Celebrating a Year of Living in Indonesia

365 days ago I boarded a plane to Indonesia. In some ways it is hard to believe that it has been a year and yet in other ways I have felt every day. Maybe because it has been a year and I don't usually go this long without seeing them, I have found myself missing family and friends a lot recently. Somehow thought it seems very fitting that this week I have moved into a more permanent house (more on that in another blog post to come with lots of pictures).

Really though it has been quite the year. Here are a few fun facts to review this first year of life in Indonesia:

• I have been on 14 airplanes
• 5 of those were the initial trip to Indonesia
• During 3 of them I was on crutches with a foot in a large boot
• On 2 of them there have been medical emergencies with no other medical people on board. Thankfully neither happened on the trips where I was crutches! 
• But the real miracle - except for that initial trip, all of my luggage has always arrived with me :)  
• I have slept in 16+ beds
• That includes at least 8 hotel/motel beds 
• One hospital bed following surgery
• Oh and then there are the countless friends who have welcomed me into their homes, some for just a few nights and some for several months. 
• I have lived in a town with 160,000 people and village with probably only about 1,000 people (if you count just Serukam). 
• In my (locked!) closet right now there is currency from four different countries (US Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Malaysian Ringgit, and Indonesia Rupiah). I have also managed to open an Indonesian bank account and learned how to do internet banking with a token and banking via my phone too (that one is probably only a big deal to me!). 
• But the best part is I am connected with people around the world via telephone, email, Skype, Facebook, SMS (texting for you Americans), iMessage, Blackberry Messenger, and What's App.  

There is a scaled used by missionaries (and probably others) of the adjustment process to living in a new country. They say to completely acclimate takes about 5 years. This is represented by how you respond to finding a bug in your glass of water.

Year 1 ~ If you find a bug in your glass you throw the water out and get a new cup. 

Year 2 ~ If you find a bug in your glass you throw the water out but immediately refill it without washing it. 

Year 3 ~ If you find a bug in your glass you fish the bug out but drink the water anyway. 

Year 4 ~ If you find a bug in your glass you drink it anyway, bug included. 

Year 5 ~ If you have a glass of water and there is no bug in it, you immediately find a bug and add it to the water because you need the protein. 

I am happy to report that I am currently about year 2 and sometimes 3 (depending on how much I want what is in the glass) on this adjustment scale. Although I seriously hope I never reach the 5th year!

As I write this the details are coming together for the next adventure -- I am headed out to Kuching, Malaysia to get a new visa. That will be another two plane trips and another new bed, for those that are keeping track :) Mostly though I am looking forward to my return and finally getting settled in my new place and making this house a home.

Presidential Elections

Official campaigning for the upcoming presidential elections here in Indonesia has begun. Here are some interesting facts about the election:

• Indonesia is the world's 3rd largest democracy. There are close to 190 million people eligible to vote in this election and they are spread out on hundreds of islands in everything from big cities to small villages. 
• This is only the 3rd time that the people have been able to directly elect their president.
• Social media like Twitter and Facebook are playing a large role in the election as information (both true and false) can be shared quickly. For example, many people couldn't watch the debate last Sunday on TV because they don't have a TV but they do have a cell phone with Facebook or Twitter, so instead they followed it via social media. 

Presidential candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto shake hands after the second presidential debate on June 15, 2014. (EPA Photo/Adi Weda)

There are two candidates (and their respective vice presidential candidates) running in the election. There are twelve political parties in Indonesia, so narrowing it down was quite the process, which involved legislative elections in April and then lots of bargaining and coalition building. The two candidates are quite different but it will be a tough decision. Joko is a the governor of Jakarta and is quite progressive but he also does not have a lot of experience. He has however picked a man with a lot of experience as his vice president. The other candidate is Prabowo and he has many years of experiences serving in the military and in politics but it is a checkered past. So the people of Indonesia have a tough choice ahead of them as they choose the future of their country. There are two topics guaranteed to stimulate lots of conversation here in Indonesia right now - the election and the fact that it is durian season :) 

For those that are interested here are a few articles with more information:

An article in The Economist about how the race is too close to call right now.

Another article from The Economist about the process following the legislative elections, when no one party got a majority.

An editorial from an Indonesian newspaper, The Jakarta Globe, about how the close race is strengthening democracy in Indonesia. (don't worry it is in English!)

Finally, another editorial from The Jakarta Globe, about the first debate, which outlines some of the differences between the two candidates.

The election is in just a few weeks, on July 9th, and it will be exciting to watch. Please be praying the process goes smoothly and safely.

A New Chapter in the Adventure

Our community had dinner and prayer time together with the Geary Family before they left

Well today was the day I said goodbye to the Geary family as they headed back to the US for a year of home assignment. I am now officially the solo expat missionary here at Bethesda for the next 9 months or possibly longer. Paul Geary will be coming back for occasional visits and we have several visitors scheduled to come from several different countries in the coming months but this will be a unique experience for me. I will have to lean a lot on my Indonesian colleagues. It is also a great opportunity to grow deep relationships with them but also a bit overwhelming. Please be praying I can embrace this next chapter in the adventure with peace and joy!