I have a window in my kitchen that faces our backyard. Much of my days are spent cooking and watching, washing dishes and listening, making granola and checking. The kids are often outside, playing on our mini-playground with the zipline, and I keep an eye on them through the window.
Soon after I moved here, I started asking my questions,
listening to the stories. And somewhere in the middle of living my own life of
homeschooling and reading and learning and friend-making and writing and
cooking a mediocre dinner, I found a dream.
It’s a small dream. Don’t laugh. And please don’t roll your
eyes. My dream is this: to have both Christian and Muslim kids playing in my
yard at the same time.
It’s really nothing new, nothing that’s not already
happening somewhere in this town right now. While there are a couple Christian and
Catholic-specific schools and several Muslim-specific schools, there are also
public schools where both kinds of kids attend. There are parks and arcades
where all kids are welcome. While some streets are mostly Muslim or mostly
Christian, some have a mix. And kids, they just like to ride bikes and look for
rocks and chase each other.
It's almost too easy where I live. Indonesia is a country where tolerance is not only valued,
but drilled daily into kids’ heads at school through the daily recitation of
the Pancasila. This 17,000-island, 700-ethnic-group strong country depends on tolerance for its
very survival. With so many cultures and languages, tolerance
is a treasured value that is integrated into the various belief systems themselves.
How many times here I have heard the polite phrase, “All roads lead to the same
God?”
But still. I ask my questions, listen for the answers and sometimes I hear fears and worries about the “other.” What about the Muslims moving into town who are probably terrorists,
I’ve heard people say. Let’s make a
law—no newcomers allowed.
Or: How do we keep our
beliefs from being tainted by non-Muslim values? We have to be careful.
And then there’s local history. The times of ethnic clashing, of violence. No one wants that again, I hear from both sides. Can we just live in peace? Make lives for ourselves and our kids without fear?
And there’s ISIS, which everyone here—Muslim and
Christian—fear. So, how do we do this? How do we live in a world of terrorism and
retribution and differences and misunderstandings and really, truly live?
This is where my small and big dream come into play. The
small dream? Watch kids play in my backyard. Big dream: It’s a big word:
Reconciliation.
It’s a big dream I want for this town with the long name. In
small ways and big. We (two American families, five Indonesian families) here at MAF in Palangkaraya like to say call MAF a bridge. Not
only do we bridge the supplies with the needs through our float planes, but we
desire to bridge church groups that are divided, ethnic groups that fear each
other, religions that are on opposite sides of the fence. MAF is looking for
ways to build bridges between the groups, provide neutral ground for conversations,
for voices, for listening, for grace.
We want to see people of different ethnicities and beliefs not simply living beside each other. We want to see them do life together--forgiving, sharing, eating, trusting, believing, and playing.
But my even bigger dream is that this would happen in other
places, too. That's why I feel compelled to tell you my dream. I’ve spent 12 years in this Muslim-majority country learning. Besides learning language and culture
and how to drive on the other side of the world, I’ve learned about different
perspectives.
I’ve learned that many of my Muslim friends want to find a good
school for their kids, want to feed their families healthy meals, want to do a
craft they can sell to pay for a haircut. They want deeper things, too. Love,
purpose, faith, acceptance, community, answered prayers. And they give. A great
recipe. Time over tea. Gifts when I have a baby. They’ve offered me deeper
things, too. Patience, vulnerability, friendship, grace.
They have so much to offer this world.
I see the same things in my Christian friends here—the ones
who are from tiny villages, who pray to God like they actually believe He still
does miracles. They’re trying to figure out how to pay for their kids’ school,
how to take care of their autistic relative, the child orphaned by their deceased brother and wife. They’ve cooked me meals, welcomed me into their lives, shown
me their deep faith and their sacrificial generosity.
They have so much to offer this world.
I see a lot of hard things here, and if not here, then on
the news. But I’m always looking for the good things. I desperately want to
watch stories of life unfold in front of me.
But I’m small, my world is small. There are dishes to wash
and dinner to make and kids to keep track of. Who has time to make world peace
when you just realized you’re out of eggs?
So, do you see now why I want to watch Muslim and Christians
playing in my backyard while I sauté the vegetables? Opening my home and yard is one thing I can do,
right here, right now.
Join me in small/big dreams?
beautiful friends
ReplyDeleteHello my name is Lauren i'm from USA i want to testify of a great and powerful spell caster my husband left me and the kids for 2 weeks when i called him he didn't pick up when he came back home the 3rd week he told me he wanted a divorce i was so sad i cried all night he left again i was so lonely the next day i was searching for something online when i found a spell caster called Priest Ade who have helped so many people with their problems so i contacted him with my problems he told me it will take 24hrs and my husband will be back to me i did every thing he told me to do and the next day my husband came back kneeling and begging he canceled the divorce we are now happy together Priest Ade can help you too Email him at
Deleteancientspiritspellcast@yahoo.com or ancientspiritspellcast@gmail.com
Blogs: https://relationshipspell.blogspot.com
Website http://ancientspiritspellcast.website2.me
WhatsApp +2347059715465
Hello my name is Lauren i'm from USA i want to testify of a great and powerful spell caster my husband left me and the kids for 2 weeks when i called him he didn't pick up when he came back home the 3rd week he told me he wanted a divorce i was so sad i cried all night he left again i was so lonely the next day i was searching for something online when i found a spell caster called Priest Ade who have helped so many people with their problems so i contacted him with my problems he told me it will take 24hrs and my husband will be back to me i did every thing he told me to do and the next day my husband came back kneeling and begging he canceled the divorce we are now happy together Priest Ade can help you too Email him at
ancientspiritspellcast@yahoo.com or ancientspiritspellcast@gmail.com
Blogs: https://relationshipspell.blogspot.com
Website http://ancientspiritspellcast.website2.me
WhatsApp +2347059715465
Hello my name is Lauren i'm from USA i want to testify of a great and powerful spell caster my husband left me and the kids for 2 weeks when i called him he didn't pick up when he came back home the 3rd week he told me he wanted a divorce i was so sad i cried all night he left again i was so lonely the next day i was searching for something online when i found a spell caster called Priest Ade who have helped so many people with their problems so i contacted him with my problems he told me it will take 24hrs and my husband will be back to me i did every thing he told me to do and the next day my husband came back kneeling and begging he canceled the divorce we are now happy together Priest Ade can help you too Email him at
ancientspiritspellcast@yahoo.com or ancientspiritspellcast@gmail.com
Blogs: https://relationshipspell.blogspot.com
Website http://ancientspiritspellcast.website2.me
WhatsApp +2347059715465
You might be interested to know that your blog has been featured on the "Moms in Missions" website (https://momsinmissions.com/online-community)
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to send you an invitation to join our Facebook group if you're interested. We're trying to start up a new community group for missionary moms . . (https://www.facebook.com/groups/672492636266355)
Both the website and the Facebook group are brand new, so we would love your help in spreading the word and inviting other missionary moms to join!
Blessings in Christ!
Selamat Datang Di Agen Taruhan Online Terbesar Dan Terbaik Di Indonesia
ReplyDeleteKami dari agen judi online indonesia terpercaya Texasbola.com Ingin menawarkan anda promo dan produk taruhan online yang kami sediakan dan berbagai macam kejutan dan bonus yang sudah kami sediakan untuk anda dan kami juga memberikan pelayanan 24 jam nonstop untuk serta mengutamakan kenyamanan, keamanan dan kepuasan anda saat bermain taruhan online ini
Nikmati Promo Terbaik Dari Kami Untuk Pecinta Betting Online :•
•PROMO BONUS SPORTBOOK 10% NEW MEMBER
•PROMO BONUS CASHBACK SPORTBOOK 15%
•PROMO BONUS CASINO 10 NEW MEMBER
•PROMO BONUS ROLLINGAN 1% SETIAP MINGGU NYA
•PROMO BONUS SABUNG AYAM 10% NEW MEMBER
•PROMO BONUS NEXT DEPOSIT 5%
•PROMO BONUS CASHBACK 5% SABUNG AYAM SETIAP MINGGU NYA
•BONUS REFERRAL 1.5 & 10 %
Untuk Info Lebih Lanjut Melakukan Deposit, Withdraw, Register Dengan Super Cepat Dan Tentunya Memuaskan.
• PIN BB : 2B6802A4 / D8CE2524
• LINE ID : texasbola
• FACEBOOK : Texasbola
• Whats Up : +6282275282558 / +6285361221912
• Instagram : texasbola_303
EFFECTIVE AND POWERFUL LOVE SPELL CASTER AND LOTTERY SPELL 2019 GBOJIESPIRITUALTEMPLE@GMAIL. COM OR WHATSAPP HIM :+2349066410185
ReplyDeleteHi i am from USA I have just experience the wonders of Dr. gbojie love spell, that have been spread on the internet and worldwide, How he marvelously helped people all over the world to restored back their marriage life and get back lost lovers, and also help to win lottery. I contacted him after going through so many testimonies from different people how he help to bring back ex lover back, i told him about my husband that abandoned me about 8 months ago, and left home with all i had.. Dr GBOJIE only told me to smile and have a rest of mind he will handle all in just 24 hours, After the second day my husband called me, i was just so shocked, i pick the call and couldn't believe my ears, he was really begging me to forgive him and making promises on phone.. He came back home and also got me a new car just for him to proof his love for me. i was so happy and called Dr Gbojie and thanked him, he only told me to share the good news all over the world .. Well if you need an effective and real spell caster contact Dr gbojie Via email: gbojiespiritualtemple@gmail.com, gbojiespiritualtemple@yahoo.com or Call or WhatsApp: +2349066410185
website : http://gbojiespiritualtemple.website2.me/
What a wonderful and a straight forward spell caster that has brought back joy and happiness into my life! Am giving this testimony because am so happy, I want to thank Dr. Osasu for the great thing He has done in my life , He brought happiness back to my life, I never believed in spell casters until my life fell apart when my lover of 6 years decided to call it quit almost when we wanted to get married. I was so emotional breakdown to the extent i could not do anything reasonable again, after 2months in pain before an old friend of mine introduced me to a spell caster on line called Dr Osasu, this was after I have been scammed by various fake spell casters. I was introduced me to Dr Osasu a true Spell Caster. In less than 24 hours i saw wonders, my lover came back to me and my life got back just like a completed puzzle, and after 1month later we got married and it was just like a dream to me because i thought i had lost him forever. Thank you Dr. Osasu for helping me but most of all, Your Honesty and Fast Accurate Results. email: Drosasu25@gmail.com WhatsApp Number: +2347064365391
ReplyDeleteBusiness loans within 2-3 working days with convenient rates.Apply directly for more information,Email: lendingcashhelpdesk@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHOW DR. UNEME brought back my ex lover unemespellben@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteAm DONNA, am from UK. After been in a relationship with my Boyfriend for 1 year now and we were planning to get married soon and all of a sudden he left me for another girl. of a truth, I really love this guy and never can I imagine life without him. I further tried all my best to get him back but all my effort to get him back in my life did not work out. It was on this faithful day, I came across some Testimonies on a website about this great spell caster called (Dr. UNEME) any persons claimed that he help them to renew their relationship and bring their ex lover back, I had to contact him because he was my last hope. I contacted him through his email and he assured me that in three days time my boyfriend is going to leave the other girl and come back to me and it was a very great surprise to see my boyfriend coming back to me after three days the spell was done. I am so very happy today that he came back to me and i achieved this with the help of Dr UNEME I equally want to use this opportunity to Tell/Advice to as many who need their ex back, if you need his help you can Contact him through
EMAIL: unemespellben@gmail.com WHATSAPP HIM @ +2348143813120
Thank You Once Again Dr.UNEME
This is a testimony that i will tell to every one to hear. i have been married four 4 years and on the fifth year of my marriage, another woman had a spell to take my lover away from me and my husband left me and the kids and we have suffered for 2 years until i meant a post where this man DR. Osasu: have helped someone and i decided to give him a try to help me bring my love Husband home and believe me i just send my picture to him and that of my husband and after 48 hours as he have told me, i saw a car drove into the house and behold it was my husband and he have come to me and the kids and that is why i am happy to make every one of you in similar to met with this man and have your lover back to your self His email: (drosasu25@gmail.com) you can also contact him or whatspp him on this +2347064365391 thank so much
ReplyDelete