The mountains are soft and green. Waterfalls long and wide visible
from miles away cascade over dense jungle terrain. White clouds sag around mountain
peaks. On the ground Indonesians and Papuans move along at a steady pace mostly
on foot and by motorcycle. The air is hot but clean and the streets are dirty. Row
after row of small shops crowd together forming a town center.
Sentani is at once richly beautiful and stereotypically impoverished.
We are honoured to live here.
Our new home, just built, is nearly ready for move in. Along
the bottom of a mountain and up a red dirt road, our home is a small apartment
size row house. The row houses directly across the road from us are still being
built. About two minute walk away is an Indonesian church that we plan to
attend, perhaps alternating Sundays with an expat church. We hope to build
solid relationships with our neighbors.
While work continues on our home we are staying at a guest
house. The guest house is a stopping point for international workers coming in
and out of the island’s interior. Men, women, whole families living and working
among the isolated tribal groups sit at the breakfast table and share their
lives and stories with us. In eight months or so once we have a firm grasp of
the language these, or individuals like them, Ben will support through
helicopter flights.
On Monday we begin language school with a Papuan teacher.
Isaiah also has a Papuan teacher and will learn the language through play,
song, and dance. Part of his schooling is to attend an hour long Indonesian
children’s play group each morning. Our schooling is more formal with scheduled
classes and mandatory afternoon practice out on our own in the community.
Already, life in Sentani is not without challenges. I am
learning that everything takes a long time and even with plans agreed, the
plans may change. I am learning the meaning of an Indonesian “blessed minute”
and also “rubber time”. Allowing grace when things don’t go according to
schedule.
Everything is new. I have so much to learn. I am eager to do
it!
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