Tony Melendez

As I followed the news of the recent canonizations in Rome of now-Saints John Paul II and John XXIII, I saw Tony Melendez perform and reflect on the time he sang for St. John Paul II. See: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Man-With-No-Arms-Plays-Guitar-With-Feet-at-Catholic-Service-256794331.html

And that reminded me of a seminarian in the English Course taught by Fr. Augustine Senda, SVD.   And so, just now, I was facebook messaging with Tony about it and he asked me to send the story to him.  And I sent this to him:

I recently returned from a 2-month trip to Indonesia. As a volunteer, my job was to help seminarians and newly-ordained priests and others practice their conversational English -- with a native English speaker -- before being sent worldwide as missionaries. Their order is the Divine Word Missionaries. 

Indonesians LOVE to sing, and do so from birth. Many of them are very musical -- sing, play guitar, keyboard, midi, and sing in 4-part harmony easily. So we shared a lot of songs in English as another way of practicing. One day, one of the seminarians --Argus -- asked me to sing one of your songs with him. It was one I didn't know. So he sang it -- impromtpu. I just wanted  to thank you for that moment, and for blessing that seminarian. Under God's grace and the movement of the Holy Spirit, your music has made it around the world, even to a remote part of a developing country in southeast Asia. Blessings to you and your beautiful family and ministry. Praise God from who all blessings flow.

Joannie the Island Girl/Queen of Sheba
www.songsoflife.co
www.inourmidst.net

Mosquito Netting

"Now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known." 1 Cor 13:12

I've been thinking about mosquito netting.  Every afternoon and evening in  Indonesia I entered the safety of a mosquito nettinged-bed for rest and protection from mosquitos and other UFOs and creatures of nature in my room.

The mosquito-netting formed a barrier that provided effective protection when I chose to use it (which was 98% of the time) -- much like God's love and mercy.  The netting was flowing and free-form; permeable, not rigid -- also like God.   When I exercised my free will to get inside the netting, there I was safe from bugs and mosquitos -- like living in God's will protects us.  And from there, I could see, albeit indistinctly, all that I needed to see.

For me, the mosquito netting became a kind of a chapel; a sanctuary, if you will, even a kind of tabernacle where I encountered the presence of Jesus, sought his protection and care, where he came to meet me very afternoon, where I sought communion with him and would pray my (mostly) daily rosary in the quiet of siesta time.

The mosquito netting was there when I needed it, like God.  It was even there when I, in my free will, decided not to enter into it...again, like God.   There I learned I could seek and receive comfort from the harsh temperatures and sun, safe from the plentiful mosquitoes seeking my body's blood and putting me ever at risk for malaria.

As humans, we can pick and choose...to enter into the love and protection of God's will, or not.  

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15

God,  please forgive me for the times I have chosen to stay outside of your protection.  Thank you for giving me free will.  Please help me to choose you, over and over again.  And thank you for protecting me from harm while I was in Indonesia.

Eat, Pray, Love: Karen & Joannie do Bali

Two American sisters meet in South Asia!

When I was planning my trip to Indonesia, and before I had decided to go, my sister posted on Facebook that she was going to Singapore for a business conference.  I noted that she would be in Singapore at the same time I was in Indonesia, quite near to Jakarta.  That info factored into my decision to go to Indonesia as I could see the hand of God bringing us together on the other side of the world.  We agreed to meet in Bali, almost halfway between Singapore and easy Flores island.

With the help of my new friends in Indonesia, I made a reservation to stay one day alone in Bali near the airport.  During this time I went shopping with the locals at a Galleria Mall and went on my first-ever motorbike ride!

Then I met Karen's international flight, and we headed off to our reservations in the town of Ubud, Bali at the Sri Bungalows.  The It was about a 60-90 minute drive through neighborhoods of Hindu monuments, colors and culture.

In Ubud we enjoyed the beauty of the bungalows surrounding a beautiful rice field and each others' company.  Having only 2 days in Bali, we relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere and only as much sightseeing as we wanted.  It was quite relaxed and each decision about our activities was made at the spur of each moment.

It was quite hot outdoors for we northerners.  For meals, which were all open-air, we would arrive hot and sticky, and within 5 minutes would cool down thanks to the shade and ceiling fans.   Unlike at the seminary, both hotels in Bali were air-conditioned -- a nice treat for me :-).  On the last day, we treated ourselves by hiring a driver to take us around to a few sites.  At the Hindu palace, we jumped out of the air-conditioned car, took a picture, and then back into the cool if the car!  We did the same at the Monkey Forest and at the famous Kuta beach.  At Kuts were surrounded by very aggressive vendors offering to sell us many things for "cheap, Missus". 

More stories to tell, but suffice it to say we had a great time, good visit, and are already planning our return once we win the lottery!