This February has been so hectic I don't know where to begin but at the beginning.
When I left you, I was at the last day before I was leaving for my new family and wrapping up things with the Batubara's. I'd love to say that I slid right in easily with the family plans, but my own Pre. Calculus plans needed some real help from my parents. I had to find a proctor, a place to take the test, and a time to take the final before February 14th. So the entire week I was adjusting to my new family, and unpacking, i was also studying and scrambling for a proctor, place, and time to take my test.
With God's grace, he woke up my grey week with some beautiful moments.
Like when Mama Inne, Airien, and I went to Starbucks the second day after school, when we still weren't sure how I would be able to get home from school, and honestly enjoyed my time with them, and got out the newsy-stuff with mama and papa.
or Like when I went with Chantika to the hospital when she was feeling sick and mama and papa were at a function, and was able to share some sweet moments with her, and make bonds.
or Like when God spoke straight through the native english teacher Mr. Steve to slow down, even though Mr. Steve never said that- it was his attitude of honest listening and availablity that hit my heart so hard. When I was not seeing anything but my own schedule of finding a place to take the test.
or Like when on the most stressful day of trying to find a proctor, God gave me Mr. Lee- my native english teacher at SMA Tirta Marta, and the english language school he directs as my last resort- to be the perfect spot. and the closest :)
or Like the massage I got directly after the final and the intense week of scampering around when I didn't know God was taking care of the whole thing. and got to unwind with mama there and then a squid dinner afterwards- and honestly laugh and enjoy her company. it was the most refreshing thing of the entire week.
or Like when I had dinner with Theo- who i met from the retreat I went to last month with Faisca -and tried noodles from Aceh. which are the closest thing to normal american spaghetti noodles I've found, except spicer.
or Like when I went with Yohana and her friend to learn how to make batik, photos on Facebook, where I was so tired from not sleeping a lot the night and waking up early for church, but loving seeing the product after I was completely done making the batik- making for a great memory that I'm not giving away :)
or Like when I got back my grade for Pre-Calculus as an A in the class and a 95% on the test, and on Valentine's Day I just slept at home while Alan recieved a journal I've been writing for him since October of so many things and thoughts that I've had while I've been here.
or Like that Tuesday when he took me away with 20-30yr olds from Morning Star Indonesia (my church) to Bogor where we truly connected with each other, had fun in an amazing race, and fellowshipped together while learning to love the season we're in and really express ourselves the way God wants us to~ completely free and really experiencing life with Him above all else.
When I finally started school again, I started to take the bus home. Which was the highlight of my day on Feb. 16th. Jumping that boundary-of-not-talking-in-the-car, and just hanging out with everyone, getting to know all the kids on my bus. which is actually just a little van because there's no way you can manage a big bus going everywhere in the traffic here. That wednesday-friday I just got back into a rountine with my friends, going to classes, sometimes getting out to do things for them, or just reading in class. and on Friday after school Tara, Martin, and I went to eat Padang Food- greatly delicious :) and got lost trying to find my new home. These two are from the national plus class that has 10kids in it. I'm in this class now, cause i'm the least distracting there, and closest to them :)
On that day, was actually my Valentine's Day! With GirlScout Cookies and more from America :) They actually barely celebrate Valentine's Day here, it's the least important thing of the day that couples even think about, but it just depends on who you are.
That saturday was Rotary galor- in the morning I went with a Roteract to try cultural foods around Jakarta, starting in the morning with chicken porridge and tea, then going to see a Chinese cemetary and the museum Fatahillah that has a cannon your supposed to sit on, or rub this thumb so that your very fertile with children! Then we ate lunch at a place where I had the best tea and crackers, with a dessert that tasted like yeast and raisins and porridge together- pretty interesting. AFterwards, Indra (the YEP coordinator secretary here?) Took me to his Roteract about 1hr. away with traffic, and I presented to his Roteract about how YEP students build bridges, I had prepared about 1hr. of material, but when I got there, the group was so small and we had no laptop or slide- and the hard work I had done, turned into a 7min speech :) I laughed. it was perfect. I overachieved haha.
The sunday of Feb. 20 started a week of fashion. I went to church to sing, but not only that, I went to church to fellowship and catch up with friends. Which was exactly what one friend needed. Ruth. owner and designer of the clothing line: Grey. who was going to have her botique open at a bazaar at a huge christian university about 1.5hrs away from my house. She had school all week long, and had no one able to sit in her booth and give information, and sell clothes. So- God made me available. :) and for the next week from 8am-6pm I was sitting in a tent, speaking bahasa indonesia with other venders (making friends with the girl who made crepes, and the two Loony sisters with a hair accesory store [made from their hobby, didn't go to college, made their hobby into a career] and the other girl who was the sweetest thing but i can't remember her name for the life of me.)
sitting with God, writing letters, writing scholarship essays, enjoying jazz music and interesting dances, loving the wind, talking Bahasa Indonesia, learning about the Grey clothing line, learning how to sell clothes and invite people to look and give them just enough information *in Bahasa* to keep them interested.
It was a fantastic week, meeting people almost everyday, eating crepes- loving life. Getting help, and new friends. free crepes, free iced tea, a friend to help me get home one day, beautiful wind, fantastic music. God was all around :)
Ending this perfect week of working on a scholarship, working for a friend, and working for God- Papa, Mama, and I went to Puncak (1 hr. away) to eat breakfast, banana pancakes while overlooking the mountains and having fog so close. it was perfect :) now i understand Jack Johnson when he starts singing about banana pancakes, this is probably my favorite breakfast i've had here :) definitely.
We came back home to just enjoy a relaxing day, and at night- I was called to join them to watch the Mechanic, because with all my siblings older, I would be the only one at home. So while laughing, I agreed and caught a cab to PIM to join my parents watching the Mechanic. which by the way- i completely recommend. it was pretty brilliant.
The next day- that sunday, one week gone already. looky there God, :) we are just flowers fading fast- i sung at church again, but this time, to get home (i never really know how i'm getting home) I took the bus, transjakarta, alone for the first time. Asked questions of course, had to make three bus changes and ended up with a new friend, Dede (girl), at PIM, where I went with her to hang out a bit before our driver picked me up since it was closer. Go God. Keeping me safe and letting me affect people in a way I love to do, like my grandpa- who just loves to talk too :) I think i get it from him and my mom's side of the family, haha.
The next morning i went back to school, Feb. 28th, and learned that for the next two weeks the 12th graders will be taking one practice test a day for about 3-4hrs. and then going home because of the national test in April that they have. So for this day, it was the English Essay and test; I stepped right up to the challenge and started my essay beautifully- my love of writing coming in handy- and made a speech about how my journey to Indonesia has developed my relationship with God since I first got here. Which was executed in the exact way God had it made :) It was a phenomenal opportunity to love my teachers and show them the real reason I came here. to follow my Savior and to grow closer to Him and shine His light and love!
That was a great morning, but the afternoon was dreary with the weather- I seemed to not know what to do with myself, but had a bahasa lesson with my teacher, where when I was trying to catch a cab- fell into a hole instead, got a great bruise, a pair of pants that now have the rugged look, a dirty pair of shoes, and a smaller ego. After my quick bahasa lesson I visited Chiqua and Naomi, feeling unloved and useless since I didn't need to go to school anymore, but they picked up my mood pretty well and by the time I went home, I felt like I was in a dark mood and didn't know what to do with myself. But I sat with God, and by morning. I was good as new.
as His mercies are fresh every morning :) With that.
the month ended.
starting stressful with Pre-Calculus and moving families, to loving and connecting and helping my friend, to probably the most dreary day I've ever ended a month with~but makes for the brightest beginning to the month of March :)
this seems like a quick log, which it is. but this was my everyday- this was my ocean that I swerved through with Our King in a distant land, many times forgetting that I had another land I called home, because I was trying to impact this one so much and really dig into it deep. Like Johnny Banes says, the reason I would be gaining weight or not writing back messages is truly because I'm getting super involved in doing something great for God, either that- or i'm truly backed up with busy-ness, or don't know what to write :) because i haven't been inspired.
which was all three. which makes for about a month's writing bl