The World Will Know His Name

"Let the people turn to you, but you much not turn to them." - Jeremiah 15:19
This culture here is very artistic and strong. The people in our village make souvenirs for Spain! They are a beautiful type of mosaic work, some in the shape of bulls and some that look like you could put mirrors in them. We are going to try to make one each to bring home, we've already been helping them with the ones for Spain!! haha!!

"You must walk in every way I command you so that it may go well with you." -Jeremiah 7:23b
This week we walked with the brother of our family up the mountain and got to look down on the city that we stay in and some of the surrounding areas. It was beautiful! We went back up two days later just to write and Brette drew, it is a very relaxing place. We also went hiking this week to some different waterfalls, actually it was today. It was pretty fun, we got a little lost, but we found our way. The water was freezing but the work out was nice!! Brette and I successfully rode our bikes on the streets here this week!! We made it to Hardy's (the "grocery" store) and back without dying!

So my most exciting adventure of the week happened Tuesday. First I had to wake up at 5:45 AM, not my best time of day. Our Indonesian friend picked me up on her motor bike and we rode to a local market. There we bought two live chickens for 75,000 rupiah (about $7.50). I thought they would be brought out in separate cages, silly me, I'm in Indonesia!! They were brought to me tied together at the feet and hanging upside down. So I held them upside down beside the motor bike on the ride home. I was sure they would die!! But they didn't and that night our family taught me how to potong ayam (slaughter a chicken). I thought we were just going to chop the head off, but instead we sawed at the neck and let the blood drain out. I felt like a murderer!! Haha! Then we plucked the chicken and I got to cut it up. Then we ate chicken for dinner and the next night Brette killed her chicken, she did much better!

"They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious." - Jeremiah 8:11
We went to our first ceremony this week and I really didn't expect to feel anything during it. It was really small just us and 4 others, but as soon as the grandma started burning incense to their "gods" my heart just sank. It hit how real this is to these people, my heart is broken for them. The whole time I just wanted to leave. I felt sick to my stomach, I wanted to cry and all I could do is watch as these people prayed to nothing or even worse to Satan. After we walked outside and this old man was dying and they were just calm like it was a normal occurrence. Brette and I had to walk away. She prayed and I cried and to think I hadn't even thought I would feel anything. Please lift the people of Indo up continuously!! I have finally seen the seriousness of their wound.

"Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods! Therefore I will teach them- this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is Lord." - Jeremiah 16:20-21