One, I didn't have a current exit permit in my passport. Now that I have a KITAS visa that lasts for a year I also have to have an exit/re-entry permit to leave the country, so that I don't lose that visa. I assumed I had one and hadn't even checked my passport for one, because at the hospital the people who do our visas just always get one whenever we get a new visa. I didn't know I had to make a special request to the people at the language school, who did this visa. Normally, you have to apply at the office where you got your visa (which was on the island of Java and I was on the island of Kalimantan) and it usually takes three days. So the guy who does our visas at the hospital called his friend in immigration who called his boss, the head of immigration for our island and asked for a special permit. Our visa guy made the 5-hour trip down to the capital city at midnight on Sunday night, so that they could be at the immigration office at 8 am to meet with the head of immigration and the permit was given immediately and all the paperwork processed by 1 pm. Wow!
The second issue was how to best get me to Malaysia. So the island is officially called Borneo and is shared by Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. The Indonesian part where the hospital is located is called West Kalimantan. The first thing to keep in mind is that roads are rough in this part of Indonesia. Second not much is disabled person friendly. At this point I was using a walker or crutches and could not bear much weight on my broken ankle. So we could choose a 12-hour trip road trip (with squatty potty toilets) or a 5-hour road trip and then an hour plane ride to Malaysia. Both had their negatives and positives but in the end we opted for choice B. So we left at 9 pm on Monday evening and made it to the hospital house in Pontianak, just before 1 am, where we slept for a few hours. It was a really rough road trip due to pain as we hit bump after bump but I had good friends along to make me as comfortable as possible. We also had a fabulous driver who had officially retired but knows that road like the back of his hand and is a good safe driver that drove for us.
We were up at 5 am to shower and leave for the airport by 6:30 to catch an 8:30 am flight. Once again this is not a disabled person friendly country, so negotiating the airport was going to be tricky and exhausting on crutches/walker. Once again though the Lord provided. As our van pulled up there was a Mr. Candra, a friend of the hospital. His son has thalassemia and has been treated over the last several years at the hospital. He works as a travel agent in the city. He was waiting with a wheelchair and escorted me through security and the check-in process. I still don't know who told him that I would be needing help and what kind of help exactly.
Throughout this time I have been cared for by my missionary team and Indonesian friends at the hospital. It has been a lesson in humility but I could not have made it throughout this week without them. On this trip I have been accompanied by Donda. She helps with the administration of MedGo at the hospital. She has been amazing in helping me take care of needs like personal care, to arranging things at the airport and in Kuching. What a blessing it has been to get to know her better, even if it was in such an unexpected way.
During our annual WorldVenture Field Fellowship just two weekends ago (feels like a month!) one of my teammates recommended worship music by Sovereign Grace Music. So before I left the conference I downloaded one of their CDs from iTunes called Come Weary Saints. I have listened to that CD so many times in the past week and it has been such a blessing to my heart! Several of the songs have been special but I think the one that rings so true in my life right now is the song As Long As You are Glorified. None of the events of the past week were part of my plan and at first it was hard to see through the pain, confusion and fear. Again and again though my community and my God reached through that pain, fear, and confusion and helped me feel secure and even joy. While it was not part of my plan I truly hope that God is glorified in this situation.
Here are the lyrics:
VERSE 1
Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain?
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain?
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought?
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt?
CHORUS
Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified
VERSE 2
Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled?
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well?
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night
BRIDGE
So quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You
© 2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)
Or you can hear it on YouTube:
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