This is my life: A true man of faith and our unexpected divine appointment with him
Sean and I teetered along, coaxing the small borrowed scooter up a steep hill. We were getting farther and farther from the areas of Salatiga that we know. Making our way out of the hubbub of city into Central Java village life. We'd stop, ask some questions and continue on our way. Up, up, up we went on the pockmarked street..past a cemetery, past a huge tree that must be several hundred years old, past tiny, dilapidated houses next to bigger, newer ones.
Suddenly, we were there - a huge and ornate church rising from the rubble and jungle of the hillside. It seemed completely out of place and part of me wondered if we could be in the right place. Churches here don't look like that. Here, it's the other religion's houses of worship that are big and ornate and inviting.
But after asking more questions, we discovered we were in the right place and we were shown to the office we were looking for. A room full of desks and field workers - some writing carefully in ledgers, some typing away on computers, some studying their Bible. The man in charge had a huge smile on his face and immediately began making introductions and inviting us to sit - in perfect English.
We came to this office because a language teacher of ours had given us directions. It's an office of hope, compassion, and opportunity for children. There we re-discovered again what hope and compassion look like. And we were given a unique opportunity too - to be a small part of it.
Our new friend explained to us what their work is - how they help kids through sponsorship programs get a better education, adequate food, good medical care. They are careful to choose the ones who really need the help - a difficult task, to be sure. And though they want to help as many children and families as possible, they have to limit the distance that must be traveled to meet them.
Of course, as we know, the purpose of this office isn't just to pass out food. It's more than that. And the "more" I'm talking about was written all over this man's face. He was a man straight out of the book of Acts. A man of action and faith like I haven't seen a while.
We heard stories about donations from near-perfect strangers that helped build a church and other buildings that a congregation like that one could never have dreamed of. We heard about new sheep welcomed into the fold, divine interventions, unexpected blessings...and of more plans to add on more space, to build a school, to continue the work already begun and begin new work, too.
And it was refreshing, to be honest. As refreshing as the cool mountain air that blew in around us while we talked on that hill.
It was a divine appointment. I truly believe that. It couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Only God could have planned it. Gives a girl goosebumps.
Oh, and that man - the man of faith? One of millions living on this island? He is a former professor, mentor, and friend of the pastor of our church in Palangka Raya. What are the odds of that?
Suddenly, we were there - a huge and ornate church rising from the rubble and jungle of the hillside. It seemed completely out of place and part of me wondered if we could be in the right place. Churches here don't look like that. Here, it's the other religion's houses of worship that are big and ornate and inviting.
But after asking more questions, we discovered we were in the right place and we were shown to the office we were looking for. A room full of desks and field workers - some writing carefully in ledgers, some typing away on computers, some studying their Bible. The man in charge had a huge smile on his face and immediately began making introductions and inviting us to sit - in perfect English.
We came to this office because a language teacher of ours had given us directions. It's an office of hope, compassion, and opportunity for children. There we re-discovered again what hope and compassion look like. And we were given a unique opportunity too - to be a small part of it.
Our new friend explained to us what their work is - how they help kids through sponsorship programs get a better education, adequate food, good medical care. They are careful to choose the ones who really need the help - a difficult task, to be sure. And though they want to help as many children and families as possible, they have to limit the distance that must be traveled to meet them.
Of course, as we know, the purpose of this office isn't just to pass out food. It's more than that. And the "more" I'm talking about was written all over this man's face. He was a man straight out of the book of Acts. A man of action and faith like I haven't seen a while.
We heard stories about donations from near-perfect strangers that helped build a church and other buildings that a congregation like that one could never have dreamed of. We heard about new sheep welcomed into the fold, divine interventions, unexpected blessings...and of more plans to add on more space, to build a school, to continue the work already begun and begin new work, too.
And it was refreshing, to be honest. As refreshing as the cool mountain air that blew in around us while we talked on that hill.
It was a divine appointment. I truly believe that. It couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Only God could have planned it. Gives a girl goosebumps.
Oh, and that man - the man of faith? One of millions living on this island? He is a former professor, mentor, and friend of the pastor of our church in Palangka Raya. What are the odds of that?
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