A letter from Charlotte Blackburn in Indonesia
April 2011
A side view of the front porch and vegetation of the guest house where I live.
When I arrived in Indonesia in late January, I was excited. I had waited months to get here, but in actuality, I had been preparing to arrive for many years. The past years have prepared me to meet challenges beyond my control, to take advantage of special opportunities that may or may not always be what they appear to be and, maybe most of all, to recognize when God is making the path smooth (and to get out of the way!). My grandmother used to say, “Everything will work out, one way or another.” I know now that she meant God will see it through … and she was right.
The Graduate School at Universitas Gadjah Mada where ICRS (Indonesian Consortium of Religious Studies) is located.
When it became evident that my path would lead to Indonesia, Indonesia was an enigma to me. When operating in faith, you really don’t need to know a whole lot. During the time leading up to my departure, I studied the language and some history and kept abreast of current events, but really that only prepares a person so much. Coming to Indonesia was (and is) very much an act of faith. During the discernment process, some things became strikingly clear to me — most significantly, that I am supposed to be in Yogyakarta. Because I know that, and because I trust God, I didn’t expect many challenges. Quite frankly, the greatest challenge was leaving the person in the world I love the most, my sweet daughter, Azze. There were other challenges in the months I spent in limbo awaiting departure, not “technically” working, feeling guilty and somehow responsible for not leaving yet as well as feeling as if I had let people down by not choosing a path closer to home! Amid dealing with those feelings, I was trying to prepare my house and my life in Charlotte to be “Charlotte-less” for a few years — all the while feeling rootless and floundering.
An intersection near my house.
The greatest challenges for me I noted above, but there have definitely been challenges here (just maybe not for the reasons you’d immediately imagine!).
My favorite hobby is walking. By far, and I mean far, the most challenging thing for me here has been the preponderance of motorbikes. They are everywhere, often going in every direction and occasionally on the sidewalks (where sidewalks exist). In other words, they are next to impossible to escape. It’s not only that they turn an ordinary activity like walking into a very dangerous real-life game of Frogger, but the noise they make is my number one irritant. I really wondered how I’d get over this, but I believe an unpleasant interaction with a Dutch man in Bali must’ve cured me, because they really haven’t bothered me since I got back! What happened? Let me tell you — while strolling along, he rudely raised his voice at me as he told me and gestured that I’m supposed to use the OTHER side of the sidewalk … on a boardwalk … on a beach. I decided right then that if rude people like that colonized my country for hundreds of years I’d drive all over the place too! Indeed!
Sumeleh
A sweet street in my neighborhood.
Soon after I arrived, I realized that not many people from the South venture into this area of Indonesia — many of the assumptions about Americans were decidedly not about many Americans I know, so I became a kind of cultural ambassador. Talking about the similarities of heat, rice, fried chicken (fried everything, really!), greens, hot sauce and extreme politeness allowed for much understanding, more conversation and much laughter!
A favorite spot at UKDW (Christian University Duta Wacana) — a piece of an old wall was kept as a memorial.
Most of us are familiar with the hymn that includes the verse, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love,” but will “they” also know we are Christians by the way we receive their love, too? I am unbelievably blessed and gratefully humbled. I work with the kindest, most amazing people, who never cease to amaze me with their generosity, consideration and guidance. Sometimes my otherwise cheerful nature is dampened by swollen feet (for almost two weeks when I first arrived), struggles to communicate with people in the world (in the taxi, at a warung, a small restaurant, or just in my daily travels), confusion about processes and protocols in the workplace, or maybe the daily game of not-tag with motorbikes has taken its toll, but in spite of this, not once — NOT ONCE — have I been cast out, ignored or ridiculed. In fact, loving people reach out to check on me, to console me, to guide me and lift me up. It is a challenge to live far away from home — from loved ones, friends, pets and community. Coming here required that I create a home here. I am in that process and it is a challenge, but it is one I feel certain I am to complete.
In addition to learning the Indonesian language, I have picked up several Javanese words (an indigenous language of the island of Java) — seven to be exact. One of those words is sumeleh, which means “surrender to God.” This is my mantra. This is what I must do. Thank you for your prayers and support!
“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can — namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us.” —St. Teresa of Avila
Charlotte
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 138
