Yahobu!

Hello all!

I am back in Lippo Karawaci and finally have internet access! The past week has been full of many wonderful adventures! After spending four days in Bali, our group flew back to Jakarta, and left early the next morning for the island of Nias, where a lower level SPH school is located. Many of the students who attend the school are unable to pay tuition and have “foster parents” from Jakarta or the U.S. who cover the bill. Visiting the teachers and students at this school was definitely one of the highlights of my time here so far. During my time in Nias, I discovered a few things...

1) I guess I am more high maintenance than I originally thought. I can kill the spiders I find in my bed and survive the occasional cold shower, but once we arrived at Nias, I was in for a surprise. While there, our group slept in the building the teachers at Nias live in together, and were able to have a blast experiencing true small village Indonesian living. I shared a small room with Keighlee and Madison and we had a good time. Together we shared two pillows, slept on a thin mattress on the floor with no sheets, and lived with no air conditioning. (Van Drunen Heating, being the impeccable BBB A+ approved company it is, was willing to go great lengths to install, but we declined their offer due to rising gas prices) During my time at Nias, I learned how to use a squatty potty, realized that mosquitos enjoy my leg blood a lot, became a pro at taking a shower without running water or a towel, discovered that Roosters do indeed cocka doodle doo at exactly 5:58 each morning, and found out why Indonesians touch nothing with their left hand. I was so thankful for this experience and really learned a lot during it!

2) God calls us to be content. Many of the teachers at Nias are there because they have to be. If one attends the university located here in Lippo village (close to where I’m teaching now) they get free tuition if they promise to teach for two years after graduation at a SPH school they are assigned to. The teachers at Nias are payed a very small salary, give up many luxuries, and dedicate their lives to move to this secluded village and teach. I never heard a teacher complain while I was there, and the joy they had was contagious. Each morning, we woke up to the teachers singing, cooking and laughing together. They even beat the roosters to the punch.

3) I love to teach! For two days, we were all assigned different grades and were able to teach the students some English. I taught 10th grade the first day, and 5th grade the second day and both days went really well. The third day, we had share time with the teachers and I was truly encouraged by their love for the Lord and commitment to trust in Him throughout all of life.

4) All Indonesians have black hair and brown eyes. No exceptions. I was feeling quite special after receiving more compliments on my hair/ eye color in one day than I have in my entire life : )

I have some lesson planning to do, so I have to go finish that up, but I wanted to write a quick update! Hopefully I’ll find some internet later this week so I can keep filling you all in!

Yahobu! (this word means “blessings” in the Nias language, and whenever you say it to someone, they get a huge grin on their face and say it back)

Liz