Archive for August, 2008

Tim Crashes Bicycle

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Tim after his bicycle crash

Thanks for your prayers. We’ve needed them. Please continue to pray for safety. The traffic here is different than back home. And it isn’t just the traffic that is dangerous on the roads. Yesterday morning, Tim Whatley took me bicycling with some friends of his. He didn’t make it back on his bike.

This group of very capable bikers go several times a week. We were on "roads" but it was like mountain biking.

At the top of one of the hills, Tim warned me to keep the speed under control, that it was steep and winding. Was it ever. Likely over 30 degree grade (Tim says it is worse than the 23 degree grade on the Moi airstrip). Not only was the path incredibly steep, it had a couple sharp turns at the bottom.

When I got to the bottom, Tim had was lying on the ground next to his bicycle. He remembers there being two dogs on the road, one a puppy. Once around those, he remembers narrowly missing a nasty pothole. Third times the charm—a turn onto a bridge. Tim didn’t make it.

With a shoe flying, Tim came to an abrupt stop on the bridge. He dislocated fingers, smashed his helmet, scraped and bruised up body and arms and legs. He is okay. Just very sore.

We thank God that Tim didn’t crash over the railing—it would have been 40 more feet onto rocks at the bottom of the ravine.

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Indonesian Wedding and Funeral

Monday, August 25th, 2008

Bride and Groom during wedding ceremony

We are getting plenty of exposure to the Indonesian culture of central Java. Within our first week we have already been to a wedding, a funeral, and an Independence Day celebration.

Jason and the party-favour at the wedding: a box of snacksWhen we arrived at the wedding, we were each given a box containing snacks. This is sort of like a party favour, given out when the guests are seated. This way they have something to munch on. The snack also does wonders for keeping the kids quiet. This was especially true for Delena, she loved the coconut cookie, and ate 3. Following a number of speeches, food was served. I enjoyed the spicy liver dish that Tim avoided.

Delena and the funeral preparationsthe start of a procession from the home to the mosque to the<br /> cemeterydeceased lady being lowered into grave in cemeteryAlyssa watching as flower peddles are spread over grave

An event that wasn’t expected was the funeral this morning. Tim and I had gone for a bike ride early this morning with a number of other guys. When we got home before 7am, the street Tim lives on was bussling with activity. An elderly lady from 2 doors down had died.

By 9am, the street was blocked off and tents were erected to provide shade. 11am was the ceremony—speeches. Once done, the body was carried at the head of a procession to the mosque, and then on to the cemetery where it was buried. It was lowered into the grave without a coffin, just in a cloth. Once the dirt was filled back in, and two wooden grave markers erected, flower peddles were spread over the site.

 

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Trip to Indonesia

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

First time to Indonesia
Can you believe that our trip to Indonesia is already here? We leave Tuesday!

While we are leaving Tuesday, we won’t arrive at our host family’s home till Friday. That’s how far it is! And that is with only one night in a guest house. The rest of it we are steadily moving east around this planet we live on.

Please be praying for us

  • Pray that we get the rest we need over the 3 days of travel, as Delena is riding on our lap. She is still young enough to fly without her own seat, but at almost 18 months, she isn’t little either.
  •  Please pray for our patience with Delena. She is at that stage where her few favourite words are used over and over and over again. One of them is “Mommy”. Broken records are annoying, even to parents.
  • Please pray for safety and an un-eventful trip. The fewest surprises the better. Neither Angie or I are seasoned flyers. Please pray for wisdom and calmness as we travel through airports where English is not the only (or main) language.

Praise God with us

  • Praise God that none of us had any reactions to the extra immunizations we got.
  • Praise God for this chance to go and see what He is doing in Indonesia. We are really looking forward to hearing from the missionaries about God’s faithfulness.
  • Praise God for the money that has come in to help with the expense of our trip.
  • Praise God for the chance to visit with my brother and Angie’s aunt and their families in Germany and Switzerland for a couple of days on the way home.

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Bechtels off to Indonesia Tuesday

Saturday, August 16th, 2008

Since graduating from the missionary training at the end of May, our summer has been filled with family and friends. To read about our adventures (pre-Indonesia), click here: http://ntm.org/jason_bechtel/9465

Angie, Delena, and Lucy (Angie`s Dad`s cousin)Angie and friend Pam at Ball`s Falls in the Niagara regionDelena, Jason`s Dad Gord, and Jason preparing for a bike rideDelena and Sophie Vander Muelen

Pre-Indonesia?
Can you believe that our trip to Indonesia is already here? We leave Tuesday!
While we are leaving Tuesday, we won’t arrive at our host family’s home till Friday. That’s how far it is! And that is with only one night in a guest house. The rest of it we are steadily moving east around this planet we live on.

Please be praying for us.

  • Pray that we get the rest we need over the 3 days of travel, as Delena is riding on our lap. She is still young enough to fly without her own seat, but at almost 18 months, she isn’t little either.
  • Please pray for our patience with Delena. She is at that stage where her few favourite words are used over and over and over again. One of them is “Mommy”. Broken records are annoying, even to parents.
  • Please pray for safety and an un-eventful trip. The fewest surprises the better. Neither Angie or I are seasoned flyers. Please pray for wisdom and calmness as we travel through airports where English is not the only (or main) language.

Praise God with us

  • Praise God that none of us had any reactions to the extra immunizations we got.
  • Praise God for this chance to go and see what He is doing in Indonesia. We are really looking forward to hearing from the missionaries about God’s faithfulness.
  • Praise God for the money that has come in to help with the expense of our trip.
  • Praise God for the chance to visit with my brother and Angie’s aunt and their families in Germany and Switzerland for a couple of days on the way home.

I have often said that I am excited about going to Indonesia, but just as excited about coming home again. I am really looking forward to starting into my new full time ministry in Durham, helping missionaries around the world from the Canadian head office. We get back from our trip the last week of September, and will be back in Durham right away. God has provided us with a great place to live. I will have to tell you about it some time.

We count it a privilege to serve alongside of you,
—Jason for the Bechtels

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Summer 2008 pre Indo

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

Delena on the beach

Our summer of reconnecting with family and friends has been a full one. We have been richly blessed with time well spent with loved ones.

VBS and wedding sandwich
Angie`s sister, Krista, and her new husband, JohnJuly started off with a week of VBS squeezed between two family weekends. The first wedding was of Angie’s sister, Krista, and John Poidevin. Both the ceremony and reception were planned for outside, and God provided the perfect day. Angie was the matron of honour, and Delena was the flower girl. At 17 months, she amazed everyone when she walked down the main aisle all by herself.

Jason in character as Moses during VBSVBS was a huge success. Over 100 children had a blast as they took part in re-enacting some of the events leading up to and including the Exodus. Jason was in character as Moses all week.

Natalie and Rhys (Jason`s cousin)Then the next day Jason’s cousin Rhys was married to Natalie Young.

Back to old stomping grounds: Port Colborne

Angie, Delena, and Lucy (Angie`s Dad`s cousin)Delena next to the Welland CanalLater in July, we found ourselves enjoying time with friends in the Port Colborne area. We were down there for the better part of a week. Part of us really misses living right next to the Welland Canal and bumping into great people like Angie’s Dad’s cousin, Lucy Weber. This visit to Port Colborne, Chris and Moira Cairns generously allowed us to stay in their basement apartment, and use their home upstairs for entertaining. Thanks Chris and Moy.

Angie and friend Pam at Ball`s Falls in the Niagara regionIsn’t it funny how if your live next to a tourist attraction, you don’t visit it, but if you return as a visitor to an area, you might? That is just what happened to us when we went to Port Colborne. All three of us when with our friend Pam Hicks to Ball’s Falls. Delena wasn’t in the mood for lots of hiking, but enjoyed the pioneer settlement and visitor’s centre.

Tenting, rain or shine

Delena, Jason`s Dad Gord, and Jason preparing for a bike rideJuly came to an end, and August brought with it two weekends of camping. The first weekend was with Jason’s dad and his church, Wallenstein Bible Chapel. For the long weekend we all went down to Lakewood Christian Camp, near Forest, ON. We stayed in tents and again, God provided great weather. Delena had a couple firsts this weekend: she used water-wings for the first time, and went for a ride on a big-person’s bike.

Delena and Sophie Vander MuelenThe second weekend of August wasn’t quite as nice, weather wise that is. After a dry first night, it started to rain as we got breakfast cleaned up. Except for a short window (in which we went biking) it rained nonstop till about 7pm. Then the next day it stayed mostly dry while we packed up, and poured as we drove home. If it wasn’t for the great friends we were camping with (Mulock Christian Fellowship), the weekend would have been damped our spirits. Even while it rained, we enjoyed hanging out with others under the tarps, Delena and Sophia included.

Squeezed in the cracks between

Delena playing in her blow-up poolIn between all the weddings, camping, and meals with family and friends, we have been enjoying water of all sorts. Delena has quite the tan from playing on the beach and in her pool.

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