It's a new year and many things are happening. I'll show you what I've been up to lately (plus a few fun pics)

Christmas!

I just thought this was a great idea....my friend made a snowman out of these plastic cups

My group had a Christmas party.  This is my neighbor who is not a family member.  She usually smiles

I turned my balcony into a Christmas paradise.  Many of my fellow co workers came to work here because they said they loved the decorations.  

Thanks for you all for your Christmas gifts.  It helped with being homesick for the Holidays

Yes, I chose to pack a small Christmas tree in my luggage so I can do this!  And, thanks Mom for the shoes from last year so I could wear them this year.  My Indo friends loved them!

Ok, this sign cracked me up!  I was invited to speak at a Book fellowship gathering.  Next thing I knew,  this sign was posted on FB announcing me.  They love bright colors here

Toraja

Recently, I got the chance to go to a very big tourist spot here in Indonesia.  It's popular with the nationals because it's a highly traditional area.  I was leading a group of 3 girls who had never done this kind of thing before and had never been to Asia before.  

Speaking at a school about the character of Dad

At first, the kids were shy.  But take the camera out, and change happens!

a Traditional Toraja village

Teaching at a house family-group

They all wanted to take pictures 

This old grandma kept pulling me down giving me hugs and kisses.  I wanted to take her home!

 The "Clouds" village

1 day, our host took us up the mountain to a village.  On the way there, we stopped here.  It's the major's house.  When we got out to eat there, I commented "oh! I didn't know the major invited us".  They laughed at me.  We weren't invited.  The major wasn't even home!  However, it's ok for anyone to stop here and rest. Because he's rich, it's expected him to open his home to anyone.....without an invitation.  Crazy!

This was one of my favorite times in Toraja.  After the major's house, we continued to this village...called "the clouds".  They knew who we were and what we do but they still wanted us to come and teach them.  I love preaching and all but here, I got to teach these villagers how to make a compost pile.  I also taught on basic health care so they can become healthier.  This wasn't a forced teaching.  We asked them what they wanted to learn and these are the things they asked for.  I LOVE practical teaching like this.  

Everywhere we went, we were invited into a house for snacks and coffee.  I learned very quick to be careful about saying they had the best coffee (which is true).  Every time I said this, well, I had to drink at least 3 cups of it.  And then when I left, they would hand me a bag of more coffee.  I've got coffee coming out of ears!  But, it's true.  Toraja has the best coffee thus far.  

Another mountain village

EVERY ONE helps in the village.  Here are some young girls doing the dishes in the rain.  

Never complain about your bathroom.  The wooden shack beside that blue building is their bathroom.  

I taught at the village family group.  Most everyone in this village was related somehow......I felt like I was back in Alabama :)

Again, afterwards, as special guests, they had us eat in the main room of the house.  They treat their special guests very special.  When you first arrive, they immediately give you coffee and snacks. Then the elders of the area will sit with you (whether or not you know the language).  Then comes dinner.  Then comes the meeting.  Then comes another dinner.  

In the building beside us was the kitchen.  I went over there and realized most of the villagers were eating in this small cooking area.  I felt terrible so I popped myself down and start speaking with them and trying to love on them.  I had to be careful though.  It's dishonoring to them if you refuse to be treated with special treatment.  So, at times, I had to sit and be served (it was the hardest part of the whole trip).  You can see in the back corner a small area.  This was where they cooked the food over an open fire.  Above there was the firewood.  

It's was amazing how simple these people lived but so efficient!  And they were amazing lovely people!

This was the view the next morning from our balcony.  One of those mountains had a small waterfall.  My friend and I asked about it and next thing we know, the youth of the village was taking us on a hike to the waterfall.  

The end of the trail and the beginning of the climbing

Do as the locals.......no more shoes for the rest of the way up.  too slippery

 I'm glad I took rock climbing in college.  I'm using it in this picture (that's me...the white person struggling up the rock)

This is only half way up (my translator/friend with a local who joined us)

I wish I could have taken pictures all the way up but I had to concentrate on not dying :)  

Finally made it to the waterfall.  These youth do this all the time.  One girl wore tight skinny jeans and that guy in white apparently wanted to keep going.  

Oh! I loved these kids.  They all wanted to be hugged

Our time at the waterfall ended and we realized that it was impossible to go down the way we came (too steep) so one of the guys just happened to have his machete.  So....he began to hack a new trail through the jungle for us.  

Now, here's the kicker.  At the half-way point, we left our shoes.  So, we all did a 1.5 hour treck through the jungle bare-footed.  Just call me Bear Grills!

Here's an idea of what we went through (can you find me?)

Finally! we made it through.  Luckily, some of the monkey boys (that's what I called them since they were practically swinging over the trees and scaling the rocks like it was nothing) went back to get our shoes.  It was still easier to go bare-foot

Back to Toraja

A traditional Toraja grave site

I had to post this picture.  This is their stove.  Here, it's VERY uncommon to use a stove at all so this is considered a luxury.  It's a steal box you put on top your gas stove.  It worked ok but it takes some getting use to

In the city, I went to a small restaurant to get food for my team.  I quickly made friends.  I started to ask them how to say things in their own language (Makassar).  Yes, everyone speaks Indonesian here but Indonesian is a new national language.  Before 1945, every people group had their own language.  And they instantly love you if you try to learn words in their language.  They LOVED it!

They were beautiful!

 Back in Bali

Here is a normal site for me now.  It's common to come to busy roads that have been closed for a funeral procession.  This is what they do.  There's band playing music, these ladies are carrying things for the dead person's afterlife.  This is the Balinese traditional clothing.  And the men carry the coffin that's been decorated lavishly on a high stand with statues of gods surrounding it.  

That's about all the culture I can bring now.  

Here are some ways you can think of me:
1) I still need people to join me so I can move to P-town
2) Visa.....there MIGHT be a chance I can get on a cheaper visa if we get approved.  Think for that approval!
3) Continued CP work here in Bali