Someone told me upon arriving that I needed to give myself 6 months of living somewhere new before you could consider it home. I couldn't wait for those six months and, with each passing day, doubted that things would get easier. However, we've made it seven months now and I can honestly say that things are easier. I look back on those first days, weeks, and months that we were here and feel a sense of pride in the things that we have learned and have become more confident in.
I remember my first taxi ride, my first ojek ride, the first trip to the hospital, the first time driving on the streets of Jakarta...on the left hand side of the road... filling up the car with gas, and figuring out how to successfully do a grocery trip. These are things I did on my own and feel a sense of pride about. There are other things that we dealt with that were a bit more difficult; the first days of school, losing the bank card and figuring out how to get a new one, never having enough change on us to pay people for something or other (this is a cash society), figuring out how to pay our internet bill with online banking after our internet was shut down, and dealing with real culture shock.
I sometimes still think about that first week when we were introduced to Indonesia, to SPH, to the new teachers, and to this community. It was so extremely overwhelming for me. I remember having to attend meetings with three jet-lagged kids and barely sitting in those meetings because, who can expect three little ones to sit through hours of talking? I wanted to be there for the kids, while realizing I was missing valuable information about the new country we were living in and the new school we were becoming a part of. I have to admit, there were times I hid "behind" my kids when it came to meeting and talking with new people, and, as much as I tried, I had a hard time putting on a brave face. Looking around, I felt like I was the only one, when in reality I most likely wasn't.
Those adjustments in the first months were hard, to say the least. I am so thankful for the community that we are blessed with here in Lippo Village. They made a difference. They wrote us cards, stopped by to introduce their selves, took our kids to a movie, invited us for a BBQ, and took the time to really get to know us. I continue to miss my friends and family and always will, but it has gotten a bit easier to deal with those feelings. It could be because the relationships with people here are becoming stronger and we are starting to feel like we belong. The initial adjustments are finally out of the way, and now we move forward growing and challenging ourselves in different ways.
We are seven months in and what a relief!! Those first six months were about learning how to live here; the next six months and beyond, I feel, will be about learning how God is going to use this time to His advantage. I don't expect them to be any easier, really, but I am open to see what God is going to teach us next. We have so much more learning and exploring to do in this country, but I do not forget that God has His own agenda for what we are learning and experiencing during our time in this wonderful country.
I remember my first taxi ride, my first ojek ride, the first trip to the hospital, the first time driving on the streets of Jakarta...on the left hand side of the road... filling up the car with gas, and figuring out how to successfully do a grocery trip. These are things I did on my own and feel a sense of pride about. There are other things that we dealt with that were a bit more difficult; the first days of school, losing the bank card and figuring out how to get a new one, never having enough change on us to pay people for something or other (this is a cash society), figuring out how to pay our internet bill with online banking after our internet was shut down, and dealing with real culture shock.
I sometimes still think about that first week when we were introduced to Indonesia, to SPH, to the new teachers, and to this community. It was so extremely overwhelming for me. I remember having to attend meetings with three jet-lagged kids and barely sitting in those meetings because, who can expect three little ones to sit through hours of talking? I wanted to be there for the kids, while realizing I was missing valuable information about the new country we were living in and the new school we were becoming a part of. I have to admit, there were times I hid "behind" my kids when it came to meeting and talking with new people, and, as much as I tried, I had a hard time putting on a brave face. Looking around, I felt like I was the only one, when in reality I most likely wasn't.
Those adjustments in the first months were hard, to say the least. I am so thankful for the community that we are blessed with here in Lippo Village. They made a difference. They wrote us cards, stopped by to introduce their selves, took our kids to a movie, invited us for a BBQ, and took the time to really get to know us. I continue to miss my friends and family and always will, but it has gotten a bit easier to deal with those feelings. It could be because the relationships with people here are becoming stronger and we are starting to feel like we belong. The initial adjustments are finally out of the way, and now we move forward growing and challenging ourselves in different ways.
We are seven months in and what a relief!! Those first six months were about learning how to live here; the next six months and beyond, I feel, will be about learning how God is going to use this time to His advantage. I don't expect them to be any easier, really, but I am open to see what God is going to teach us next. We have so much more learning and exploring to do in this country, but I do not forget that God has His own agenda for what we are learning and experiencing during our time in this wonderful country.
"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble,
he will not fail, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."
Psalm 37: 23-24
The song below was sent to me by my sister for encouragement and
it continues to be a source of encouragement.
