Learning to slow down is a hard thing for me. I have been here for just 5 days and I feel like I have been here a month. Ive had 5 surf sessions. Ive been from bukit, to kuta, to sanur and back. I fill my gas tank, EVERY DAY. Ive been to ceremony. Ive eaten rice with my hands.. even at mcdonalds. Ive had fried squid with my balinese family. Ive gotten so sunburnt I thought surely I was going to need medical care. I lost the surf rack to my board. Got rained on. Got my slippers stolen by a monkey. Ive surfed good waves, and ive surfed bad waves. Well, you get the picture.. its been nuts. I was talking to my girl Asa on skype just a couple a minutes ago and I was talking about how sometimes its easier just to find things to occupy yourself with, than learning to slow down, listen to your thoughts, and listen to God. Im about to stick a big piece of paper on my mirror that says SLOW DOWN on it. Ive been doing alot. And I dont want to ignore what my heart is longing for.. time with christ.
I got to go to a baby dedication ceremony for my friends Ado and Clair. Their daughter alana just hit 3 months, and in Bali there is a big ceremony when a baby reaches its 3 month mark. My friend Edis family dressed me and it was the funnest thing. I was with Kadek, Edi’s sister-in-law, and her 2 daughters. And they were just ecstatic to see me in Balinese dress. They just kept talking about how beautiful I was. It was such a cool thing to be apart of.
I have been hanging out with Edi’s family alot and I feel I’ve kind of reached a new level with them. I think they really see me as family. Every time I’m there I get fed, which is great since you may know, I am not the best cook. We spend lots of time on the front porch, on the grass mat, just talking about life. Its a real blessing to me.
Soon I’ll start studying language and hopefully I will be able to help out at the school down the street from my place. Its funny how this isnt even work to me. Me and one of my friends from global church were at a bike place to get my motorbike tire fixed. We sat down with the an old man working there, and started talking with him. My friend Brit doesnt know too much Indonesian so I was running the conversation and helping to translate to Brit. I talked with this man about everything.. his family, his work, his son.. and then he asked me if I had practiced a certain religion. We shared and he told me how his wife was christian and he is hindu. It was my first really deep conversation in Indonesian since Ive been back. When I walked away Brit told me something really nice. He said I just have a way with the Balinese people. It was so nice because I can feel it. When talking to Pak Udi I could feel the joy, the smile I had, just to speak with him. But to know that other people see it, well that means the world to me.
And the only reason why I look so small this in this is because they wear a corset-like top underneath!
As I get up on a Monday morning to start what will be a crazy, busy week I find your post. Ok…I’ll slow down and remember to talk to God AND listen to what he has to say to me! Thanks for that reminder. I needed it.
You look beautiful and so filled with that same glow I saw in you just two Sundays ago. Keep it up. We love you.
YOU MAKE ME SMILE, every single day! Thanks for being my friend! Its sooo encourage (spell?) to read what your doing! You remind me of how important it is to slow down, Im tryin to do that do, slow down and settle down. Telling myself that it is ok to be home and do nothing, its so hard but supergood. I wish we could slow down together, watch a movie in your bed and just talk about everything. I really miss you, but I know im at the right place for be right now, and that you are at the right place right now. its just so hard sometimes, and like i said. I MISS MY BEST FRIEND. Its been a while since we talked, at least it feel so, sooo skype asap!
pray that god will put us in the same country in the next step