Bali

Hey Everyone!!!

I know it's been awhile since I've updated and I'm sure you're all on the edge of your seats waiting to see if I'm still alive (j/k). However, I have been living out in the cuts smack dab in the middle of an Indonesian jungle so we didn't exactly have internet cafes on every corner (We do have them in Battambang, Cambodia). So much has happened that it's going to be hard to type it all out.

To get to Bali, we had to fly from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where we had a layover. It was blistering hot there and I ate a "Spicy Beef Foldover" at a 24/7 McDonald's. They have many different items in Asian McDonald's restaurants. The soft drink cups and french fry containers are much smaller than American ones too, which explains some things...

Then we flew to the island of Bali, which is quite possibly the most beautiful place on Earth. It was raining when we got there that evening, and apparently it rains every day, year round. We stayed at a hotel close to the airport and when my friend Seth and I awoke the nest morning and took in the viw from our balcony, we both muttered,"We're not in Hawaii anymore..." Looking around we could see roosters and dogs everywhere, dirt roads, Hindu temples in front of every home, and very Asian architecture. After I had my first taste of Indonesian cuisine (Nasi Goreng, which is fried rice with a fried egg plopped on top), we drove to the airport that afternoon to find that everyone's luggage had arrived--except my suitcase and my friend Tina's guitar. It was difficult at first, but I wanted to "just receive it" as Paul taught me and to accept whatever lesson God was trying to teach me. So I did just that: I just received it. Our team had been hoping that these lost pieces of luggage would turn up by the time we came back to Bangkok a few weeks later, but they did not. So I am in Cambodia and I still did not get my suitcase and Tina did not get her guitar, but it has not been as bad as it sounds. But yes, Dana, it has been a different adventure.

All my guy teammates have been very generous with loaning me ther stuff (shirts, shorts, socks, boxers, and I was able to buy a pair of shorts, three shirts, and some underwear all for very cheap ($2.00 shirts, $6.00 shorts). One of the shirts I got was in a package and I just picked it up real quick. I thought, "I wear 'small' shirts back home, so I'll get one size up." However, it turned out that an Asian "medium" is WAY smaller than an American "medium." So it's a little snug, or maybe a lot snug. I also picked up a deodorant and a toothbrush and I was good to go.

I think that through all this, God is teaching me to let go of material possessions and not depend on them for comfort, but to look to Jesus instead. I like to look to James 1:2-4, which says: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." I think God wants to teach me to trust him more through this. I don't want to have a negative attitude because then I will not learn and grow from it. So often I might say in a worship time that I want to grow and I would do anything for Jesus, but when the time comes for my faith to actually be tested, then I'm not sure I want to be stretched. But I must remember that I did not come to YWAM to be comfortable, I came to take a leap of faith into the unknown and follow God's leading. So I am excited to be in a totally foreign country without any of my "stuff" to cling to.

So...about Bali...it makes the big island of Hawaii look dead and barren. It rains a lot in Hawaii too, but the black lava rock stains its beauty in places. Bali is also a volcanic island, but it is the lushest and greenest place I have ever seen. We did not stay long in the city. The day after we arrived, we took off for the mountains, and along the way I saw a marvelous sunset reflecting in the rice paddies, and all I could do was worship this scene's Creator. We stayed on the property of a man named Rus Alit, who is one of the only Christians in the surrounding Hindu villages. 30 years ago, his four siblings were martyred by the locals for being Christians and Rus is only alive because he was not at home at the time of the killings.

Rus traveled the world working with World Vision in countries such as China, Cambodia, India, and East Timor teaching people simple technology to collect, filter, and store rainwater, pond and river water to be safe for drinking. Many people are sick all over the world because they are drinking water that is filled with harmful bacteria. His technology is simple, not high-tech, so the people will be able to use it themselves and teach others. He builds sand filters and underground storage tanks that kill light-dependent bacteria. During a Crossroads DTS in Kona, someone prophesied over Rus that he would go back to his home country and village and start a ministry there that would be very fruitful. So he went back to his rural rice-farming village in Bali and tried direct evangelism for two years and did not see one person give their life to Christ. It was then that he realized God wanted him to use his kowledge and gifts, so he started "BATI," the Bali Appropriate Technology Institute.

When he approached the Hindu village as someone that wanted to help them develop their community, people started to look at him differently. He shared his water technology and when he introduced his "Ram Pump," the villagers thought it was magic because it pumped water from the bottom of a deep valley way up to the village. The best part is that it doesn't use power of any kind. It uses air and water pressure and requires a certain height of water fall, but the people don't have to pay for any power source to carry the water up to their village tank. They only pay for the initial cost of materials to build it. So this is excellent technology for people living in third world countries and it was awesome to learn about it and hopefully we will get to utilize it in Cambodia.

Anyway, Rus'status in his village has gone from someone who was shunned to a "holy man" that is on the village council and is part of all the village's executive decisions. His relationship with the people has grown and everywhere we went people smiled and asked if we were with Rus Alit. So it was very cool to be a part of his ministry there and improve the people's image of what a Christian looks like.

Sorry I don't have any more time tonight (it's getting late), but I will definitely update again soon.

I love all of you guys and I miss you very much

Dan