Akhir minggu pertama saya! :)

Arrived safely in Denpasar, Indonesia!
The first few days were very hard. The culture is different, I don't speak the language well and I didn't really know anyone. BUT in saying that God never puts in a place that we can't handle. He's provided me with the ability to adapt and learn fast.

 Psalms 62:7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; HE IS MY REFUGE! 

I LOVE how God is the same no matter where I am and from the first day I could see that. So for those of u I haven't been able to contact yet here are the highlights and low parts of each day of this inaugural week. (Don't get use to daily logs because Im not going to keep them up :P)

Monday 16th: Emotional farewell at the airport with SO many of my friends and family. Then getting on the plane a reading all the cards and letters. (Thank you thank you to all of you! You know who u are, your kind words and monetary gifts honestly mean so much to me!) Luckily I had a whole row to myself, so I avoided making the person next to me feel awkward as a cried my eyes out. Bu Dolly and Wandry came and picked me up from the airport very late and took me to my temporary residence at House of Mercy, Mercy Ministry's new women's refuge. I wasn't too sure about it at first but it's been great because I am forced to practice my Indonesian and learn the culture.

My plane, Goodbye Perth I will miss you!

My letters and cards given to me at the airport.

Tuesday 17th: Got up early and took scooter to office with Bu Dolly for chapel from 8-9. Gave a quick version of my testimony, I really should have prepared something to share! Then had a quick meeting with Pastor Paulus, Ps Ongky and Ps Iwan about what I'll actually be doing. Then they found me a desk and I got straight to it. I began to realise that my lack of Indonesian was going to make things harder. It didn't help that what I did know I was too shy to use. After lunch Sudee, my friend from a previous missions trip and the receptionist at Mercy, took me on the scooter to get a sim card and modem on the way back we got caught in the rain. Being the noob I am I didn't cover myself properly with the Jas Hujan (rain coat) and ended up drenched. Kinda funny, kinda not because I had to borrow a shirt for the rest of the afternoon. At home I started to unpack some of my clothes into the cupboard in the room. I'm embarrassed at the amount of clothes I brought (the sadder thing is the amount I still have at home) because I realised that a cupboard this size should fit the belongings of 4 people. It seemed so silly that I thought I would need this much. Later that evening we had devotion time and I spent my first night truely alone at the home.

Yuddah with Pak Ronny saying the closing prayer. Sangat Lucu!

My bedroom that I get all to myself

Wednesday 18th: Woke up at 5:30 because that's the time we have daily morning devotions. When I got into the office I started work on the Sponsorship database. The children were from Atambua. I actually recognised quite a few of them. Its exciting to be apart of this new venture of Mercy's. Not only will they be rescuing orphans but now they are looking into providing for the poor. Totally the heart of Jesus and totally why I came here! This day was probably the hardest. I got a call from my brother which made me cry and it hit me how far away I was from home. When I got home from the office I just wanted to sit in my room and dwell in self pity but during dinner Ibu Rina's friend Made came over. She was so excited to be speaking English with a boleh (foreigner) that we ended up talking and teaching each other our languages for a couple of hours. It helped me snap out of feeling alone.

Me waiting for scooter ride to office. Looking a bit tired, thank God for makeup to cover the bags :)

House of Mercy Women's development centre. My temporary home.

I'm becoming a real Indonesian, this is my bathroom. Don't judge it works just as well.

 Thursday 19th: This day started like every other day. Early wake up for devotion, bath, eat, go to office and have chapel. I was starting to feel a bit better but still missing my friends and family a lot. I went to lunch with Ibu Marliesye and the women from the office. They all talk very loud and fast which reminded me of my mum and her friends when they get together. When I got home I was very tired. I went into my room for a little nap and got awoken by a drill. I went outside and found that we were getting a TV installed. Then we all went to Pasar Bandung, a traditional Denpasar wet market. As soon as we got out of the car I was swept away by the smells and the atmosphere. I loved it! I followed Ibu Dian around as she made purchases for the big orphanage. Below you'll see a few pictures. I didn't want to take too many and look obviously like a foreigner but there was so much to see. After a while it looked like it was going to rain so Wandry, Iluh, Angel and Yuddah went back and sat in the car. Wandry bought some fruit so we sat and ate that. The whole experience of the market reminded me that I'm in a different place but to embrace it. Although its different, its wonderful and since going I haven't felt home sick.

There were rows of people selling fish. Let's just say this part of the market did not smell good.

While we were at a beef staff I couldn't help but notice the tray of noses!

Angel and Yuddah hanging in the car

Friday 20th: My verse for the day was Proverbs 19:17 "Caring for the poor is lending to the Lord, and you will be repaid." It was fitting because the day before I had been feeling guilty for all the things I had and have had in my life but this verse reminded me that it doesn't matter what I have but what I do with it. After work I went down stairs and sat with the women as they prepared the meal for dinner post fasting. That night we went to Pastor Paulus and Ibu Marliesye's house for a debrief, prayer and dinner. The older orphans came too. I loved it so much and it by far was the highlight of the week. I got put on a creative ministries team for Valentines day and we have to come up with some fun idea for that service. After the meal we sat around for a while singing and laughing. It reminded me of the family feasts we have a Centrepoint. I felt like I now belonged to this family too.

Pa Ronny dancing and using some watermelon as a microphone.

Saturday 21st: After a long week it was the weekend. I wanted to wash my clothes, relax and read a book. Ibu Rina would not let me wash my own clothes. She is a beautiful woman and has treated me like a queen in her home. I feel very welcomed by her but wished she would let me help her out. At the same time I don't want to be disrespectful. She told me off for washing my plate. Iluh came into my room and we began chatting. She told me her story. It was a nice bonding time. We ended up doing each others nails. Yuddah wanted to be included too so I painted his nails as well. In the afternoon Ibu Marliesye wanted to take Iluh to buy somethings for her baby. So we all went to the Galleria Mall. It is such a western shopping centre. I bought a few things and then sat at a coffee shop with Wandry and he told me a bit about how he ended up at Mercy. It was cool to hear the different ways God calls people.

Enak! Es Teh Tarik!

The crazy denpasar roads

Sunday 22nd: Today I went to the church at the Orphanage. I shared my testimony about how and why I decided to come to Indonesia even though it was scary. Ibu Marliesye spoke and I really loved her message. She is such an animated and funny speaker. I really enjoyed her message. On the way home from church, Finus (he is the person who generally takes me most places on the back of his scooter) and I got pulled over by the police. With my limited Indonesian and Finus's reaction I could tell that it wasn't looking good. The policeman was threatening a fine and court. Because I had said I was from Australia he didn't ask me any questions except how long and why I was here. I told him just visiting for 6 months. Eventually he said he could help my friend for a fee. So we began to speak in English (Thank God because he was starting to lose me in the longer sentences) and I gave him a small amount and we were on our way. I have a feeling that this is not the first bribe I will be paying. I felt bad for Finus, he tried to offer to pay me back but I refused. It was really no problem. That evening there was a free sowing class for the community at the house. I sat and watched.

Ibu Rina and Ka ilu out the front of the home

Yuddah is learning to ride his new bike

Spending the afternoon just playing and taking photos.

Monday 23rd: Gong Xi Fa Chai! This day was a public holiday for Chinese New Year. So I spent the whole day at home catching up on sleep and reading my book. I tried to get on to facebook etc but my internet reception at the home is very bad.

I bought this book at the Airport, I love this guy's approach to life! Haven't finished it yet but I know I'll end up highly recommending it.

And that was my first week here. Congratulations on reading through to the end of my VERY long blog!

My 2012 diary from Tracey that helped jog my memory of each day.