Rough Beginnings

It’s been 10 days since we arrived in Indonesia, and so much has already happened.

The first few days were honestly quite rough. I felt discouraged, isolated, and dreadful towards everything to come. I was overwhelmed with the new environment and my emotions. Even though everyone else seemed to be excited to start ministry, I couldn’t help but think that God would probably place me in a ministry that has always been particularly difficult for me personally. Next thing I knew, my prediction came true – I was placed on the evangelism team. Something that has always been rough for me. I really wrestled with this, trying to bring my feelings to God while doing my best to trust in Him despite my doubts. I started to realize how this summer will be a time that I learn to let go of my flesh.

One thing God told me just after a few days here in Indonesia was the phrase, “just me and you.” In the midst of my struggles, He always comes through as my comforter, my father, my refuge, and my strength. In my desperation, He always meets me – in the secret place, in His presence, in His courts. Psalm 84:1-4 phrases it perfectly:

“How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.”

Evangelism

Even tough things were hard at first, Things got better with time. Specifically, I adjusted to life in Indonesia, I grew closer to friends, and I felt my cup overflow because of God’s goodness.

One specific way that God filled my cup was actually through evangelism, the thing I was most afraid of. One day I was at the mall with Alex, Brooks, and Quin to get necessities, try a sweet treat, and just hang out. We came across a little coffee spot we wanted to try that had a table right by it, the seats filled up by five kids just hanging out, maybe late elementary school or early middle school age. Brooks and Alex started to talk to them using a translate app, just being friendly and getting to know them, which lead to Brooks deciding to buy them all a sweet treat. After more conversation, Alex prayed for the kids after asking for prayer requests, and it was just the sweetest thing ever.

Just a little while later, still at that same mall, Alex and I were looking for shirts to buy when she noticed that the employee helping us out had a cross necklace on. After noting the observation, we knew what to do. Alex, using that handy translate app, asked if we could pray for her; the sweet lady seemed very pleased, giving us her yes with a smile she couldn’t at all suppress. I prayed for her in Jesus name, and as we walked away, I was the one who couldn’t stop smiling. My cup was filled – overflowing, even. The goodness of God was so evident, the fruit so tangible, the joy so abundant. It was beautiful not only to be a part of evangelism, but also to witness the Holy Spirit’s role in it, leading us to reach out to people through our submission and sensitivity to Him, not even knowing their language but still acting in obedience.

I am encouraged by the Biblical rationale for reaching the lost all over the world: Matthew 28:18-20, known as the Great Commission, reads, “Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus commands us to go out and make disciples for His kingdom, and this mission is one of urgency, as more than 3.2 billion people have still not heard the gospel. It is a joy to evangelize and reach the lost because evangelism is an act of obedience, worship, and honor to the LORD, and it brings the lost and hurting back to the One who can mend their hearts and give them freedom and eternal life in His name. Praise God!

Church

Another time my cup overflowed was at an Indonesian church some of our squad visited. We planned on going to another church at first, but it didn’t work out, so we went to a church someone found by looking on the internet instead. After getting lost and walking around in the heat to find this church for about 15 minutes, we finally came across it and walked into worship a few minutes late. There was a very talented band consisting of a drummer, bassist, electric guitarist, and pianist, along with 4 choir singers in the back and one very enthusiastic lead singer. They were singing Indonesian worship songs that I had never heard before, some of which felt almost like Christian pop songs. To be honest, it was hard to enter the presence of God, and it felt a bit awkward to even try to at first. However, as time went on, I decided to close my eyes and try to be sensitive to the Spirit. After a couple of minutes, a slower song came on, and I could feel not only His presence, but also the reverence in the room. Then, to my pleasant surprise, they started singing an English worship song! It was a beautiful time of worship. The sermon given afterwards, about 1 Samuel, was in Indonesian, though there was a translator for English up on stage as well, but it was still hard for me to understand most of.

After service is when the fun really happened. We stayed and talked to the people at the church, who were very interested in talking to the rare, exotic Americans. Don’t worry, they got their pictures with us as well. After a while, they invited those of us who play instruments or sing to play songs with the band. I had the opportunity of playing the keyboard with their band, which was just so much fun! We ended up singing worship songs with the band, and some played with kids, for what I remember to be an hour or more. It was just a time that brought so much joy; a time that filled my cup overflowing.

Closing

There are many other things that happened along this last week or so, both fun and not so fun…here are a few examples:

• going to the beach
• visiting a pastor’s house and finding encouragement from he and his family’s stories
• playing with the kids at their ministry
• not having any clean laundry…
• teaching two young girls to play a song on the guitar with Alex and Emma
• talking to locals of many different backgrounds
• trying to sleep while loud banging is coming from our neighbors
• prayer walks in a village, at the mall, and at a mosque
• getting sick the day before the time of my writing this blog
• Sharing my favorite podcast with Alex
• Growing closer in beautiful fellowship with my squad

It has been a wonderful experience overall being here and doing ministry with my brothers and sisters in Christ. There are ups and downs everyday, but the LORD is in control. I remember this truth through Psalm 131, my favorite psalm. It reads,