Sometimes people get bored hearing those stories, though. So if you're interested in any of those, please request them! For now, I'm just going to write about some of the things I learned while I was away, which might be more relevant/interesting. I've grouped them under three saying which were uttered on a daily basis over there!
I need a mandi!
This is a bak mandi. When you want to have a shower, you use the little plastic scoop to splash the COLD water over yourself. Some people were lucky enough to score western showers, but for me it was bak mandis from day one. I absolutely hate pouring cold water over myself, but in the constantly sticky, humid weather you find yourself sweating profusely and you just feel gross and smelly all the time. It wasn't uncommon to go back for two or three mandis a day, and as we were walking around visiting places we would often long for a good, refreshing wash! This reminded me of our need to get with God regularly and 'freshen up'. In the heat of life in this world we quickly get smelly in a spiritual sense, and only regular contact with God will refresh us and keep us 'fragrant' (2 Cor 2:14).Cape deh!
This roughly translates to "So tired!" and is a Jakartan slang word which has filtered in to the rest of Indonesia through television soapies and the like. Every day we were flat out: visiting the uni for 8 o'clock classes, sight-seeing in the afternoons, going places with the host families, attending celebrations and meetings, teaching or visiting places in the village, etc. Already being jet lagged from the massive journey over, the late nights, early starts (5:30am for me, others were woken earlier by morning prayers) and crowded itinerary were exhausting. The weather really zaps you too. This reminded me of our need to persevere and run our race to the end (Heb 12:1). Things in life get tough sometimes, but we need to stick things out to the end and run our race in order to win the prize (1 Cor 9:24). The ultimate "prize" is so much better than relaxing on a gorgeous tropical beach, but that was good enough for me while I was there!It's Indonesia!
Overcrowded public transport, excessive horn-honking, rubbish all through the streets, goats on the streets, catching a motorbike taxi, children following you around, strangers asking for a photo with you, food that is all deep-fried, cakes that are green jelly, chips that are made out of bananas, transport that arrives hours late... "It's Indonesia!" the locals explain with a mix of apology and pride. In Indonesia, you need to learn to just run with it. If you're going to wait for hours for someone to pick you up, you may as well be patient. If you're going to be an inevitable celebrity, you may as well enjoy it! I've learned to join with the locals and just throw up my hands and say, "It's Indonesia!" This reminded me of the "It's Indonesia" moments we have in life - the moments when everything is out of our control and we feel completely frustrated or overwhelmed. We need to remember that God is in control, no matter what weird or trying situation we find ourselves in. We should learn to say "It's life!" and trust where God's taking us.
1 comment:
I heard some of your Indonesian' stories at Christmas when we caught up with family. I did like the rooster story. It reminded me of a time when we lived in Queensland and ate someone's house cow as it was too old to milk anymore!
Just a sobering thought on "the impressive devoutness of the Muslims". I think we should be impressed by those things which impress God. Jesus was not impressed with the Pharisees who also made a show of adhering to the outward forms of their religion. What did impress Jesus was great faith (Matthew 8:10 & 15:28).
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