NTM

Last week, we packed up our belongings and moved from our house to another house a few kilometers away. Sounds simple, right? Rent a U-Haul, send out some “change of address” cards, take a few days off work to move and settle into your new place, and memorize your new address and phone number. As you may have guessed, this was not our experience!!

Just as our western culture has certain norms involved with moving such as U-hauls and post office “change of address” forms, Indonesians have their own expectations involving moving. In the neighborhood we’ve called home for the last 20 months, we have found that neighbors share more than just a zip code. As we have shared in previous updates, they have shared their lives with us and, in a sense, allowed us to be a part of their extended family. We have learned from experience that when a family moves from a place where they have build relationships like that, it is good for them to show their gratitude by throwing a pesta perpisahan, literally a separating party. In addition to showing gratitude for all the neighbors have meant to us, the party was also a chance to ask forgiveness for any offense we’d caused, allowing us to leave the neighborhood with a “clean slate,” so to speak. 

  Our preparations began weeks before as we typed up and printed our own invitations (in Indonesian, of course!), asked permission from and discussed details with two neighborhood leaders, ordered chicken, rice, snack boxes, and bottled tea for 125 people, worked out a schedule for the evening, grilled our Indonesian friends for advice and direction for the party, asked various neighbors to give a speech or say a prayer, and prepared our own speeches to give. There were many decisions to make as well, such as whether or not to set up a tent (we did), whether to use chairs or mats on the floor (we did both), and what time to start (we chose a bad time—when half the neighborhood was attending their place of worship…).

After much planning and many days and nights spent stressing over whether or not the party would be a success, neighbors began to gather to help deliver and set up the tent, chairs, mats, lights, and sound system.    The chicken, snacks, and tea were delivered in plenty of time, and before we knew it, guests began to arrive. Although still a bit apprehensive about throwing a party of this magnitude in a still-quite-foreign culture, we confidently began shaking hands with everyone as they arrived. Neighbors and friends worked frantically behind the scenes, keeping Braden and the other kids under control and making sure all the guests had a place to sit, a snack box, and a bottle of tea. Soon it was time to begin, and we were up in front of this crowd of over 100 people, giving our faultering speeches in Indonesian.   But as we looked out over the crowd and saw those familiar faces that had greeted us, taught us, and embraced us during these last 20 months, we remembered that it wasn’t our language ability that made the difference to them. Sharing our lives with them day after day, laughing and helping and drinking coffee with them—those are the things that our relationships were built on.

After a few prayers and a few more speeches, the chicken was handed out and people began to pour out of our little yard. Within minutes, the chairs were stacked, mats were rolled up, and trash was gathered, giving our house some semblance of order again. We went to bed exhausted, but thankful not only that the party went well, but that we had a reason to have a party in the first place. We will miss our old neighborhood, and we are truly grateful for the opportunities God gave us to plant and water seeds in the lives of our friends there. Our prayer is that we can continue to be light there, as well as here in our new neighborhood.

Now if only we could get the post office to order some of those handy “change of address” forms…

So what has been going on with the Deals lately?? This past month or so has been quite a blur, and we have been involved in many different things. Here is a quick recap of what we have been up to…

"Beach ministry…" At the end of June, we had the privilege of joining several other missionary families for what we referred to as a “beach ministry”!! Over 20 of us, packed into three vehicles and four motorcycles, headed to the beach about a 5 hour drive away. For three nights, we enjoyed our simple accommodations, great food, warm weather, and of course the ocean! It was a great time of fellowship and relaxation for all of us, and we praise the Lord for opportunities like this to refuel and recharge with our partners in ministry!! Oh, yeah, did I mention Shad was one of the ones who drove his motorcycle?? It was hard not to be worried about him, but he and the other drivers did a great job and enjoyed the long ride. Praise the Lord for safety!!

SOCTeam…As members of our orientation team (abbreviated as SOCT) here in our area, we have been busy mostly with preparing for new missionaries who will be arriving in Indonesia at the end of July. This preparation entails, among other things, fixing up five of our empty houses for these new families to live in. Shad is busy Monday through Saturday, overseeing our national carpenters and other workers as they do repairs, painting, etc. This is extra exhausting for him because his entire day is spent speaking and explaining things in Indonesian! My schedule includes helping to organize and buy furniture and misc. items for the houses in order to allow our new missionaries to have some time to adjust to this new culture and language before taking on the task of buying all the necessities. I am also still involved as a national language consultant for our region, which includes giving language evaluations once a week, writing up reports on people’s progress, being available to offer assistance to our missionaries learning Indonesian, and helping to brainstorm and develop ideas for how to make our current language program better.

Oh, Baby… Just yesterday we returned home from a three day stay in the capital city of Jakarta. I had a very positive visit with the doctor there and was able to be injected with the Rhogam shot. We were also able to see our little boy via ultrasound again, which is always a treat!! It appears that he is growing very well, and our doctor would like me to come back around 34 weeks to await baby’s arrival in Jakarta. This was a bit sooner than we had hoped (only 6 weeks away!!), but the doctor is pretty certain that my due date is almost two weeks sooner than originally estimated, meaning that we shouldn’t wait much longer than that to come.

Big Boy Braden… Yes, our firstborn is certainly growing up!! Among other things, he is using a lot less diapers and exploring the world of the big boy toilet (actually, it’s a potty chair…). He has enjoyed wearing his big boy underwear and eating the gummy worms he receives as a treat for his deposits. We are so proud of how fast he has caught on, and are praying that maybe, just maybe, he’ll have this routine down before little brother comes on the scene!! Braden has also just begun to swim with floaties in the pool, and loves to kick his way across the deep end of the local pool (with mom and/or dad close by, of course!!). As we watch our little boy grow, we praise the Lord that although obedience is still a struggle for him at times, he obeys well most of the time and responds well to our correction. Our prayer is that God would use us to continue to soften his little heart so that he will be prepared to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior when he is old enough to understand his need for salvation.

Pray that you all are enjoying the summer! Thank you for your love, support, and prayers for our family as we serve our Lord here in Indonesia!! 

Oh, and one last thing… today we celebrate four wonderful years of marriage!! How fast the time has gone!! We are so thankful to be able to live, love and minister side by side as husband and wife for HIS glory– may there be many more anniversaries yet to come!!

For those of you keeping track, we finished our time of homestay over a week ago, and have spent the last week catching up here at our own house. Although we definitely have enjoyed having hot showers, a western toilet, and a refrigerator again, we have also really missed our friends on the other side of town.

  As we reflect on our time living with our friends Ronny and Yanti, we are grateful for many things. Our language has definitely improved, and we have a much clearer picture of how Indonesians here in Java live and work and relate to each other. Here are a few fun tidbits of knowledge we have gained… 

Kids always wear undershirts.
Kids who don’t wear undershirts get sick.
Candy is an acceptable breakfast food for anyone under the age of 7.
Chiggers favor white skin.
Tree oil gets rid of chiggers.
Clocks and watches really aren’t that important.
If little boys play until 10 o’clock at night, they will still have enough energy to play the following day…

In our estimation, the most important lessons we have learned cannot be summed up in words. These three weeks have been a time of not only observing culture and learning language, but a time of letting go of our own preconceived ideas, sense of pride, and yes, even our “rights” for the sake of embracing and understanding the people around us. For Shad, letting go has included being clueless in areas of “hard labor” such as breaking up tree stumps and installing roof tiles.  For me, letting go has meant admitting I don’t know how to cut a papaya or cook rice, even after living in this country for a year and a half!! Our family has had to adjust and begin to let go of our western ideas of schedule and time, living amongst people who give priority to relationships over the clock. We have begun to appreciate the strengths in this culture—the fact that a friend is never turned away, neighbors are always welcome for dinner, and everyone helps take responsibility for each others’ kids, work, and happiness.

Some may ask: Why is it so important to take the effort to learn about the culture and people around us? We believe that if we can begin to look at the world as much as possible through the eyes of our Indonesian friends, we will be more prepared to share truth in a relevant and clear way to them. We also believe that as we show our vulnerability and are willing to take on a learner’s role, our relationships will grow deeper. Most of all, our prayer is that our friends see a difference in our lives—that they see through us a God who cares about the intimate details of their lives and wants to know them more.

  Just before we packed up to move back to our “old” house, I was encouraged greatly to hear my friend Yanti describe me as a “kindred spirit.” Many other neighbors have expressed their surprise that although Shad is a westerner, he continues to show a real interest in their lives and enjoys spending time talking and joking with them. Although we probably will never know the full extent of what God has done in our lives and in the lives of our friends during this past month, we rest in the fact that God has promised to work through us. As we look ahead to the future, we expect to spend many more days and nights with our friends on the other side of town. We have made friendships that we cannot just walk away from.

Thank you for praying for us during this three week “adventure”!! The journey is sure to continue as we allow ourselves and our preconceived ideas to be broken for the sake of understanding those around us. Please pray that we will continue to be broken and humbled in God’s hands every day so that we can be more effective in our witness for Christ.

This last week of living with our Indonesian friends, Ronny and Yanti, has been filled with many good memories. Although our week was cut short by sickness (turns out I have a case of anmeia!) and we were forced to return home for a few nights, we still had plenty of opportunities to experience Javanese culture to its fullest!

One evening in particular was memorable for me this week. Braden has really made himself at home in our “new neighborhood,” wandering freely in and out of houses, borrowing toys, and eating such Indonesian specialities as boiled pig stomach on a stick. This particular evening, Braden was playing inside the house next door with his friend Dias.

Dias’s mom, Suyanti, and his grandmother, as well as almost every other family in this village, spend their days and nights making and selling krupuk karak, a thin rice cake that is dried in the sun then fried. This livelihood is far from easy, and the laborer is definitely worthy of the ten or fifteen dollars he/she makes for their family in a day!! The process goes something like this: First, the raw rice is ground up and formed into soft, square blocks. Then each block is sliced into a hundred or so thin slices using a sharp knife. The slices are then laid out in a single layer on big wooden racks and set out in the sun to dry. The drying process can take anywhere from one to three days, depending on the intensity of the sun and, of course, if it rains. After the krupuk are done drying, they are taken off the racks and put into big baskets, which are brought into a side room of the house. The dried krupuk are fried in hot oil maybe five or six at a time and take only seconds to reach desired crispness. The finished krupuk are placed in another basket and wait to be loaded up to sell at the pasar, or market. In order to maximize space and ensure that all the krupuk can be transported by one woman to the pasar, the krupuk are stacked and neatly packed into yet another basket lined with plastic. The following morning, another woman loads the filled basket on her back, heads down the trail to the road, and rides to the pasar on the back of a motorcycle.

So, on this particular night at Dias’s house, I was able to help in the packing process! It took almost an hour for three of us to stack and arrange the estimated 1,000 krupuk (they admit they’ve never counted!!) into a neat stack about four feet high. As I laughed and shared this fun evening with Suyanti and Yanti, joining them in what, for them, was very routine work, I thanked the Lord for another opportunity to get a glimpse into their world.
We continue to be referred to by many as saudara, which means family. What a blessing it has been to live and play and work side by side with these fascinating people! Please keep praying that the bonds we are forming with our friends would open up doors for the gospel in this small community.

Last Sunday, we made our move to the other side of town to spend a few weeks immersing ourselves in Indonesian language and culture. For the last week, we have spent much time eating, thinking, speaking, and breathing Indonesian. Although we thoroughly expected to be exhausted by this change in our living situation, we have been plesantly surprised to find ourselves enjoying it so much!

This time has only strengthened our relationship with our good friends, Ronny and Yanti, who have opened up their home to us for these three weeks (and have offered an open invitation to stay as long as we want!). Our time spent working, cooking, cleaning, and relaxing alongside them has been a joy. It has been very rewarding to take the time to get to know them better, sharing both laughter and serious moments together.

Although our mornings are still busy with other ministry responsibilities, our afternoons and evenings are spent with friends in our new neighborhood. Every afternoon, I help prepare Indonesian meals while Braden wanders around playing with the innumerable amount of kids that live nearby. Shad has lots of opportunities to talk with neighbors while practicing his Indonesian. We eat dinner every night with Ronny, Yanti, and their son Dito, and also with anyone else who happens to drop by at that time and hasn’t eaten yet! After dinner, I usually help clean up and put Braden to bed while Shad goes out for his “second round” of visiting neighbors—which usually lasts until eleven o’clock at night!!

On Saturday night, Shad had the opportunity to join in on a men’s meeting at Ronny and Yanti’s house. Yanti, some other neighbors and I made warm sweet tea, dished up opor (a coconut milk based soup poured over rice), and loaded up plates with boiled peanuts, cakes, and fruit to be served to the men. At around 8pm, around 20 men gathered in the small living room for their meeting. As they all sat and ate their food, Shad took the opportunity to write down all their names as well as introduce himself. I was not able to hear all that went on, but I smiled as heard him laughing and joking comfortably with the men in Indonesian. Before they all left, Shad got a picture of the whole group, and a few even requested copies!! He also got his picture taken with a man with a bald head—a rare sight here in Indonesia! Ronny has told Shad many times that the neighbors really appreciate his interest in them and their language and culture. We praise the Lord that this community has accepted us with open arms, and we are looking forward to the rest of our stay!!

We appreciate your prayers for our energy level (as this is like studying all day every day without a break) as well as wisdom to balance our ever-growing ministry responsibilities with this homestay time. We praise the Lord that things have gone so well thus far, and we give Him the glory for all He is doing in our lives and the lives of our hosts!! Thanks for praying—we’ll keep the updates coming!!

For those of you who have been paying attention, we are quickly approaching the big “18 month” mark of being here in Indonesia. Some of you may remember that this is the magical number we often spoke of when estimating the time we would begin our “full time ministry” and move into our region of service.
Well, 18 months have come and gone…what a blur!! We have been amazed at how many things we have learned about this country, its people, and its language. Though we are realizing we will never “arrive” and feel like we understand the language and culture as deep as we would like, we are encouraged by our progress toward that end. As we have mentioned before, I (Sarah) finished up my formal language study in December and had my final language evaluation shortly thereafter. I have reached a capable level of proficiency, actually higher than the minimum for mothers on the field!! Praise the Lord for His enablement!! In January, I began working more with our language consultants here in order to gain practical experience in helping other missionaries learn language. This training has included sitting in on tutor sessions with new missionaries, helping with language evaluations for the ladies, and writing up formal evaluation reports. I have thoroughly enjoyed this time to use the gifts God has given me to be a help and encouragement to other missionaries here.
Shad is still at a progressing level in Indonesian, and is continuing to understand more each day. Though language is more of a struggle for him than it has been for me, his dedication and perseverance over this last year and a half has been an inspiration and encouragement to many, including his wife!! Although we are not able to move into our region of service until Shad reaches a higher level of language, we are encouraged by the peace that God is in control and always works in perfect timing.
Just a few weeks ago, we were officially invited to join the NTM orientation team here. We have agreed to commit to living here for another year, working to fill in the gaps and assisting new missionaries as they adjust to life in Indonesia. Because over half of the orientation team members will be moving either on furlough or to other regions during the next few months, there are many gaps that need to be filled; gaps that our family can help to fill. During this next year, I will continue training to be a field language consultant, gradually taking on more responsibility and gaining experience that will prepare me for future ministry. During our time here in Indonesia, Shad has shown a true gift for relating to and connecting with Indonesians. The NTM Indonesia leadership team is excited about seeing him use this gifts here over the next year, specifically as he works to organize and head up our national workers (gardeners, maintenance men, etc.). Shad has already built a good repore with all of these workers, and has a close relationship with several of them. As he begins to work more with them on a daily basis, his language will continue to improve through these relationships. We praise the Lord for this unique opportunity for Shad to use his gifts in ministry and improve his language, all while doing the things he enjoys!!
As we look ahead to the birth of our baby in October (it’s a boy by the way!!) and think of all the things God has in store for our family over the next year, we are amazed at the way God has lead us to this specific place in ministry. Eighteen months ago, our heads were filled with dreams of what God’s best would look like down the road. But along the way, He has challenged our hearts and given us new perspectives on the future. We are excited to be following His leading day by day. After this next year of serving here comes to an end, we plan to return to the states for an 8 month furlough to visit family and supporters. After that, we plan on returning to Indonesia and moving to Central Sulawesi to serve with the town team there, but only God knows!! We are thankful that although our plans can change (and almost always do), we know the One who knows the future, and He has plans for us that will be revealed in His perfect timing as we walk with Him!! Thank you so much for your prayers, love, encouragement, and support!!

Thirst. Hunger. Haven’t we all experienced these feelings of want? Physically, we have all felt thirst on a hot day. We have all felt those familiar inward growls reminding us that it is time to eat. Thankfully, for most if not all of us, our physical hunger and thirst can quickly be quenched and satisfied easily. A glass of water and a bite later, and our hunger and thirst become a thing of the past.

In the book of Isaiah, God extends an invitation to mankind to come to the waters. This invitation is for all who thirst, not for physical water, but for soul-quenching water. Since we began our journey as missionaries here in Indonesia, we have seen over and over again the true thirst and emptiness of a soul who has not yet been to the waters. Most don’t even know such an invitation exists, especially for them personally.
A couple weeks ago, we were faced head on with the reality of spiritual thirst. One of Shad’s closest Indonesian friends lost his mother. Many members of this family live in our neighborhood, and we have been privileged to build close relationships with several of them. We knew this woman was very ill, and Shad had even planned on visiting her in the hospital where she lay in a coma. But the morning he had planned on visiting her, she slipped into eternity.

We watched helplessly from our front door as preparations began for the funeral. In accordance to Javanese culture, her body was transported directly from the hospital to her home– just a few yards outside our front gate. She was removed from the “mobil jenazah”- a form of ambulance designed to transport corpses in situations such as this. The family dutifully carried her inside their small house and began washing the body. Neighbors began to gather– the men setting up tents and chairs for the funeral later that afternoon and the women going inside the house to offer their condolences and prepare food for the family and guests. From inside the house, our usually cheery neighbors and friends offered up haunting moans as they wept and mourned for their deceased sister, aunt, daughter, mother, and friend. One of the woman’s sons, only about eight years old, wept inconsolably as friends tried to shield him from the awful sight of his mother’s dead body.

After a short ceremony there at the house, the body was transported in a simple casket to the burial site. The mourning continued for hours, followed by traditional “prayers” of the majority religion meant to guide the spirit of the dead into a comfortable afterlife.

Our friends, our neighbors, they have experienced thirst. Their lives have been filled with insatiable hunger for hope and meaning and thirst for acceptance and purpose. And they have yet to come to the water. We are reminded every day that we are here to give them a message from God. It’s a simple message, really. Come.

Come to the waters and drink.

Come to Me.

Please pray that our lives would continue to be a witness. Pray that our language, actions, and attitudes would shout that invitation to all who God puts in our path. Pray especially for this family that we see on a daily basis and pray that they will be open and receptive to the truth of Christ.