Hari ini Senin, Februari 28, 2010

Today I had my hair cut, not only because the Bishop will visit the parish, but also because a parishioner commented about my long hair. I was planning to really let my hair grow longer here in Indonesia and have it cut in the Philippines when I return, but I feel bad whenever people tell me that I look really young, like 35! hehe. I had my hair done at a salon named Tang's (Pakis Argosari F-7), with Soleh as my barber and having the owner Tetty as my interpreter. It's quite a relief that there was somebody there who spoke English, otherwise I just can't imagine what would have happened with my hair.

My words for today are ngantuk and meninggal. Saya mengantuk would mean I am sleepy and Dia sudah meninggal is used to speak of a person who just died. The first is a remark because the meeeting with the Bapak Uskup ended quite late so I asked how sleepy is translated in Bahasa. The second word was thought to me by the bishop after I remarked: Saya menguntuk, hehe so he told me that Bahasa uses certain prefixes and suffixes thus it is important to take the root verb from which the action words are based. People whom I talk to become my instant teachers, even the bishop.

Just a thought about learning language. I realized a practical tip in effective communication which I had while talking with the people. It is one thing to memorize and express ones thoughts by speaking with others and it is a totally different thing to listen and make sense of what people are saying speacially if it is a language quite alien to you. People may be able to speak efficiently, but not necessarily effectively if they are not able to understand what other people are asking them or trying to commmunicate to them. Same is true with preaching the Word or in planning for retreats and seminars. It could be that a speaker could give a three day monologue without necessarily listening to what people say or feel. Effective communication involves both, making enough sense to be heard and allowing enough time to listen in order to make sense out of what others think or feel.

Februari 27, hari ini Minggu

Had my first taste of Sunday school. I admit that it has never been my talent to work with kids, much more toddlers. I still remember whenever I see a baby and try making faces to make that baby smile or laugh, the baby would usually frown and start crying. From that time on, I changed my goal from making kids laugh to making then cry instead, and its easier to make them cry by the way. But having been assigned to help in Sunday school made me force myself to really like kids and put an effort to communicate with them. It is like connecting with my inner child, mimicing them, making baby sounds, picking crayons and helping them color their activity sheets. More than just teaching children, its more like they were teaching me how to be a child once again. The fun of tracing broken lines, applying color to black and white figures, forming shapes from formless clay, approaching people with innocent smiles and having the peace of mind that you will be safe in the midst of these children. More than just being potential Christians, these kids will be future leaders, the shapers of tomorrow's future. The basic exercises that they do in class, though simple they may seem, are the foundations of what the future Indonesian society will be. The challenge is how to put Christ at the center of all these activities. I believe that this is the main task of preachers, to allow Christ to use us in introducing him in the lives of people. It's a pity then, that a lot of preachers nowadays, because they are too much engrossed with human development forget to include Christ in the picture. I believe that the greatest tragedy for preachers is not only when they are not able to make good speeches or homilies, but rather the greatest tragedy for preachers of the Word is when they forget to include Christ in their preaching.

Februari 26, hari ini Sabtu

Just had a wonderful dinner with Co Tik Jun, Chi Ana, Victor, Bryan and Romo Adrian at Sushi Hana, Terima Kasih Banyak! Likewise I had my second anticipated Sunday mass in Bahasa today, with my improvised copy of the responses for the mass, which I can say was really a great help. I am planning to ask Pak Yono a copy of the readings for the day so that I can at least practice reading Bahasa even if I can't make sense of the words yet. A funny thing happened at mass today when during the Gospel acclamation, one of the male choir members sang his own tune for the alleluia. It was so different, that the choir did not sing with him. Although the organist played with him at first, but because of the unique tune he was singing, the organist also gave up and so the soloist was forced to really sing by himself, nagsolo na talaga siya. Almost everyone was smiling, one thing about him though, he held his post and showed real self-confidence. At least pinangatawanan niya ang ginawa niya, kanta kung kanta di ba, carry lang!

Februari 25 Jumat jam malam

Just had a wonderful and inspiring time with the Filipino community of Gereja Redemptor Mundi. More than just sharing food during dinner, we had a great time listening to each other's stories which are actually reflections for this coming sunday's Gospel. Why worry? God's grace is just around the corner waiting for us to seize and grab it. The problem with other people is that they sometimes expect a lot of things, expecting God to give them what they want, without realizing that God's answer is just in front of them, giving them what they need more than merely satisfying their wants.

God's presence is very much alive here in Surabaya. It is a place where people of all faiths pray almost the whole day. It is not surprising therefore to feel closer to God when you are here hearing both Muslims and Christians praying at the same time. It's wonderful to note that it is only here where I find the adoration chapel or "adorasi" ALWAYS having visitors almost 24 hours a day (we can monitor it by the way in the CCTV).

Februari 25 hari ini Jumat

Today we celebrate the 25th year of EDSA revolution, a peaceful gathering of the people to show their undivided support against an unjust system. Likewise, we had the monthly breakfast with the parishioners here at Redemptor Mundi. As they say, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, this adage was again affirmed by the number of faithful who came for breakfast after the morning mass. Bomo Boedi cooked "nasi goreng" extra pedas, extra spicy. I learned the meaning of masak or to cook and the cook as kok, if my information is betul or right. Again I survived talking with the people with only terima kasih, selamat pagi, saya tidak mengerti bahasa indonesia, sidikit, enak sekali, panas and ofcourse apa kabar. new words I learned pedas and masak. Its a pity that I can't understand nor can i speak good Bahasa because I feel the warmth of the people who shows interest even if we are separated by a language barrier.  It's good though that the parish have such gatherings, it not only foster brotherhood and sisterhood but likewise breaks the walls of indifference and introduces everyone as members of one keluarga or family. I am looking forward for the next parish breakfast and hopefully by that time I can speak more Bahasa Indonesia.

Februari 24 hari ini Kamis

Burial rites have always been part of our lives. They give us a chance not only to bid our loved ones farewell, but likewise to celebrate the lives they lived. Today I attended my first funeral in Indonesia and incidentally it was a Chinese man. The usual things were there, a coffin, flowers, candles, people in white, but I can’t help but notice the doll placed on top of the flowers right above the coffin. The doll is the usual doll which one can find in stores made of plastic, with golden curly hair, wearing white with wings made of white net. The doll likewise was holding a wand and a crown with some glitters. I can’t but ask the woman standing beside me if that doll was part of tradition. Her simple remark: “I think it’s a guardian angel, watching over the dead”, woow, isn’t that spooky! It’s like were the got the inspiration for a lot of killer dolls films such as chuckie, his bride, chaka doll and the latest mama doll of shake, rattle and roll 12.

I just noticed that whenever we are fetched from the parish, both the husband and wife come for us. Yesterday, a couple fetched us to bless an asphalt factory, today; another couple came to bring us to the funeral. This same couple told us about the story of their 10 year old daughter who was fond of going to the “adorasi” or adoration chapel whenever her parents came to help in counting the Sunday collection. Once she overheard her parents arguing and taught that they did not want to count the money from Sunday collection anymore, thus she remarked: “so I can’t visit the adorasi anymore?”

Februari 23 hari ini Rabu

Falling in love with a person involves not just knowing what the beloved likes or dislikes, but getting to know the beloved in a most unique and absolute way. What better way to know a person than to learn their behavior, culture and language. I can’t say that I have fallen in love with Indonesia the first time I came here, but I am getting to love her better now that I am here. People are not only generous but are likewise showing love and concern especially among their priests. Generosity is but part of devotion and true devotion must always be a product of a faithful and loving heart. I am planning to write a daily blog or journal of things I learn of the experiences I have lest I forget the beauty of knowing someone for the first time. Though words could not capture the full sense and depth of the experience, I hope that by simply taking note of them, I would share this wonderful experience of God in the people I meet and the places I go to.

The first words I learned when I came are the phrases “saya lapar” and “terima kasih”. The former I actually learned from our Filipina tour guide in Brunei and the later I learned ever before coming to Indonesia. Incidentally the first is to express ones needs and the other to express a natural heartfelt emotion after receiving something. But more than physical needs, these words symbolically shows how persons are naturally gifted to express what they want and likewise show gratitude for the things they receive. Gratitude when properly directed could evolve into service, a service which springs from a genuine concern for another.

Part 2

I discovered something funny just now form our driver Diru. I started by telling him that there were a lot of cars “mobil banyak” and asked how to say motor in Bahasa, of which he replied “ya motor”. I automatically asked him how about cellphone, is it mobil phone or mobil telephone? He did not catch my query at first but after some minutes answered, ahh telephone, phonecell, telephone cellular. In the Philippines it’s called cellphone, but here it’s called phonecell.

In the Philippines, if there are more women than men who are active in Church activities, here in Indonesia it is the other way around. It is so inspiring to see a group generally composed of men attending a seminar on becoming “murid Kristus” or Disciples of Christ, who freely expressing themselves in worshipping God. Remember, if mothers are the “ilaw ng tahanan”, the fathers are the “haligi ng tahanan”. I wonder how strong the Indonesian families are, especially if the fathers are very active in the Church. Imagine how many families can be closer to God, now that the “haligi ng tahanan” are firmly fixed on Christ.