And i'll give you a short report:: there was a couple times where it felt exactly like what you see on TV that missionaries do, and at other times it felt like i was at SOS, just helping out the community.
the first day we were there: we met our families and ate dinner with them. we travelled for 7hrs. to get there and along the way stopped at a milk factory to see the differences between the milk in the village and the milk in the city- in the village it's a different color and not good of quality.
the second day we were there: we followed our families and helped them. That meant that me, Debe (the principal's daughter), and Nassia (her best friend), cooked with the wife the entire morning. It was cool, but we definitely didn't want to do that everday. I actually don't have a complete idea of what my dad did, i think he was a priest- but i'm not fully sure. There were many kids at home, while the dad's went to work. Funny because we thought we would be working in rice fields. ----- So we worked with the moms, and then met at the church to demonstrate to some women how to make tons of yogurt so they could sell more things. Afterwards, we taught kids English and Math, which is definitely the activity that i've done here that has made me the happiest. it was SO amazing :) those kids were so attentive! Afterwards, we opened a little library for them- with books that we had collected, over 200 as far as i could tell! And we had the night free to talk, get lost in the village, and watch a movie with the villagers.
the third day we were there: we cooked with our mother again, but for about 30minutes and that was it. then we asked if we could go to someone's house to make a flute, but we never got that far! we got sidetracked at another friend's house where people were playing the guitar and singing. Afterwards, we went to the "poop ponds" to sand these things that needed to be painted blue. i seriously don't know what they were for. Then I went back to Cici, Ling Ling, and Babet's house to make Bolu Kukus, which I got the recipe for and it is so bad for you but so delicious! After, i went back to the church to help set up for the yard sale the next day, went to Tasya's house with Debe and Nassia, and then called it a night!
the fourth day we were there: we had the yard sale! and it was A SUCCESS! :) then we were free until the closing ceremony and talent show, and afterwards we were free again to hang out with friends. In all this time, I got to know EVERYONE a lot better, and now i can understand bahasa so much easier. and i can talk back shortly- it's awesome. at night, 16 students packed into a bus to go to the cave that the catholics go to pray to Mary during this month of Mary- so i wanted to see what it was like. So i went too- and i got to know a lot or people more deeply there, and through it, and it was so amazing. Because God is the same wherever you are, and Catholicism is seriously exactly the same sometimes even in a different language. it was wonderful- i cried.
the fifth day we were there: we packed up, and headed out on little buses because the big buses couldn't fit on the one way street! all the houses were packed up into the mountain,and besides the one way street, the only way to get to them was by tiny roads in between each house, like little allyways. it was insane. i was so confused as to how they got furniture up there. this village was actually very well off- having tvs and playstations, but it was still very bad compared to jakarta. Women are still there making food all day just to sell each piece for 30cents.
It was such an amazing experience, and i made it so short here so that i wouldn't keep you too long.
It was green, and clean air, and the water was from the well and actually very good if they cleaned it-.
i thought it was so amazing, and i saw God so easily. and was myself so easily.
i will be writing a report on it, so if you would like it- with my opinion put in it as well, email me. because i'd LOVE to send you a copy! in more detail :)
it's for school, because Ibu Eva- my english teacher wants me to do it. haha. so i will.
my week was insanely god-infused and directed, it doesn't matter where you are or what your doing, but focusing on that it's god-infused and directed means that it's exactly what you need to be doing.
so : ) that's what we should all be aiming for.
ok- well it's super dark in my room. i love you all. comment something, cause i really have no idea if anyone is checking this, haha. i love you guys! check facebook for photos!!!