2024-10 STM Trip Journal (1)

10/5/2024

The main segments of this mission trip to Indonesia are:

October 5-11: West Kalimantan

October 11-18: East Java, Malang

October 18-27: East Java, Bali (extended version)

The Short Term Mission (STM) team consists of twelve members. There are eleven members for the West Kalimantan segment, and one Indonesian brother from Surabaya will join our team in Malang during the second segment. At the end of the main itinerary on October 18, Pastor Chan, Pastor Yeung, and Sister Judith will stay behind with Hope Ministry in East Java for an additional ten days of ministry till October 27, before heading back to Canada on their return trip.

Most STM team members arrived in Hong Kong before yesterday. This morning, nine members gathered at Hong Kong International Airport to fly to Jakarta, Indonesia. After meeting the other two members at the Jakarta airport, they together took a connecting flight to West Kalimantan, arriving in Pontianak, Indonesia, in the evening.

Just one day before departing Canada and within the next two three days before and after arrival in Hong Kong for the transfer, the team received multiple notifications from the Indonesian domestic airline regarding cancellation or changes to our three scheduled domestic flights in Indonesia, with no alternative flights provided. This required urgent rebooking of two sets of tickets for the team members. Despite the late-night rush to find suitable domestic flights online, we thank the Lord for His help; the process, though complicated, was manageable, albeit at a higher cost than expected. Even before the STM trip began, we faced unexpected challenges, reminding us that human preparations are limited, and our true security lies in the Lord! May we rely not on our own wisdom but learn to humbly trust the Lord at all times and in all places and all matters.

Sister Judith is the only team member transiting through Taipei. Just before her flight, a typhoon was striking strongly in Taiwan, causing many flights to be cancelled. Thankfully, the storm had weakened by today, and her flight was completely unaffected. We thank the Lord for ensuring her safe arrival in Jakarta to meet up with the STM team on schedule.

After landing at Jakarta International Airport, the team members individually completed their immigration procedures without much complications. Due to a slight delay, we waited a little longer than expected before transferring to our first domestic flight to Pontianak, West Kalimantan. We thank the Lord for a smooth flight, even though there was another delay.

Today’s travel went generally well without major disruptions. By the time we arrived in Pontianak, it was quite late in the evening, and after a long day of travel, the team felt somewhat tired. However, everyone was radiant with joy and excited in their hearts! Regardless of the difficulties encountered, we experienced the peace and inner stability of the Holy Spirit, gaining strength from the Lord and overcoming every challenge faced! It is evident that ministry success does not rely on human strength or ability but on the Holy Spirit.

Over half of the STM team members are visiting Indonesia for the first time. Randy, a younger brother from Toronto, is Indonesian in origin from Java. He moved to Toronto with his parents twenty years ago and is also visiting West Kalimantan for the first time.

We thank the Lord for keeping the eleven members safe as they arrive in West Kalimantan to officially start this STM trip. Pastor Liliana and Sister Xiao Ying from GKNI Pniel Church came to pick us up at the airport, and after sharing a local fish soup dinner, we settled into a nearby hotel. We pray for everyone to have a good rest tonight.

The mission team will participate in the early and noon services at GKNI Pniel Church tomorrow and will share during those services. The team look forward with anticipation to learn and experience God in mission work in West Kalimantan through daily arranged ministry opportunities. We ask the Lord to guide and protect us, allowing us to see what He wants us to see and hear His voice speaking to us.

October 5, 2024

Pontianak

West Kalimantan

Business Number: 78275 4477 RR0001