Salak Tagulandang mulai menghilang?

Tahun 1990an, salak Tagulandang begitu dikenal, tidak saja di daerah Sulawesi Utara, tetapi sampai ke propinsi dan pulau yang lain seperti Sulawesi Tengah dan Kepulauan Ternate. Bagi penikmat salak, rasa dan bentuk salak Tagulandang memiliki ciri kas tersendiri; bentuknya lebih besar dan rasanya yang kuat (berasa yang manis, sedikit asam dan pakat-seperti berasa pahit getah- dengan daging yang kenyal. Kelancaran lalu-lintas perdagangan Manado ke kepulauan Sangihe, Talaud, Sitaro, dan ke propinsi tetangga Sulawesi Tengah membuat salak dari pulau ini berhasil mengharumkan dan mengabadikan namanya dalam hasil produksinya itu, Tagulandang. 

Waktu berlalu, lalu-lintas laut berubah dan hasil bumi juga berpindah. Masyarakat Tagulandang yang hidup di perantauan mulai menanam dan menghasilkan salak kemudian menjualnya ke lokasi-lokasi yang dulunya pengimport buah ini. Alhasil, permintaan salak Tagulandang mulai menurut. Perubahan rute kapal kecil yang menutup pelayaran dari Manado, ibukota propinsi Sulawesi Utara ke sejumlah wilayah di Sulawesi Tengah juga seakan menutup pintu masuk Salak Tagulandang ke daerah-daerah lain. 

"Banyak pohon salak ditebang dan diganti dengan pohon lain, seperti pala dan kenari. Ini dilakukan karena permintaan salak mulai menurun, sementara pala dan kenari tetap dicari," ungkap Stevi Mulalinda Loho, tokoh masyarakat Bawoleo yang merupakan pusat lokasi perkebunan salak di Tagulandang. Stevi menjelaskan, ekonomi masyarakat Tagulandang sebelumnya sangat bergantung pada ekspor salak dan kini harus mengganti sumber penghasilan lain sebagai penopang ekonomi. 

Penyebab lain susahnya salak Tagulandang ditemukan di pasaran akhir-akhir ini karena faktor cuaca yang tidak menentu. Curah hujan yang terus menerus beberapa waktu yang lalu mengganggu pertumbuhan buah salak sehingga banyak pohon tidak mengeluarkan buah, jelas Stevi. 

Bila di masa kejayaannya para petani salak Tagulandang sudah harus berjuang untuk menutupi pemeliharaan kebun dan penjualan salaknya serta kerugian bila buah rusak kerena tidak terjual pada waktunya, hal yang sama harus dilakukan saat ini ditambah lagi dengan usaha untuk mempertahakan eksistensi salak Tagulandang. Untuk memperoleh pemasukan tambahan, kebun salak misalnya, dapat dijadikan objek wisata buah; para turis yang datang ke Tagulandang dapat dituntun untuk mengunjungi kebun salak serta menikmati buah dengan petik langsung; tidak perlu terlalu cantik, yang penting pemeliharaan pohon dan kebersihan kawasan terjaga dengan baik. Usaha yang lain yang dapat dibuat adalah dengan memproduksi manisan salak atau keripik  salak sehingga tidak ada buah salak yang terbuang karena lewat waktu atau rusak.  Salak Tagulandangpun bisa tetap eksis dan dinikmati masyarakat. 

 

Nothing more exited but reunion

Nothing more exited but reunion

When we read or hear the word "reunion" our mind will look back to the great memories in the past and how we become in the present. Curiosities came to our mind, how is she or he going to look like and have I become the one that I then expected? However, more excitement lies upon the stories behind. 

I posted several photos and videos of my Manado 1980-1990s youth fellow friends, in our 2022 reunion at three places, Watumea SDA Church, Panasen SDA Church and YAPI orphanage last weekend, all located in Minahasa North Sulawesi, Indonesia. We chatted, sang, ate and attended church together. The throw-back of 80-90s session was the most memorable moment for each one of us. Compares to other church-based communities, this group has a stronger bounding; however the members come from different ages, different family and educational backgrounds, and different churches; nevertheless they have been keeping in touch over three decades and periodically brainstorming the three important areas of life: mind, body and soul at its hometown, Manado. The graduates are spreading across islands and borders, from Indonesia to the United States, in which some of them are playing important role in several public institutions such as hospital directors, university rectors, practical doctors, educators, et cetera. 

We are looking forward to our great reunion when Jesus comes to take us home.

Photos credited to: 

Vicky Silinaung, Arlinda Siwi, Nona, Linda Sumarauw, Bobby Malingkas, Janet Sepang, Ellen Manueke, Lucky Mangkey

Posing in front of Watumea SDA Church.
Photo by: Vicky Silinaung

The 8090s Youth members pictured together as they
preparing to sing the theme song "Make Me A Blessing"

The 8090s Youth members pictured together as they preparing to sing the theme song 
"Make Me A Blessing"
conducted by DR. Glen Latuni and piano accompaniment by Dr. Alvin Rantung

The viewer's screen from California, Boaz Malingkas

The lead singer, Robby Surentu

Photo after Sabbath Service in Panasen SDA Church

Dined and posed at Panasen SDAC Auditorium

Dined and posed at Panasen SDAC Auditorium

Dined and posed at Panasen SDAC Auditorium

Dined and posed at Panasen SDAC Auditorium

A group of the wives of the males 8090s  

Posing in front of Watumea SDA Church

Posing in front of Watumea SDA Church

Visiting YAPI Orphanage

Visiting YAPI Orphanage

Visiting YAPI Orphanage

Visiting YAPI Orphanage

Visiting YAPI Orphanage

Posing with YAPI orphans

]

Ulang tahun ala Covid

Halo, bagaimana kabar kalian di tahun 2020 ini? Tidak seperti indahnya angka 2000, bukan? Kita telah mengalami banyak yang tidak terduga dan penuh ketidakpastian. Ketika memasuki tahun baru, orang-orang berandai-andai untuk membuat kenangan sebanyak-banyaknya di tahun 2020. Banyak orang memimpikan untuk merayakan ulang tahun istimewa dan banyak iven penting lainnya. Tapi, lihatlah, banyak acara ditunda dan kita bahkan merayakan peringatan yang unik, ulang tahun ala covid, begitu orang-orang menyebutnya, di mana kita merayakannya dengan acara penjagaan jarak, seperti melakukan perayaan online dengan makanan yang disediakan sendiri di rumah; dan kita mulai terbiasa dengan semua hal baru tersebut. 

Dunia ini tidaklah jadi lebih baik. Akhir tahun kemarin, seorang teman baik saya menyatakan bahwa tahun ini tidak akan lebih baik dari tahun sebelumnya. Kehidupan di dunia ini penuh dengan ketidakpastian, kesulitan, kekhawatiran dan tantangan. Ya, memang pada suatu titik tertentu kita masih menikmati indahnya alam, atau perjalanan-perjalanan bahkan makanan. Namun, masalah tidak pernah berhendi; datang dan pergi dan tak seorangpun dapat menghentikannya.  

Saat ini saya ingin berbagi satu quote dari Kitab Suci, mengatakan bahwa dalam musim apapun, sebuah pohon yang ditanam di dekat air, tidak akan berhenti menghasilkan buah. Memang, musim gugur akan datang di mana pohon itu kehilangan semua daunnya, namun, lihatlah, batangnya tetap berdiri kokoh, menunggu waktu mendapatkan kembali semua daunnya lalu mulai menghasilkan buah dan bunga kembali. 

Ia akan seperti pohon yang ditanam di tepi air, yang merambatkan akar-akarnya ke tepi batang air, dan yang tidak mengalami datangnya panas terik, yang daunnya tetap hijau, yang tidak kuatir dalam tahun kering, dan yang tidak berhenti menghasilkan buah. 

Hari baik maupun buruk datang dan pergi kapanpun. Tetapi, selama kita terhubung dengan Yesus, sang Air Hidup, Sumber Kehidupan, kita akan aman di setiap harinya. 

Sejumlah orang mengalami kesulitan yang melebihi dari manusia normal. Mereka menderita cacat di sebagian bahkan seumur hidup mereka, sebagaian lagi jatuh sakit dan melewati masa-masa yang penuh kesulitan. Namun, justru dari orang-orang ini kita, manusia normal, belajar banyak tentang kehidupan, bahkan memotivasi kita untuk berbuat lebih banyak dalam hidup. 

Saya suka mencari tahu latar belakang sebuah lagu diciptakan untuk dapat lebih menjiwai dan menghayati kata demi kata yang disusun. Kali ini saya ingin membagi cerita tentang seorang pria yang menulis syair dari salah satu lagu favorit saya. Orang ini menderita sakit hampir selama usia dewasanya. Ia bernama Thomas. Selengkapnya dapat dilihat di video saya

Lagu ini tidak saja membuat saya memahami betapi Pencipta kita itu setia dan penuh rahmat, tetapi saya rasa andapun demikian. Dia memenuhi kebutuhan kita setiap harinya. Dia akan tetap seperti itu dan tidak akan berubah. 

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Inilah cerita saya hari ini, semoga anda berhagia. 

Miracle in the wilderness

Miracle in the wilderness

I can say that June is my month. I was born on June. And this year celebration was so special, since I have reached 45, the middle of 40s. Remember, people said, life begins at 40. I would close the month of June the great thing just happened on me.

This was my first birthday here, in a strange place that soon became a lovely place, Savannah Tennessee. Even in a new place, I was surrounding by all family member: my husband and my two kids. I had also warm birthday wishes from you, my lovely students I feel that I am so bless. 

This month was began with a long trip to Colby, Kansas, a 15 hours driving from here, but at that time, I was driving from Denver, CO. I went there for a purpose, to find a school for my daughter. It was the first day of June that I met a new friend, who then helped me when I  was suffering couple of days later. 

My husband, my daughter and I went back to Colby five days later. Our plan was to heading back to Savannah after doing paper work at Colby. After two hours driving, one more hour to arrive, suddenly, the car stopped. My husband tried to figure out the problem of the vehicle that we just bought two weeks before. At that time he concluded, it was the engine oil problem, needed to refill. But, the thing is, we were in the middle of the interstate, and the car could not move. There was a man, asking for towing our car, but we did not answer him directly, so he went a way. We contacted a towing car eventually.

After waiting more than an hour, under a very bright sunshine, our car was towed to the nearest town, Burlington. It was no more that nine minutes, but we have to pay $150. We imagined how much money needed to bring it to Denver where the dealer located. 

We reached Burlington in the mid of the day and it was a very hot day. We soon went to buy oil and refilled it. But, the car was still unable to turned on. My husband was trying and trying to work on it and asking assistance from a friend by phone. But, it still didn’t work. 

The shop also helped us to find out the problem but still, the car cannot on. It was then worse that before; the diagnose said that the engine machine was unworked, the battery was low, needed to change, and several other problems: the right and left front wheel and the left back wheel did not run well. We need help. Going to the town we were heading to that took more than an hour seemed impossible. But, we kept trying to fix the car.

After an unsuccessful-self trying out, we asked local mechanic to help us. We have to wait outside the car, under the hot sunshine, without comfortable place to rest. We had never thought that the process took so long. The mechanic did not know anything about the car system, which is hybrid, a combination of electric and manual machine. We came to think to bring it back to Denver to a dealer located in Aurora. But, of course it takes thousand of dollar. 

Towing car will cost around 1500 and changing the battery and fixing other stuff at the dealer will cost around 4000. We also had to wait a few days. so, we were thinking of just leaving the car and we may go back to Denver or even Savannah by plane of using rental car. But how?

People came up proposed certain services: towing car, rental car and hotel. A man from Asia also came and offered some help but we were not sure of his purpose. At that time, we didn’t know what to do unless told him, “we can only waiting for a miracle”. In time like that, we can do nothing but surrender.

I suddenly remember the friend I meet at Colby. I called her by phone and told her our problem. You know what did she say? “She said she will take all of us to Denver and towing the car as well to the nearest dealer in the next day. Our plea was answered right away. I could not believe it, but it happened. So we spent a night in a hotel located near to the auto part and we went there by walk.

The day after, in the morning, our beloved friend, took three of us along with the unmoving car back to Denver. She and her husband worked for all of it with no cost. I still amazed how God works on these things. He helped us through our lovely friends who were touched by His voice. 

But, the journey to fix the car is not as easy as ‘an answer of a prayer’. We had to work hard and trying to find the best deal and it took all the day. When the hot sunny day turned to heavy rain, we tried not to complain. We have to patiently waiting the process and corporate well in all aspect so we may see God's amazing way.

We decided not to bring the car to the dealer since it takes lots of money and time. We left it in a mechanic's yard, whose address was found through Facebook. And it came until after sundown, when I was told that the car works again and we have to pay nothing for all of this. The mechanic knew how to diagnose that car and found out the problem was only in the fuel. It might became out of gas during the process of fixing. So now, It is fixed. Then, in that evening, we took the car back. We decided to heading back to Savannah. God is so good. 

Have you spent some times in the wilderness? Do you know what wilderness is?

Cambridge dictionary said that it is 

an area of land that has not been used to grow crops or had towns and roads built on it, especially because it is difficult to live in as a result of its extremely cold or hot weather or bad earth. 

I can say that a wilderness is a situation of no food or water to drink, hot sunshine beating the skin, no comfortable place to sleep and at the same time you have to survive to live. 

A miracle is 

an unusual and mysterious event that is thought to have been caused by a god, or any very surprising and unexpected event.

Another meanings are a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent or any amazing or wonderful occurrence.

Thousand of years ago, a group of people, a nation, experienced miracle in the wilderness. In that time, that miracle can be described as a marvellous event while in nowadays people can say it as  ‘impossibility’. 

The story is found in Exodus 14

Exodus 14

18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORDwhen I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” 

19Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 

20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 

22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 

24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 

25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.” 

26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 

27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 

28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.

31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

After the ‘great’ miracle, the Israelites sing praises to God Almighty. We can find it in Exodus 15. 

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. 

2 “The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 

After the read sea miracle, there were also several other ‘miracles” given to the Israelites in their journey on the wilderness. 

1. God turned the bitter water into drinking water through Moses’ hand using a piece of wood. Exodus 15: 25 "Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test."
2. He provides food for the Israelites along the journey: manna, can be found in Exodus 16:1-4. 1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 
3. Water from the rock (Exodus 17) 

Previously, God provides a pilar of a cloud by day and a pilar of fire to give them light in the night (Exodus 13:21).

 

But, after all miracles after, they still do not trusting God fully. They were easily fell into complaining to their leader, which is obeying God’s commandments. 

When Moses climb Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, Israelites came to their great sin against Him. Exodus 32 described how they fell to sin against God. 

6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. 

At that time, all of the rebelled people were put into death. 

My point is:  God has shown us His great power and miracle but many times we forget them and do things against His commands, like the Israelites. 

Let us think of  the purpose of a miracle. God has certain goal, to show His mighty power and mercy. When He performed miracles, He wants us to walk in it in reality just like the Israelites did. He wants our heart to fully walk in His way, to be like Him. 

 God is love. He forgives and blesses over and over again. Until I become a mother, I realise how forgiveness is important to awake the children’s love. Children may doing wrong day by day, but we know that only patience and forgiveness may awaken the children’s passion of love. 

God’s love is beyond our thought. Each day He showers His blessing upon us and even grants us miracles. But he also forgives us when we do wrong. How could we say no to Him? 

45 Tahun... refleksi diri

"Waktuku kecil hidupku amatlah senang, senang dipangku dipeluknya

serta dicium dinamakan, namanya kesayangan

Lirik lagu popüler Indonesia ini aku senandungkan dalam hadi untuk mengungkapkan suasana hati saat ini; mengingat indahnya masa kecil bersama ayah bunda: ketua keras mereka dan kasha sayang mereka untuk hidupku. Sungguh, lagu ini layak dinyanyikan di setiap hari ulang tahun. Ketika aku menjadi orang tua, aku semakin menyadari bahwa kasih orang tua kepada anak itu sungguh besar dan tak terbalaskan dan benar-benar menjadi titik tolak masa depan seorang anak.

Andai sana usia itu dapat ditebak:
Bila usiaku mencapai sembilan puluh lima tahun, maka hari ini merupakan puncaknya
Bila usiaku mencapai delapan puluh tahun, maka hari ini aku suddas meuruni anak tangga ke sekian, atau tujuh puluh, atau enam pulun....

Tak ada kata yang lebih teapot untuk diungkapkan selain "syukur Tuhan" untuk hari ini, untuk tahun ini, untuk semua hal yang aku alami saat ini dan masa lalu yang telah membentukku seperti seksrang ini, dan untuk harapan di masa yang akan datang . Aku tahu pasti, semua ini karena perbuatan tangan yang maha kuasa. "All come to pass".

Mengenang kembali masa kecil yang indah, dikala dasar cita-cita mulai diletakkan di sebkha kota kecil nan indah yang dikelilingi pegunungan yang juga perkebunan cengkih dan pantai pelabuhan yang indah, Tolitoli... sebuah lingkungan yang sarat hubungan kekeluargaan, hidup rukun bertetangga dan dikelilingi banyak teman dari berbagai kalangan telah banyak membentuk pola pikir serta rencana masa depanku. Dunia Papi yang pegawai negeri sipil dan menyelenggarakan usaha kursus bahasa Inggris dengan relasi dari berbagai negara, ketertarikannya pada musik dan bahasa serta  mami yang ibu rumah tangga berpikiran maju, membentukku memiliki keinginan yang sama, menjadi sepeti mereka. Masa-masa itu telah membentukku untuk menjadi pengajar, menyukai musik dan bahasa, menekuni dunka tulis menulis juga berkeinginan ke luar negeri serta memiliki keluarga yang kompak. Puluhan tahun kemudian, setelah melewati masa-masa sekolah dan bekerja, dan setelah papi meninggalkan dénia ini, aku memiliki cita-cita itu. Tak ada yang terlewatkan, malahan melebihi yang kupikirkan sebelumnya. Anak-anak yang sehat dan cerdas, di mana yang sulung akan segera menjadi mahasiswa; sebuah keluarga kecil yang kompak; menjadi pengajar; penulis  buku serta komposer lagu. Aku juga memiliki agenda tour dan konser yang regular dan relasi di seluruh dunia. Sungguh Tuhan itu baik.

Seperti biasa. saat ulang tahun tiba, aku mencoba mengevaluasi kejadian-kejadian besar yang terjadi menandakan tahapan baru dalam hidup. Berbeda dengan tahun-tahun sebelumnya yang kuukur melalui pencapaian lahiriah, sebut saja sampai berapa tinggi jenjang pendidikan atau karir yang kudapat dan beberapa pencapaian sehubungan dengan hobiku menulis: seberapa buku yang sudah kutulis dan diterbitkan, demikianpun soal lagu. Dalam kurun maktu satu tahun terakhir, nampaknya aku menaiki anak tangga secara drastis dan semua itu aku lewati dalam satu langkah besar: menulis lagu dan sejulah artikel.  Terkenang lima tahun lalu, saat aku masuki 40, rasanya aku maraton untuk mencapai target-target hidup yang belum kuraih, terutama menulis buku.  Tahun lalu, tepat diulang tahunku, aku mendapat giliran membawakan renungan di gereja; sungguh suatu momen yang sangat pas untuk refleksi dan seminggu kemudian aku menggelar konser ucapan syukur di tempat yang sama, dengan tema "Glory Hallelujah". Sebulan kemudian buku pertamaku dipastikan terbit; sebuah pencapaian yang dimotivasi oleh target-target pertambahan usia. Senang rasanya bila hari ulang tahun ditandai dengan satu langkah maju yang dinikmati semua orang, di mana setiap tahun aku berusaha mendapatkannya. Namun, tahun ini, sedikit berbeda. Aku morass target-target utama telah kubuat. Sepertinya, tahun ini aku lebih banyak melihat dari sudut yang tidak kelihatan, langkah maju di bidang rohaniah yang dapat diukur dari pengaturan emosiku. Memang, aku orang yang agak emosional.

Secara umum, bulan ini merupakan bulan yang penuh hadiah bagiku. Dibuka dengan perjalanan ke Denver di mana aku mendapat kesempatan menikmati liburan singkat bersama mami di usianya yang sudah senja, menikmati indahnya salju di Cooper Mountain, Perjalanan hidup membawaku ke Colby, Kansas dan mempertemukan aku dengan kenalan yang sangat baik yang kelak menandai tahapan baru di usia yang baru -akan sangat panjang bila aku uraikan dalam tulisan ini (lihat A miracle in the wilderness). Pengalaman di hari H yakni merayakan ulang tahun dengan makan bersama berempat di rumah, yakni bersama suami dan kedua anakku sungguh melengkapi kebahagiaanku. Kehadiran anggota keluarga secara lengkkap sungguh sangat menyejukkan hati. Apalagi adanya teman dekat, semakin memeriahkan hari itu. Sungguh aku sangat beruntung. Tidak dapat kuungkapkan sejumlah berkah lainnya yang menyertaiku di bulan ini.

My Fist Interstate Trip

Welcome 2019

As we entering the year, new hope awakes in our mind. What will be happening in the coming year …  If I looked back, two tsunamis beat in my home country during my 5 months staying in the US. One of them happened near my hometown, and killed one of my dear friends. No one would die because of the danger tsunami and hard earthquake if they knew when and where it would happen.

There are several things occurred in our life without knowing that it could happened. At the end of last year, after spent almost half year on working and adjusting to the new situation, I fortunately had time to spend with my small family in the way we usually did in our home country. We had a memorable road trip across the US, from Tennessee to California. It took almost three nights to penetrating the border of the famous states. We passed the capital city of Tennessee, then go ahead through Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Amarillo Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kingston Nevada before arriving in San Bernardino California on Tuesday, December 20^th 2018. The right word to express that time was: ‘gratitude’, we have arrived safely. 

The main point of this long road trip was how reunion with friends and family awakes our spirit. My husband and I have been there three years ago so we had beautiful reunion. My kids could also meet their friend and family for the very first time. Reunion always makes my heart rejoice, just as the road trip does, letting the family spending time a quality time longer.

At this point, I would like to describe about the road we had been going through that filled with rules signs. There are various kind of signs needs the driver’s attention. We also used technology to addressing us in the proper way. There time when we got tired, hungry and sleepy, and we need to stop a little while and have some rest. So many times we had to exit from the interstate road for physical and technical reason. When we were done, we have to return to the directed road. We surely must obey the speed, and be sensitive to all the sign occurred in every part of the road. Obeying the rule helps us to safely arrived in our destination. 

The things made this trip memorable was the time spent together during the long road. There were laughing, joking, tiring, exhausting, and so on but looked like all team enjoyed every single phase of the trip for sure. But, as long as the driver stayed fit, we might go trough day and night.

The circumstance before arrival was the most important part of the trip. In this point, the traveler were tired, weak, hungry, thirsty, sleepy, exhausting, and annoyed or anxious, wanting to be there as soon as possible. However, just as the destined city appeared, we lost our way. This was the most difficult part of the way. Could we solve it, we won.

This road trip is similar to the way of our life. So many times we got tired, and exhausted. There are also regulations and signs to be followed for our good.  Rules are found in may part of our live: in the dorm life, rules for relationship, rules for courtship and so on.

The full team visiting the world famous
 Universal Studio, Hollywood

When Adam and Eve living in the beautiful and perfect city called Eden, God gave them oral rule and as we all know, they failed to obey. The wage of this disobedience has tremendous impact from generation to generation. We now have a written version of God’s commandment, famously known as The Ten Commandments, which is the basic rule to live. Signs have been written in details in its 260 chapters. We need to obey them to be safe and secure. However, so many times we fall.

God through his chosen person has urged us to “stand in the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it …” While some people denied to obey the rules, you and I still have the change to follow. There were times in our live that we decided to walk in our sight; thinking we were strong enough to counter anything, yet we failed. Because we naturally weak. We need a stronger and mightier person to help us, encourage us and lead us in the right path to successfully arrive in our destination. Jesus Christ is waiting for you and me to come, as it is written: 

 Jesus said, come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,  and I will give you rest.”

No one comes to the Father except by Him.

As we enter this new year, let us take time to reflect our days, asking for the ancients path, and walk in the right way and let Jesus lead our way each day.

Happy New Year 2019

Tennessee Christmas

Come on weather man give us a forecast snowy white

Can't you hear the prayers of every childlike heart tonight

Rockies are callin', Denver snow fallin'

Somebody said it's four feet deep, 

but it doesn't matter 

Give me the laughter,

 I'm gonna choose to keep

Another tentder Tennessee Christmas,

the only Christmas for me 

Where the love circles around us like the gifts around our tree

Well I know there's more snow up in Colorado 

than my roof will ever see

But a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me

-Lyric by Amy Grant and Gary Chapman-

The above lyrics, of one of my fave Christmas songs, has been sung for years without me knowing how the situation really is in Tennessee until today, on 2018 Christmas day. The night before Christmas, called Christmas eve, I was in the trip back from California and found almost all stores closed earlier. I even hardly found a grocery store to buy food for supper. 

Couple of weeks before, at the earliest week of December, Christmas Parade held in the downtown of Savannah, the small city where I have been living for 5 months. Decorated cars and beautiful people marching and passing the centre of the town giving the multitude certain gifts, showing us how Christmas life in the country really is.

Picture of the students and staff at the HHA Year End Concert 2018

I have never thought that I would be here, living in a calm and friendly campus that takes a full day flight from my home country, Indonesia. Prior to my coming, my lovely daughter came. Two years later, the whole family spent Christmas in this famous country-living style, what a real Tennessee Christmas.

If I looked back, this "dream comes true" seems to be prepared years before. My dad, with all skill he had taught me, music and English, has lead me to have a dream, that one day I will visit an English speaking country to study and improve my hobby, especially in music and writing. It looked like the dream almost come true ten years ago, when I was being selected to win a scholarship to study abroad. I passed all the requirements, but never been awarded. For a decade I had been trying to encourage myself, that my time has not come yet. 

My husband and I visited
Universal Studio, CA in 2015

Three years ago, my husband and I had a privilege to visit US for a very short time, to experiencing the US independence day. We used this time to visiting some families and friends in several states. I was thinking that my time has over (I had a dream to study in the US since my father had really recommended his children to studying in an English speaking country) so we were discussing to send our lovely daughter to study in a chosen school. A year later my daughter came. And, see, what happened next, I was called to do a music ministry in this beautiful and lovely campus. At the same time, I have the opportunity to improve my hobby in writing, composing, traveling, cooking, teaching and performing music. What a privilege to carry. I am so grateful. Moreover, I am surrounded by adorable students, fabulous neighbors and generous friends. I love the housing, the garden and the circumstances. The local people are so kind that where ever I go, I was offered smiles and 'hello'. My live is fulfilled with love.

However living in the US is not that easy as we see in pictures. Sometimes someone has to carry a heavy load of work or even has to stay apart from the loved ones. However, when we do things with all our heart, we would find joy and happiness, the things we truly search in life. 

HHA Christmas Party at December 15, 2018

Our home here, is only a temporary one. Another home where no night, no sorrow, no sadness, no pain, God has been prepared for each and every one who love Him, which is heaven. It seems like "a dream". But one day, it will become real when we see Jesus coming in His glory, He would take us home, a real home, as is written "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

Merry Christmas, families and friends around the globe. May the joy of Christmas be yours. 

Savannah 2018