Dear Family and Friends,
On the first day of December, we arrived at Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH). Wow, what a wonderful welcome! Rudy, who calls himself our Indonesian son, picked us up at the airport and brought us to UPH. Tuesday morning at chapel I was introduced as having just returned from five months in Papua and afterward had breakfast with James Riady, one of the founders of the university. Alice was still recovering from our long trip and did not attend.
James and I talked about the Mamit trip I took a week ago. He was happy to hear about it. He has a personal interest because he has visited this interior highland village. The faculty members at the school in Mamit are graduates of the UPH Teacher’s College. I think Mamit is currently one of his favorite projects. He invited us to return to Papua and open up another interior Papua school. We also received the same encouragement from Wally Wiley to come back to Papua sometime in the future. We wish we had nine lives!
Our five months in Papua went fast. The older we get the faster the time flies. The last several months have been full. God has used us in a variety of ways. Every day brought new experiences. Helping Dr. Darrell and Sue Van Luchene teach pre-school training for teachers; teaching P.E. with Sekolah Papua Harapan’s (SPH) new Physical Education teacher, Pak Ricco; meetings with Leadership Team; Alice teaching profession development on Fridays; my Teacher Chapels with “The Story;” giving classroom devotions; going on prayer walks on both campuses; presenting a prayer topic at parent’s meeting; attending the funeral of the brother of Ibu Ika. A special blessing for Alice was her involvement with an international women’s Bible Study group. The ladies pulled her in and welcomed her with abundant love and friendship. We enjoyed several Sunday noon dinners with Wally, Joan, John and Stephanie; and finally a great going away party last Saturday night; we need a break! Being retired is no easy task!
Accidents are always a shock. Alice’s fall on uneven flooring at the school resulted in an interruption to our work in Papua. Because of the complexity of her injury, we were advised to travel to Singapore for two surgeries on her elbow. We were gone for two weeks, with a short stay in Jakarta to replace her eye glasses which were also broken in her fall. The entire experience was filled with examples of God’s love as shown through the care, concern, prayers and personal sharing by Christian family and friends around the globe. We thank and praise God for her continuing recovery.
Above all, we found living and working in Papua was filled with personal spiritual growth and opportunities to provide encouragement and prayer for mature, dedicated, caring, Indonesian teachers and missionaries. The students attending SPH were typical kids but so appreciative. “We thank you Mr Bob and Mrs. Alice, God Bless you!” were the greetings as we came and left each day.
During the time Ricco and I taught physical education I saw a great improvement in his teaching skills. It was amazing to observe. He knows the name of every student attending SPH. His love and care for them is outstanding. He wants to be the best teacher possible. It is just too hot to teach physical education on the upper campus in the afternoons. It is between 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A new schedule will be produced for the second semester so the cooler mornings can be used.
Meeting with the SPH Leadership team was a special privilege. Alice and I did contribute when asked. I think our suggestions were appreciated, accepted, and some were implemented.
Alice spent a major portion of her time mentoring Sos, the principal, and Fenna, the curriculum coordinator and teacher trainer. Her input was excellent and greatly valued by both of them. In addition, the teachers were very complimentary about her leadership of Professional Development classes which were held on Friday afternoons.
“The Story” has made a spiritual impact on SPH teachers. The Holy Spirit is going to continue to work in their lives through this Bible Study material. I’m glad I was able to bring these materials to Papua for the yearlong study of scripture.
Alice and I both led morning devotions in classrooms toward the end of our time in Papua. Teachers didn’t start asking us soon enough.
Head of SPH, Paul, suggested I start leading prayer walks and prayer time with the SPH leadership team on Monday mornings. I think they are going to continue once a month.
At the parents meeting I presented a short topic on prayer. Sos translated for me. My Indonesian version of my book wasn’t there yet from Jakarta so they will be given to the parents the next meeting.
Ibu Ika has helped in the school clinic for many years. Her brother died and we went to his funeral. His wife and his brother had already died. She and her mother have taken in their eight children. We found out how great and dedicated this Christian lady is. She is an inspiration to us and others. SPH is very fortunate to have her as part of the staff.
Two videos are being produced by two Hillcrest International School students. They are missionary kids who help missionaries tell their stories. One of the videos is longer. It will be about 25-30 minutes. It is not done. There is a shorter one that is finished. It is on my trip to the interior village called “Mamit.”
On the first day of December, we arrived at Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH). Wow, what a wonderful welcome! Rudy, who calls himself our Indonesian son, picked us up at the airport and brought us to UPH. Tuesday morning at chapel I was introduced as having just returned from five months in Papua and afterward had breakfast with James Riady, one of the founders of the university. Alice was still recovering from our long trip and did not attend.
James and I talked about the Mamit trip I took a week ago. He was happy to hear about it. He has a personal interest because he has visited this interior highland village. The faculty members at the school in Mamit are graduates of the UPH Teacher’s College. I think Mamit is currently one of his favorite projects. He invited us to return to Papua and open up another interior Papua school. We also received the same encouragement from Wally Wiley to come back to Papua sometime in the future. We wish we had nine lives!
Our five months in Papua went fast. The older we get the faster the time flies. The last several months have been full. God has used us in a variety of ways. Every day brought new experiences. Helping Dr. Darrell and Sue Van Luchene teach pre-school training for teachers; teaching P.E. with Sekolah Papua Harapan’s (SPH) new Physical Education teacher, Pak Ricco; meetings with Leadership Team; Alice teaching profession development on Fridays; my Teacher Chapels with “The Story;” giving classroom devotions; going on prayer walks on both campuses; presenting a prayer topic at parent’s meeting; attending the funeral of the brother of Ibu Ika. A special blessing for Alice was her involvement with an international women’s Bible Study group. The ladies pulled her in and welcomed her with abundant love and friendship. We enjoyed several Sunday noon dinners with Wally, Joan, John and Stephanie; and finally a great going away party last Saturday night; we need a break! Being retired is no easy task!
Accidents are always a shock. Alice’s fall on uneven flooring at the school resulted in an interruption to our work in Papua. Because of the complexity of her injury, we were advised to travel to Singapore for two surgeries on her elbow. We were gone for two weeks, with a short stay in Jakarta to replace her eye glasses which were also broken in her fall. The entire experience was filled with examples of God’s love as shown through the care, concern, prayers and personal sharing by Christian family and friends around the globe. We thank and praise God for her continuing recovery.
Above all, we found living and working in Papua was filled with personal spiritual growth and opportunities to provide encouragement and prayer for mature, dedicated, caring, Indonesian teachers and missionaries. The students attending SPH were typical kids but so appreciative. “We thank you Mr Bob and Mrs. Alice, God Bless you!” were the greetings as we came and left each day.
During the time Ricco and I taught physical education I saw a great improvement in his teaching skills. It was amazing to observe. He knows the name of every student attending SPH. His love and care for them is outstanding. He wants to be the best teacher possible. It is just too hot to teach physical education on the upper campus in the afternoons. It is between 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A new schedule will be produced for the second semester so the cooler mornings can be used.
Meeting with the SPH Leadership team was a special privilege. Alice and I did contribute when asked. I think our suggestions were appreciated, accepted, and some were implemented.
Alice spent a major portion of her time mentoring Sos, the principal, and Fenna, the curriculum coordinator and teacher trainer. Her input was excellent and greatly valued by both of them. In addition, the teachers were very complimentary about her leadership of Professional Development classes which were held on Friday afternoons.
“The Story” has made a spiritual impact on SPH teachers. The Holy Spirit is going to continue to work in their lives through this Bible Study material. I’m glad I was able to bring these materials to Papua for the yearlong study of scripture.
Alice and I both led morning devotions in classrooms toward the end of our time in Papua. Teachers didn’t start asking us soon enough.
Head of SPH, Paul, suggested I start leading prayer walks and prayer time with the SPH leadership team on Monday mornings. I think they are going to continue once a month.
At the parents meeting I presented a short topic on prayer. Sos translated for me. My Indonesian version of my book wasn’t there yet from Jakarta so they will be given to the parents the next meeting.
Ibu Ika has helped in the school clinic for many years. Her brother died and we went to his funeral. His wife and his brother had already died. She and her mother have taken in their eight children. We found out how great and dedicated this Christian lady is. She is an inspiration to us and others. SPH is very fortunate to have her as part of the staff.
Two videos are being produced by two Hillcrest International School students. They are missionary kids who help missionaries tell their stories. One of the videos is longer. It will be about 25-30 minutes. It is not done. There is a shorter one that is finished. It is on my trip to the interior village called “Mamit.”
The faculty took two small boats to an island beach for a day. We had fun swimming, playing beach games, ate some food, and also had a devotion while we were there. Alice didn’t go because of her recent injury.
Wally Wiley, founder of SPH, and I went fishing but after five hours we didn’t get but two strikes. I do say it was a very calm and beautiful day on the ocean and I enjoyed being with Wally. Now I guess I need to go back to Papua to go fishing again.
I would like to explain a little more about Mamit. It would take a whole letter to tell you all the details of this trip. I was impressed with our young staff of Christian teachers’ unity and wonderful influence in the whole community of about 1,500 people in Mamit. While there the Christian Governor of Papua flew in for a two day visit. The teachers and I had private times with him. They were very positive conversations. The Mamit people did not know he was coming. It was a surprise visit. The Lord’s timing is so fantastic. We had originally planned to go to Mamit two weeks before. I personally had time to witness and pray with the governor of 2-3 million people of Papua. I gave him a copy of my Indonesian version of my first book, “Keep Me From Evil, Harm and Fear.” If you want to view a short video of our trip please go to this youtube post:
While in Papua, Sunday noon dinners became a special family time with Wally and Joan Wiley, Joan’s father John who is 99 years old, and Stephanie an expatriate teacher from the United States. We went out most of the Sundays after church. The conversations were always uplifting. It was very positive to spend time with all of them.
Our last Saturday night in Papua was wonderful. Sos, SPH’s principal, produced a short video that included “thank you” from the teachers on the staff. We were so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know each one of them personally. They will be included in our prayers and continue to be in our hearts. “Good-bye never comes easy when said to friends.”
For those who remember, we were not to be in Papua the last five months. We were originally to have been in Bali. Bali would have been great too, but the relationships and other experiences in Papua were some of the highlights of our lives and we have had many. I hope you just caught another glimpse of how God can turn disappointments into very positive experiences. For us it becomes another witness how God works.
May this Christmas be a time for you and your love ones to celebrate our Lord’s coming for every person on this earth. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Also may God work through each one of us in 2015. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Mr. Bob and Mrs. Alice
Wally Wiley, founder of SPH, and I went fishing but after five hours we didn’t get but two strikes. I do say it was a very calm and beautiful day on the ocean and I enjoyed being with Wally. Now I guess I need to go back to Papua to go fishing again.
I would like to explain a little more about Mamit. It would take a whole letter to tell you all the details of this trip. I was impressed with our young staff of Christian teachers’ unity and wonderful influence in the whole community of about 1,500 people in Mamit. While there the Christian Governor of Papua flew in for a two day visit. The teachers and I had private times with him. They were very positive conversations. The Mamit people did not know he was coming. It was a surprise visit. The Lord’s timing is so fantastic. We had originally planned to go to Mamit two weeks before. I personally had time to witness and pray with the governor of 2-3 million people of Papua. I gave him a copy of my Indonesian version of my first book, “Keep Me From Evil, Harm and Fear.” If you want to view a short video of our trip please go to this youtube post:
While in Papua, Sunday noon dinners became a special family time with Wally and Joan Wiley, Joan’s father John who is 99 years old, and Stephanie an expatriate teacher from the United States. We went out most of the Sundays after church. The conversations were always uplifting. It was very positive to spend time with all of them.
Our last Saturday night in Papua was wonderful. Sos, SPH’s principal, produced a short video that included “thank you” from the teachers on the staff. We were so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know each one of them personally. They will be included in our prayers and continue to be in our hearts. “Good-bye never comes easy when said to friends.”
For those who remember, we were not to be in Papua the last five months. We were originally to have been in Bali. Bali would have been great too, but the relationships and other experiences in Papua were some of the highlights of our lives and we have had many. I hope you just caught another glimpse of how God can turn disappointments into very positive experiences. For us it becomes another witness how God works.
May this Christmas be a time for you and your love ones to celebrate our Lord’s coming for every person on this earth. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Also may God work through each one of us in 2015. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Mr. Bob and Mrs. Alice
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