Trip Around The World

I don’t even know where to begin.  I have made so many observations over the last 2 1/2 weeks it’s hard to even process all the information.  This trip has done so many things for me.  I have always had a desire to travel the world, but now after having a taste of what it is really like out there I now, more than ever, want to share a journey with Jack around the world.  I am thriving to experience places, cultures, and people.  I met some incredible people on this journey.  One of the things that had the highest impact on me was sitting in Bandung, Indonesia, the highest martyr country in the world, in a Christian church on Sunday morning.  It was so touching to see people on the other side of the world praising our Lord with the same music we worship to in the United States.  

I began my trip with missing a connecting flight due to weather and having to stay the night in an unexpected city.  At first I was frustrated with the way it was beginning, and then slowly, I began to see the hand of the Lord of every little piece of my journey.  The trip to Indonesia could not have gone better.  The Lord continues to assure me “To be fearful for nothing” and “To not worry.” It seems the more I stress out about things, large or small, He works them out with more ease than ever.  I always find myself laughing at the end thinking how ridiculous I was to cause myself so much stress and worry, knowing in the end He always works it out. Once I finally arrived on my international flight it as such a relief.  I began to browse through the selection of music offered on the flight and found Jason Castro.  I have never listened to his album but only heard portions from him.  We began our departure and on came his song Hallelujah.  I was instantly overwhelmed with the presence of the Lord and tears began to stream down my face.  I felt His hand, His comfort, His grace, His beauty, and His purity.  I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life. 

4 Airplanes, and 3 days later I arrived in Bali, Indonesia.  I had an image of Bali in my mind, but that was simply developed by internet pictures and movies.  I ended up seeing none of what I thought I was going to see.  Bali is mostly Hindu so there are beautiful temples all over the island.  All throughout the day they put out offerings of incense on the ground and in the temples.  I was expecting the island to look similar to Hawaii, having exotic flowers and colors.  It was nothing the same.  It was covered with many colors of green.  It is an island full of art, in the buildings, the landscaping, and the people. I was only in Bali for 4 days, mostly full of sun, beach, pool, and a little bit of traveling around the island.  On my way back through to the states I had a layover in Bali for most of the day.  I was able to be shown around by a local family who have been converted from Hindu to Christian.  They spoke little English so it made for quite a challenging day, but we were able to get by and I was truly blessed by them.  My adventures consisted of a motorbike ride with a man I have only known for a day, seeing the largest waves I have ever seen, visiting a famous temple in Bali, watching a monkey steal a shoe off of the strange man’s daughter’s foot, buying dinner from a shack on the side of the road, eating a traditional Balinese dinner in the strange families home, which included eating on the floor, eating with my fingers, and eating a fish with eyes staring at me while I picked the bones out of my mouth. Oh and I can’t forget the ultimate experience of using a true Indonesian squatty potty.  I WILL make it back to Bali someday, taking my lovely Jack along to hopefully experience a different side of Bali, the shopping, the exotic resorts, and the expensive seafood :) since I know I already had a true Balinese experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.  

The rest of the time I spent with my sister and her family in Bandung, Indonesia on the island of Java.  Bandung is where most of the Indonesian’s on Jave come for vacation.  The weather is much cooler and it is known for it’s shopping malls!  These malls were incredible!  We went to one after another and each one was so unique, and rarely did they offer the same stores.  I was also treated to a couple of spa days, which cost only pocket change.  

The best part of the trip was getting to spend quality time with my sister and her two beautiful daughters.  I have not gotten to spend time like that with her since she moved away from home, 15 years ago.  It was like we were immediately send back to our childhood, full of no responsibility, laughter, and so much love for each other.  I never get to spend time alone with my nieces as my entire family is usually around when we are together.  The bond I built with them over this trip is something that will never be broken.  They are 4 and 2 and I know for a fact they will remember this time when I was with them.  We had many moments of blaring Taylor Swift, dancing, and singing at the top of our lungs.  I will cherish the moments of sitting on the couch, everyday, watching Tangled, all of our favorite movie, as they sing along the songs with Rapunzel.

It is always hard leaving them, but this time especially because I do not know when I will  get to see them again.  They will be moving out of Indonesia soon, and to another part of the world.  I don’t know when either of us with have enough money saved to make the long journey and that rips away at my heart.  The older one is starting school this year, and the younger one will be growing out her of carefree, innocent stage as she approaches 3.  The pure joy I received from them this trip is something I want to carry with me even after I return home.  

I have been truly blessed on the journey on so many levels.  I am taking away so many things I have learned, long for, but most of all....the longing and gratefulness I feel for Jack while being apart for 16 days.

I will leave you with a few observations I saw on my journey.

• Korean’s are servant hearted.
• There is not a equality law in Korea so they only hire pretty and skinny flight attendants.
• Indonesian’s are friendly, respectful, and honoring.
• In Indonesia you can’t do anything with your left hand because that is the hand they use to wipe their butt :)
• There is a lot of injustice and corruption in Indonesia.
• Australian’s are sexy.
• Australian children are incredibly bratty.
• Airport security is getting a little out of hand. In other countries they don’t even let you bring water on your flight that you bought inside the airport.  
• In each airport I went through a minimum of 3 metal detectors, except for the U.S.
• I heart Korean Air, everyone must fly with them at least once.
• I think they train the Indonesian monkeys to steal things so you have to pay someone to get them back for you. 
• Surfing in Bali is much harder than it looks.
• Never once did I feel threatened by being in a Muslim country on the day Osama Bin Laden was killed by the U.S.
• The rest of the world serves their coffee much hotter than America.
• Texans are known all over the world for being friendly.  I had a Canadian tell me, “You always know when you meet a Texan, because of how friendly they are.”
• If you see a movie offered on the plane with really great actors, but you have never heard of the movie....it is gonna to suck.  
• America is uptight compared to the rest of the world, but I love this country.