Thursday, September 18, 2014

Living in Community

Sometimes it is too easy to focus on the work and the ministry here. In doing so, I forget to share with you about some of my amazing friends and teammates. I am part of a team here, a team that at the moment is made up of all Indonesians. I am the only expat missionary here but that does not mean I am the only missionary here. Several of my Indonesian colleagues are also serving as missionaries and living on the financial and prayer support of churches and individuals through our organization MedGo. We also have a number of young doctors doing their residency with us and working long hours.

We work, serve, and play as a team and a community. Almost all of our houses (or dorms) are within shouting distance or at least easy walking distance. Together we celebrate birthdays, do Bible Study (both together and as female and male groups), and play together by watching movies etc.

Celebrating the birthday of Dr. Leo, our surgeon. 

Sunday Evening Bible Study at my house

Sunday Evening Bible Study at my house 

Bethesda Hospital is located in a small village area with several neighboring villages (we joke that we have suburbs). Most in the area work at the hospital or have family members who do. While we work together on a regular basis, this larger community also does things together like going to church, weddings, celebrating new babies, and funerals.

A picture with the bride and groom (and teammates and visitors) last Spring. 

At a wedding reception a couple of weeks ago. The bridge and groom and their parents on either side. 

(One of these days soon I will have to do a whole blog post on weddings because there are lots of cultural differences)