Re-entry: A Big Beach Party and Cultural Festival

Hello all!  My mind has been very busy since returning to Indonesia.  The Wi-Fi is better than last semester, but still sketchy.  

Here is a post I wrote on 9/17.  More to come!  Blessings to you and yours!

 

9-17-14

I arrived at the seminary in Indonesia on 9/7, so I have been here now 10 days.  I am getting settled back in and am happy for the slower pace of life here, though my mind is still working at American speed.  So I am working to slow down my brain.

My first full day here was a holiday for the SVD (Divine Word) Community – the 139^th anniversary of the founding of their religious order.  It was celebrated in a big way at a beach party attended by all the seminarians, priests, employees and their families.  Needless to say, I had a blast, taking turns dancing traditional local folk dances (in groups), visiting with people, posing for photos, and of course swimming in the beautiful sea.   I met a fellow Texan from San Antonio, an anthropologist teaching in Australia who has been doing research in the nearby village of Sikka for 37 years!

Last Friday a few of us visited a local hospital run by SSpS Sisters (also founded by the same man who founded the SVD priests).  At that hospital is a simple dental clinic which we will visit when my friends Rennie & Kathy (a Dentist) visit here in early October.  Then we went to a local festival of arts and culture where I was thrilled by performances of local music and dance complete with local costumes.    It was wonderful!

My life for the past 2 months was so hectic (selling the house and everything I own!) that is has been nice to have some time here to rest and relax.  This week we have been discussing what the seminary and SVD community would like from me, and I expect that next week a more structured schedule will be in place for me.  In the meantime, I am looking forward to a visit this weekend from my Texas friend Maria and her sister, Anas.  They are coming from Jakarta to an island to the East named Timor. We will meet in the town of Kupang where we will get to meet and visit with my former pastor Fr. Paul’s father, sister and brother.  Kupang is but a 30-minute flight from my base in Maumere.

Photo1:  Maumere Arts & Culture Festival

Photo2: Beach party to celebrate the 139th anniversary of the founding of the Divine Word Missionary (SVD) order, shown here chatting in Engish with Australians Fr.Bill Burt, SVD (center) and famous anthropologist Douglas Lewis from San Antonio, TX (right)!

Photo3: Dental clinic at the SSpS Sisters' hospital in nearby Kewapante.

Back Home Again in Ledalero

Smiles on my face as I arrived…landing at the airport, riding on the newly-paved road to the seminary, seeing the spire of the seminary from the road, seeing Hubert (Berto) with his hand phone waiting for my arrival, and then walking into the dining room.  Many smiles and personal greetings/handshakes/embraces-European style…including from the Rektor.  Agust, Pice, Bernard Boli… so many friends.  All the usual players were here.  Except for the boys…The boys were nowhere to be seen and I noted their absence with a mix of sadness and blessing, for most of them have now gone forth to their missionary destinies.  Now there is a new crew in place – 18 young men to be ordained in 2 weeks.  2 weeks!  18 new young Catholic priests coming from the Indonesian church.  

And there was beer at lunch!  How fun.  Then Fr. Bill and I sat for a chat to catch up and share stories.  He asked straightaway what happened with me since I left.  He stated Hubert had told him of my selling my house.  I hope I explained it well as I don’t want to cause any concern for anyone here about my future as I am now dependent on God more than ever for my future.

And then there was the mosquito netting!  I delighted to take my siesta safe in the womb of my bed in the mosquito netting and to commune again with my Lord.  At dinner I saw more friends – Eman, Ito, Bernard Hayon and Juan (Mary Gomez!).  I feel and am so blessed to be back here in my beloved Ledalero.  We’ll see what God has in store for our futures.  But in the meantime, it is today and I am here and I am again happy.  Thank you Jesus, terima kasih Tuhan Yesus.

P.S.  It is COOL here…meaning the temperature.  There is even a chill in the air and everyone is wearing light jackets!  :-)  Thank you Jesus!!