The Old and the New

It is hard to really organize my thoughts and feelings about our first month in Indonesia.  We have moved to a city of 2 million+ people and have moved into a home in a type of housing addition.   We have started a new job, met new co-workers and students, and have started driving and learning our way around town.  We have found new yummy food and new places to swim and play.   We have set up new schedules and basically a new way of life. 

However, the old way of life here and old relationships have also called us back.   Some of the reunions have been sweeter than I could ever express.   I remember with heart-felt emotion how one of Casey’s guards in Salatiga grasped his hands in a warm shake and then touched his chest with his other hand and said, “I don’t have words (I’m speechless).”   When I met one of my best friends in the world, we just wept and several times she said, “I just can’t believe this.  It’s like I’m dreaming.”   We have also strongly felt the loss of Casey’s close friend, Gono.  We have not been able to see his wife and daughter yet, but feel his loss now so tangibly.  Even now I can hear the sound of his voice and laughter in my head.  He would have been one of the most excited people to have us back in the area. 

There are two other families in Salatiga I have been praying for and was so thankful to see.  The first was a woman named Nina who used to be a guard for Casey.  She was so excited to see our family.  When we hugged each other both of us just wept.  I have regrets that we have not had the opportunity for deeper discussions about life, family and faith and I hope and pray that we can at some point.  On the day that we left Salatiga two years ago, a special couple came to our house to see us off.  It was our old neighborhood leader and his wife.  We lived in a house in their neighborhood when Ryan was a newborn and Niko was born in that house.  They have two daughters.  One is married now and has a daughter of her own.  The other just graduated from college and is looking for a job.   Casey went to the door and surprised them.  We didn’t have their phone number, so just had to stop by.  J  They were so surprised to see us.   The wife gave me a warm handshake and kissed each cheek as you do here---but then, she really hugged me.   We don’t have the same religious beliefs or follow the same traditions, but the love they have for our family was really evident and was such a blessing to our hearts. 

When I was telling my friend about how tired I was from visiting friends (we haven’t even made it to see everyone yet, even after two visits!), she said she felt sorry for me.  Then she said that she was also not sorry—because it demonstrates how much we are loved and how many people care about us.  Although we don’t have a ministry at the same place anymore, those people have been a big part of our lives.  We have a new ministry now and new people to get to know.  I am sure that as we work here longer, we will get to know them better and develop deeper relationships.  Right now we still feel a little torn, feeling like we are a part of two worlds.  At this moment, we do give thanks for all the amazing opportunities He has given us and for all the people He has brought into our lives ALL around the world.  We are certainly blessed!

The Saga of the Watermelon

Henceforth, it appears that this is how a watermelon must travel in the Bernhardtmobile. 

 

Yesterday, we went to our friend's house.  My friend asked me to come and watch 10-12 kids at her house while Casey went to help at her fish store.  She felt like there was not a plan for lunch, so I told her I would stop at the store and grab some frozen nuggets and fries so that I could feed all the kids. After all, that sounds like a lunch menu that can't be wrong, right?   When we stopped at the store, I saw this beautiful huge watermelon.  I don't know exactly what it weighed, but it was priced at $4.00.  I thought that looked perfect for "dessert" for a dozen children.   I put all the groceries in the back of the car and we headed to her place. 

 

They live on a hill.  I know they live on a hill, but it doesn't feel like a "serious" hill.  Their driveway though is really steep and high.  Casey went to the left lane and got over partially in their driveway so we could pile out.  We thought we would just all get out and walk up their driveway, since he was continuing on to the store anyway.   I went around back as the boys were getting out of the car.  When I opened the back hatch, I heard the rustle of plastic at my feet.  I looked down around my feet, trying to figure out what plastic bag had fallen out.  Lo and behold, it was the plastic bag carrying the watermelon! 

 

Ryan had just gotten out and was standing by me, ready to get some bags--but before either of us could make sense of what was happening, that watermelon TOOK OFF, rolling down the hill.  It just rolled along the side of the road, gaining momentum as it went.   Ryan started to go for it, but Casey called him back because there was too much traffic.  Cars and bikes were honking, swerving--and then the incredible happened (which just makes me die with laughter when I think about it!), that watermelon CROSSED THE ROAD---four lanes of traffic, to the other side.  When I told my friend the story later, I just couldn't get a breath in, I was laughing so hard and I was crying. 

 

No one hit it.  It just kept rolling.  But as we lost sight of it, Casey yelled, "Go, go, let's go!"  He didn't want to stick around in case someone hit that sucker.  I really believe no one did.  It just joined the traffic melee, gliding along.  I lost a beautiful watermelon.  My deepest hope is that someone down the road was able to recover it and enjoy it!  

 

So, when I bought one today, under the seatbelt it went!  :)

 



News from the Other Side

It is hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching the one-week mark of being back in Indonesia!  Thank you for praying for us on our journey.  The trip was long, but it was fairly smooth.  Our luggage cost us some money, but we were expecting that.  We left for Seattle by car Friday evening around 6:30pm.  It took three hours to get to the airport.  After checking in and going through a LONG security line, we made it to the waiting area.  We had to wait for quite a while, but in our experience, it is better to be early than too late!   We didn’t know if the TSA would want to call us to open our bags, so we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time.   Our flight left at 2am and we flew to Taipei, Taiwan.  It took about 11 hours.  All of us got a little bit of sleep, but not great quality sleep :). 

We arrived in Taipei at 5am Sunday morning (their time-which would be Saturday evening in the States).   We had a four hour wait there.  The airport is nice, but there are not a lot of food options---particularly early in the morning.  We were all really hungry because we didn’t have much on the plane.  We were able to get some food at a vendor and were able to “freshen up” (brush teeth, etc.)   Our flight left Taipei for Jakarta at 9am.  Our seats and the leg room were a little wider and that was so nice!   Chase took a good nap on that five hour flight, and the rest of us should have!  

We arrived to a hot Jakarta at around 1pm and went through immigration.  Then we got some guys to help us with our huge amount of luggage.  We paid them well and they helped us through customs and with getting our bags on the next plane without even having to go upstairs!  It was really nice.  There was a flight leaving for Semarang around 3pm, but we had booked the 5pm flight because we did not know how long immigration and customs would take.  So, it was a long wait and then a LONG one hour flight to Semarang.  Casey pointed out that although it was the shortest flight, it felt like the longest because we were all so tired and so ready to get done with our journey!!

We arrived and Casey went to deal with getting our bags.  Some folks from the school we work at were there to pick us up.   Some good friends who live in Semarang also came.  They had done quite a bit to get stuff into our house (that we bought from people who left).  They also got some furnishings for us---some incredible things.  We were so blessed!   It was pretty miserable the first night because we did not have any fans, but thankfully they had the AC running in our bedroom.  We have 3 bedrooms and 3 AC units, but with the electric capacity, we can only run two at a time.  So far we have all been bunking in our room at night but hope we get a plan going so the boys can move into their own rooms J. 

So, this week has involved a lot of shopping, learning our way around the area (which we are getting slowly!) and meeting people at school.   It is very different to live in the big city versus the “small town”/”village”.  It is also very different to live in a predominately Chinese area.  It feels a lot more like where I lived as a child, in Bangkok, Thailand.  This weekend we are going to try to visit Salatiga for two days because we have the week off for Lebaran (breaking of the Muslim month of fasting).   The traffic is getting worse and worse with people heading home to visit their families.  We will opt to stay close to home after our little jaunt to Salatiga and will be working on class preparations.

Our jobs are good, but we have a lot of work to do.  It is a great environment, but I know it will take a little time for us all to get used to our schedules and responsibilities.  The big boys will start their online classes this coming week and then will all try to get started at our school after this week long break.   It may be a bit bumpy for a while, but we are praying that they will adjust quickly.

We have some praises and prayer requests:

1.       Praise:  We arrived safely! 

2.       Praise:  Some incredible people (Sandy and Johana, John and Marilyn) have been taking care of us and our kids.  Chase is particularly partial to Mr. John and thinks he is pretty awesome.  We are so thankful for all of their help in this last week!

3.       Praise: A great school community with fun-loving and beautiful students and coworkers.

4.       Praise:  The school is providing us with a vehicle this weekend---one for us to use all the time.  And, a new one at that!  (WHAT, God!?!?)

5.       Prayer: My supervisor, Erna (an amazing and beautiful woman of God by the way), has not been feeling well.  She is suffering from headaches and vertigo and every doctor has told her something different.  Please pray for complete and total healing.  He is able!

6.       Prayer: For our kids to adjust, to learn the language, and to make new friends.  Pray that they would embrace our ministry here and allow God to teach them new things.

7.       Prayer: Please pray that we would be a light for Him wherever we are.  Please pray for great new opportunities to help people learn more about Him!

8.       Prayer: Please pray for safety on the roads.  I know that I will need to drive and I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed by the traffic.  Maybe it will get a little better, but the sheer volume of vehicles is way different than Salatiga.  I know my husband won’t be able to chauffeur me around all the time, so I would appreciate prayers for courage and for safety.

Thank you for your love, support and prayers! 
We appreciate them so much,

Sharon, Casey & the boys