2025-04 STM Trip Journal (1)

4/23/2025

Our current Indonesia short-term mission team consists of 9 members in total - 8 from Vancouver, Canada, and one brother, Jansen, who is originally from Surabaya, Indonesia. He will join the team in West Kalimantan later this week.

The mission trip is divided into two main parts:

The first part, from April 22 to 26, takes place in East Java, involving participation in 3 key ministries under Hope Ministry Malang: Tengger Village, Sidoasri Village, and the Children Home namely House of Peace.

The second part is in West Kalimantan, where the team will be involved in 3 main ministries: GKNI Pniel Church Pontianak, Joyful Christian School, and Batang Tarang Christian Center (BTCC). These are long-term ministry partners that K-PACT Canada has consistently supported and collaborated with for the past several years.

In addition, after the main itinerary concludes on May 5, there will be an “extended edition” of the mission trip: 3 team members will remain in West Kalimantan for an extra 4 to 7 days to engage in further mission work.

The 8 Canadian team members planned to gather themselves on the evening of April 22 at Surabaya Airport, Indonesia, to officially begin the 14-day journey. 2 members had previously traveled to Hong Kong and flew from there to Jakarta on the morning of April 22. The other 6 left Vancouver in the early hours of April 21, enduring over 30 hours of travel with layovers in Hong Kong or Taipei before reaching Indonesia. 2 flew directly from Hong Kong to Surabaya, while the remaining 4 landed in Jakarta via Taipei and reunited at the Jakarta airport with the 2 flew from Hong Kong. After the 6 team members met in Jakarta that evening, they flew together on a domestic flight to Surabaya, East Java.

By evening on the same day, all 8 team members safely arrived in Surabaya and gathered at the airport. Thank God for a smooth and delay-free journey to the first destination.

Several coworkers from Hope Ministry Malang came to welcome the team at the airport, and the reunion felt like meeting long-lost friends - full of joy and excitement. The team’s first night was arranged staying at a guest house in the mountain village of Tengger, providing easy access to the children’s ministry and visitation activities scheduled for the next day in the village.

It was a 3-hour drive from Surabaya Airport to Tengger Village. While roads in the urban areas were relatively wide, the mountainous roads were narrow and rugged, posing a driving challenge. We’re grateful to Brother John from Hope Ministry, who served as the driver - skilled and steady behind the wheel, driving in the dark. By the time the team arrived and settled into the guest house in the mountain, it was already passed midnight.

Even from just a brief glimpse at the international airports in Jakarta and Surabaya, one can notice significant development compared to the past. Indonesia is progressing - albeit slowly and amid many challenges. The major cities are catching up with modern advancements, while many rural areas and small towns still await development and long-term investment. Similarly, gospel work remains difficult, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the teamwork and witness of many, the love of God can be shared and more people can come to know Christ. We believe that the gospel will one day be spread throughout Indonesia and that the unreached will soon hear the Good News!

2 of the team members are participating in this mission trip to Indonesia for the first time, and it’s bound to be a meaningful and unique experience for them. For the others who have been here before, while the environment is no longer unfamiliar, each trip brings new insights and fresh encounters - deepening their understanding of Indonesia’s culture and spiritual needs.

K-PACT Canada's mission strategy focuses on supporting local churches and gospel organizations, building strong relationships with Indonesian local mission partners, and working together in Christ to expand God’s Kingdom cross-culturally.

We very look forward to the coming two weeks of mission experiences. Please keep the short-term mission team in your prayers!

April 23, 2025

1:30 am

Business Number: 78275 4477 RR0001