IN THIS POST:

FLO JAKARTA PASTOR/WIFE RETREAT (May 19-21)

DENNIS BALCOMBE MEETINGS (Week of May 25)

CITA HATI SCHOOLS General Update

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING AT EFEX

MONDAY EVENING YOUTH

ANAK TERANG KIDS

FLO JAKARTA PASTOR/WIFE RETREAT

This project has been the most time, energy, emotion, and attention consuming project since returning. I have been to Jakarta 4 times in preparation for and to conduct the 3^rd retreat which was held May 19-21. This is always a great high. We had 12 couples that we brought by bus to the resort area in the mountains above Jakarta (some 2 hours drive) for three days, two nights refreshing. Results were fantastic. Testimonies commonly went like "in 27 years of marriage he/she never . . ." all with great smiles of appreciation! The 25 minute video which I will give to each participant and committee member is nearly finished, and the PROMO VIDEO I am working on is progressing in between all the other projects I have. More on the FLO Blogspot.

Also relative to FLO we stopped organizing the monthly community meetings - it had become frustrating because lack of response and inconsistent attendance. It was at their request, and as long as they were really enthusiastic and supportive it was good. Now they will have to demonstrate their desire by commitment and action to organize and coordinate for themselves. We will encourage and support by attendance and participation as invited and able according to schedule. It means I won't have to go to Jakarta every month!

While in Jakarta on May 18 I was privileged to minister to the youth at the Abbalove church that Liana and Ira attend. It was a fantastic morning for us all. I always enjoy the enthusiasm and eager anticipation of the youth! They all responded well, and I have been invited to return and minister to the congregation at the end of August.

I also ministered to a women's prayer group PD RUTH.

DENNIS BALCOMBE MEETINGS

The most recent interesting part of my life here has been attending Dennis BALCOMBE meetings. He has been a missionary in China for 38 years, and stories of the church in China have been coming out through him during all this time. He is here ministering to a small church, even though he is internationally renowned and himself has churches around the world (all Chinese members). His home church, now overseen by his daughter and son-in-law in Hong Kong, has more than 1000 members. A small church, he says. His meetings in China with the house church (euphemism for underground church) gathered thousands in the former times of great persecution. He says persecution still happens, but since China is eager to enter the world community, enforcement of restrictions has greatly decreased.

I find him very down-to-earth and real, no pretenses. His intensity and passion are contagious, and his focus on purpose attention getting! I consider him to be greater than many more well-known international ministers - his persistence and dedication have proven his ministry which is bearing much fruit.

My main interest is in the Chinese teachers that come to me regularly for mentoring and Bible study at school. One will return to her home in China. She came to know Jesus while here during the past year, and does not know one Christian at home. I want to make sure she gets in contact with the church in China, and Dennis is the one who can provide that contact! See Ai Yao on the Shepherds and Sheep blog.

CITA HATI SCHOOLS

I want to take this opportunity to express my admiration and appreciation for this school in the fact that many teachers come here not knowing Christ, but are introduced to Him and are taught and encouraged in Christian life just because of the atmosphere the school fosters. Even if the academics were not class A, the school already accomplishes a great mission in evangelism and mentoring!

With so many trips to Jakarta, my time for preparing and doing my regular Surabaya activities, such as school and my youth group, has been severely disrupted. Nevertheless, I have been able to lead the Wednesday devotions four times, and continue individual Bible studies, prayer, and counseling for teachers on Wednesday and Thursdays.

There are two projects which are exciting for me, though. One is short term - to present the new School Focus at Staff Recognition Day on Saturday 31 May. Each year the school has a different focus. This past year has been Trust God. The new school focus is Live to Serve. To introduce it, I came up with a skit. In my absence, six teachers have been working on the photos for background, on the skit itself, and on a special song for the focus. I will inspect their results when I return to school Wednesday May28. Doesn’t leave much leeway for the presentation Saturday morning, especially when the teachers have end-of-year reports and activities already crowding their time!

The second is a long term project to work with a team of teachers in Elementary School. Our assignment: to develop a curriculum to train teachers how to put character and values training into their curriculum. It will involve training in coaching, mentoring, and new teaching or training techniques, as well as the content. Our model is the BOSS program which ran so successfully last year, but had to be discontinued for a variety of reasons. This is very exciting as it has potential to change the lives of teachers and students for years to come!

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING AT EFEX

A young couple came to me some four years ago. They had been living in America, and the Lord impressed on their hearts to return to Indonesia and minister here through a school teaching English. So started EFEX. At that time I offered to help when and how ever I could. I was called upon to help them as one of their teachers had to leave suddenly and they were having trouble finding a replacement. I ended up substitute teaching for two full days. It was an interesting experience, and unlike when I just come to a school as a guest speaker, I actually had to prepare from their curriculum and lesson plans. Kids were 5^th and 6^th graders, a nice age for me, and several were from Cita Hati, perfecting their English skills.

MONDAY EVENING YOUTH

The time since return from the Philippines has been interesting since my visits to Jakarta require the meetings to be changed to Wednesday evening instead of Monday. We have been able to meet every week except this past one when the retreat required me to be in Jakarta for a full week. We are now averaging twelve each meeting (our number last night) though sometimes we have as few as 8 and as many as 15. This past Monday night we celebrated a birthday. It was a bit emotional since we didn’t meet last week and won’t meet now for 5 or 6 weeks.

ANAK TERANG KIDS

This is a group of elementary kids gathered from their community for tutoring and help in preparing for exams, as well as other help such as with food and clothing (again, sixth graders). I come once a month or so to teach English. I develop my own material and have games and contests with them. They have been preparing presentations in English, and this Thursday afternoon I will videotape them and put them on a CD for them to see themselves. Many are very bright and clever, and I hope this helps to give them the advantage of experience and self confidence to climb out of poverty in their lives!