Random Thoughts & Wonderings

2008-10-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Yeah, this post is overdue... been busy... :)

Though my time with the ladies was short, we managed to jam pack it with a number of important sessions and their trust in me was immediate... enough to ask and share personal health issues... questions those women would only share w/another woman their age or older...

The visit to the orphanage was great. Some of the girls and I became fast friends. I was able to see them perform songs with their local instrument (it's like a large xylophone made of bamboo or wood), that was really cool to see and hear! There are many of them living there, but they don't seem to mind. -There's plenty of brothers and sisters and loving caretakers surrounding them.

It was a short but sweet trip! I was able to see a lot of things, not the things tourist would normally see... so the environment was less artificial and more true to the everyday lives of those we met. The streets were dirty, the roads were uneven, the food was great (some times weird, but good!), and the people were nice. I'll have to definitely go back!

Jetlag? Yeah, I'm still feeling it... but at least I can fall asleep at 11pm now. I'm still waking up at 3 or 4 am. though. :/

Almost home...

2008-10-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

One night in Singapore, a short layover in Tokyo and then we'll be home! The trip has been short but great!

I was able to visit an orphanage before I left Bali, it was great to meet and hang out with the kids! I had to take a lot of mental pictures cuz my camera was on the fritz because of the humidity... :(

I wish the trip was a little longer... but I'm so ready to go home and get some rest! My body is really hating me right now... not only am I tired, I had an allergic reaction to some food I ate, and I have mosquito bites to recover from as well... -Proof I was traveling!

Can't wait to see you all when I get back!

Random Pix

2008-10-18T20:42:00.001-07:00

Random sights in Malang and a mosque.

More Wedding Pix

2008-10-18T20:31:00.001-07:00

Look at our tired faces! ;p
I thought that the water was a stack of glasses until I walked close to it. They're like capri suns, but water cups. LOL!

Wedding Crasher

2008-10-18T20:26:00.001-07:00

I was Leela's plus one at this Indonesian wedding. It was quite elaborate and oozes of cheese! But it was loads of fun!

KFC

2008-10-18T19:11:00.001-07:00

This is the KFC I was blogging about earlier in the week. Yes, it's KFC! LOL

First Week

2008-10-18T19:07:00.001-07:00

This is Clara. She's the new love of my life! She is the most alert, active, and sweet 8 month old baby ever!

Winding Down

2008-10-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

We've been able to hang out with some of the teachers who normally work with the moms and kids here. It's been great hearing about their work and the visions they have for their programs.

The "business" part of the trip is just about over. Leela and I will be heading out to Bali tomorrow morning and we'll be able to get some R & R. It'll be nice since we've been running around town like crazy... Enjoy the pictures! Leela has posted pictures of our trip on her blog as well.

It is Finished!

2008-10-17T08:36:00.001-07:00

It was quite a full week for us! Today was my last class with the moms in Polehan. They weren't shy about asking questions and participated in the different activities I had planned. It was such a great experience and I can't believe my time with them is over already! Yeah! I think they were really receptive to everything I presented, some even took notes! One of the moms told me at the end of the last session that she found the classes very helpful and it totally made my week and the trip worthwhile!

Finally, Indonesia!

2008-10-15T17:43:00.001-07:00

We're finally here after hours and hours of traveling. On the way to the place we're staying at we stopped by what seems like the most structurally outrageous KFC in the entire planet! Haa haa ha... I'll post up pictures later and you can tell me what you think. ;)

Before dinner I was able to meet with some of the staff who work with the women I'll be teaching these next 2 days. It was really awesome to hear about how they were moved to develop their program and the things they are trying to do with the local women.

After talking to them, it finally hit me that I am here, in Indonesia. It feels like these past 3 years of my life has come full circle; the direction I have been guided to has been completed...

Anyhow, the heat isn't so bad here. I prepared for the worse, so it's not as bad as I thought it would be in Malang. However, when we stepped out of the plane in Surabaya, it was nasty! What is hard is getting used to the humidity... :/ Other than that, it's not bad. Mangoes are in season right now... YUM! But too bad Durians aren't. ;p I'm sure most of you can care less about that fruit though!

Today is gonna be a full day and my first day of teaching! I'm sure Leela and I will sleep very well again tonight, like we did last night. The mosques have their morning prayers at 3 am, daily. Luckily, we were awake already and I was able to hear their call to prayer and singing from the nearby mosque. It was interesting...

Awake for 2 Days!

2008-10-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been 2 days since we've had a good night's sleep! Yes, we're still awake and coherent! Haa haa haa... We're having good times though! Our flight for Surabaya, Indonesia will leave in about an hour and then we have a full day ahead of us. As long as I don't get to the point where I'm so tired that I slur my words... I'll be fine. ;) I start classes tomorrow already! Wow!

Killing Time in Singapore

2008-10-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Yeah! (N) hours of flight time and a layover in Narita, we're almost in Indonesia. It was day time for what seemed almost like forever when we were in the air. I can't believe we've lost a whole day traveling! We have about 5 hours to kill, but no where to go cuz it's early morning here. Leela's more excited than me, I'm just tired. LOL. I think once we arrive in Surabaya it should hit me... if anything, the heat and humidity will! :) Hope all is well at the home front.

Our Departure

2008-10-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Time flies like an arrow and fruit flies like a banana!

It's about 8:44 a.m. & I'm just about finished packing... & in about 3 hours we'll be head out to the airport. It's been a long week running around town & preparing for this trip. But it's been good... it'll be even better when we arrive in Indonesia though! I'm not sure how often I'll have access to the internet, but I'm going to try to update this blog every other day & upload pictures when I can. :)

The Deal

2008-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

For the next two weeks, this is what my schedule is looking like so far.

Oct 13, Monday - Travel 
Oct 15, Wednesday - Arrive in Surabaya, afternoon/evening meetings (we lose a day going there)
Oct 16, Thursday - Morning language lesson to study Bahasa, Indonesian. 
           We have a couple afternoon  health education sessions at Polehan, with the moms.
Oct 17  Health ed. sessions
Oct 20  Travel to Bali
Oct 22, Travel back to Malang, final meetings
Oct 23, Travel back to US
Oct 24, Arrive home

When the prep stuff is done... I think I might finally feel the excitement for this trip!
For everyone who's keeping us in your thoughts and for supporting us, Thank You!

Indonesia, Soon!

2008-10-08T02:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I'm leaving soon! I feel like I've hardly had time to catch my breath! It's been a crazy busy week!

I'm exhausted... this has me looking forward to the plane ride over there. -No phone calls, people pulling me in different directions, or deadlines to meet. It'll just be me, my random thoughts, books, and Leela! :) I guess the only down time I'll have is on the plane...

It seems that I'll be conducting my classes the day after I arrive! Yikes... But I'm excited about it all and can't wait to meet and talk to the ladies at the village! :)

6 Days & Counting!

2008-10-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how time flies! In no time, we'll be on the plane & up in the air for about 15 hours! I'll definitely have to catch up with you all when I return & I can tell you all in person about my trip! Meanwhile, stay in touch via e-mail. If you want to subscribe to my blog & get updates, you can do so by clicking on the "Subscribe to (Atom)" link below. Hope you're all doing well!

Prayer Requests

2008-10-05T23:51:00.000-07:00

A is for Angela in Asia :)

My support letter mentioned a few things, but here it is in a list with a few additional items.

Please pray:

Packing:
We are taking a long list of things over, so hopefully we won't go over weight or too over weight... and that our luggage arrives safely at our destination as we will.

Protection:
Both physically and spiritually.

Our flight is about 15 hours long with a layover in Singapore.

We'll also be traveling to various places on the island & visiting various work places.

That Leela & I will be of sound mind, body, & spirit. -That we will be able to be focused on the tasks at hand & on God.

Relationship building:
That God would work in the hearts of those we will encounter. -That they will be able to see His grace & love through us. Also, that their hearts will be soften to His voice.

Health Ed. Classes:
That the ladies will understand what I'm trying to teach them & that the hands on learning will help them & empower them to live healthier lives for themselves & families.

Also that the reproductive health section will be well received & taught. I'm not married, so there is a possibility that they won't accept information from me on that topic.

Health:
I'm still getting over my cold. So please pray that I'll get better by the
time we leave & that we'll be healthy throughout the trip.

Here I go...

2008-10-02T02:46:00.001-07:00

I've finally gotten around to setting all of this up. Yeah! I'll definitely update this blog as I begin my adventure into Indonesia. Watch out for posts of the silly pictures Leela & I will take, the people I'll meet, and the places I'll see! So, yep, yep, yep... stay tuned! :)