was born in that village, for the celebration of the parish feast day (St. Aloysius Gonzaga) and First Holy Communions.  After the Mass, my friend and I walked the village and attended 6 parties sponsored by the small church communities in the village...complete with food, drink, and dancing.  We also spent some time teaching/hosting Q&A seasons with the people who are very eager to learn more about their faith and have little to no catechetical resources.

On 8 July I returned from a 3-day road trip to central Flores Island.  The purpose: to attend the 25-year anniversary of ordination celebration of the rector of the Seminary, Pater Kletus.  The trip was rich with experiences with local people, meeting many family and friends along the way  It was fun traveling with my priest and Brother brothers.  They are so joyful and hardly ever stop talking with each other -- or laughing!
  

With each day that passes, life here becomes more and more normal. I think I have survived the culture shock phase and am now into the acceptance phase.  The culture shock phase made for an unexpectedly difficult first 6 months of 2015.  So I am really glad to be moving past that.  I'll end for now.  

Blessings to you and yours.
 

Love in Christ from Indonesia,
  
 Joan

Update and travels around eastern Indonesia (N.T.T.)

Greetings all.  I wrote this in an email to some folks recently and thought I would post it on my lovely blog.  I hope you enjoy! 

My work in Indonesia continues to be life-giving and meaningful.  Now I am preparing to begin graduate school in theology here at the world's largest Catholic seminary where I am volunteering.  Classes begin in mid-August, as long as my request for a student visa gets approved.  

 

In the meantime, during the holiday months of June and July, I have enjoyed a couple of trips to remote villages where sometimes people do not have electricity.  But their spirits are high and their lives full of more joy than I could have imagined before coming here and experiencing it for myself. 

In one village, the population is 100% Catholic but they have no resident priest or catechist.  They are hungry to learn more about their faith and about Jesus.  We brought prayer books for them but one lady said she can't see well enough to read because she has no glasses!!!!! I had 2 extra pairs with me and offered them to Anyone who could use them.  Much excitement ensured as many people tried on the glasses to see if they could help them to see better.  Oh, the things I used to take for granted... A friend from the US, upon hearing this story, transferred $50 to my bank account and I promptly purchased 20 pairs of reading glasses and sent them to the village with the next person who was going there.

 

On the #stand4life front, here in Indonesia, abortion remains illegal and the family is strong; not without problems, of course, but strong.  One family, when dealing with a problem, called all family members together to dialog and brainstorm/problem-solve with the troubled individual.  I was impressed and touched by that story.  Everywhere there are parents and children and large extended families...it is the norm.  I must say I am enjoying being in a largely pro-life culture among the Muslims, Catholics, and Protestants alike.

I am so grateful to God for this season of my life here in Indonesia.

Please say a quick prayer for the people of Indonesia, that their faith in Christ may be strengthened (or begun).  Be assured of my continued prayers for you. 

Joan

Br. Hila

Some of you have heard me talk about one of my favorite people in Ledalero, Bruder (Brother) Hila (pron. Hee-la).  He is spirited, gifted, and loves to tell very funny stories.  He has many friends whom he visits often, and has spiritual gifts of finding underground water sources and praying over people for healing. 

When I arrived, he did not speak a word of English.  He asked me to teach him, and so we began meeting together and exchanging vocabulary words.  He has been making stay progress and has begun putting some if his funny stories into English.

Recently, Br. Hila asked me to help him learn common Catholic prayers in English.  Now we are praying the rosary together almost every day, in English!  His progress has been nothing short of astonishing.  Oh, and did I mention he is losing his sight?  Yeah.

Last night after dinner, Br. Hila and I stood chatting outside while enjoying a cool, lovely evening on the Hill.  He told me, in English, that he often prays for me and sincerely thanked me for coming to Indonesia and for helping so many people here with their English.    He said something like, "Thank you for helping so many people pray to the God".  I smiled and was touched by his expression.  Then he said something about "upah" and I asked what that Indonesian word means.  He said, as he often does, "Please, you look up in dictionary", so I took out my smartphone and looked it up.  "Fees... It says fees." He smiled and said yes, your "upah di surga" -- "reward in heaven" will be great and that I will get a good discount!  We laughed and laughed and I enjoyed another meaningful moment in Indonesia.

How sweet!  The SVDs here tease me about saying "manis/sweet" so often, and they object when I use such a feminine term in reference to them.  But it's true...they are sweet.  :-)  #blessedbeGod

Photos: My view as I write this, Br. Hila praying his rosary, & a beautiful Euphorium flower.

Blessings to you and yours.

Joan and the Volcano

If I Were a Rich Man...

If I were a rich Man

A discussion  with Six New Divine Word Missionary (SVD) Priests (020215)

Excerpt from “If I Were a Rich Man” lyrics, from Fiddler on the Roof

[TEVYE]
"Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
…
“Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy man.”

After we reviewed the lyrics for the whole song, including definitions and pronunciation, we discussed  the song.  The technique I used was this:  I asked one person to make a statement about the song.   Then the next person would add a statement to the conversation. We continued taking turns, ensuring everyone had equal opportunity to practice speaking spontaneously while having a conversation in English. 

Note: The context has a lot to do with the content of the conversation.  Consider that the conversation took place:

a)      In a developing country, not a 1^st world country;

b)      In a pater linear culture;

c)       In a Catholic seminary;

d)      In a religious order consisting of religious brothers and Priests (i.e. all males)

e)      In an intensive 3-month English Course when English is a 3^rd or 4^th language for the participants

f)       In a remote area of Eastern Indonesia where

a.       The standard of living is well below that of a 1^st world country, but yet where there is still a large economic gap between the low, middle and upper classes;

b.      Corruption is rampant; and

c.       The majority of people earn their living as farmers or fishermen.  Hence the reference to animals.

d.      Capitalism is sometimes viewed as an unfair economic system, or with skepticism at best.

Additionally, although I attempted to explain the English idiom “the grass is always greener on the other side”, the men had a hard time not taking it literally.  You will see several references to green grass in the conversation transcript below.  

Comments from the newly-ordained priests (sic, with English corrections in red)

·         If they want to be a rich man they must try to get a job and then they must learn from the other person who becomes a rich man.

·         Sometimes I know the people get money by from a job, like a leader working in the school and getting money and sometimes people do a hard work (work hard) and get some money but sometimes every people they didn’t work hard but they have many much money.

·         For example, corruptors don’t work hard but they receive much money.

·         I think the people person will be a rich man and he must take care of the animals.

·         I think there are 2 important things here.  The first: if you are a rich man, you’ll be a clever man.  The second, if you are a clever man, you‘ll be a wealthy man.

·         I think people have a tendency to think that the grass is always greener on the other side. (Jg)

·         When we show green grass, I think we make many people corrupt the money and they have a power in life and to handle other people.

·         I think that it is not fair if someone don’t doesn’t work hard and they get much money and someone works hard and they didn’t don’t get much money and the reality we see in the other place like as in Maumere many peoples do that like as corruption and I think it’s not fair for other people.

·         One question: what caused the trouble on about earning a living?

·         I think there are many reasons to answer the question.  One of them: the people who have not any capability or have not study studied to get a job.

·         Yes, I think that if the people don’t study to become a teachers they are not going to be a rich man MEN and I think in Maumere I saw another place there’s many much green grass and I think the peoples in Maumere will be a rich man if they use (pron yooss) give the green grass to their animals. like etc.

·         So, we have built a discussion about two things that I mentioned before and I see that the bad influence in our lives is when we didn’t don’t feel better with ourselves and we always think that others are better than us.  If we never tink dat think that we have opportunity and ability to improve, we lost lose our hope.