So tonight we went to a soccer game here in the city.  I guess the Jakarta team has to play here because there stadium is being used for the presidential election.  Regretably, the fans weren’t quite as wild as expected since it wasn’t the city team.  But, that does not mean it was not a wonderful international experience.     

As we arrived the riot police were just finding there seats because the fans from Bandung had attempted to cross the field to fight the Jakarta fans.  The first half passed with no score but shortly into the second Bandung scored on a rebound ball that might not have been there if two inches of rain hadn’t fallen on the field, that’s a complete guess.  Jakarta answered fifteen minutes later when a lofty cross from mid field met the head of their big and bald striker, interestingly with the name Lopez.  And I thought we were in Indonesia.  However with a few minutes to go Bandung scored defeating the team we had decided to cheer for and their fans headed back to the busses for the 18 hour ride home.  Maybe later in this trip we can see the team from Malang play and see the real fans. 

I have been viewing emails and blogs of all our friends this summer and it is quite a blessing to see what we are all doing.  Curtis is in Japan, Ryan, Sarah, and there team in India, zach and me in Indo, the isp trips with Steve Searer teaching English in Korea, and even Kyle found his way to Europe.  One of those people is simply touring, but that is cool too.  I think this is one of the many things that proves the blessings that our Lord pours out on us.  I can’t wait to get back and here the stories; we all know there will be plenty. 

   This past week was another interesting one.  The Lord answered prayers by giving us someone that spoke English, though he was quite weird.(I doubt he could ever find his way on the internet or even access to it so we’re ok)  Two minutes after stepping of the mini bus and getting cheated by the payment guy this man walked up speaking English and invited us to stay at his house.  We ended up staying there from Monday to Friday touring around his village: in a cave that supposedly was 3 kilometers long, up a mountain, to a couple school English classes and down to another beautiful beach.  The Lord is continually teaching me things that I hope to remember for the rest of my life.  As I received in an email from my Dad, we have to continually remember the Lord is in control of His work and like Paul says in Corinthians, some plant, water, but God causes the growth. 

But for now some highlights for the last two weeks, and sorry hopefully we can get to a computer to upload pictures soon.  Hiking through the farms in Watu Karung past the most beatiful beach I think I’ve ever seen, over a small, suprisingly clean, river pouring into the ocean and up to a shack with a man and wife there.  The man proceeded to glide up the tree to cut some Coconuts down for a drink.  Next highlight was riding from the mountain village down to a beach on the back of a moto for about an hour.  It just seems closer to the world around when the wind is in your face.  So ofcourse there are spiritual highlights, but i spoke of those in the last blog. Hope this gives you a picture of what is going on here.  Continue to pray; it looks like we might get some language training this week.  “oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead.” Some song don’t remember by who. 

We spent the last week in a village called watu Karung.  The beauty was amazing, but we were out of touch so sorry.  The pure beauty of His creation is awestriking, but there is a sad feeling when we hear the call to prayer in the backround.  We are in a small internet cafe in Paciton so I can’t upload pictures until we return to Malang next week.

Being here in Indonesia in a little fishing and farming village named Watu Karung has produced many different and opposing feelings in my heart and mind.  The first few days I was discouraged because we were sent straight to the village with two young Indonesian guys who can hardly communicate with us in English, let alone translate.  So the last week was different than expected in the sense that we are trying diligently to learn the language, but realize we are not able to converse.  God has been declaring who he is quite impressively in encouraging ways though.  One day, I think Wednesday, we played volleyball with the village, making our way down to the beach after the game.  After reaching the white sand i looked up to see one of the most beatiful sunsets I had ever laid my eyes upon.  Our King is beautiful, gracious, and glorious.  That is why we are here; I do not know specifically why, but we are because God is who He says He is.

The Gospel claims that we are dead in our chains of sin praying to deaf, lame and dumb gods who cannot save.  But GOD is mighty to save, and He has decided in His infinite soveriegn plan to poor down mercy on undeserving souls, bringing hope to otherwise hopeless lives.  This is why we are here, not completely sure practically that means, but it is encouraging to know that His name will not be profaned and His glory not given to another.  He has collided my heart with the truth that He is mighty to save this week and I pray that He will continue to do so in ever increasing ways for the rest of my life.

Please continue to pray that the eyes of there hearts would be enlighted so that they would know what is the hope of His call.  Probably broke some security rules here, but oh well.

The first flight was long, but we got to sleep more than I expected.  Continue to pray we will need it this whole trip.  It is not a light work we are going to do.  I have begun to grasp, but still not fully(cause I never will)  We need to realize that power is perfected in weakness.  Thank you for your prayers; I do love traveling though.  Augustine says something like, “Command what ever you wish, but grant what you command.”  I hope He will grant His work because I cannot do it on my own power. 

We will miss you all

Have any of you ever realized when time seems to crawl by slower than any other situation in the world.  Last night we boarded the plane and it was almost time to close the doors.  I found three open seats together and sat in one and put my stuff on another to se if anyone was coming for them.  Our scheduled departure was 11:50 and its reached 1140, my hope started to grow.  but those next seven minutes were the longest ten minutes ever in the world.  Checking my watch three times a minute kept me anxious, and of course. At 11:47 these two people come walking down the hall after everyone else.  “sir I think you’re in our seats.”  That’s life though. 

So I have purposefully avoided the social revolution of the internet community long enough.  I am going on a trip this summer to a far away land and everyone has told me I should get a blog.  Here it is, I guess I can’t talk about weirder things than Curtis or Kyle. I will be posting something later when I have come to grips that I’m now on the internet.