This week is the last week for me to stay in Batam. I’ve been here for one year and three months, exactly the same like I was in Medan. It’s been tough for me as always, hard to leave your settled life, everything . . .This week is also a busy week since I have to make sure our things are packed well and under the safe hands. I have to make sure that I can send my maid – Wanah home safe. Many things I take care of.
At the same time, my husband is also in a very struggle situation. Find a shelter for us (well, since we don’t know yet whether we will live in Apartment, HDB or a house), try to find good location as well as reasonable price for us. We struggle but I know that God is struggling for us also. Thanks God that we don’t have to think about transportation since the company provides us. If you are moving, many things are to be considered.
Being A Teacher
I never thought my life in Batam would be as wonderful as I experienced in Sorong and Medan. I thank God that He gave me wisdom to take the right decision. First, I thought that my life would be so boring, nothing to do except stay home and doing nothing or at least take a piano lesson as usual. But what I have experienced is beyond my thought and expectation. Here in Batam, I got a job. I became a teacher…teaching English with various levels and ages. I got a chance to have a training in Jakarta for a month and it was effected everything especially in my spiritual condition. I enjoy teaching so much, having new friends, being busy, having new students, etc. My salary was good as a teacher….I didn’t have to pay for the transportation since the school provide that.
My Acts 2 Church in Singapore
My training in Jakarta was not only effected my career, but also my spiritual life. As I was in Jakarta, my husband went to Singapore every Sabbath for a church. First, he planned to go to this particular church but on his way he changed direction to go to Jurong East SDA Church – the church that we planned to visit when we visited Singapore six months earlier. As his surprise this church was so wonderful, so loving and kind. Also the worship style was much different with the typical Adventist Church, so lively. He shared to me. At first, I scolded him for “wasting” money to go to Singapore for the church. Even after two or three visits, the pastor’s wife, Tan Pik Ye, invited him to join the worship team. He was so surprise and delighted.
As I went back to Batam, we went to Jurong for Sabbath. Then I could feel that this church was really a kind and loving church…FYI, my Batam passport was first stamped on the 17th of February 2007 and it will be stamped as my last visit to Jurong on the 16th of February 2008. It’s exactly 1 year.
I never experienced that elders would be so willing to come to that visitors and greet them, usually they just sat and gave instructions. But, here I still remembered TC, one of the elder greeted me, asked questions and tried to know me. So sweet! After the second visit, they did the same thing as they did to Fritz, they invited me to join the worship. First Horace’s team, then Peter’s team and Michael’s team. Wow! To tell you the truth I never joined music ministry but Jurong I joined not only music ministry but also the choir- as they set it up later before Christmas. I enjoy the worship and fellowship in this church. The environment is just like the fellowship I ever experienced 10 years ago in my university. To my surprise, this church-specifically pastor and elders- takes small groups/cell groups seriously, even they have 8 small groups and all of them are active groups. I ever experienced a small group, although it was called a small group but the impact was so huge, especially for my spiritual life.
To get Jurong Church, means you have to get up very early in the morning – 4.30 a.m, you have to book your ferry one day before. You have to make sure that you bring your passport because you have to cross the border. Although it takes only 45 minutes from Harbor Bay Ferry Port to Harbor Front but still it is across the sea. After that you have to run in order to get the front line in the immigration check point, you have to make sure that you have filled the immigration form correctly. Then, you have to take MRT or taxi but since taxi is very expensive usually we take MRT to come to church on time. From Harbor Front you must change MRT in Outram Park then you take MRT to Jurong East. As you arrive in Jurong East station, you must walk about 200 m to get the church. But, you love to stay in the church even until the sundown. Then you must repeat the process above vise versa to go back to Batam. If you have booked the ferry and late, you’ll get penalty and also you have to make sure that you’ll be in Harbor Front before 9 p.m. otherwise you must stay in Singapore because the last ferry is 9.30 p.m. You have to save money for the ferry tickets and the tax.
It was so devastated for me to live Batam, it means I have to leave all of that. I am so happy! I’ve never been so happy to go to church ever since I go to Jurong Church. I always look forward for Sabbath even I have no part that day. Oooooooohhhhhh, I’m crying now…since two weeks ago, some families invited us for farewell dinner, Eddy-Heleena Chong, Amabel and Ella Lie, the Young Adults, Jess…so sweet and so sad….Could I find a church like this again in Jakarta?
I’m Going Home
Going to Jakarta means many things to me. Showing that my husband can continue his study for free because he gets a scholarship from the company. To Jakarta means we are closer with our families and friends. We have to be tighter since the company doesn’t provide a house, pay the electricity and water bills. Try to deal with the hustle and bustle life in Jakarta, with the traffic even the flood. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh noooooooo! We’re still searching for a shelter…but I believe my Almighty God will provide my need. Also I can continue my baby program. Maybe in Jakarta I can more relax since now I’m home.
Opportunities
God is really wonderful to us. Every place God shows us something to do or to experience. For Jakarta even before I arrived, God has already provided and offered opportunities for me. For instance, Butet and Christine have offered me to set a small group, wow! Of course I agree, just wait until I am in Jakarta then we set the time. Then suddenly I found out that Bang Frederik, my former colleague is setting up his own firm. We have talked about it six years ago and now it has come true. I offer myself to join and he agrees. Going back to this business again . . . I never imagine. Of course as I will go back teaching in ILP. Wow, can you imagine that I, Joice, am a fulltime housewife but a part time teacher and legal consultant. Wow! Indeed, God works beyond my imagination.
The Closing
I thank God for these journeys. I never thought that I would travel and experienced so many things with someone that I dearly love- my husband. Together we can enjoy traveling, living and joining ministry together – whatever they are.
I just pray that all we need God will provides according to His will. I pray that we can still follow His will. I believe that God has prepared something special for us as He ever provided for us in the past.
As King David said in his psalm:
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart – Psalm 37:4
Indeed, God has given me the desires of my heart. My home work now is to seek happiness in the Lord therefore God will give the other desires of my heart – what I really long for . . .
