Ibu-Ibu Meeting

One thing I appreciate about Indonesia is the importance of relationships between neighbors.  Neighbors know each other, they will greet each other in the street, visit if someone is sick, help prepare for weddings, funerals, and other events.  Sometimes they can be like your second family.  In Salatiga, each neighborhood "Kampung" will hold two meetings a month, one for the men and one for the women.  These meetings are meant to discuss neighborhood business, collect social dues, share some new interesting information, socialize, etc.

When we were still pretty new here (maybe our 2nd month), I had the opportunity to host the monthly women's meeting in our home.  Even though I had hardly any language at that point, I had the help of one of our coaches (Pilates) from school and my house helpers also.  We worked together to prepare for the meeting.  Little did I know all the details involved!  We had to borrow several "tikars" (mats), enough glasses to serve tea to all the ladies, order several snacks plus the snack boxes for the ladies, then put together all the boxes, plus I baked one of the snacks for the snack boxes.  It ends up being quite a bit of work and cost, but in the end the meeting itself is almost no work for me since all I have to do is smile and try to understand a word here or there!

the tikars we borrowed from a neighbor.  We clear out our front room and everyone sits on the rugs

In the end i think about 30 women came, but sometimes there can be 40-50

the snack boxes each women would take home with her

Some women sat outside on the front porch because it was full inside

I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve my neighbors in this way.  While building relationships has been slow because of our limited language, it is nice to be able to help in other ways, like hosting this meeting.  A lot of times a smile and generosity can go a long way.  Now that we're farther along in language school we can have a little more depth to our conversations.  We look forward to continuing to build relationships with our neighbors, and pray that they would see a difference in our lives because of Christ.

for us all....  Renae

Tarakan "vacation"

Recently we had the opportunity to go to Tarakan on a school break.  Even though it was during vacation time from language school it gave us a chance to find out what it was actually like in Tarakan and to visit some old friends from Moody days.

We had a really good time with our friends, encouraging and being encouraged by them.  I (Tyler) got to go see the hanger and future place of work.  I was very excited to see, hear and touch airplanes after being in language school for 4 months.  The children were ecstatic to have playmates 24/7 for 5 days and it was a great time for the parents too since they played so well together.

 Aaron next to the Kodiak wheel

 Maintenance happens in the open hangar here in Tarakan.  

Too hot to do it indoors.

Aviation Gas is stored in these 50 gallon barrels

 MAF Kodiak sitting on the ramp ready to go.

 The work horse of the MAF fleet the Cessna 206. 

 The Kodiak came in for an inspection and now we get to see

 what is underneath all the cowlings.

The kids having fun running around the hangar

 Tyler and "his" future airplane.

 Jocelyn is not as excited to be next to an airplane as Tyler is.

 Playground at the small missionary school.

 The lunch room at the kids future school.

 One of the two classrooms at the school.

 The kids having lunch on the porch.

Blessed to hang with great friends!

We still have a long ways to go as we study the language here, but we are really thankful for the preview of our future home and teammates.  

Counting the losses

Mt. Merbabu, a dormant volcano near us.

Always in life there are ups and downs.  Sometimes it feels like we're just stuck in the "lowlands" without a way out.  Other times we're sailing along just fine on a beautiful path with the mountains in front of you, just waiting to be climbed and experienced.  We have surely experienced both.  However, the last month is a month where we can say that we have walked in the valley with no mountains in sight.

As some of you may know, we found out we were expecting our 4th child shortly after we returned to Indonesia.  A little over a month ago, at 4 months pregnant, we lost our precious baby boy, Micah, in a miscarriage.  Our hearts are still broken over this, and we continue to grieve and process the loss.  Here is a loss we weren't expecting, and one we still count almost every day.

We've had some other things that have challenged us physically.  We've been asking "how much do we trust God with our health, safety, and well-being when there is no 911 to call, no ER to go to, or trusted hospital around the corner?".  Counting another loss....good medical care available.

This weekend, Tyler's youngest brother gets married.  We are thrilled for him and his bride-to-be, but sad about missing out on the festivities on such an important day with family.  Counting another loss.

We've been sad a lot in the last month.  We have grieved (still grieving), felt pain, been afraid, and felt disappointment.

Even now, we continue to feel these things.  We may be in the valley for a while, but we do feel Christ walking alongside us, and, if we let Him, He carries our burdens for us.  I sometimes wish things could  be different.  I would take my baby back in a second.  But, I wouldn't change the ways God has met me in the deep, dark places. We know that the pain won't last forever.  We know that the only reason we have hope for anything on this earth is because of our hope in Christ.  We may not feel "happy" all the time, but we don't have to plaster a smile on our face.  We are called to trust the Lord, no matter what comes into our life. We continue to be challenged with just living in Indonesia and all that implies, plus raising our family while studying and doing language learning, and processing everything else.  We appreciate your encouragement, and especially your prayers.

The weather is beautiful here, and as rainy season has ended we can see the mountains that surround us.  Our path, however, is still in the valley, but maybe we'll glimpse the mountains sometime soon.  Meanwhile, we try to rest in the God's love for us, and that He is always good, always kind, and always watching over us.

Language School

Language school is keeps on "trucking" on.  Seems like we have been studying for a long time but when we count the days it really hasn't been all that long.  It has really only been a little more than three months since we started, and we are seeing a difference in our ability to grasp conversations concepts and make ourselves understood...for the most part :)

"Sediket-sediket, pelan-pelan manjadi bukit"

little by little, slowly slowly a hill is made.

 That is how our teachers keep encouraging us in our small and steady progress in grasping the Indonesian language.  One instance was when I (Tyler) was just returning home our neighbor came out to greet us and ask where I had been.  I replied with out much hesitation and explained why I was out and that I had to go out again to pick up my other son from school soon.  It kind of surprised me how easy it all came out after months of hulted words and wrong syllobus.  Now that does not mean I am fluent now.  It just means I have some good days and other bad days when all I say is:

 " Saya mau pergi de mana saya lalu selasi"

"I want to go where after I went finsih"

Then I am back to just smiling and laughing at myself.  Which is not bad, keeps me humble and the locals entertained.

Here are some pictures of IMLAC our language school:

Some students performing at an Easter celebration we had at the school.

Instead of an egg hunt we hunted for scraps of paper that had words on it and had to put them all together to complete a Bible verse.

Teams usually consisted of families

Mountains in the background and hallways light with the morning light.

Students fill the hall for morning break-time.

A good friend of Renae's.  Hot tea is a usual break-time snack here in Indonesia, even though it is around 80 degrees.

Ibu Wulan, one of our many language teachers

Our Unit 2 class all together

Ibu Maria, helping us to comprehend that mysteries of grammer.

Renae and I passing our Unit 2 exams and holding up our Unit 3 book.

We are nearing the half way point of our Unit 3 section of language school.  It seems to be going alright although there is a ton of grammar concepts right now being taught at us but we don't really get to review it in the class before we are on to the next concept.  Part of the reason for that is some students only take three units so the school is trying to get all the building blocks out there but will review them later in other units.  You can continue to lift us up in prayer as we try to master these "building" blocks coming out way.

Three is a crowd...

One is Special, two is a couple, three is a crowd and four is just right!

  

Yep, we are expecting again!  We are very excited for this new blessing to come into our life this next October.

You know all those cute pictures?  This is how it really looks and only after 20 shots do you get something that is half way useable and even then you get to edited the picture.  Love my kids and love how they are so energetic!

Been on a walk about?

No, we really haven't been on an Australian "walk about" but it does seem like we have taken a long hiatus from blogging.  Here is a little recap of last year:

 

 Fresh out from surgery in Boise ID.  The surgery took only two hours and did not have any complications.  This is me just waking up and feeling pretty good with all the drugs I was under. 

 Still freshly shaven, first time ever that I have had my leg shaved.  Oh and the incision is healing nicely, thank you for asking :)

 Now my knee is starting to look more normal.  It still took me three months after the surgery to start to walk without any assistance.  Even after that, I had to retrain myself to walk without a limp.  So thankful for physical therapy and the people that helped me get through this injury.

 

 Even with the set back in our plans we were able to spend quality time with my (Tyler's) parents as I went to PT (physical therapy)

Had a mini Schmidt family reunion for Thanksgiving and got to meet our future sister-in-law

One plus side effect of coming back to the States is we got to spend the holidays with family on both sides.  

One of Renae's good friends from Spokane.  We spent the day at our favorite orchard (Green Bluff) in Spokane and pick some apples and have pumpkin spiced lattes. 

 One last winter for a while

Saying goodbye to my parents at the airport before we headed back to Indonesia the second time.

 

 Our team in Salatiga welcomed us with open arms, it was a lot of fun to see them again. 

Back home again!  The boys were really excited to see our house again and to sleep in their own beds.

Thank you to all those that have prayed for us and have carried us through this past year as we encountered unexpected bumps and changes in plans.  God is good ALL the time and it seems I understand it even more when I am in the hard times rather than in the good times.