All set and ready to go without knowing what to expect.
The first thing we found was the road... which had numbers so inconsistent that we couldn't find the church. They jumped from 1...70...548....19.....209.....35...0098.. There was no way we could find it, so after squeezing in a turn at the end of the road, we stopped and called Pak Wawan who would act as the translator for the skype meeting with the family.
He met us at the place we stopped in confusion at, and guided us two blocks down in a side road- the church and Compassion project office. The church seated 100 people, and the Compassion project office seated four comfortable. It was about as skinny as a small hallway.
I greeted Pak Wawan, and now on my own- followed him into the Project Office, greeted Nancy (who would be monitoring the rest of the visit after the skype connection), and checked with them if the gifts I had were okay, or too much.
The were perfect :) So we walked down the road to check if we could skype from Astrid's house, which did not work out. But instead, I met the family, consisting of Astrid (12yrs. old), her mother (who works at a tabacco factory), her father (who doesn't work right now), her younger brother Natan (10 yrs. old) and only heard of her older brother until he came home from the restaurant he works at just as I was leaving (18yrs. old).
We sat chit-catting without success in their living room, and instead of looking around silly, Astrid's mother handed out orange juice, I handed out the gifts- that they didn't open until I was gone I bet!- and then after telling my relation to the Wort family, we went back to the Compassion project office (which was 4minutes away walking) and waited for Nino to bring the modem that I had forgotten. The Compassion project office did not have wifi, but with the modem that Nino raced in only 10min. by motor to me. we were able to get on quickly with the Wort Family.
Sitting in chairs, facing the computer screen, both Nancy and Astrid were shell-shocked, and nervous to ask any questions, so I gently took the mic and started asking for them. While Pak Wawan was translating. We stayed on with the Wort Family for 2 hours, really getting to just see them, and understand more differences between Indonesia and America, and see what they liked and what their family was like. Compassion international doesn't do much skype connections, and this is like a dream, to have instant communication with one who is more than 1,000 miles away.
Sliding through topics of the children's favorite things, to introducing Astrid's family and even her hamster named Angel. We talked about holidays and hobbies. After finishing an exciting two hours for the Wort Family, that actually weared us a bit down, while sitting stuffily in the Project Office, we said our goodbyes. and started talking.
I had only 150,000 Rupiah, which is about $15, and would not be able to pay for everything that day, and neither did i have transportation to the park that Astrid and I were supposed to be going to. So after rearranging some things, Pak Wawan calmly said Compassion International would be taking care of everything, and while waiting for the van to come. Astrid, her family, Nancy, and I took pictures in the church, and talked about the river that is so close to the family's house.
Astrid's family generally lives in what you would call in america a ghetto in the city. Everything is so close, but there are secret streets that you wouldn't know if you were just looking at the outside, and the rooftops are made of clay instead of keep out the heat.
Right before we left, I got a text from Alan, which I asked him to do so that my perspective would stay pure for the reason I was there, to show Astrid and her family God's true love. And after separating from all of them and leaning behind a bookcase, I found peace in the purpose I was there for. Not to be Jesus for these people. But to let Jesus use my shape and personality so that His love would flow thoroughly through the unique shape he created me in, and would use if I would just remember that being me, and shining His light- were the same thing. Because I am His, He made me, He made my shape, and works through the personality he created in me. He wouldn't have brought me to this visit if it wasn't my specific personality that He wanted to use :)
And so, remembering that, I walked out. being me.
We hopped in the car, and stopped quickly at yet another traditional restaurant, since Astrid's family had not had breakfast yet. ~Once again, I ate lettuce filled with sambel, rice, but this time, a different fish- that at first glance looked like a pirahna, but was called by a different Indonesian name that I don't know. Unfortunately, I took off the ring that Alan had given me and set it down -either in my sock, in my shoe, next to my, underneath me, in the seam of my pants, on the table, in my camera case, or even in my meal!! And lost it.
Astrid ate octopus and rice, then slurped down on a mixture of different colored jellies, coconut, and avacado- and after checking the restaurant again to no avail- we were on our way to the theme park in Batu that Astrid wanted to go to.
To get to Batu, it's 1hr. away by car, and while on the way- since Astrid always goes my motor, or walking, she threw up twice. And here was my personality God wanted to come out- the mother hen in me, that comes out during swimming events for the girls, or taking care of the exchange student girls, or sick people.... and here was my personality that God needed. Here, a girl from America, I made Astrid feel loved, as did her mother in the backseat- by holding her plastic bag, and rubbing her leg to know she was not alone and it was okay. Once there, her mother bought a over-the-counter medicine that you rub all over your body, with the smell wafting into your nose and calming your nerves.
While her mother was taking care of her, I asked once more if she truly wanted to go to the theme park, and as she said yes, I said which theme park, and Compassion bought the tickets.
There are two new theme parks in Batu- which are both for learning and fun. The first one is more rides and walking around learning about the body and different kinds of science things, while the second one is more animals and even has some sort of secret zoo. But Astrid wanted the first one. So we discovered all different parts of clothing from Indonesia, along with different spices, parts of the body that they had huge plastice models of, and scientific contraptions that the kids could try out for themself. Then we walked through to see the process of independence of Indonesia from Holland (which made Indonesia suppressed, while when England conquered colonies, they developed them). And finally came to a part where you could play games and go on rides. Throughout the park, we took silly photos- which is also my personality, something fun~~~ the personality of a fun friend that likes to do ridiculous things. and is ready to take on anything from a haunted house I didn't like even though it wasn't scary, where I got to be the steady hand holding her through the scary parts- to the intense AeroTest ride where we lost her shoes, got headaches, and decided that was really funny. Even including her favorite ride, which I laughed in the whole time, becuase it pulled you around in directions you thought you were going to fall. And afterwards, we walked out--- even though it was actually in to tons of markets. and I knew that she liked me when she waited for me :P and when I asked her if I can just buy us all apples. Because in Malang, the apples are the most sought after fruit.
they taste harder and are more like Granny Smith apples without being so sour.
We got apples, that I found out her brother and mom don't like, but the rest do- and started back home. Just as it started rainings- GO GOD!- becuase it usually rains around 3pm. and right after nodding off and on, Astrid threw up once again, as I held the plastic bag, and rubbed her leg again- turning into aloving mother hen once more.
Getting back to the confusing road, and then to the compassion project office. She and i laid down on the green mats on the porch of the church, the usual for indonesians, and after talking a bit with the Compassion monitors and notifying the Project's lesson for her age group of tutoring, I rubbed her hands and feet. Touching her with Jesus's love. Like he washed his disciples feet- i didn't have water, but I massaged hers :) And that, felt like true love. That is one thing, that I'm so glad I did, and that I would do again- because no one gives foot massages, we had been walking so much, she had a headache, and i could touch her through my hands :) and knowledge of how to give massages. God's personality flowing through me :) Go GOD!
everyone finally left (the compassion monitors in the project office and her family back in their house- I was able to be Astrid's close friend and give her the advice that I would give my friend in America. Ther personality of tapping into the things that I've learned from God, for her to learn from.
And so- in Bahasa Indonesia, while lying next to her, I unraveled her onion skins that I had to work on since the beginning, since I was white and American, and she was a bit shy. Through my personality, and through the day, God unraveled her onion skins through me~ to the point where she let out that she had three boyfriends but liked one the best. And so, through my counseling, advice giving, and unraveling of little bits of information through nudging up against her with my head~ I was able to help her to understand that's not what God's children should be doing- but more than that, the three boys are being decieved, and it's okay if she says she doesn't like two. because the third is the one she truly likes, and needs to be true too. And if any of them found out, they'd be mad.
So with a promise that she'd tell the two that she didn't want to be with ~ tomorrow, she went to the bathroom to work out her headache more, and joined me to see the Compassion Project's lesson that was going on.
We walked across the small confusing street to a small skinny house, that held 37 children in a long space as big as Alan's foyer. Sitting right now with a smile, I started asking about what they were doing in Bahasa Indonesia, and after shy smiles, I was able to unravel their onion skins a bit with a fun personality- and after learning names, hearing where their sponsers were from(of the ones who remembered) and seeing their letters to their sponsers about Easter- I took a picture with them in the building. And right after, I saw a little girl no more than 5yr. old who was shying away from me. I asked her name, and asked her to come to me. And as she backed away with friends in front. I said, NO NO NO!! and got down on my knees. came to her. and said in Bahasa, I know i'm white. I know i'm America, but I'm JUST sinikka :) That's it. don't be shy, don't be scared. I'm just like you. I'm sinikka :)
So what's your name? and how old are you?
ok :) can we take a picture?! at this, she grabbed her friend, so we wouldn't take a picture alone.
~ ok. that's fine, ONLY if you believe me and trust me. I am ONLY Sinikka :) I'm not white, i'm not american. I'm sinikka :)
and so we took a picture :) she was adorable, and her name was stella. After hearing from the Compassion monitor I had to go- I walked with Astrid to her family's house to say Goodbye one last time, washed my hands in her bathroom, took a video of her house to show the Wort Family the way that they live, and was fed by her mother traditional indonesian food :) and loved on. Right before I left, I hugged her mother, who started crying~ at which i said, it's okay, you can forget me. but don't forget God. this is God :)
With that. Astrid, me, and the Comopassion monitor walked down to the river to see how it looked. it floods up to the bridge when it rains hard, and because of all the villagers living on the side of the river, and throwing in all their trash- it is forbidden to go to down to, and so dirty.
It starts in the house, in the family, in edcuation and care for their environment.
We walked back up to the Project- about 5minutes away, me with Astrid out in front chatting back and forth in Bahasa Indonesia, and on the way- we met her older brother for the first time- who i told had an amazing family and was so thankful that he let me come here, even though he was at work the entire time. I called Nino, who showed up just as we were walking back to the Project Office. and after I filed out my comments about the visit, that had little organization~ which would've been looked down upon in the States, but was perfect in this situation because without it- i was able to be with Astrid and really be her good friend, hilarious aquaintence, and loving mother figure :)
And so, as I left- I hugged her, even though she laid limp. I hugged her tight as she laughed, and hopped back in the car with tears ready to fall.
I had never grown so close to a person, feeling that I was just purely there for them, for 11hrs. in my entire life.
And I loved it.
I love her.
I love her family.
God used me
God touched them through me.
and i wish Compassion let emails, hp numbers, and addresses out- so that I could keep in contact. but i think it's better like this :)
They know that God is tangibly with them :) That's what brought tears to the mother's eyes, and what also brought them to mine.
Go God :)
The reason I even went to see her was because my dad sings with Mr. Wort in church, who has Astrid as a sponser child in Malang, Indonesia. and since I was closest out of everyone that Mr. Wort knew- he asked if I could see her for him. and so- with knowing God would provide if He really wanted me to go. I was ready to see her at a moment's notice. and since I first got here, God's been planning things to come together perfectly for this :)
Thank You, God. For the beauty you bring through orchestrating and harmonizing plans and schedules, money issues and plane times, so that Your will can be done :) Because that is why i'm here.
Amen.