After leaving Bandung Sunday afternoon we flew to Yogya in Central Java where Steve preached for a Sunday night church service. We spent the night at the home of church planters in a village and then visited four churches on Monday. Each church welcomed us warmly with snacks and lunch. (It's not a meal if you don't have rice.) Everywhere we go we pray with our brothers and sisters and we consider ourselves blessed to meet these faithful Christians in their challenging circumstances.
On Tuesday David and Warren shared preaching for the chapel service at the Bible College. Afterwards we enjoyed the surprise birthday lunch for Gi. It was a great fellowship of church planters and Tanbunaan family. We enjoyed a gift of relaxation after lunch and then we visited a Smartpoint (Pondosi) in Salatiga.
Wednesday morning we begin our travel to West Kalimantan. We expect to be in more remote locations visiting churches and their leaders for the next several days. Thank you for your prayers. Pray for the brothers and sisters here in Indonesia who maintain such vibrant and attractive faith.
 |
| 'snacks' with church in Pucangmojo |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Smartpoint at Pengging |
|
 |
| Warren preaching at Bible College in Saltiga |
|
 |
| Church at Margosari |
Thanks so much for your postings. I look forward to seeing them each day. We will pray for safe travel as you progress through your journey. Our church has you and the Indonesian people on our prayer list in Cassville, MO. God Bless. Love, Ma Brosi
ReplyDeleteIt is such a blessing to share fellowship with other believers and to take opportunity to rest. Tell Gi we said happy birthday. I have been so busy trying to prepare for Sunday and all the things coming up that although I did take time to read your postings I had not the time to post a comment.
ReplyDeleteThe congregation here have truly enjoyed your pictures which I print and Ms. Thelma hangs in the foyer along with a map and your most recent posts.
That is a great picture of Gi. I heard some bad news concerning a minister there in Indonesia I would like to hear more about if you have any knowledge of the assasination of a minister there. It is very scary to hear this kind of news and am concerned about you.
Love in Christ,
Linda
Last Tuesday in Jakarta a pastor of a Baptist (?) church and his assitant were stabbed and hospitalized. This took place in the same area as one of the mission churches. The government's line is that it was a criminal act by an unstable person, but the Christians here all understand that they are always under such insecurity since the country is officially muslim.
ReplyDeleteWhat was even perhaps more concderning to the Christians here is the news that some preacher in the US was going to burn the Q'ran at the 9/11 memorial in New York protesting the building of a mosque there. The Christians here realize what a volatile reaction that would set in motion in the muslim world with tragic and fatal consequences for them. I had never heard of the news item before we arrived here, but the people of Indonesia were very upset by it. The Indonesian President made a personal appeal to Obama to stop this from happening.