Two days before I left for Malang, I was packing my suitcase in what would have been an OCD frenzy if Ailin had not been there helping me, and calming my nerves as I rushed around packing the huge suitcase for Lufthansa, the suitcase for Malang, and making the gifts for Astrid and her family (the Compassion child my friend in America had- which was the reason I was going to Malang).
After packing, I fell asleep at midnight, only to wake up at 4:30am in a bit of a worry, waiting for Ailin and my brother to wake up so that I wouldn't be late for my 10:20am flight.
My worry is one flaw that I wish was never in my system. Worry that someone will get mad if I'm not on time. Which consequents for the frenzies to get things done and make everyone else happy and get on top of things.
Yes I talked with God about it, and because Ailin gave me such a start to calm down because everything would get done in time, I have been doing better :)
I was on time, with my ticket, and bags checked in, at 8am. and hanging out with God, and talking with a mother and daughter about how they felt about their vacation in Jakarta- visiting their other family members.
Because I was with Batavia, like usual, the flight was delayed another hour, so listening to God speak through music to my heart- and reminding me who I am (a sinner) and who He is (my Savior and lover) so that my perspective could be clear. Because I always kept forgetting of the reason I was going to Malang, not for me- but to be His hands and feet, to touch the sponser child and her family. that's what I was truly going for, not for me at all.
for HER :)
So I get on the plane planning on having an hour with God, but instead- I fell asleep in between the pokes I was getting from the man two seats over, waking me up to recieve a free water and piece of sweet bread, which is just as common as peanuts on a plane in America.
I arrived, stepped out of the plane with care, and met Nino- the President of Rotary Malang's son- and with an airport no bigger than a track field, we found each other easily and made our way over to hang out with his aunt until her plane for Dan Pasar (which is on Bali) left.
While I ate fried rice with cheese, we talked about the government of Indonesia, the hardships that happen because of the entirely too low value for a worker, the population problems in both Jakarta and Bali, and the perspective of the Indonesians that see Jakarta as a gate of a job and freedom, even though it disregards the rest of Indonesia, stripping people of their hometowns, cultures, and populating and polluting Jakarta even more.
It was so interesting.
Afterwards, Nino and I left for his mother's medical office. Where she researches about cigarettes that can actually heal cancer instead of incite it. After joining in on a meeting to understand her work and taking photos, Nino and I left, headed to his house, and hung out until His parents came home.
When we left to find dinner, we ended up at a traditional restaurant where the family knew the owners.
Kneeling traditionally at a very low table, I drank ginger, milk, and ice mixed together- and ate rice, sambel (chili sauce), and mudfish all wrapped in a piece of lettuce and dipped once again in sambel for the effect :) super filling and delicious. know that the food does not come wrapped in lettuce, i would take the lettuce and make it myself. Learned it from Mama Inne :) No one else i know does that. but it tastes so good :) haha
President of the Rotary, Ibu Saraswati then asked me to sing, so while singing sway by maybe michael buble, Ibu and her husband danced. Which was beautiful to watch :) Nino and I then went around the restaurant to see all the traditional things, including pottery from Malang before colonization by Holland, then the things holland brought, like old fashioned irons, telephones, and radios. Then we looked at the entire collection of cigarette trademarks from one of the oldest cigarette business that started in Malang and is still there. Super interesting!
On the way home, the owner caught us- his wife loved us to pieces, and gave us more food on the way out, along with a Japanese hat for me to take.
We ended up getting home around 10pm, where I went straight to sleep. knowing i needed to be at the visit for Astrid at 6:30am the next day.
~ her visit is in the next weebly, it just needs and entirely separate one :P ~
After her visit, Nino picked me up once again and since it was 6pm we went straight to eat the one food that is sought after in malang, grilled meatball (bakso bakar) with sambel. We found that the small place with the best flavour was still open, so while trying out some intense meatballs, we chatted over how the visit went.
Nino was actually an exchange student back in 2004 in Pennsylvania, and it was so interesting to talk to him about everything, from his opinions on things, to Arema_ Malang's soccer team, that may not be the best in Indonesia, but has the most passionate fans. with it's colours being blue, white, and yellow. Nino always had questions for me, and was already ready to answer mine, and drive me wherever I felt like exploring. Without much time, I was only able to see the city of Malang, while missing out on Bromo Mountain, which is so cold even Americans need to wear a coat when climbing to the top.
Car rides involved listening to Relient K, Five Iron Frenzy (Older American Christian bands), talking about how he's doing after his exchange, girlfriends and boyfriends, college, and decisions about everything.
We headed home afterwards and met up with Ibu Saraswati. And in no time, I was actually getting the treatment of the cigarettes that have healed more than 15 cancer patients, including her husband, and a lady from Australia that called yesterday. I don't truly know how many, but I know more than 15. It was amazing, but while still smoky, I was introduced to Ibu's husband's English teacher, whose name was Pak Brian, was from the British Army- which is how he came to indonesia- and has been living here for 42 years.
He stopped his lesson for more than 15 minutes to discuss the places I've been, what I have and haven't liked, and his stories from Indonesian war.
Like when he first came here with his army to help the Malaysian army fight Indonesia. He and his partners thought that they were first seeing the Indonesian army coming at them, whereas it was ACTUALLY prostitutes coming for business that was not granted.
Or the time that he actually lived in a village, eating rice with corn everyday, with his indonesian wife; growing coffee out in the fields everyday, and living in the one village that was still hunting for the heads of the Indonesian army (since the people in this particular village were for the English Army, and still hunted heads). One day, he even woke up with heads hanging over him for storage... and where a boy was not a man until he had one head, and a girl would not think twice about a man if he did not have a head.
He talked about the places he went and the travels that brought him to Malang. And gave me pointers of places to come back to IF I ever did. We discussed about the different types of people in Sumatra and Java and where he liked living the best.
After hearing amazing stories, I realized I still smelled like smoke and their lesson was being interrupted, so when the coffee came, i kindly excused myself, and took off for the shower in Ibu Saraswati's room, which was the shower with the only hot water.
After coming freshly out of the shower, I found out we were taking off again to eat once more- at 10pm- the one thing in the world that I love. Chicken feet boiled (ayam ceker), at the one place in the world that will not taste like any other. but the one small lady's make-shift restaurant, where she made the soup by scratch- when at other places they just defreeze it. After driving 5minutes in NO Traffic, making me feel more at home in Indiana than any other place I've gone, we ended up on the side of the road, getting out to sit down at benches, and wait for our food.
Talking about Divine Cigarettes, Rotary meetings, and adventures so far in Indonesia, we didn't have to wait long for our meals to come out. and when they did there was no stopping. using sambel, I slurped off the skin and meat of 6 chicken feet and one wing. Perfect~ and even after thanking the Ibu and hopping back in the car, I didn't feel full at all.
That's what it does. If your ever sick- it would be so nice, because it's so easy to eat. and feels so nice to eat. that- along with Vietnamese Pho Noodles are the best things, even more than chicken noodle soup.
On the way home, we went around the city just to see the center once more, and then- we went home, and turned in for the night at around 11pm.
I was leaving the next day, but found out that my plane was once again delayed another hour, so without rushing- I skyped my dad, and then Alan to catch up on the ENTIRE trip, including the visit and the Divine Cigarettes. While talking, I checked my email quickly, only to find the email I had been silently looking for but not expecting.
I WAS GRANTED A COX EXLORATORY SCHOLARSHIP> which means 100% of my TOTAL COST OF ATTENDENCE to IU BLoomington will be paid for. which this year, is about $21,210. That includes books, living expenses, food, meal plans, and all tuition costs. While I prayed for the ability for an interview via skype, since I knew that God didn't give me this oppourtunity for no reason. I stopped praying about it after that. Because I knew and expected Him to provide whether I got the scholarship or not. I was just ENTIRELY joyful that He answered my prayer to be able to interview via skype. and so getting the scholarship- was the ENTIRE love letter to me for providing money for the university I feel Him calling me too.
So while I wept on the internet, I explained the entire thing to Alan, praising God and thankfully praying. The one thing you can do in a situation where God FULLY answers prayer.
:)
Go God.
I expected Him to do something crazy, unlock doors, open windows, smash through the normal, move mountains, shock crowds, and make His name known. and once again- He did through the scholarship I wasn't even supposed to be applying for in the first place since I didn't get an invitation letter to do so.
And yet. God worked :)
Leaving that, and walking back into Indonesian life- I ate Ox and rice for breakfast, packed my bags, and took off to see the cow farm that Nino and his family have in Malang but are planning to move to the island of Kalimantan.
The family actually has 5 things- Ibu works with the Malang city council and as a researcher for cigarette as a cancer healer, her husband works as the only heart surgeon in Malang, then they have the business of a small packaging industry in their garage, a cow farm with their relatives, and a orphange that they started up.
WOW!
So the cow farm was a bit of a ways out, except it reminded me of Mishawaka because it was so spacious- and while showing me his old houses, and taking me to the places that people would always motor street race, until the city made a place for them, so that people could do so legally and safe until we ended up at the cow farm, where there are probably tops 30 cows, all tied down, and with no where to poop properly. It's still in process. and things aren't looking to pretty right now, but with time- they will be fixing the problem and moving the cows out. the cutest and best ones are the babies. who are held in a different area.
In the same area, before the cow farm, the family also had a chicken farm, and then a duck and eel farm. What businesses you can make from scratch without any government paperwork in Indonesia. It's all off the book. and because of that, it's super easy to make a business by yourself.
Then afterpicking up Ibu Saraswati, we rode easily up to the airport (30minutes away, no traffic) and while watching my plane come in on a field that looks like the ones I used to see with my family in Canada, or with Sami (my best friend) in Vermont, I walked solemnly to the plane and sat down, letting a man no more than 38yrs. old but looking 21yrs. old, sit down next to me.
After trying to sleep, I struck up conversation with him over different places we've been in Indonesia, and came to know his story.
A man whose been working for 11 yrs with a construction business in Jakarta- which took him to many parts of Indonesia at a moment's notice, but has a 2wk. old child, a 2 year old child, and wife who moved back to Malang becuase it's a nicer area for the children to grow up. And here he sits with a final decision to make, leaving a good paying job, to raise his children on a lower salary in Malang, but in a happier place. And I witnessed it. with His heart made of God. Comfort Him and direct Him God. Thank You for the conversation, and give him money enough to raise his family the way YOU want :) Direct his steps.
Getting out of the plane, and meeting another man, whose child had studied economy in the University of Pennsylvania, while he himself was an economic professor at a university. With his entire family in Jakarta, and going home after a conference.
Thank You for conversation God, that I happen into so easily. That's a beautiful gift, let me use it to glorify You Lord :)
I ended up getting in the car with our driver, Pak Indra, and waiting for 4hrs. (in traffic and at Papa Hardie's office until he was ready) before I got home and would've started into another OCD frenzy to get ready for my next trip to Ujung Genteng if God hadn't quieted me with - I am the most important. Make sure you have time with ME first. because your travelling again, and need to be rejuvinated before starting again, Beloved :)
And so. Here I sit. Writing, rejuvinated. a bit pressured becuase i'm leaving tomorrow morning. but with His Word in my heart, His praise on my lips, His passion on my hands and in my feet, and His plan in my sight :)
Go God.