From June 19th-26th (2006) I had one of the most incredible educational experiences ever by joining a team from South Carolina to travel to the Java Province of Indonesia.  It was challenging, convicting, exhilitarating, and most rewarding.  The people I served with were some of the most gifted people I've ever known.  It was truly my privilege and honor to be with them.  And the resident educators at this seminary are so encouraging; their enduring passion for God is very contagious.

This team was able to provide humanitarian aid to those impacted from the earth quake by offering a health care clinic, fixing damaged water wells, assisting in the construction of a church, teaching others how to raise pheasants for eggs, teaching English classes, and being involved in revival services in Baptist churches in Semarang.  I provided a one week all day intensive exposition of the Gospel of Mark at a Baptist Seminary that was established in 1954.  With dormitories, a two story library, a chapel, a dining hall, and a number of classrooms on a beautifully lanscaped property sitting on top a mountainous jungle hill, the seminary was breathtakingly beautiul.

The people in Indonesia are very endearing, loving people, offering very warm hospitality.  One native stated at the most this country of more than 18,000 (yes, 18,000) islands is 70% Islamic, most by birth (not religious commitment).   Indeed, the mosques, for the most part, appeared to be empty.  There is a lot of syncretism between Islam, Buddhism, and Taoism, an emphasis on "spirits," "demons," and "ancestors." 

Words cannot begin to express my thankfulness for those at Pine Valley Bible Church and College of Biblical Studies who partnered in this opportunity of ministry by prayer, giving, and other support.  Lives were changed both physically and spiritually for God's glory as people were ministered to by your faithful commitment to the Lord.

One interesting account involves the medicine you sent with me.  In a village of 155 homes where only 15 homes were left remaining (people were living in tents), no health care had been offered.  Thus, our team members set up a health care clinic.  Standing in this long line was a lady with a young baby boy who had been afflicted with a high degree fever for over a week.  Refusing to eat because of the fever, the mother could only give him water flavored with cinnamon.  Once our team saw this baby they realized he was near death; the body was gray in appearance and looked lifeless.  They took the baby and gave it Children's Tylenol and the fever broke.  The baby perked up and began to eat for the first time in over week!  Our prayer is that the mother, whose ability to lactate stopped because of the child's refusal to eat, will start again.  So, one package of Children's Tylenol quite possibly saved a dying child and spared the pain of a mother losing her son.  What a blessing one package of Tylenol makes!  Her thankfulness to you as you were used by God goes beyond words.

One interesting observation about the translation of the Bible in their Indonesian language.  Whoever translated "God" into their language used the word "Allah."  Thus, they refer to God of the Bible as "Allah."  The basis for this idea is that "Allah" is a word that is functionally equivalent to "God."  I was really surprised to see this word translated that way.  Their hymns and praise songs even use "Allah."  So, you are sitting in church and they are singing songs about "Allah" to "Allah."  Odd, isn't it?  That doesn't mean these believers in Christ picture the "Allah" of Islam when they are worshipping.  Rather, their object of worship is the God of the Bible.  Interestingly, I am told that the Muslims do not like for Christians to use "Allah".  Nevertheless, using "Allah" for "God" is a product of dynamic equivalence, a method of translating which I personally do not favor.  It is my understanding that a new translation of the Bible in Indonesian has been constructed that is against using "Allah" for "God."  However, I never had the opportunity to look at this translation;  I was not able to verify that claim.

Indonesia is not what I had expected it to be.  I had pictured a society committed to Islamic Law like Afganistan under the Taliban.  However, that is simply not the case.  Though Christians are not allowed to evangelize, and muslims who become Christians are persecuted for their faith, the identification to Islam tends to be by birth, not religious commitment.   In fact, as one person stated, if you identify yourself with Islam you are morely likely to financially and socially succeed; on your driver's license you must tell them what religion you embrace.  Nevertheless, the city has a number of churches, some of them very large.  But you don't hear church bells!  Rather, every day you hear Islamic calls of worship (five times a day) from "competing" mosques that dominate the landscape.

Lasty, a few misc. observations:  Indonesia has an informal social-economic caste system whereby Americans are considered the most coveted, the Chinese, then their own Javanese people.  The average monthly salary is U.S. 60.00.  The mansions in Semarang ( I mean mansions) cost approx. $ 100,000.00.  It is very common to have drivers and paid servants.  There are number of older Americans who live there taking advantage of their economy with the U.S. dollar.  And finally, the fresh Indonesian coffee is absolutely awesome! One pound of fresh roasted and delicious coffee from Sulawesi is $1.50!!!  And right now a half of pound of the same coffee from Starbucks (A Black Apron Exclusive) is over $10.00.  Of course, the plane fare does make up the difference!