A little different: A picture look into our lives from the past few months.

Just a tad different

Just lean a little to the left and it looks straight

Living in Indonesia has been an adventure already.  Many things are different or even hilariously opposite from what we would called "normal" in America.  We have learned a lot about the culture here and have started building relationships with those around us as we continue to learn the language.  Here is a photo look of some things we have experienced and some things that "are a tad different."

Home and Family Outings

Aaron and Jocelyn getting read for a ride.  Notice my neighbor in the background? 

Alvin is one of our neighborhood kids that my children often play with.

Jocelyn out by the neighbors yard with her shoes spread out on the street.

Racing down the street together in front of our house.

Our street is a great place to ride bikes, not much traffic.

Our lovely abode 

Aaron posing in front of our gate.

Sometimes our house comes complete with a swimming pool... after a good hard rain.

View from our front porch to our gate.

Many vendors and deliveries happen by scooter like the one above who is selling a type of bread

A local waterfall we went hiking to with our MAF team...

...and it is about "this" tall.

Playing in the river, and but mom won't let us "fall" in.

Kids are waiting to play a game where they have to eat this treat hanging on a string with no hands.

I think Jocelyn didn't know about rule of "no hands" but I think she likes the "shrimp" flavored crisp snack. Personally I don't like the breath it gives me afterward.

Roads and Traffic

Roads and traffic are a big adjustment here in Indonesia.  This is one of the main highways that goes through central Java, and connects the major cities together.  It is not that wide, but people drive trucks and buses on it all the time, and everyone just has to go slower.

A "truck" full of sugar cane.  Why do two trips when you can make it in one???

Our two-lane highway can instantly change into three-way-passing-lanes.  Notice the passing scooter in the center?  By the way I am in the passenger seat on the incoming car.

When there is only one route, traffic jams can occur.  I think we are waiting for stop light at the bottom of the hill to change colors.

Riding home in the rain, just another day at the office :)

Visitor from Home

We were so blessed to have Renae's mom come to visit for a short 6 days

Mom and Renae happily playing a duet with Aaron helping in the background.

A spectacular view of Mount Merbabu, a dormant volcano that overlooks Salatiga

This is our language school, IMLAC, that we have been studying at for the past 8 months.

Posing at the "water cooler" where we take our breaks at IMLAC

Touring the school grounds where Caleb attends.

Inside Caleb's 1st grade classroom

Mom bravely rode our "family suburban" and yes we have fit all of us on there in the past.  Although now we have a second scooter to help even up the load and be a little safer.

Fishing at a pond with bread and sticks

Caleb caught his first fish, but would not touch it.

But Jocelyn on the other hand, is most interested in the touching fish.

Indonesian Sights

Houses like these are not an uncommon sight here in Indonesia.  They will build a house out of whatever materials they can get their hands on and where ever.

Scooters are one of the main modes of transportation, so they also can be turned into your local "food trucks"

A usual sight of small stores and scooters.

Mosques are very prevalent here, there are about an average of one per block.

Kids hanging out at a local mosque

Father and daughter taking an interested in the "bule" (which means foreigner) who is taking their photo. 

This vendor carries this stove on a pole and then cooks this delicious rice, coconut and sugar treat right in front of you.

First he packs it into those tan cylinders and then has the steam from the coals and water below cook it.

School Field Day

Team Black at the Elementary school game day.

Pak Budi, one of the grounds men at the International school that I get to talk to regularly with.  I usually chat with him when I am dropping off or picking up Caleb.

Caleb play a team game where they all have to take a step at the same time

Jocelyn and Renae reading at the school library

This is a relay game where you need to pick up an eel from the bucket and then run back and put it into a small bottle

Caleb ran really fast and was able to get the eel in the bottle in record time...I wonder why?!?

Next they had a raft race across the pool.

They had a little help so they wouldn't all fall in.

Thank you all for your prayer support in our lives.  We are blessed to have your come along side of us as we get use to a new "normal" here in Indonesia and learn a new language.  One huge praise is that Renae has only 2 more units left till she is done!  That is an amazing accomplishment and I am so proud of her.  As for myself I am "pelan-pelan" (slowly) getting my mind wrapped around the different structure of how to speak Bahasa Indonesia and convey deeper meanings and thoughts than just pointing and grunting at what I want in a store :).  We are still planning on moving to Tarakan (our assignment in North East Kalimantan) mid February when I am finished with language school.  You can continue to pray that we will find strength to do what is needed for our family and then do our homework afterwards too.

In His Arms,

Tyler & Renae

Welcome to Indonesia

 Tile roof on a home with a rice paddie for a backyard, a common sight here in Indonesia 

This morning I woke up to find a very large cockroach in the bathroom.  Not even 20 minutes later, there was a spider bigger than my hand in the same bathroom.  Welcome to Indonesia.


Two nights ago our son was up in the night because of a stuffed up nose.  By the time I was almost asleep again, daylight was almost here (5 a.m.) and I could hear the first call to prayer for the day from the nearest mosque.  Welcome to Indonesia.

 

Last week Muslims all over celebrated Hari Idal Adha (day of sacrifice).  The day of sacrifice is celebrated to honor the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son (who they believe is Ishmael) as an act of submission to God's command.  At most mosques there are several cows or goats that will be sacrificed.  They then divide the meat into portions, 1/3 for their family, 1/3 for neighbors and relatives, and 1/3 for the poor and needy.  What an interesting glimpse into what the ritual of sacrifice must have looked like in the Old Testament.  Tyler was able to witness some of the ritual at a nearby mosque.  Welcome to Indonesia.

 Goats waiting for the sacrifice on Idal Adha

 A cow, surrounded by happy onlookers, already with its neck slit

A couple of months ago we attended a Muslim neighbors celebration before his first visit to Mecca.  One of the 5 pillars of Islam is to perform "Ibadah Haji", or naik Haji, which is this trip to Mecca.  Any Muslim who is physically and financially capable of performing this is required to do so.  Our neighbors had a huge celebration in our street, with a tent set up, catered meal, singing and a sermon.  We felt honored to be included.  We could feel the excitement for reaching  this achievement.  However, our hearts were also heavy.  All this excitement, buildup, and fanfare for a religious ritual that will not bring our neighbor any closer to the one, True God.  Oh Lord, may Your name be lifted higher here.  Welcome to Indonesia.

 

A short film of the gathering at the Ibadah Haji.

A friend recently shared how when she walked home from language school each day, she would hear the call to prayer.  It reminded her of a song about the name of Jesus being lifted higher.  In a country where the main religion is being broadcast 5 times a day, it can be easy to just get used to it and not notice it after awhile, instead of letting it serve as a reminder that we want the name of the true God, of Jesus Christ, to be on those loudspeakers.  We want His name to be praised above all other gods.  Would you join us in praying for Indonesia, and praying that our neighbors and friends here would see Jesus lifted higher in our own lives?