Done with outreach
Hey everyone! Im back in Darwin Australia, which means the 11 weeks of outreach in Indonesia is over. If I could describe outreach in one word it would be ‘long’. I did enjoy it. I learned so much about myself. God did marvelous works in me. I was stretched way out of my physical comfort zone for nearly the entire 3 months. I was pushed in many other ways to go much further than I wanted, but that was the best part because it was when I learned the most about myself. I love my other 6 team members so much and we know so much about each other now. We saw the best in each other and the worst. They all saw me cry at least once, some of them multiple times. I learned a lot through my mate on the team, the only other guy. His name is Jared. He is 25 years old and married. Because both of the leaders were girls he was my one-on-one from the beginning. He pushed me hard with accountability in many areas of my life. He showed me loyalty in a light that I have never seen it before. I enjoyed experiencing our Lord in many new ways. I am blown away by our God’s faithfulness to stick with us through all of the poo that we put Him through and ourselves through. Thinking back one the first few weeks of the DTS up until now and remembering my faults and screw-ups (I remember them out of reflection not out of guilt) I am very humbled by His faithfulness. He has stuck with me and never gave up on me…and still doesn’t.
I learned a lot about the culture also. I learned a small amount of Bahasa Indonesian. I can say all the greetings, ask how is someone, tell them that I like to drive motorbikes fast and even ask them if I can sleep on their shoulder 
I know that last one is pretty random, but it has a good story behind it.
I was sitting in a long three hour Indonesian candle light Christmas church service that was entirely in Indonesian, so I could not understand a single word. Next to me was an 8 year old boy from the orphanage named Eric and he even looked as if he wanted to fall sleep. We were goofing around a bit and enjoying sitting next to each other. I asked him how to say “can I sleep with my head on your shoulder” and he told me . It took me a few times to memorize it, but I finally got it. Siya tidur de bahu camu? Which literally translates “I sleep on shoulder you?” HAHA I playfully closed my eyes on his shoulder and began to snore and he started laughing. He really enjoyed sitting next to the “Bule” (pronounced: boo-lay) or “white person”. We stayed at that orphanage for 2 weeks and it turned out to be my favorite place we went in Indonesia. I hope I dont forget how to ask can I sleep on your shoulder because the simple phrase means a lot to me, but I definitely don’t think I will forget Eric; an awesome Indonesian boy who enjoyed my company.
The last two weeks we have been on the Indonesian island Bali in the most touristy city called Denpasar. If you ever hear of a vacation spot in Bali it is most likely Denpasar . It only ever became like that because of its beaches. They were pretty much like Pismo beach but warm water and no sharks. I ended up taking a lot of relaxation time and break time from much work without knowing it. The first week we had a guest speaker talking about human rights, who delivered an exceptionally well teaching, then the second week was the celebration of YWAMs 50th anniversery. I didn’t realize it at first, but I am so blessed as a YWAMer to have been able to attend this conference. Loren and Darleen Cunningham were the speakers…they are also the ones who founded YWAM 50 years ago. At the age of 13 Loren had a vision of waves of young people going to every nation telling about Jesus. He believed that it was God telling him this and has lived to see it happen ever since. They both told us stories that sparked faith in me. I was inspired, taught, lead, encouraged and even a bit of inner healing came through their teaching. It was a great honor for me to attend.
This week we are wrapping things up with a debrief week. The staff and leaders are preparing us to go home. They are preparing us for the emotions we will feel and how to deal with it. Culture shock has been mentioned like I talked to a few of you before I came. I probably will never see most of the students ever again, but that is alright. I have seen teams come and go on the different bases we have been at and am learning that I don’t have to know everyone who is in YWAM haha.
As many of you know I have been praying about staying longer here in Darwin at the base. I first started talking about it before outreach and thought that God might be telling me that is what He has for me, but I wasn’t sure. Now, after a lot of asking Him and seeking the advice of others I still feel the same way. I have a ticket home next Wednesday that I wanted to use to return for a month and catch up with everyone, but I have decided to not. I am acting in faith as best as I know how by staying here and not even going home first. I am looking at giving my ticket to another student if it is transferrable, otherwise I will lose it or pay a few hundred dollars to push it back a year. I hope to catch up with as many of you as possible personally over email or even Skype, which would be perferrable.
SO! if anyone has the program Skype on their computer and would like to hear some stories about my trip I would love to talk. Just email me at jcbravo89@yahoo.com and let me know and we can work it out.
Ever since the beginning I have felt like God was telling me that it will be a great challenge to stay on staff at the base, but He will give me the strength and I will learn what He wants me to learn in my life right now. I have 20 dollars in my account right now, and thats pretty much it to my name. Im putting this on my blog so you all can know my heart. The last few days I have been thinking a bit about money. Not only will I be volunteering here on the base with my time, but I will even have staff fees to pay room and board. So my thoughts have been “shoot now Im going to have to ask people for more money”. Before I started YWAM I had always had really nice paying jobs from the age of 14, which meant that I could spend money on myself and others generously and didn’t have to worry about much. Now things are going to be quite different for me.
As the Creation I know that I can hardly predict what my Creator is going to teach me. He knows me better than I know the English alphabet, however, I am thinking that I am going to be pushed greatly from my trust in money. But I am accepting that it is ok. I have no doubt now that He will provide (I can confidently say this), but I do think that I will be pushed in my faith.
I do need support from the body of Christ. I need support from you all just in trusting that I am obeying God with all my heart. It will be discouraging for me to have someone doubt my faith and that I am not hearing God and am not doing the right thing. I will need encouragement for the next year. I do not want to ask any of you for money, but instead ask that you would ask the Lord if He wants you to support me. I don’t know exactly how much I will need a month, but it will probably be around 6oo dollars.
I forgot to say what I will be doing on the base haha My main job will be staffing a program called Youth Street. Youth Street is run by the staff of the base here. Every saturday they take the group of teenagers out for an all day fun activity or several at that, then in the evening have a youth group service with worship and a teaching. I will even begin to play guitar and sing for worship, which I have wanted to be able to do for quite a while now. I don’t know exactly what it looks like or what I am entering into, but I didn’t really know much about what I was signing up for when I came to YWAM in the first place. Secondly I will be helping prepare and staff a program called Mission Adventures. Its like a mini DTS. It involves youth kids and is 10 days long. The base runs a few each year. Kids come from all over Australia to the base for 5 days of lectures and then 5 days of outreach in another country. I think its main goal is to introduce the youth to missions. Thirdly I will be serving on the base in a practical sense to help it function; cleaning the bathrooms, working the kitchen, maintenance, etc.. Basically I will have my work cut out for me.
This has turned into a 1678 word blog so I will end now and catch up more over the next few days. Thank you all for your loving support.
Matthew David
