Amber Book Just another weblog 
Indonesia, where to begin . . . I don’t even know. I loved getting to experience the culture of Indonesia and think about the fact that some day I will get to come back learn the language and really live in that culture. The people were so warm and friendly, after I would give them a greeting they would start talking to me and then I was at a loss, the Indonesian that I knew was already all used up. I so badly wanted to talk with them, to sit down and hear about them and their lives . . . some day, some day I will be able too.
Throughout the trip I got to interact with MANY different missionaries. It was wonderful to hear their stories and hear about what the Lord had been teaching them. I was blown away by their love, encouragement, and desire to be real and transparent with me as they shared. It really was a challenge to me to be open with people and to actively share what the Lord is teaching me. It was also great to be able to pray with them and share my heart as well. It’s has been exciting being back in the states and hearing prayer request or news from Indonesia and being like, "I know them!!"
I was able to spend several days at a guest house and experience my possible future ministry, helping with various projects and learning more about what all running a guest house involves. I was truly blessed by the missionary lady who runs the guest house where I stayed and was so appreciative of all that she showed me. I was also able to help her by reworking and sewing some curtains, organizing, cleaning and helping with some bookwork. I was also able to invest in several different missionaries and their kids during this time.
While I stayed at the guest house the others in the team separated up and went to 2 different tribes. Both teams had impactful and life changing trips, some more dramatic than others, but the Lord taught both teams a lot. It was weird not being in the tribe with them, but I am so thankful for my time in the guest house. Being there by myself let me experience life as a single on the field as well as go through the emotions of people I love being in the tribe experiencing crazy things. It was a great time of drawing close to the Lord and being an encouragement to those around me. I’m not going to lie, it was hard, but oh so good!!
After spending a little over 2 weeks running non stop my team was able to take a break and debrief in Bali. This was such a good thing for our team, to have time to breathe, talk about what the Lord had taught us, and just to have fun together. The Lord taught me a lot about teamwork and I am so thankful for the encouragement of my team. I learned the value of honest, open, vulnerable communication and that as a team you need to be open and share, it’s super important and vital to a well functioning team. I was blessed to be part of an amazing team who love the Lord so much and are actively seeking to know Him. I think it is safe to say that none of us will ever be the same again, but we all learned valuable things that we will forever connect us.
