Grass Widow

Monday was business day.  Passports to immigration office.  Open local bank account.  All of these "simple" tasks would be so difficult without the help of kind people.  We ate lunch at the little restaurant here on the compound.  A man inquired why we were here in Indonesia.  In turn he shared that he managed one of the gold mines.  What was most impressive was that he and his wife have an orphanage of over 60 children.  When Darron asked if they could be adopted, he declared, "No, they are all mine and will live with us like a family until after they have gone to college and choose to leave".  They have been doing this over 20 years.  So there we were, enjoying our mango smoothies and trying to encourage the children to eat the rest of their food (which they were not enjoying - ha).  When it came time to leave, we discovered the man had paid for our meal.  It made us ask ourselves, "Would we ever pay for a foreigners meal in America.....just because...?"

Tuesday, Pastor Segali took us to "Miniature Indonesia".  The best way I can describe it was like the "world" section in Epcot but much more vast.  Each major people group in Indonesia had built large replica's of their style of homes.  Inside were common tools, cooking utensils and beautiful clothes, along with traditional bride and groom outfits.  The homes were vastly different and unique.  A sobering contrast was the vivid and lavish colors of many groups to Paupua (our mission destination) where there is little color, grass skirts and gourds, endless wood carvings and had a very dark feel.  One of our boys was quite effected by the strange contrast and reacted in a "why do we have to go there attitude?"  To which I was in complete empathy.  However; in reflection, all the more reason why they need the light and love of Jesus.

I am so grateful that we are one week into our "adventure" and still all healthy.  We now have cell phones and I even talked with Mom and Dad for about 10 minutes (costs under one US dollar).  So grateful for the love and help shown to us.  Privileged that God can use us..... it would be much easier if He didn't! : )
Darron left at 3:30 a.m. this morning to fly to Paupua.  We are all a bit envious that he gets to glimpse our future home land before we do!  Darron will be apart from us for about 5 days.  I will be called a "Grass Widow" if he continues to travel alot.  I am believing that instead I will be called "Pastor Darron's wife" and we will see him most days.
 
Today we will go to Pizza Hut to reward all the bravery of attempting to eat unfamiliar meals and to give us something to do! : )  We have much laundry to do by hand.  Home schooling and playing games are on the list.  Hopefully tomorrow we will travel 3 hours to Bandung and spend the weekend with an American missionary family, the Gallants.

Thanks for all the love, prayer and words of encouragement.  Also, thanks for your interest!  More to come............from the optimistic Grass Widow.