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.