The familiar sound echoes through our room and our village. It’s nothing to be desired—the ringing of the gongs usually indicates that someone in our village has just passed away.
The piercing resonance of the gong is only the beginning of what will be weeks of rituals and ceremonies, concluding in an elaborate burial.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:21)
Over the next weeks of burial preparations, an exorbitant amount of money will be poured into the purchase of horses, cows, pigs, coffee, and traditional betel nuts. All of these are deemed necessary and important to bury a loved one with respect and dignity.
These aren’t just cultural traditions. They are an accumulation of beliefs that have been refined over the years to appease the gods and atone for the deceased’s sins—all in the hope that he or she will be ushered into heaven.
In our animistic village, these traditions and rituals are considered most important above all else. They are more important than the church, more important than education, more important than everything. It’s as if our village is held captive to its own culture.
Where we prioritize our finances indicates our values.
When someone is sick, needing hospital treatment or life-saving medical intervention, it seems no one can afford it or has the money to pay the hospital bills. But when someone dies, the money flows. If you know Jesus, this makes no sense. Why go into generational debt and exhaust every resource you have for the burial of someone who is no longer here? But here on our island, this is the most important thing: to advocate for and atone for one’s soul after death.
Living here as a believer in Jesus is not easy, but each day as I interact with our village, I’m reminded of the captivity they live in—dependent on and fully gripped by the fear of doing the wrong thing, engaging in a ritual incorrectly, or displeasing their gods. The enemy has fully taken hostage this island through rituals, animism, and false beliefs that have captivated these people in an endless cycle of traditions and mandatory practices that not only impoverish them but ultimately prohibit them from advancing.
Thank you for your prayers and support of us and our ministry here. While we have seen incredible progress and fruit from our network of Christian schools, we covet your prayers as we are deeply burdened for the village we live in and their captivity to animistic practices.
In April, we had an amazing Easter outreach with the kids in our village. We hid over 90 hard-boiled eggs and the kids had a blast hunting for them!
We also had an Independence Day Celebration with the kids here. Please pray for God to open doors for us to share the good news and minister to these kids in our village.
Easter Egg Hunt in our VillageIndependence Day Celebration
AWANA
Praise God, in April we had an AWANA training in our area, and in July we opened an AWANA club at our school! We are hoping and praying this is the start of an AWANA movement on our island.
AWANA trial in our villageAWANA club at our school
Visit from Mom and Dad
In June, we were incredibly blessed by a visit from Mom and Dad! Our village welcomed them with an elaborate cultural greeting.
First Day of School
In July, Ezra had his first day of school, and we also opened Grade 7 and a Junior High School on our island. Faith will serve as the principal of the Junior High School.
First day of Preschool
Waiting for the “bus”
Bus arrived!
Little brother saying bye to big brother
OTW to school
Ezra in his class
First day of Junior High School
House Update
Despite some obstacles, our house has made incredible progress and is about 95% complete. We hope to move in at the end of September. Thank you for your prayers and support for this project. This house is critical in allowing us to endure long-term here.
We are still in great need of financial assistance to complete the house and buy some necessary items to move in (such as a refrigerator and curtains). If you are willing to assist us, please contact us.
On this note, we are still looking for regular financial supporters. Our support is very low and we need to add regularly committed supporters in order to sustain ourselves here. Please consider supporting us if you haven’t already.
Ezra’s Corner
I’m almost 4! I go to preschool every day now and I love it a lot. Mama always gives me “homework” after school which I think is funny. My favorite things to do are take off my shirt, pretend I’m Superman, wrestle my brother, and help my Mama. At school, I speak Indonesian with my teacher, but I like it when Mama reads me books in English.
Noel’s Corner
I’m almost 20 months old! I love playing in dirt, wrestling my brother, and I talk a lot. But most of all, I think EVERYTHING is funny. I wish I could go to school like my brother, but I love playing with my cousins at home during the day.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Our transition back to life and ministry in Indonesia was rocky at the start, but we have been first hand witnesses to God’s strength and guidance. After our return in April, we jumped right back into ministry and have been so blessed to see God at work through these past few months.
WorldLead
In July, the teachers of our school started participating in WorldLead curriculum provided by our church via video. It has been incredible to see God work and move in our staff through the material they have received through these videos. Please continue to pray for their growth and for our leadership team as we seek to disciple our staff first and foremost.
Back to School
In July our students went back to school. It has been a thrill to witness 121 elementary students coming to school each day where we seek to grow their character and disciple them. During our opening chapel, the teachers did a drama about how God wants to break every chain and free us from our slavery to sin. It’s been incredible to witness our students grow both academically and spiritually through this year so far.
We also started a new school this year in the southwestern region of our island. We have been grateful to see God’s provision and through out the process. Please continue to pray this school grows to be a positive impact and influence in the region.
In August, as a celebration of Indonesian Independence Day, our school joined a city-wide parade. Our students made drums out of garbage and marched in a drum line! I was so proud to see their commitment to caring for creation that God has given us.
Our ministry to villages thru village schools has continued as well. In July I went with Ezra to a village school. We thank God for His provision and hand in helping these kids in villages get an education.
Culture Exhibition
Throughout the months of July and August our village participated in a cultural exhibition for cruise ship tourists coming through our area. It has been an amazing opportunity for Erdy to minister to extended family through helping them sell their woven cloth and by translating for Western guests. We pray that Erdy’s ministry to our village will continue to grow and that he will be able to reach many of our extended family who are still heavily engaged in animistic religious practices.
Uma Library
Our ministry to kids in our village has started back up after several months off due to our time in the states. We are thrilled that once a week kids are coming to our home to hear a Bible story! Please continue to pray that God would send more and more kids, and that their parents would be willing to allow them to join us.
House Update
Thank you for continuing your prayers and support for our house. We are working hard and praying we can get into it before the end of the year. This week they are finishing up the floor tile and will begin to paint. Please continue to keep this project in your prayers, that God would oversee the building, that our home would become a light and a place of peace, that people would be drawn to the light of Christ in our home, and that He would provide the funds to finish it.
What’s Coming
As we look to the months ahead there are many things we are excited about and would love to partner with you in praying through.
We are looking forward to the Christmas season as an opportunity to invite the kids in our neighborhood to participate in cookie decorating and hear the story of Jesus’ birth.
Next year we plan to extend our school to middle school (grade 7). Please pray for us through this process as we prepare facilities, faculty, staff and permission from the government and community.
At the end of this month there will be local elections for the mayor and Governor of our province. Please join us in prayer for these pivotal elections.
Ezra’s Corner
Hi friends! I just turned 3. I loved having a birthday and I keep asking my Mama for more birthdays. I missed all the dirt and mud here in Sumba! Every day I play with my cousins and friends and I love to make a mess. I also love dancing, chocolate milk, being FUNNY and playing with my little brother. Sometimes my Papa takes me to the rice fields and I help him look after the fields. I’m a great little helper!! I can’t wait to go to school next year. Mama brings me once a week and I get to play with all the big kids. I miss eating pizza in America but I LOVE fish and egg and rice. I ask for it almost every day. A few weeks ago, Mama and Papa brought me on a boat! Click here to watch the video.
Noel’s Corner
Hi ! I’m getting big too fast, says Mama. I’m 10 months old now and I love to crawl around and stand up as much as I can! I have six teeth and my Mama keeps giving me mushy food every day. I eat so much!! My favorite thing to do is play with my big brother Ezra. He makes me laugh. I like to play with my Papa too, he is so fun. I have so many cousins, aunties and uncles here, I love getting to know all of them and especially looking at their faces. Almost every day Mama takes me on a walk around the village. I love the cows, chickens, horses, but most of all the dogs!! They are so funny. Last month Mama and Papa took me on a hike in a village. Click here to watch the video.
We have just arrived in Bali and are awaiting our flight to our tiny island. We have truly felt God’s presence and your prayers as we navigated long flights with our kids and a lot of baggage. We are grateful.
We had an incredible few months in the states and we were so blessed to connect with and meet with many of you. We are looking forward to jumping back into ministry in Indonesia.
Other than Noel’s memorable birth, we made a lot of great memories with family and supporters during our stay in the US. We were especially thankful and grateful to meet many of you at Bible Studies, socials, lunch events, and church. Here are a few highlights from our trip:
Florida thingsNoel’s DedicationBike Rides with Papa and Pop-PopCooking with Mom-MomWalks and ParksGoofy cousin time!Touch a TruckWatching big American horses runSharing our culture at a special night at our church
Prayer Requests
Thank you for your commitment to pray for us. Here are a couple of specific requests you can be praying for as we readjust.
Jet lag and climate adaptation for all of us
Culture shock, especially for Ezra as he readjusts
The continuation of building our house
Our plan to reopen our home library
Preparation and building to add grade 6 to our main school starting in July
Our House in Progress
Ezra’s Corner
I’ve loved my time in America!! I got to see a lot of different trucks like fire trucks, excavators, garbage trucks, and police cars. I can’t wait to go back to Indonesia and tell my Indonesian cousins all about it! I speak mostly English now except with my Papa. I’ve learned a lot of English while in America. I’ll miss my Mom-mom, Pop-pop and cousins a lot but I am excited to see my family in Indonesia and of course play in the dirt and mud a lot more!! I miss fish and rice too.
Noel’s Corner
Mama says she can’t believe how big I am, now that I’m 3 months old! I’m a smiling talking machine and especially love outside, wind, and looking at lights. My big brother likes to give me so many kisses and hugs, I think it’s so funny. Mama keeps saying she wants to eat me up, can you believe that?!?!?
Welcome to the world! We are so excited and blessed to announce the birth of our second son, Noel. He made his appearance two weeks early on December 23, 2023. We are so thankful to God for a smooth and healthy delivery and baby.
As I sat in the hospital shortly following Noel’s birth, I was reflecting on so many miracles that God has done over the last several months for our family to get us to this point. Travel logistics, healthcare, finances, and the list goes on. We experienced some complications during Noel’s birth that made me wonder had we gone through the birth on our island in Indonesia, would he had survived? But God was and has been with us throughout the journey and this process. Thank YOU for all your prayers.
We have enjoyed seeing many of you during our time here in the states and we look forward to meeting many of you in the days and weeks to come. Right now, we are working out Noel’s passport and immigration to return to Indonesia. We estimate we will be heading back around March, if all goes smoothly. We are looking forward to jumping back into our lives and ministry in Indonesia, we miss it a lot!
Ezra’s Corner
Florida has been so fun! I’ve seen so many new things like a fire truck, excavator, police car and choo choo train. But my absolute FAVORITE thing to see is the garbage truck that comes down our street! Twice a week I convince my Mom-Mom or Pop-Pop to stand with me and watch the garbage truck man pick up the garbage. It’s SO COOL! I’m also learning English a lot. My Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop read books with me and I’m picking up new vocabulary, even though my Mama says I speak English with an Indonesian accent. But Papa says I speak Indonesian with an American accent, so I’m confused. When I first came to America I only wanted to eat fish and rice, but now I’ve learned that Mac n’ Cheese and pizza are SO YUMMY!
Noel’s Corner
Hi I’m Noel! My Mama and Papa said they gave me the name Noel because I was the best Christmas gift since Jesus, whatever that means. I love my new family and being in the world. Mostly I love milk, sleep and being walked around outside. I’ve learned how to hold my head up and sometime I can even smile! I’m a good sleeper and love to be held by anyone. Mama says I have her eyes but Papa says I have his hair.
Afternoon walks are some of my favorite moments with Ezra. Almost every day he requests we go down to the horse racing track near our house to see the “gate” the horses use during races.
Ezra at the Horse Gate
Last week while on our regular walk instead of turning left towards the horse track, I turned right, planning to make a longer loop back to the tracks. Ezra immediately protested. He was crying, arguing and pleading with me to turn back towards the horse track. I explained to him again and again that if he was patient, we would go to the track. He was not convinced. For 20 minutes as we walked he cried and screamed in his stroller, asking to turn around. At the end of the loop the road suddenly popped out right near the race track. His crying immediately stopped. “We’re here!” Ezra said, “We looped around!” Moments before he was miserable and exhausted, but now a huge smile lit up his face. “Yes Ezra,” I said, “just listen and trust me.”
I laughed hilariously at Ezra, his mayhem and sudden change in response when he realized I had a plan all along. But as I reflected, I realized I do this all the time with God. I make plans, have hopes, have deep desires. But then, when God takes me along a different road, I protest, I’m disappointed, and I resist, only to eventually find out he was leading me all along, just on a different path, to fulfill my desires or fulfill his plan which was better than I could have imagined.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
Exciting News
Thanks to each of you who have been a part of our journey here in Indonesia. We have some exciting news and major life events coming!
Erdy and I are expecting baby #2 in early January. This is a huge answer to prayer and we are so excited. After a lot of consideration and prayer, we have decided to give birth in America. We will be heading to America next week to close out the third trimester and await the coming of our new baby.
This trip will be very important for us, because we are also currently under supported and will be spending quite a bit of time fund raising and looking for new supporters. If you would like to learn more about how you can support us, click here. If you are the leader of a small group that might be interested in hearing about our ministry here, please contact us so we can find a time to share. We would love to do this!
New House in Progress
Aside from regular supporters, we are also coming back to raise funds for our house we are finally building. This is also exciting news! For the past three years Erdy, myself and Ezra have been living in a 250 sq. ft apartment attached to Erdy’s parents’ house, but with the arrival of our new baby we have grown out of the space. We are thankful for many who have helped us start the process of building a house which will be our permanent residence for the future. We are grateful to have already been able to build the foundation and walls, and hope to finish the roof before we depart for America. Once we have attached the roof we will take a break in building as we search for funds to complete the house.
Ministry Update
We are very excited about several new developments and growth in our development of Christian schools on this remote island. In July we opened a new school in the western region of our island, working together with another NGO. This is a great opportunity as many kids in that region have no opportunity to go to school otherwise. We are working with and training the teachers of that school regularly.
Ezra at a Village School
One of our existing village schools was recently able to build 2 new classrooms, allowing the school to continue through 5th grade. This is an answer to prayer, and we are so thrilled to see our kids continue to be discipled through elementary school.
Elementary Chapel
Our main school in the town Erdy and I live has also experienced extreme growth this year. We had waiting lists for both elementary and kindergarten as we filled to capacity. We are praying through building a new building this year so our school can continue educating our students through Middle School. We covet your prayers.
In addition, this year I (Faith) worked to implement an emergency response system in our school. This includes a fire alarm and also training students throughout the school about appropriate response in the case of an earthquake or tsunami. This seems like a given, especially since we live in the “ring of fire” known for earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. But, to our knowledge, no other school in the area even has the alarm! We are glad to teach our students about emergency preparedness and our hope is that they also share this with their families. Watch a short video of our emergency drill.
Ezra’s Corner
Hi! I had my second birthday recently. I loved it because I got to blow out candles over and over again. Since I’m 2 now I love talking all the time. I especially love excavators, dump trucks, airplanes, boats, soccer, books and horse races. Every day I ask my Papa and Mama to pretend I’m the horse jockey running around the track. I have a horse too! Her name is Pony. Sometimes Mama invites me to the villages with her to see all my big brothers and sisters in school. I love it because I get to run around with the chickens and cows in the villages!
I can’t wait to meet the new baby. I call the baby “moon” because when I saw the ultrasound from Mama I thought it looked like the moon! I hope I can be a good big brother.
Sticks, stones, thrown away water bottles, old toothbrushes, bottle caps. Little things, all garbage to me. But for our 1 year old Ezra, these things are fascinating, amazing, and open up a new world that he’s never known before. I’m in awe of him, each day living with such excitement and gusto to learn about the world around him. We have thoroughly enjoyed watching him during this stage, newly walking, excited to go everywhere and anywhere and see new things. Ezra’s hobbies include walking around (himself of course), rolling around in the sand, and feeding the chickens and pigs. During our walks, he often stops to pick up something on the ground that I hadn’t even noticed, a small piece of bamboo, a piece of trash, or a little rock. It’s all amazing to him.
Ezra joins the Indonesian Flag Ceremony for Heroes Day
Christmas Cookie Decorating
Watching Ezra live with awe and excitement for every piece of trash and thing he meets reminds me of the incredible moments and blessings that surround me each day, that over time I have come to take for granted. I realized too, that dozens of kids run around my neighborhood each day, never having the opportunity to experience so many things that we in the west take for granted. What experiences have they never had? What stories of Jesus have they never heard?
During this past Christmas season we invited kids from around our neighborhood to come to our home and hear the Christmas story while decorating Christmas cookies and doing Christmas crafts. It was incredible to watch these kids engage with such enthusiasm in something they had never done before (even a few adults joined in)! We thank God for each of them, and are so thankful to have the opportunity to serve them.
In this new year, our family has taken on a few new small ministries beyond the school building and community development that we were already doing. In November, Faith restarted mentoring 2 female teachers from our school. Erdy has been working with a village to help them build an outdoor sporting court with bamboo. Additionally, this past month we started weekly Bible crafts with the kids in our neighborhood, and a monthly small group gathering of about 20 teachers from our school. And as soon as our bookshelf arrives (still on order), we will open our reading nook in the front room of our home.
Erdy’s project to build a bamboo sport court in a villageFaith teaching coding to 3rd graders in our school
Ezra’s Corner
Hiiii it’s me! Did my Mama already tell you about me? I’m already 1 year and 4 months old now. I loooove talking and walking and singing. Every day I ask Mama to play music. Sometimes I get confused because my Mama and Papa use different words for the same thing. Is it a pig? Or babi? I don’t know, but I do my best to remember all the words!! My favorite word is bath, because when I say it enough times, Mama and Papa put me in a big bucket and I get to splash around! Every afternoon I help my Papa feed the cow and help my grandma feed the chicken and pigs. Then I love to run around and eat and run around and sing songs and dance! My favorite thing is when my Papa says nennnngggggg and I get to ride on the motorcycle with him. Oh and did I mention books?? I love book so so much, especially the ones my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop in America sent me! The pictures are so funny. And guess what!! Now that I’m so big, Mama brings me to school sometimes!!! I love going to school with Mama, I have so many friends there.
