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.

Long time!

I know, I know, I have not been a faithful blogger while in Indonesia.  It has been easier and faster to post on my facebook page.  But I know some of yo do not have facebook accounts, so without further ado I will post a refection about the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" after a discussion with 6 young priests who live in a country where there are no Jews.    I'm writing it now.  Will post  few a interesting photos to tide you over until then :-)  Blessings to you and yours.  #IloveIndonesia

 The Sea of Flores as seen from the Sea World Club Hotel in Maumere, Flores, Indonesia.

 The Sea of Flores as seen from Wairhubing Beach.

Sharing dinner with seminarians in Unit  Augustinus (dorm) after a session of English conversations.

 My faithful canine companions, mother and son Bule (left) ad Bowo (right) in my room.

 Notice how many females are in this photo of an Arisan meeting at Wairhubing Beach!

Me with beautiful and-woven tenun ikat pieces.

 Me wearing a sweatshirt for the first time at the seminary.  That morning was cool and damp and the slight breeze made a sweatshirt necessary :-) So nice not to be HOT!

My private bathroom in my room.  On the left is a big container I keep filled with water from the mountain which I use for bathing.  It recently got contaminated with larvae trying to become mosquitoes, so it had to be emptied, cleaned and refilled.  Thank God for an abundant water supply during this rainy season

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!!

I am going back!

It is with great joy that I announce that I am returning to Indonesia early next month!

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, I will again be spending the Fall semester volunteering at the SVD/Divine Word Missionary seminary on Flores Island, experiencing the universal Catholic Church from a Southeastern Asian perspective, visiting local parishes in nearby villages, and practicing English conversation with the community there.  I couldn't be more excited!


While there, I will continue discerning God's will and call for my future and and excited to learn His will for the next phase.  I am surrendered to Him as never before in my Life.

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

If you're interested, have a listen to this great song that speaks to some of my hopes for this trip:  Let them See You by JJ Weeks Band

May God continue to bless you and your families and friends.

In His Love,

Joan