Hello from Indonesia!

Hello dearest family and friends. It has been just over one week into our Indonesia trip and we are already getting sad about leaving. I feel that there are no words in which to describe our time here adequately. I wish you all could be here to experience it along side us, but words will have to suffice for now.

During our first few days in Bali met up with our awesome contact Richard who set us up in an incredible hotel close to the orphanage in which he works. Our second day we were able to take all of the littler children (the infants and toddlers) out to the beach for a few hours to give the house mothers a much-needed break. They were actually sent to go relax and get a massage while we got to play with the children. We piled into the back of a covered pickup truck with two benches bolted down in the bed of it and set out for the beach. When we arrived, the kids went crazy! Picking up starfish, sea urchins, and all kinds of other sea critters. The sight of nine little Indonesian children with a group of white people caused a few confused looks to be shot our way. One little boy named Komang danced all over the beach showing off his voice with the words “baby, baby, baby, Oh baby” which excited the Justin Bieber fans on our team (hm hm, Sarah).

The next day we purchased a large quantity of rice, which in Indonesian is pronounced “Nasi”, and distributed it throughout the slums with scriptures in each bag. The door for prayer was opened and we had the privilege of praying with every family that received rice! One family invited us back and gave us some delicious Indonesian food and hot peppers. And the team thought Beto’s salsa was spicy! One of the sons turned out to be a Christian sponsored by the ministry “Surfing the Nations” and he encouraged us to keep going in the Lords strength. 

For the last few days, we have been staying in the city of Singaraja at an orphanage called “The Jewel of the Nations.” Our ministry here has consisted mostly of cooking, cleaning, and playing with the children. God’s timing is so perfect because there is normally ten people here on staff but 7 of them are away at college and here we come, exactly 7 of us to fill their spots! God is so good!

The nation of Bali itself is a very dark place spiritually with Hindu idols every few feet and temples every fifty yards or so. Evangelism can be difficult here because many of the natives claim to be Christian but in reality, they’ve just added another god to their collection. Drugs and prostitution own the night and morality is thrown out the window. But praise the Lord because His light is penetrating the darkness! The orphanage and many missionaries in the area are making an impact on lives through the power of Christ.

Please continue to pray for our team that we may be as wise as serpents yet as innocent as doves in this nation. We ask that He may guide our steps, shine His light through us, and break hard ground with His love. Thank you for all our prayers and support, we will see you soon! If you'd like to look at some of our pictures, you can check them out here: Indonesia pictures.

Thanks!