out of the mountains, down to the coast.

five hours of winding down out of the hills on a motorbike with my karen friend; a day in chiang mai; sixteen hours on a over-air conditioned bus where my seat refused to recline and the dutch boy to my right let me listen to his holland hip hop; an outrageously expensive songtao ride to my friend’s home, and i am have arrived in pattaya.

then to indo…the very next morning.

two hours via bus to bangkok airport; another two hour flight to malaysia, where i would spend the next nine hours: loosing all my cash to airasia, waiting in lines only to discover the atm’s do not like thai bank cards, hugging a wailing indian woman, scrounging just enough money to purchase my fist meal of the day at 6pm (at mcdonald’s–because at least that place reliably serves the same set of fries worldwide) before heading to the gate of my uber delayed plane and befriending a swedish fellow (who would later loan me some dollas to gain entry to indo), along with a crazy dutchman who sells large snakes; another couple hour hop to bandung, indonesia, where i would finally get to lay my head down at 2:30am; awake again two hours later to stumble out to a taxi serenaded by the morning call to prayer and head to the jakarta airport with my new friends, karen and beth; again, a couple hour flight (i am beginning to realize this trip consisted of multiple legs of two…i wish there was some overriding significance to this observation…nope) to land at our first destination point: banjarmasin, south kalimantan; and thus the trip to indo begins.

this week excursion all existed because of an email to my best friend’s aunt and uncle, who i was told i had to meet (and as it just so happens, i agree-i just had to meet these two). they recently moved out to indo and are beginning to gather together a missionary team with pioneers in order to reach the muslim community here (for those of you wondering, this country is predominately muslim, with the exception of the lone hindu island of bali). and after another few emails and phone chats, i had been paired with a girl (beth) surveying the different ministries in indo to join alongside her and see what God is up to on these islands. well, though no less mighty, this is where God goes undercover. still fresh off the plane from my stay in a buddist country–who is open to any and all religious chatter and peaceful with most all religious bent–entering into a place where evangelism (perceived or actual) is grounds for arrest and deportation came as bit of a jolt to my senses (all five of them, as well as my sixth). spiritually, the air hangs thicker and the hairs on the back of your soul are constantly at attention–your angels hover attentively closer. colloquially speaking, common talk converts into acronyms and substitute phrases for buzz words such as ‘christian’, ‘muslim’, ‘church’, and ‘missionary’. the missionaries here work on tiptoe–not in the i’m-afraid-to-be-heard-by-anyone sort of way, but rather as-a-ballerina-moves-so-gracefully-across-the-stage-so-too-am-i-moved sort of way. these people have such a passion for the unreached people of indo, they speak excitedly of prayer rooms shared by both muslims and christians, signs and wonders beginning to occur, christian radio stations and deep english class discussion groups, raising leaders to go back in and minister to their brothers and sisters. though this place may be closed, the spiritual realm is very much alive, and moving with great expectation.

i find it difficult and nigh impossible to effectively summarize this trip…but i will attempt to give you an overview by introducing you to the people i met along the way, and what each of them showed me:

• karen (and husband): moved from the usa almost a year ago to begin language study and is now almost fluent (she’s wicked smart); guide extraordinaire and planned the entire trip for beth and i–spent a few nights up real late together in deep discussions inspired by bad movies
• beth (aka elizabeth…and that’s not the only thing we had in common): an alabamian in her mid twenties en route to joining pioneers, had a rad time sharing our trips together and our desires to see God move through us all over the world; a divinely-given friend who i expect to keep in contact with for some time to come (maybe we will actually get to surf in indo together someday…)
• dave and karen (and two little awesome boys): just moved cities after completing language study and are beginning  ministry with an unreached muslim group; showed us around their town and had some local students come over to their house to video record us for an english class project; their spirits are so infectiously full of joy and enthusiasm, rejoicing in everything (even though they moved into their home a few days before we joined them, they still opened up their lives to us and shared meals with us on the dining room floor); i wish they could live next door to me wherever i go, two days with them was just not enough
• area directors for pioneers: now live in a gorgeous home in bali, but began as missionaries in papua new guinea with an indigenous tribe (grass skirts and everything) for years; these two are seasoned followers of Jesus (they’ve had a full gamut of experiences) and had a wealth of wisdom to pass down to us youngin’s
• liz (aka elizabeth…two in one trip, ridiculous i know): australian lady who lives in a little city home crammed in among indonesians (and loves it); i got to stay the night with her where we spent time discussing how we want to be crazy and all out for God, just letting the Holy Spirit move us into the most absurd and awesome experiences; she introduced me to many of her neighbors and i had a really jolly time under her care
• jeff and constance: what to do in your fifties after your children have grown up and flown the coop? move to a new country, learn the language, and plant churches as missionaries. life does not end until your dead, and until then, God calls us to keep abandoning and surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. i have met a few couples who sit together on a special pedestal within my mind, and these two just squished in beside them–i took as many pages as i could out of their book in the short span i spent at their home. after laughing and chatting with them over lunch, we sat down in their living room, where jeff walked through the scriptures to encourage me to discover my specific role in the church, practice my spiritual gifts, and then together they prayed over me and passed on prophetic words God has spoken; and then did not hesitate to drive me to and from the airport at ungodly times at night…

and after a very smooth trip back to the thai town, i am ready to begin the next two months of my journey in an insulated house, rented motorbike transportation, and paved streets; though still feeling much like aesop’s country mouse adjusting to a faster and more convenient lifestyle…

ode to an ocean

to acquaint again with your gracious awe,

to travel with my pupils to the horizon,

and know there is still more of you

i did not forget your sounds, your lulls, your crash–i still may sit at your feet and wonder.

the trees kept me busy and the river, preoccupied with gurgles and rushes;

but nothing can separate us–you and i–for you are the edge of adventure and the moments of peace and all that i need

to be happy.

i am welcomed again to the shore.

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