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