Greetings from Sulawesi

 꾸미기_13R 20150208 5 대나무 구함.jpg

꾸미기_13R 20150208 루마산덱 건축.jpg.jpg

We have decided to build storage for our boat-Sandek, so we shared our plan to the villagers. They were glad to hear the suggestion and agreed. We made an appointment to gather at 8 am the next morning. From the early morning, people considered about the cost how to build the building cheaply. They suggested to go to mountain and took bamboo trees. It became a villager’s project, and women in the village cooked for the labors. Indeed, it was a public project for the villagers. It used to be happened in this village due to the community living style. At the same time, it reminded us how Brother Song has built the relationship with them.

 

It was a miracle that the building was completed in three days. A villager gave a name of the house –Rumah Sandek Race. (The house of Sandek) At the behind of the name plate, there were written many names of villagers who have joined in the work. The house would be used for keeping the boat but also it could be a public meeting place for the villagers. We also made a book shelf in the small room. We dreamed of the ocean library after books were gathered more and more in this place.

 꾸미기_13R 20150208 10 나무이름새김.jpg

꾸미기_13R 20150208 2 루마산덱 건축.jpg.jpg

 As soon as the Rumah Sandek completed, we tried to launch our boat. The wind was too strong so we decided to delay little bit according to the villager’s advice. We expected to see sunset on the sea but we couldn’t do for the reason. So we just learnt how to use the sail and then returned back earlier. The next day, we went to the beach early morning that we wanted to return before noon. There was no wind at all so we moved to a little far away from the coast. We had to dismantle and paint again on the boat at the next day. So we decided to sail just to the near village. We were operating the sail in turn among us and the sailing was smooth. Sometimes we could listen to playing sound of organ. However the wind direction was suddenly changed so we couldn’t direct to our destination. We tried several times to change the direction but the rope of the sail was broken. Our captain, Brother Song rapidly held the key and announced us finding the other way. We were all nervous that the other rope might be broken too, so that we silently followed the captain's instructions. Even though we could see the village in front of our eyes, we couldn’t make to move because of the wind. We changed our destination to the next village that it might be possible to move the boat again by pushing along the coast. However our villagers who have been monitoring us came to the neighbor village by the motor boat. Then the motor boat dragged our boat to the original destination.

 

꾸미기_13R 20150208 17 루마산덱 건축후 아이들과.jpg

 The next day, we had dinner with villagers for farewell until the midnight. The next morning, we had to go to Makasar so villagers accompanied us to the place that we took a bus. When we arrived in Makasar, Ami and her mother were welcome us with lunch boxes. We had great lunch at the airport garden. We told to them that their hospitality were too much and deep so that we felt sorry about it. But they said, “The guest is the blessing from the heaven. The work can be delayed but we may not possible to see you for a long if we cannot see you now.”

 꾸미기_13R 20150208 12 오션트레이닝.jpg

 We are reminding again and again about the hospitalities and friendship of the people in this place. Even though they are not rich people, they have big hearts. Where are the abundant hearts coming from? We wish our visit becomes their luck as they said. And we pray that their abundant hearts could be their own blessings.

 

Prayer requests:

1.      Thank God that we could complete our ocean training safely.

2.      We bless the villagers who showed us the hospitality and friendship.