Short-term Mission Trips

Pastor Sam Chan and Judith arrived in Malang three days ago. They had the opportunity to visit the families of 18 teenagers living in the House of Peace and individual young believer leaders, sharing and encouraging them. They also had discussions with the co-workers of the Malang Hope Ministry team. Pastor Anthony Yeung and three other team members, Joseph, Hilary, and Garrett, arrived late last night in Malang. Despite some flight delays, they were thankful for God's protection and all was well. Everyone had a good night's rest. The weather in Malang during the day is not too hot, and it's cool in the evening.

This morning, around seven o'clock, they went downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast. Since the road was a bit slippery, Pastor Yeung was walking carefully with a cane. However, he accidentally slipped while reaching for food. Fortunately, he wasn't seriously injured. He landed on his left side, and thankfully, his previously injured right knee was unaffected. There was some swelling and bruising on his left arm and some minor pain in the lower left side, but he could stand up and walk immediately after the fall. After applying some ointment, he felt better, with no other injuries. Throughout the day, there was no discomfort in his shoulder or hip area. In the evening, while lying in bed, the redness on his shoulder had subsided, but there was some slight soreness in his hip. They were grateful for the Lord's care.

After breakfast today, the mission team, led by several Hope Ministry co-workers, boarded a rented minibus to visit rural ministry sites in the southern part of Malang. John, a co-worker of Hope Ministry, drove the minibus, navigating through winding, narrow, and steep roads for about three hours, reaching Natasha's house, one of the co-workers of Hope Ministry, who warmly welcomed them. After lunch, they visited the recently reopened children's ministry in Sidoasri village, which is one of the regular ministries of Hope Ministry. They utilized an old school building donated by the government as a Smart Learning House. Besides conducting a weekly Food Program, due to the lack of education among rural children, Hope Ministry also provides regular children's classes and community lectures, aiming to spread the Gospel among local residents. Sidoasri village is an area actively promoting Islamization and facing increasing problems of illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse. Hope Ministry's work aims to help children and families in this situation understand the Christian faith, guiding them to walk in the right path as they grow up. Hope Ministry is preparing to renovate the old school building after obtaining government approval, adding some learning facilities and accommodation rooms for serving team members to stay there, saving them some traveling time. They greatly admire the young co-workers of Hope Ministry, who serve humbly for the Gospel, full of joy and love under the leadership of Pastor Vernando. Each one serves with a clear vision and burden for the Gospel, willing to pay the price wholeheartedly. Despite limited resources, they have strong faith in God, demonstrating perseverance and dedication in their service. Their service is not method-driven but powered by the love of the Lord, relying on faith rather than sight, serving as a good example for us.

The day passed quickly. About 110 children participated in the afternoon's Food Program, enthusiastically engaging in singing and activities. Some mothers seemed pleased when they came to pick up their children on motorcycles, seeing this as a valuable learning opportunity for their kids. This trip helped us understand why the Hope Ministry team continues to serve tirelessly despite economic constraints. They firmly believe that the effectiveness of Gospel work relies on God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, not in vain. We pray that the Lord works in these children's lives, allowing the seeds of the Gospel to sprout and grow in their hearts.

After dinner at Natasha's house, the mission team prepared to leave. John and Pastor Vernando took turns driving the minibus back to Malang city center. Due to the darkness, they couldn't drive fast, and they arrived at the hotel at 10 PM. After a long journey, everyone was tired and in need of rest. We ask the Lord to give us strength and grant us a good night's sleep to continue our short-term mission journey. Thank you for your prayers and support!

April 3, 2024

Yesterday morning, after breakfast together, the short-term mission team spent close to an hour sharing and praying. After the initial missionary experience for two days, all team members shared the same view: On one hand, they saw the great need at God’s harvest field in Indonesia and witnessed the marvelous work of God. On the other hand, they saw many opportunities for gospel outreach despite many limitations and resource shortages in the ministry. This showed that the love of Christ is the greatest driving force in His servants. Understanding the heart of the Heavenly Father and acting according to His will manifest God's almighty power. What we saw in the South Malang Sidoasri village the previous day was just the tip of the iceberg. The faces of Indonesian children deeply impressed upon our hearts, prompting us to rethink how to seize the opportunities at hand. Not only in Indonesia but also in the face of the urgent challenges of global missions, we must boldly fulfill God's mission with faith, no longer indifferent or idle in missionary work.

After sharing and praying, the team began packing their belongings. Just as they were about to board on the minibus, news of the earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan suddenly arrived. This once again reminded us that the day of the Lord's return is drawing nearer, and the urgency of sharing the gospel deeply resonated in everyone's hearts.

Pastor Yeung felt much better after a night's rest. The mild soreness in his left shoulder and lower back, resulting from a fall on slippery ground the previous morning, had nearly disappeared, allowing him to move freely without hindrance. We thank the Lord for His care and protection!

Yesterday morning, led by Pastor Vernando and his coworkers, the short-term mission team first visited the ministry center rented by Hope Ministry in downtown Malang. The ground floor served as offices, while the second floor housed the church sanctuary. The distinguishing feature of the House of Hope gospel ministry center lies not in its appearance but in the dedication and tirelessly gospel outreach of the ministry team. The Hope Ministry workers are energetic young people. Despite very limited resources and a lack of stable financial support, everyone shares the burden without a word. The workers serve in harmony, sharing joys and sorrows. Though their service is arduous, it exudes vitality and joyful satisfaction. In their lives, we see the work of God. Pastor Vernando, the leader of Hope Ministry, sets a great example for his younger team members. He leads by example, producing excellent results in discipleship. He emphasizes establishing a solid spiritual foundation, a committed heart in serving the Lord, providing appropriate ministry training for the team, and leading in servanthood. Despite lacking the resources, their team continues to expand new ministry locations through faith, guided by the will of the Lord. Last month, they began the preparations for a new gospel outreach ministry not far from Malang, in Bali. The ministry model of Hope Ministry prompted us to reflect deeply on how we serve God and fulfill His mission.

Yesterday morning, the short-term mission team spent nearly two hours on the minibus, traveling through many winding and narrow mountain roads. By noon, they arrived at a remote mountain village of the Tengger tribe. The villagers mainly rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Many of them are big families with many children. Sadly, education is not a priority for these children, which will significantly impact their lives as they grow up. The Tengger tribe is one of Indonesia's minority ethnic groups which have not yet been reached by the gospel. Traditionally, they practiced Hinduism, but in recent years, influenced by the Muslim movement promoted by the Indonesian government, many villagers have converted to Islam. The Hope Ministry workers have a big heart for this area. They began their outreach here many years ago. Through their enthusiastic action of love, it took them a considerable amount of time to gain the trust of the villagers. Hope Ministry has rented a house in the village as a Learning House for children. It opens on weekdays for the village children to come study and play. Food Program gospel outreach events and other activities are held regularly to create opportunities for them to share the gospel with the villagers.

The Hope Ministry team brought us to a teahouse in the mountain area for lunch, and then the short-term mission team settled in at a nearby Guest House. This Guest House is decent and much better equipped than the place we stayed at our last visit in October 2023. Before 3 p.m., the short-term mission team followed the Hope Ministry workers to a local community center to conduct a Food Program gospel outreach activity. Upon arrival, they found a spacious room was filled with children sitting on both sides, with some mothers holding younger children at the back. The children were very engaged in the singing and game activities. They took turns singing in groups and sang well with the hymns they had learned. Through singing and game activities, these children were deeply engaged in listening to the gospel. The Hope Ministry workers know the children well and are closely bonded. The place was filled with joy. The loving and friendly interactions of the ministry team and the short messages of encouragement allowed the children and their parents to learn about the Good News. During the event, local officials came and observed their activities, indicating that preaching the gospel in that place was not openly accepted. However, the gospel shared through interpersonal relationships and the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit was evident in changing people’s hearts. Though the short-term mission team did not see tangible achievements in their outreach activities, they deeply felt a sense of warmth through their interactions with the children. The team brought them with love and care from afar, embracing the children with kindness and compassion. This encounter serves as a bridge for the children to connect to the gospel and the truth, leaving a significant impression in the children's hearts.

In the afternoon, the short-term mission team had another opportunity to visit a Learning House in a residential area, which was established by Hope Ministry, and a nearby Muslim family. The team was warmly welcomed by a couple and their two sons, Rizky and Rehan. They exceptionally served them with Jawa Coffee during Muslim Ramadan. Although there was a language barrier, their warm hospitality and smiling faces reflected the impact of the gospel through caring love, showing the presence of God's love, which was beyond words!

The most touching moment was the conversation exchange and sharing with several young Hope Ministry workers. Their humbleness and selfless serving God and the people were highly commendable. One of the team members, Brother Meidama, 28, who is close to completing his master's degree in theology. He shared that the greatest benefit of theological training is learning how to preach the gospel. He often experiences the urging of the Holy Spirit in his heart, compelling him to seize any opportunity to share the Good News with people. He is very friendly and gifted in evangelism, sharing his faith with strangers in appropriate ways anytime, anywhere, bearing witness to Christ and leading people to the Lord. He goes to public places weekly, waiting for opportunities with silent prayers. The Holy Spirit often leads him to meet people who are open to the gospel, giving him opportunities to share his faith. Brother Meidama is greatly used by the Lord and is a right hand of Pastor Vernando.

Pinta and Sasi, two young sisters, are part of the Hope Ministry team. They are responsible for the gospel outreach in Tengger Village. When we first visited the mountain area in 2022, they were interns studying theology. They served Tengger children and villagers here for two years as interns. When we visited them again last year, they had completed their theological training and chose to forego the opportunities for employment in big churches, opting instead to return to long-term serving in Tengger Village. They live in simple rooms in the Learning House of the village. They said it was God's call that affirmed their committed service. When asked about the difficulties and challenges in serving the Lord in this place, they said the first challenge was the frequent water shortage in the mountain area. Due to prolonged droughts, there was insufficient water for daily use, and they often had to ask neighbors for water. The second challenge was the busy schedule. The children in the village loved to stay at the Learning House, sometimes from morning till night, unwilling to go home. While caring for the children brought them joy, but they would felt exhausted at times. The biggest challenge was the language barrier. Many villagers only spoke the Tengger dialect and were not proficient in Indonesian Bahasa, the official language. This sometimes led to communication difficulties, even among the children who preferred to converse in their native language. Since Pinta and Sasi are not locals and do not understand the Tengger dialect, communication sometimes requires translation. It's a surprise to see that even the native Indonesians would encounter language barriers in their missionary work. Pinta and Sasi lead simple lives, burdened for missions, and wholeheartedly devoted to serving God. Their dedication to serving God is truly admirable. The short-term mission team has learned a lot from them.

The short-term mission team and several Hope Ministry workers stayed together at the Guest House from yesterday evening until this morning. During this time, they shared life, worshipped God together, encouraged one another, cultivated friendships, and deeply enjoyed fellowship in the Holy Spirit.

This afternoon, the short-term mission team will leave the rural mountain area and return to downtown Malang. Tonight, they will visit the House of Peace Children's Shelter in Malang and have a sharing over dinner with about a dozen teenagers who are staying there. The House of Peace is also part of the Hope Ministry, and we will keep you updated later.

2024.04.05

Tengger Village, East Jawa

Yesterday afternoon, after lunch, the short-term mission team bid a reluctant farewell and "descended" from the mountain, taking over three hours to return to the city center of Malang. Images of the rural mountain villages and the adorable faces of the children lingered in their minds. Although their time in the Tengger ethnic mountain villages was only two days and one night, the impression was deep and unforgettable.

In the afternoon, Hope Ministry colleagues drove the mission team back to the hotel. After a short rest, the team visited the House of Peace youth dormitory in Malang, where they shared dinner with a group of teenagers. Currently, there are 10 boys and 8 girls residing in the dormitory, all under 18 years old and attending different local schools. However, they live together in the dormitory and receive nurturing; Desman and his wife, Hope Ministry colleagues, serve as the house parents, caring for their daily needs and more. Pastor Vernando and the Hope Ministry team work together to shepherd these young people in the dormitory, introducing them to Christ, helping them grow spiritually through disciple training, and laying a solid foundation in the truth. After they graduate from high school, they are further supported to attend college. They act as surrogate parents for these young people, hoping they will succeed in the future and serve the Lord.

The mission team greatly admires the dedication of Hope Ministry colleagues to the growth of young people and children, especially Pastor Vernando's burden for the lost younger generation. He intentionally reaches out to lost teenagers from broken families, searching for them one by one in various places like Nias on the west and West Kalimantan in the North , and brings them to Malang through referrals from gospel workers, aiming to help them leave their environment of displacement and find a new life in the dormitory of Hope Ministry through God's love and the work of the Holy Spirit. The mission team feels privileged to know about the ministry of Hope Ministry and is thankful for the opportunity to share and encourage these young people. Sister Judith prepared thoughtful gifts for each of the Hope Ministry colleagues and teenagers, showing them love and care. Brother Joseph and Sister Hilary organized a board game activity before dinner, which the teenagers enthusiastically participated in, filling the narrow dormitory room with laughter. After dinner, there were testimonies shared, mutual encouragement, and the love of Christ was evident among them. Five out of the 18 teenagers will graduate from high school at the end of this academic year and prepare to move elsewhere for university. Around May, another 10 teenagers will move into the dormitory for nurturing. It is firmly believed that each of these young people growing up in the House of Peace is chosen and lifted up by the Lord from the mud, receiving new life through the Lord Jesus Christ and spiritual nurturing. After completing their education, it is believed they will bear witness to Christ in various aspects across Indonesia. With faith, one can imagine the next generation rising up, impacting lives, and spreading the gospel throughout Indonesia, which is just around the corner.

Last night, after bidding farewell to the teenagers at the House of Peace, the mission team returned to the hotel to rest. They departed at 7 a.m. this morning, and Hope Ministry colleagues drove them to Surabaya Airport, a two-hour journey. The five days in Malang passed quickly for the short-term mission trip, and everyone parted reluctantly, looking forward to meeting again in the near future!

The mission team of six departed from Surabaya this morning, transferring in Jakarta, and flying to West Kalimantan for the next segment of their short-term mission trip. Everyone is in good spirits, filled with excitement, and eager to experience what God has prepared for them.

April 6, 2024

On Garuda airplane

En route to West Kalimantan

Two days ago, on Saturday, April 6th, at 7 o'clock in the morning, we were deeply grateful to the Hope Ministry team for spending over two hours to take six short-term mission members from Malang to Surabaya Airport. After bidding farewell to each other, the mission team boarded the plane from Surabaya, transiting through Jakarta, and finally arrived at Pontianak, West Kalimantan, nearly at dusk, around 6 o'clock in the evening. It was unexpected that the journey from Malang to Pontianak took almost half a day.

We are very thankful to Pastor Liliana, the pastor of GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church, as well as two young members, Gary and Grace, who came to pick us up at the airport. They first took the mission team to a restaurant for dinner, then arranged accommodation for us in the guest rooms on the fourth floor of the church. Many thanks to the brothers and sisters of the church for their thoughtful arrangements and warm hospitality, which made the mission team feel very welcome.

As the next day, April 7th, was the celebration of the 51st anniversary of the GKNI Pniel Church in Pontianak, many brothers and sisters spent the whole day, from morning till night, preparing everything at the church. Regardless of age or gender, everyone worked together, sharing the workload and serving with enthusiasm and joy. The unity and vitality in serving were evident and inspiring.

The mission team had the privilege to attend the Thanksgiving Worship Service of the GKNI Pniel Church in Pontianak on Sunday afternoon, April 7th. Sister Judith was invited to share a song, and Pastor Chan and Pastor Yeung represented K-PACT Canada to deliver congratulatory messages. The church was packed with people of different ages, united in joyful worship. The theme of the church for the year is "Here I am, send me!" Pastor Liliana encouraged the congregation to have a good testimony in their lives and to participate in various ministries, including evangelism and missions. Pastor Chan and Pastor Yeung have known Pastor Liliana and this church since 2016 when Pastor Liliana just started her pastoral role. They witnessed the blessings and growth of the church under Pastor Liliana's leadership over the past eight years. Pastor Liliana leads by example, not only wholeheartedly shepherding the congregation and supervising various ministries but also actively engaging in mission work. The church not only has been growing in numbers but also meets the needs of youth and children's ministries. The mission team benefited greatly from Pastor Liliana's good example and the brothers and sisters of the GKNI Pniel Church in Pontianak, receiving much inspiration.

This morning, Monday, April 8th, Brother Paul from the church drove us for over three hours on narrow roads to Batang Tarang Christian Centre (BTCC). We will be staying here for three days and two nights, visiting the school and students of BTCC, participating in the rural Learning Centre outreach ministry, teaching English, and sharing life with the 69 students studying here, showing them care and encouragement.

When the mission team arrived at BTCC, they were warmly welcomed by the students, shaking hands one by one. We were told that we are the first mission team to be hosted by the school this year, and since the students are familiar with K-PACT Canada, they were particularly excited.

After settling in at BTCC, the outreach team, led by workers Dolfy and Lonny, along with 14 mission team members, headed to the nearby village of Peluntan to visit the third Learning Centre started by BTCC since last September. Peluntan village, with only twenty families, is considered a "Christian village" with a small Mennonite church, led by Pastor Andrew from a church in Jakarta, overseeing it. In front of Peluntan village is a "Catholic village," and behind it, near the river, is a "Muslim village." Despite the divisions, due to intermarriage among villagers, those originally from the Christian village are often categorized into the Muslim village. Children in Peluntan village usually have to walk for an hour on winding and steep muddy roads to reach a school outside the village. Therefore, some parents choose to keep their children at home, resulting in a significant impact on their education. The mission team traveled by truck from BTCC to Peluntan village, about half an hour away on muddy mountain roads. When we entered the village, the weather was fine, but as we were leaving, it started pouring rain heavily. On the return journey through the muddy mountain road for more than thirty minutes, everyone's clothes were soaked, but despite that, everyone felt exhilarated, making it an unforgettable experience!

Brother Joseph in the mission team started feeling unwell this afternoon. Please pray for his speedy recovery.

The mission team will continue with a day of service at BTCC tomorrow. May the Lord strengthen and keep everyone safe. The mission journal will continue later.

April 8, 2024

Evening

BTCC

Yesterday (April 9th) after breakfast, BTCC students were divided into groups, STM team acted as English teachers, each team member led a group, shared with students from Grade 7 and 8 respectively, helping them practice English conversation interactively. Each group of students was very involved, and the morning passed quickly. STM team got to know the students, and in the evening, there was time to play games together. Sister Hilary led a Bible game (Jeopardy), and everyone was very into the game, and it brought some encouragement to the students and added a joyful atmosphere. The school will start a three-day holiday from tomorrow, with no classes, but there will be a parent meeting for next year's enrollment in the morning, and the students will have music performances. Everyone is busy preparing for this.

Yesterday afternoon, BTCC co-workers Dolfy & Lonny and the youth outreach team took the short-term mission team to visit another village church, Tengalong, which is also a "Christian village". The church belongs to the Pentecostal faith and was built by YWAM. Next to the church is a small kindergarten, originally operated by the Korean Methodist Church and now part of the church. The church congregation consists of 39 families, and a group of lively and lovely children gathered at the church to participate in the Food Program activities, helping them understand the gospel through singing and Bible stories. The small truck carried over a dozen of us once again traveled the muddy and narrow road from the previous day, fortunately, there was no rain this time.

The Muslim thirty-day Ramadan fast ended yesterday (April 9th). It is said that the market and shopping malls were crowded with people. After fasting for 30 days, Muslims are eagerly awaiting the coming of Eid al-Fitr. In the evening, the streets and small shops in the villages noticeably saw an increase in people.

Today (April 10th) is Eid al-Fitr for Muslims, and it is also the New Year. Muslims dress neatly and visit temples early in the morning before visiting each other and sharing meals. There is also a tradition of giving New Year's "red envelope", theirs are green. A three-day public holiday follows, with most schools and businesses closed for the week, but tourist areas are very lively. GKNI Pniel Church Pontianak has prepared a three-day, two-night trip and invited STM team to join them.

GKNI Pniel Church Pontianak has a total of twelve brothers and sisters, led by Pastor Liliana. They departed from Pontianak at 4:30 am this morning, traveling in three cars to pick up the STM team of 5 from BTCC, a total of 17 people heading to Putussibau, the easternmost part of West Kalimantan, about 800 kilometers away from Pontianak. It takes 12 hours by car from BTCC to Putussibau. Brother Joseph could not join due to illness and had to stay at BTCC to rest, which was a bit unfortunate, but after taking medicine and resting for a day, he has improved a lot. Sister Hilary also felt unwell on the way, please pray for her!

After nearly 12 hours of driving, the three cars arrived in Putussibau around 7 p.m., thank God for the smooth journey! Since Putussibau is relatively remote and not a tourist town, it is quite peaceful. The purpose of the trip to Putussibau is to visit another local GKNI village church, express love to the local brothers and sisters, have the opportunity to participate in church gatherings tomorrow, share encouragement, and visit neighbors through the "A Handful of Rice" action as pre-evangelistic work. The church area is mainly inhabited by the Dayak people, and Pastor Liliana deliberately brought church members and STM team on this journey to give everyone a missionary outreach experience. Today's journey is long, inevitably exhausting, after resting tonight, we will continue the journey tomorrow! We will return to Pontianak on Friday. Please pray for us!

April 10, 2024

Evening

Putussibau

West Kalimantan

Everyone rested well last night. Sister Hilary has already recovered from her fever this morning, with just a slight cough remaining, but she's much better than last night. Brother Joseph also sent a message this morning from BTCC, reporting that he has also recovered from his fever yesterday and is gradually regaining his strength. Thank the Lord for His care in every situation! The mission team will return through BTCC tomorrow night, picking up Brother Joseph to return to Pontianak together.

The combined team, comprises GKNI Pniel Church Outreach Team and the K-PACT Canada Short-term Mission Team, a group of 17 people, arrived in the remote town of Putussibau last night (April 10). This is the easternmost town in West Kalimantan, while Pontianak is located on the west bank of West Kalimantan. This journey crosses the eastern and western parts of West Kalimantan. Pastor Liliana and the brothers and sisters of GKNI Pniel Church also made their first visit to Putussibau. It's uncommon for locals from Pontianak to travel so far east to Putussibau. The K-PACT Canada Short-term Mission Team was blessed to participate in this uncommon journey. Despite the long journey, it's very worthwhile as it allows us to experience the taste of rural inland evangelism and gain a better understanding of the needs of gospel work from west to east in West Kalimantan.

This morning (April 11), the team first visited a newly church plant of GKNI Churches in Putussibau. Four years ago, Pastor Hendry Priestley was sent by the GKNI headquarters as a church planter, assisted by Pastor Bakri Lee of the GKNI church, to establish a new church in Putussibau. There are currently eight families in GKNI Putussibau Church who are regular members. The land where the church is now located was lent by one of the members for the church to use temporarily as a base for gospel work. Since the current location of the church is not ideal, being distant from residential areas, the church plans to relocate and build a new church once a more suitable location is found. The church construction will also receive some assistance from the local government. The church hopes for further development. Currently, the area is predominantly inhabited by the Dayak ethnic group, with 50% being Catholic, 15% Christian, and the rest Muslim and Confucian.

In the afternoon, the team also visited the home of one of the deacons of the above-mentioned church and was graciously treated to a delicious lunch. In the evening, the team had the opportunity to participate in the Thursday evening prayer meeting at this church, sharing testimonies and songs. Despite differences in language and culture, we are one body in Christ, praying together and experiencing unity in the Holy Spirit.

In the afternoon, there was also an opportunity to visit another local church, where two ministers, Pastor Setijono and Pastor Santiko, shared their strategies for evangelism and disciple-building. They provide accommodation for some students who come from other areas to study in local schools, using this as an opportunity to evangelize to them. After nurturing them spiritually, they send them out to make more disciples elsewhere. The team also had the chance to visit a traditional Long House community of the Dayak ethnic group, gaining more insight into their culture. Due to the abundant natural resources and balanced climate throughout the year, with wild plants readily available, the Dayak people focus solely on the present, without the need for budgeting or planning for tomorrow, and are not adept at organizing strategies.

Through visiting these two churches, the team gained more understanding of the cultural and lifestyle habits of the Dayak people, as well as witnessing the challenging pastoral work due to the lack of manpower. However, the local pastors are zealous in evangelism, working diligently and showing great potential. There are indeed opportunities for the development of gospel work.

Each member of the team had a valuable experience in Putussibau throughout the day. We were deeply moved and treasured by what we saw and heard. We had a good sharing time over dinner. The sharing was very meaningful, inspiring, and encouraging to one another.

Tomorrow, we will depart early at 6 a.m. for the return journey. It will take 15 hours to travel from Putussibau back to Pontianak, so we expect to arrive in Pontianak around midnight.

April 11, 2024

Putussibau

The short-term mission team returned safely from Putussibau to Pontianak last Friday evening (April 12th), a journey that took 15 hours by car. We thank the Lord for the smooth journey, although everyone was quite tired after the long road trip. Sister Hilary and Brother Joseph are still coughing, while the other team members are keeping well at least for now. After a good night's rest, everyone felt refreshed the next day. On Saturday morning, the team visited the Joyful School campus and the newly constructed parking lot, which can accommodate more than twenty cars. K-PACT Canada was the first short-term mission team to visit this new parking lot. The brothers and sisters of GKNI Pniel Church Pontianak continue to enthusiastically raise funds for the purchase of the parking lot and work hard to repay loans. Due to the one-week Ramadan break and being a weekend, there were no classes at Joyful School, while the teachers could have their monthly training workshop. The mission team had the opportunity to briefly share and pray with the teachers. Principal Merry invited Pastor Chan, Pastor Yeung, and Sister Judith to return to the school this Tuesday morning (the 16th) to share some Bible stories in their devotional teaching with the students in different grades. Pastor Liliana also took the mission team to visit one of the popular tourist areas, the Dayak cultural heritage site - Long House in the city center of Pontianak.

On Sunday (April 14th), Pastor Sam Chan and Pastor Anthony Yeung were invited to preach at two Sunday services respectively, one at GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church and the other at GKKB JEMAAT PURNAMA Church. At GKNI Pniel Church Pontianak, Sister Judith shared a solo in Indonesian at both the morning and afternoon services. She had been practicing for five months in preparation for this hymn offering. Brother Joseph and Brother Garrett briefly shared their testimonies at the morning and afternoon services respectively. Sister Hilary joined the children's Sunday school in the morning, worshipping God with the children. Although GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church and GKKB JEMAAT PURNAMA Church belong to different denominations, they generously share resources and collaborate in ministries. Both churches also held youth Sunday services in the afternoon, focusing on spiritual inheritance for the next generation, aiming to involve them more in serving God and nurturing their spiritual growth, keeping the vibrancy in serving the Lord and His ministries. In addition to participating in worship services, the mission team had the opportunity to get to know the pastors and some brothers & sisters over meals through sharing.

The 14-day short-term mission trip in Indonesia passed by quickly and was very fulfilling. Everyone gained a deep understanding of the missionary work in Indonesia, which was beneficial in many ways! The first phase of the mission trip concludes today (April 15th). Brother Joseph, Brother Garrett, and Sister Hilary departed from Pontianak early in the morning and flew to Jakarta, then each went their separate ways. Pastor Chan, Pastor Yeung, and Sister Judith will remain in West Kalimantan until Friday when they will depart for Canada. Tonight, they will have dinner with the leaders of GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church, sharing and exchanging experiences. Tomorrow morning, after sharing at Joyful School, they will immediately head to Singkawang, a journey of over six hours round-trip. Before leaving Indonesia, they will visit and serve in some local gospel ministries.

Thank you very much for your ongoing prayers and support. God's grace is sufficient!

April 15, 2024

Pontianak, West Kalimantan

Early in the morning on Monday (April 15th, 2024), the day before yesterday, three of our short-term mission team members, Joseph, Hilary, and Garrett, left Pontianak, got on their return trip home, knowing that they will miss Indonesia. Last night, they had reported safe arrival at their respective home places.

In that same morning on Monday, Pastor Chan, Pastor Yeung, and Judith were invited by the church members of GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church to have lunch together at the coffee shop opened by their family member; in the evening of that day, they had dinner with the pastors and all the deacons of the aforesaid church at the church office, and had meaningful sharing on missionary ambitions with one another. This was the first time that K-PACT Canada directors have the opportunity to chat openly with the church leaders of GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church, and prayed together for mission strategies and potential partnership in mission. Thank the Lord for His guidance. Indeed, it was an important starting point for future development of missionary work between both parties. We are especially thankful to God for GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church. Under the leadership of Pastor Liliana, the congregation actively participates in outreach ministries, with full emphasis on prayer and missions, while carrying out pastoral nurturing at all levels internally, and evangelism externally, with balanced development of both internal and external ministries. Through our ministry partnership with the church, our short-term mission team members can better appreciate the wonderful works of God in Indonesia, seeing more and more people have been raised up for God's Kingdom in Indonesia. It also allows those of us from foreign countries to have the opportunity to participate, and to build up each other in Christ for God's work. What a blessing this is for us!

Yesterday was Tuesday (April 16), the three short-term mission team members visited Joyful School and were invited to lead a morning devotional in English for three classes of kindergarten students, on "The Story of Jonah". The kindergarten students listened attentively and responded positively. After their sharing at Joyful School, the short-term mission team of three set off at 9:30 am, heading on a road trip to Singkawang. The round trip would take about 8 hours. Many thanks to Gerry, a young brother of GKNI Pniel Pontianak Church, who took the time to serve as driver, interpreter and tour guide, taking the short-term mission team from Pontianak to Singkawang, for two days and one night.

Last night, the short-term mission team shared messages and a song at a local Christian Drugs Rehab Center, and had dinner with two of their co-workers. From the conversation at dinner, we learned that throughout the towns and villages in West Kalimantan and Borneo, drugs addiction is a serious problem especially for young people; drugs trafficking is rampant in this area. Brother Hito, one of the co-workers, is only 21 years old this year. He comes from a wealthy family. He was addicted to drugs when he was 16 years old. Through the rehabilitation process at the Rehab Center, he committed himself to the Lord and got rid of his drug addiction successfully, and he is now serving at the Drugs Rehab Center to help other drug addicts to be restored . Brother Verda is also of the younger generation, is currently receiving training in the seminary, and is very committed to ministering among people under drugs addiction rehabilitation. This Drug Rehab Center is headquartered in Central Kalimantan, and the center in West Kalimantan is an offshoot of the ministry.

This morning (April 17th), the short-term mission team was originally scheduled to go to the village of Monterado to visit the only elementary school there. There are nearly 80 students studying in the school, and the only two teachers there are the preacher and his wife, who opened the school eight years ago. When the school was first opened, the local villagers made fun of them as "crazy pastor" because the local people do not regard the importance of their children's education in general. Unfortunately, it rained heavily this morning, so the short-term missionary team members were unable to enter the village. The trip to visit the school was canceled and they could only have a chat with the "crazy pastor" in a coffee shop outside the village. Because the village where the primary school is located has no water or electricity supply, the environment is very primitive, and the village roads are slippery and sloping, making it difficult to drive and to walk. At first, it was said that cars could not drive into the village roads and could only use motorcycles to travel. Each short-term missionary team member were supposed to ride on the back of a motorcycle and be driven into the village one by one. The journey by motorcycle into the village would take an hour. Last night, when the three short-term mission team members were hesitant, they gladly learned that cars could barely enter through the narrow village roads, and their doubts were relieved. Unexpectedly, it rained heavily this morning and the village road was closed. The testimony of the "crazy pastor" was touching and inspiring; as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:13: "If we are crazy, it is for God; if we are sober, it is for you."

The short-term mission team returned to Pontianak from Singkawang yesterday in the late afternoon, and it was already dinner time when they arrived. Brother Gerry had been driving all day, so he was inevitably a little tired!

Tomorrow (Friday, April 19th) will be the last day for the three short-term mission team members in Pontianak. There are no special arrangements for tomorrow for the time being. They would need some time to pack their luggages. They will be leaving at 6:00am the next morning, flying out from Pontianak to Jakarta, then transfer flight again via Hong Kong, and fly to Vancouver; the return trip expects to take thirty hours.

Please pray for our safe return to Canada this Friday. Thank you again for your continued prayers for the short-term mission team, and your supportive participation in the missionary work through reading "Short-term Mission journals". Please continue to pray for the need for the gospel in Indonesia. May all glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

2024.04.17 evening

Pontianak, West Kalimantan