2026-03-STM Trip Journal (3)

Indonesia Mission Journal (3)

March 14–26, 2026

A weekend in Pontianak (March 14–15) passed quickly. On Saturday, we were invited to share with teachers at Joyful Christian School in Pontianak. On Sunday, we were invited to preach and share music during two worship services at GKNI Pniel Church Pontianak, and also had enjoyed very much the opportunity to fellowship with some church members.

On Monday morning, Ying, Jannie, and Pastor Anthony returned to BTCC from Pontianak to continue serving as guest teachers. The journey took about three hours and traffic was smooth that day. However, about a week later, due to the impact of the U.S.–Iran war, there was a significant fuel shortage in West Kalimantan, glad that it only lasted for several days. Long queues for both motorcycles and automobiles formed at gas stations across the region, causing traffic disruptions. It became common to see people queuing overnight for fuel, only to find that supplies had run out just as it was nearly their turn, resulting in hours of waiting in vain.

The three of us served as ESL guest teachers at BTCC for a total of three weeks, concluding successfully on Wednesday, March 25. After breakfast that day, during the students’ morning assembly, we exchanged brief words of thanks and blessings with all the students. Over a hundred students lined up in front of the school lobby to shake hands with us one by one as a farewell, and it was a very emotional parting. The students also wrote personal notes for each of us—over a hundred messages in total—placed into three large envelopes as keepsakes. Though simple in appearance, the messages were heartfelt and deeply meaningful. Most touching of all was seeing the growth and positive changes in some of the students’ learning and attitudes. Reading their personal notes and reflections moved us deeply.

We thank the Lord for His protection and care over these three weeks, keeping us safe and allowing everything to proceed smoothly. He not only granted us good health, but also gave us a precious and unforgettable mission learning experience. Life at the boarding school followed a structured routine. Students woke up at 4:30 a.m., and at 5:00 a.m. gathered in groups for devotions led by mentors. Before and after breakfast, they took turns doing cleaning duties and assisting in kitchen work. Although the food in the rural setting was simple, the peaceful natural environment and fresh air made it very pleasant.

In our ESL teaching classes, we followed the school’s arrangement of dividing students into two groups. This allowed us to teach all students in all five classes between Gr. 7 to Gr. 10 in the school and also spend time outside of class getting to know students individually. Since students’ English levels varied widely, we adjusted our teaching materials and plans according to actual needs. Many students lacked confidence and were hesitant to speak English for fear of making mistakes. However, with patient guidance, encouragement, and interactive methods, they gradually gained confidence. As trust with the teachers grew, their fear diminished, and their English conversation and grammar improved. We truly cherished every moment spent with the students—each one meaningful and joyful. Though time passed quickly and our role as guest teachers has come to an end, we hope to return again someday. The students’ faces remain deeply imprinted in our hearts.

The month of March in Indonesia is filled with consecutive major festivals. After the Chinese New Year up to Lantern Festival (Cap Go Meh) celebrations, they are followed by the Hindu Nyepi (Day of Silence) and the Muslim Eid Festival. Each has its own unique atmosphere in the community. Businesses rotate holidays, and school schedules vary. BTCC students only had two days off in March, after which they faced midterm exams and Grade 9 National exams, making it a particularly stressful time. As a result, our ESL classes and Ocarina practice sessions were somewhat affected. However, this also gave the three of us some free time during the short break to travel with a missionary friend to Singkawang, a small famous town Northwest of West Kalimantan. This short trip of three days and two nights involved about thirteen hours of travel and allowed us both to relax and to gain a deeper understanding of the local society, religion, and cultural differences.

In the two days before leaving BTCC, we had the opportunity to participate in a Kids Fun Day outreach event held on campus, where 20 or more primary school children and their parents from nearby villages came to experience the school environment. We also visited a Learning Center in the nearby village of Sei Kelik, which operates in a GKSI church facility. This is one of several Learning Centers established by BTCC in different villages, where monthly outreach programs are held, involving teachers and students conducting children’s activities.

On the morning of our departure from BTCC back to Pontianak, Pastor Liliana and several church members drove early from Pontianak to BTCC with a vehicle full of rice and supplies. They then took us to Sosok, a town about thirty minutes away, to visit several families affected by a recent disaster. Three days earlier, a fire had broken out in a shop in the town center. Due to the delay of fire services, the fire spread and destroyed seven nearby homes and shops. Two of the affected children are part of the BTCC family. Although everyone in the houses and shops escaped safely, they lost all their belongings. Church pastors and members personally visited these families to offer comfort, pray for them, and distribute relief supplies on behalf of concerned donors. They also entrusted the local church leaders to distribute supplies to other affected families.

The day after returning to Pontianak (March 26), Ying, Jannie, and Pastor Anthony flew from Pontianak to Surabaya in East Java, where they met Pastor Sam and Jansen at the airport. Jansen, originally from Surabaya, has been joining us on previous STM trips offering great help to the team. The five of us will be together in Surabaya for five days. The four team members from Canada were hosted by Pak Irawan, whom they had known previously. He, along with local church leaders, guided us to visit various ministry sites established for unreached people groups in different regions.

While Ying, Jannie, and Pastor Anthony were still waiting at Pontianak airport, they received news that fellow short-term mission team member Judith had safely arrived in Malang, East Java, from Vancouver. Judith had gone ahead a week earlier to spend more time connecting with and caring for the children at House of Peace, a ministry under Hope Ministry Malang. The rest of the team will gather at Surabaya Airport in the evening of March 31, and will then be transported by Hope Ministry Malang staff to the Tengger mountain region, officially beginning the two-week Indonesia short-term mission trip with the full team from March 31 to April 13.

Due to a delay in the March 26 flight from Pontianak to Surabaya, Ying, Jannie, and Pastor Anthony arrived safely at Surabaya airport after 10:00 p.m. All were well. We ask for your continued prayers for the mission journey. Much appreciated.