the HUTTEMANS learning the Indonesian LANGUAGE and CULTURE We recently took a trip to a neighboring island. We had looked up the city in our trusty Lonely Planet, and saw that it was famous for having the best scuba diving in Indonesia; arguably some of the best in the world. Our real purpose, though, was to visit a national missionary training center, and get familiar with a place that we might be moving to.
It was a good trip. We got to meet a lot of really neat people who are our co-workers here in Indonesia. We also got to look around the city some (unfortunately we are getting very bad about taking pictures, so I have nothing to show for it). As a result we have now signed on the invisible dotted line to move at the end of this year. I’m pushing for November, sometime around when we finish formal language school.
In Central Indonesia we will be able to continue our Indonesian language study (we would like to be as fluent as possible since we hope to have Indonesian co-workers when we move to a tribal location), help our good friends Ryan and Melissa Crossett as they begin language and culture study, and as our language progresses, help teach at the Missionary Training School (in Indonesian, yikes).
Some of the things I’m looking forward to:
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unlimited supply of Dabu-dabu (a fantastic salsa sort of hot sauce)
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fresh seafood
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snorkeling and scuba diving
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living close to the ocean
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spending time with Ryan and Melissa
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continuing on with what the Lord has for us
Things I’m not looking forward to:
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saying goodbye to the good friends we’ve made here (they are already starting sentences with, “when you leave…”)
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starting a new house all over again.
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leaving the comforts of our current home. I’ve gotten used to the smoothness of the culture, the beauty of the handmade goods, and abundant massages, among other things.
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Good medical care.
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I’m not ready for another time of culture shock and adjustment, but I guess that is just how missionary life is.
