Saturday, August 16, 2008
Elim Orphanage
The Elim Orphanage aims to provide a safe, healthy place for children to live. When we visited they had just received 13 new children. One of them who was specifically introduced to us has been rescued from a life on the streets. The new children had just attended their first day of school. There is a Montessori-style preschool on-site, but school-age kids go to area schools.Besides providing food, clothing, a safe place to sleep and loving supervision, there are on-site opportunities for vocational training: animal husbandry (chickens), the textile trade (sewing), and human services (child care). At least one Elim graduate now works there caring for the children; another young man is hoping to attend seminary.
Scenery - Lake Toba
While we didn't go to Sumatra for the scenery, it was a nice perk. Lake Toba is a beautiful place to visit, and we particularly recommend the Sopo Toba Hotel.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Visit to STT-HKBP (The HKBP Seminary)
Tuesday July 29, 2008, 11:30A.M. the eight from Indiana and Kentucky met at the STT Seminary with Rev. Dr. Darwin Lumbantobing, Principal; Rev. Colon W.Z. Pakpahan; Rev. Dr. Bonar H Nababan; Rev. Sikpan Sihombing and Rev. Nellie Hutahaean. A report of STT-HKBP was made available; it lists the make up of the student body and lists the faculty and their curriculum.
During our visit, we saw the chapel and the dinning hall. The group having lunch were the incoming students during a few days of orientation.
Most students are single and live on campus; married students, though few, live off campus. The school has 33 lecturers; at present there are two teachers from Australia for one month. Students come from many islands and many religions. The cost for a student for one year is IRp 3,500,000 (approximately $400.00). The HKBP churchwide pays faculty staff salaries, average salary being IRp2,000,000 per month ($250). Classes are taught in Bahasa Indonesian and Batak except for English class.
Scholarships are necessary as the majority of students cannot afford the tuition. Students from the lower economic strata are able to attend if they sign a promissory note to pay (extended family usually help them). Outside support of the seminary, say, from individual HKBP congregations, needs careful planning. Support from a congregation for an individual seminarian may cut short funds for the seminary itself if the congregation reduces their benevolence level to the HKBP church.
The seminary is accredited by the church, but not to government educational accreditation. One of the main reasons for this is that the library is inadequate. Rev. Wilda Simanjuntak (pictured), is the librarian (and also teaches Hebrew). She showed us through the library and gave us each a list of books they would like to acquire. They are deeply involved in the process of computerizing the Library’s catalog and it looks quite advanced. Lowell has sent books to the STT in the past, but the cost became prohibitive when the U.S. Postal Service changed their fee structure.
Most students are single and live on campus; married students, though few, live off campus. The school has 33 lecturers; at present there are two teachers from Australia for one month. Students come from many islands and many religions. The cost for a student for one year is IRp 3,500,000 (approximately $400.00). The HKBP churchwide pays faculty staff salaries, average salary being IRp2,000,000 per month ($250). Classes are taught in Bahasa Indonesian and Batak except for English class.
Scholarships are necessary as the majority of students cannot afford the tuition. Students from the lower economic strata are able to attend if they sign a promissory note to pay (extended family usually help them). Outside support of the seminary, say, from individual HKBP congregations, needs careful planning. Support from a congregation for an individual seminarian may cut short funds for the seminary itself if the congregation reduces their benevolence level to the HKBP church.
The seminary is accredited by the church, but not to government educational accreditation. One of the main reasons for this is that the library is inadequate. Rev. Wilda Simanjuntak (pictured), is the librarian (and also teaches Hebrew). She showed us through the library and gave us each a list of books they would like to acquire. They are deeply involved in the process of computerizing the Library’s catalog and it looks quite advanced. Lowell has sent books to the STT in the past, but the cost became prohibitive when the U.S. Postal Service changed their fee structure. Ulos Factory Visit
We visited an ulos factory and talked with some of the workers about what they do.
We heard that the making of the ulos has a long history in the Batak culture. The government has been encouraging people to learn this craft in order to preserve this part of their culture.
The women start working here at about age 16 and it takes 3-4 months to learn their craft. A well-skilled worker can make an ulos, measuring 2 meters in length, in about 2 hours.
In this factory there are about 50 workers. They work long days and their pay is based on the number of ulos they produce. A wageof about 600,000 Rupiah per month (about $65) is considered a good wage.
We heard that the making of the ulos has a long history in the Batak culture. The government has been encouraging people to learn this craft in order to preserve this part of their culture.
The women start working here at about age 16 and it takes 3-4 months to learn their craft. A well-skilled worker can make an ulos, measuring 2 meters in length, in about 2 hours.
In this factory there are about 50 workers. They work long days and their pay is based on the number of ulos they produce. A wageof about 600,000 Rupiah per month (about $65) is considered a good wage.
Rain
During our first week in Siantar we had rain everyday. A couple times it rained VERY hard as you can see here.
The rain made it easy for this big snail to stroll across the sidewalk outside of our hotel rooms.
Thankfully, the really heavy rain only happened a couple times, and the rain we did get didn't have much impact on our itinerary.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Love Offerings Help Feed the Hungry Using Floating Fish Nets
While Jean and I were on the Island of Nias (off the west coast of Sumatra) to visit sites where I-K Synod Love Offerings were put to use, we saw what might be a miracle under construction.
One Muslim fishing village had been devastated by the tsunami, and then was leveled four months later in the subsequent earthquake. There were no homes left standing in the village. This was made more serious by the fact that the people of Nias depend on fish for protein and sustenance, and so they depended on the catch of these workers. These Muslim fishermen had lost their boats, their nets, their piers for the boats, and everything else that fed the people on the village, and gave them a livelihood by fishing.
At the recommendation of the HKBP, this fishing village received Love Offering funds to rebuild their fishing occupations and, in the process, help feed the people of the island. Traditional net fishing involved driving long poles into the bottom of the Indian Ocean in a square, with stringers between the corners. They built their traditional fishing platforms, but within two weeks, the entire frame sank below the surface of the water.
These are uneducated fishermen, but people who know their trade and the needs very well. They devised in their minds a system where the net structure would float on plastic barrels on the surface, and because of that, could be towed from bay to bay where the fish were known to be present. A small floating net system was tried, which was eminently successful, far better than their old system.
One Muslim fishing village had been devastated by the tsunami, and then was leveled four months later in the subsequent earthquake. There were no homes left standing in the village. This was made more serious by the fact that the people of Nias depend on fish for protein and sustenance, and so they depended on the catch of these workers. These Muslim fishermen had lost their boats, their nets, their piers for the boats, and everything else that fed the people on the village, and gave them a livelihood by fishing.
At the recommendation of the HKBP, this fishing village received Love Offering funds to rebuild their fishing occupations and, in the process, help feed the people of the island. Traditional net fishing involved driving long poles into the bottom of the Indian Ocean in a square, with stringers between the corners. They built their traditional fishing platforms, but within two weeks, the entire frame sank below the surface of the water.
These are uneducated fishermen, but people who know their trade and the needs very well. They devised in their minds a system where the net structure would float on plastic barrels on the surface, and because of that, could be towed from bay to bay where the fish were known to be present. A small floating net system was tried, which was eminently successful, far better than their old system.
So the Ecumenical Nias Island Counseling Center requested additional funds to build a much larger floating net system, which we saw under construction on the beach. An island contractor had been hired to oversee the project. Tools ranged from rope lashings to a laser level. They would have the frame finished in two weeks, just in time for the next high tides to assist them in getting it into the water.
They told us that they knew of no other floating frame net system like this anywhere in the world. Their catches in their first, smaller system were beyond all expectations. The beauty of the whole story is that these uneducated fishermen may have developed a new system that will assist in feeding the hungry in tropical island areas all around the world. And our Love Offerings helped make it possible.
They told us that they knew of no other floating frame net system like this anywhere in the world. Their catches in their first, smaller system were beyond all expectations. The beauty of the whole story is that these uneducated fishermen may have developed a new system that will assist in feeding the hungry in tropical island areas all around the world. And our Love Offerings helped make it possible.
Lowell
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A Christian-Muslim Encounter
Paul Harder had said that if the Islamic world wanted a pattern to follow in finding a way to live with other people in the world, the Nation of Indonesia would be a good model to use. After an experience that I had, I might amend his comment in this way: “If the Christian and Islamic peoples of the world wanted a pattern to follow in finding a way to live with others, the Nation of Indonesia would be a good model to use.”
Edison, our driver, had picked us up at the Medan Airport on our return from the Island of Nias, to take us back to Pematangsiantar. Edison spoke little or no English, and would use his cell phone to call someone from the HKBP whenever he was in doubt about times, addresses, schedules, or whatever.
He picked us up in mid-afternoon, and we immediately headed south towards Pematangsiantar. About a third of the way to our destination, he pulled off at a gas station and food store owned by a Muslim couple. He had obviously eaten there many times, by the way he was greeted. I asked for coffee, and was handed a cup and pointed to the coffee urn. I tried to pay for it, but was told that it was “free.”
But there were two riders with him this time, who did not look like Batak people at all. “Where were we from?” Jean and I finally understood. “America,” we said. No emotions were shown, but I sensed distance from the couple. “I no visit America,” was what the husband finally got out, “I visit Saudi Arabia.” “Riyadh?” “Yes!” “Mecca?” “Yes, two times.” He had made the hajj pilgrimage twice. I gave him the thumbs up, and he smiled broadly.
Then I dug one of the calling cards out of my shoulder bag that Paul had prepared for us. “ELCA/HKBP” it said across the top. And “Pdt.” in front of my name. “HKBP Preditgan?” he asked. “Yes, pastor, from America.”
And the husband extended his hand, now with a big smile on his face, shook it firmly, respectfully, and with a smile on his face. “HKBP,” he said, and he nodded his head in affirmation. And with that, the conversation became animated, haltingly, with puzzlement, with care, and with certainly some misunderstandings as well. But we were HKBP and that was good.
When we were ready to leave, everyone, including their children, had to shake our hands. As the van backed out of the parking place at the store, the couple stood in front of the windshield, walking in front of the backing car, waving warmly, with broad smiles, intended for the American HKBP Christians.
What are the impacts of a Church’s ministry? It looks like a Muslim couple greeting you warmly and waving farewell with a big smile. That’s the witness of the HKBP. Well, done, my brothers and sisters.
Lowell Anderson
Edison, our driver, had picked us up at the Medan Airport on our return from the Island of Nias, to take us back to Pematangsiantar. Edison spoke little or no English, and would use his cell phone to call someone from the HKBP whenever he was in doubt about times, addresses, schedules, or whatever.
He picked us up in mid-afternoon, and we immediately headed south towards Pematangsiantar. About a third of the way to our destination, he pulled off at a gas station and food store owned by a Muslim couple. He had obviously eaten there many times, by the way he was greeted. I asked for coffee, and was handed a cup and pointed to the coffee urn. I tried to pay for it, but was told that it was “free.”
But there were two riders with him this time, who did not look like Batak people at all. “Where were we from?” Jean and I finally understood. “America,” we said. No emotions were shown, but I sensed distance from the couple. “I no visit America,” was what the husband finally got out, “I visit Saudi Arabia.” “Riyadh?” “Yes!” “Mecca?” “Yes, two times.” He had made the hajj pilgrimage twice. I gave him the thumbs up, and he smiled broadly.
Then I dug one of the calling cards out of my shoulder bag that Paul had prepared for us. “ELCA/HKBP” it said across the top. And “Pdt.” in front of my name. “HKBP Preditgan?” he asked. “Yes, pastor, from America.”
And the husband extended his hand, now with a big smile on his face, shook it firmly, respectfully, and with a smile on his face. “HKBP,” he said, and he nodded his head in affirmation. And with that, the conversation became animated, haltingly, with puzzlement, with care, and with certainly some misunderstandings as well. But we were HKBP and that was good.
When we were ready to leave, everyone, including their children, had to shake our hands. As the van backed out of the parking place at the store, the couple stood in front of the windshield, walking in front of the backing car, waving warmly, with broad smiles, intended for the American HKBP Christians.
What are the impacts of a Church’s ministry? It looks like a Muslim couple greeting you warmly and waving farewell with a big smile. That’s the witness of the HKBP. Well, done, my brothers and sisters.
Lowell Anderson
Sunday, August 3, 2008
We're home
The SALT team arrived back in Indianapolis on Saturday, August 2. We were greeted by Pastor Heather McCulloch of the synod office and a few of our family members. Here we are with the sign by the synod staff welcoming us back. The flights were long and we were tired of sitting but all of our luggage arrived with us. Thanks again for all of the prayers. We will be posting more stories and photos in the days ahead.
Friday, August 1, 2008
On our way home
We've had a great trip to Indonesia and a wonderful visit with the HKBP people. We are now en route back home and expect to arrive in Indy about 10 AM Saturday. It is currently 3PM Friday in Singapore and 3AM for you back home. We leave here at 5 and will have a short stop in Teipey (I don't think I spelled that right) on our way to L.A., then Cincinnati, and finally Indy.
Thanks for the prayer.
Peace,
Jean
Thanks for the prayer.
Peace,
Jean
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