2026-03 STM Trip Journal (1)

Vancouver – Hong Kong – Jakarta – Pontianak Journey

March 1–4, 2026

On Sunday evening, March 1, before 9:00 p.m., three of us were gathered in the departure lounge at the international airport for our 12:05 a.m. flight, beginning our more-than-one-month Mission Trip to Indonesia. Ying, Jannie, and Pastor Anthony set off first, trying for the first time a somewhat longer mission experience.

Traveling from Vancouver to Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Indonesia usually requires two flight transfers, and the total journey, including layovers, takes at least 30 hours. Having experienced similar long-distance travel several times in the past, we were able to handle it reasonably well without feeling overly exhausted. However, this trip brought some very special real-life experiences worth sharing.

The flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong went smoothly and even arrived one hour earlier than scheduled. Shortly after arriving at Hong Kong airport, we received a notification on our phones that our third connecting flight—from Jakarta to Pontianak—had been cancelled in the last minute. Thankfully, the airline made alternative arrangement, requiring us to quickly confirm on our phones that we would accept a later flight with another airline. We had to handle this unexpected situation in a hurry, but thankfully it was resolved in time. We barely had time to take a sip of water before boarding our flight from Hong Kong to Jakarta.

Breakfast was served on the plane, and everything went smoothly as we arrived at Jakarta International Airport on schedule. The immigration hall was unusually quiet, with fewer travelers this time. Since we had already completed the new immigration procedures online in advance, the entry declaration process was very convenient and quick.

Because the replacement flight was later than our original one, we had plenty of time during the transfer. The three of us were able to sit down and enjoy a hearty lunch before taking the airport SkyTrain to another terminal to wait for our third flight. There was no rush at all; instead, it felt quite relaxing.

Since it was the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the airport was generally quiet with fewer people. Shops were open, but there were fewer customers. Many restaurants had banners placed in front stating that Ramadan is on for fasting during daytime in the period. At the same time, Chinese communities in Indonesia place great importance on traditional Chinese festivals. It was also the time of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, reaching their peak at the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month (Cap Go Meh).

When we arrived in Pontianak, we happened to encounter a very vibrant local Lantern Festival celebrations, which were a feast for the eyes.

Yesterday afternoon’s flight from Jakarta to Pontianak was completely full, and we arrived punctually in the evening. Pontianak is the capital city of West Kalimantan Province. This was Ying and Jannie’s second time coming to Pontianak for short-term mission experience, while for Pastor Anthony it was already his twelfth visit, giving him somewhat of a feeling of returning home. We were all filled with anticipation for what God would prepare for us in the coming month.

Pastor Liliana, the senior pastor of GKNI Pniel Church in Pontianak, had arranged everything thoughtfully. Brother Mega and Sister Hannah came to the airport to welcome us and brought us to meet Pastor Liliana nearby. After having something to eat together, we drove to the church dormitory where we would stay.

On the way to the church dormitory that evening, we happened to encounter the Lantern Festival night parade. In the city center, traditional activities such as dragon dances, lion dances, fireworks, and firecrackers were taking place everywhere. Many streets were closed, and traffic was completely jammed. Cars and motorcycles could not move at all. The streets were packed with people, lively and bustling.

Our car was forced to stop in the middle of the road, unable to move forward or backward. We later learned that the Lantern Festival celebrations would not end until around 2:00 a.m. With no other option, we got out of the car, leaving our large suitcases behind, and each of us dragged a small piece of luggage while walking through the crowds and cars. After much effort, we finally reached the church dormitory on foot, completely exhausted.

However, our suitcases were still in the car, so we had no change of clothes or personal items. In the end, without showering or changing clothes, we simply collapsed into bed and fell fast asleep. By the time the suitcases finally arrived at the dormitory after 2:00 a.m., we were already sound asleep and unaware of anything.

The unexpected festive scene last night was truly unforgettable. The streets were decorated with lights and ornaments. Red lanterns for the Chinese New Year hung alongside green flags for the Muslim Ramadan season. This scene reflected the starkly different cultural traditions of the various ethnic communities, as well as the longstanding tensions between different cultures and religious beliefs within the community—something that spoke for itself.

This morning, after sunrise, we finally had the chance to shower and change clothes. Thank the Lord for His protection and care. After a night’s rest, our strength was mostly restored.

Originally, we were scheduled to go to BTCC School this morning to begin three weeks of English teaching. However, since we were so exhausted from the previous night, we decided to delay the trip by one day and stay in Pontianak for an additional day of rest at the church to regain our energy before heading to BTCC tomorrow morning.

Today was quite relaxed. We simply walked around near the church, bought some daily necessities, and had some food. In the evening we attended the church’s prayer meeting.

Tomorrow morning we will depart for BTCC (Batang Tarang Christian Center), which is about a four-hour drive from Pontianak. There we will serve as ESL teachers for three weeks. After that, we will join the rest of the short-term mission team in Surabaya on March 31 to continue the mission journey, which will officially conclude on April 13.