the "City"

As Rachel Dennis wrote describing the city of Jakarta:

"This city is just as westernized as all of the cities we've visited so far - Starbucks, Burger Kings, and mall abound.  English is everywhere, on billboards and buses, and it seems like every third or fourth person can speak it.  There's a TV in the house we're staying in, usually turned on in the background, and shows like How I Met You Mother, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Glee come on everyday.

On the flip side, all of the sidewalks seem to tilt sideways and have potholes, the locals stare at us more than they have anywhere else so far and call us 'bule' (the Indonesian equivalent of 'gringo' in South America and 'faraang' in Thailand, AKA foreigner), and all the rivers or streams we cross on bridges are grey and reek with the garbage that lines their banks.  Kids still swim in them, though."
                    -Rachel Dennis (Rachel Dennis Visual Media)

I would like to add that the amount of polution spouting from the mufflers of cars, motorcycles and tuc tuc's mixed in with the ever-lingering cigarette smoke create a thick smog in the city, making even the simple task of breathing a laboursome effort, especially for a runner like me.

I read in the Bible this morning: (Hebrews 11:10. Speaking of Abraham)

"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

I also look forward to that perfect city, don't you?

That city will have the cleanest air to breathe.

In the mean time, I plan on helping out the individuals in Jakarta who's innocent lungs need fresher air.

Meet some cute kids.

David Graham and I taught them some swimming lessons. 

New Friends.

We met Ro & Troy while staying in ChiangMai, Thailand.

They are the leaders of the Voice for the Voiceless DTS.

This blog is in honour of Ro.  

I hope it brings you entertainment while you recover from Dengue Fever.

 The reflection of colourful bar lights on the moat.

Andrew, Ro and Troy walk past Tapae Gate on our way to get a Thai massage.

We stopped at the Sunday night market, where Troy modeled the light displays.  

Ro and I both got some of these cute lanterns.

Andrew.. taking aim.  One of our past-times was shooting pool.

Consentration.

Then we thought we'd be adventurous and get out feet eaten by little fishies.

It tickled so bad!   haha

Andrew's feet got the most attention.

By the way, these fish photos were taken by Troy Ruff...  

"Are you a man or a mouse?!" he says: "I'm the photographer." 

Rotee!!  Just a delicious snack at a road side stand.

Thanks for the memories you two!!

Children learn...

Our Sunday...

Out for a Sunday ride. This is how we get to the slums.

(I've been inspired to get a motorcycle.)

The following poem is by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Thanks to Uli and her team for all of her work with the children in the slums, you are doing a great work.

Autographed.

Check out the stack of certificates... Signed by "Anita Tanninga"

Sarah Gnädig

(just a heads up... I love my team... 

and my next few blogs are going to be about everyone and the work they've done)

First person is my dear Sarah...

Sarah Gnädig

Sarah Gnädig is from Karlsruhe, Germany. 

She did the Voice for the Voiceless DTS in Kona in 2012 and did her outreach in Panama. 

They made a short documentary there on the adoption law and through this time God touched her heart. She is passionate about fighting for justice and bringing the truth to people who are lost. She loves to travel, meet new people, learn about their cultures, see how God changes people’s hearts, and she loves photography.

Sarah likes to go to bed early and wake up early.  She also does Insanity.  She's super adventurous and is always up for doing something fun.

She's a hard worker, and has a real heart for the people we meet.

Sarah is also preparing herself to lead our "student led outreach" to Amsterdam.

Some of my favourite things Sarah says (in a German accent):

"Come on guys!  You can DO IT!"

"Oh my Holy Cow"

"Ahhh, Sarah Panera"

"Let me sing happy birthday in German to you"

Anyway, I love Sarah.

Here is a photo story she did in Thailand.

She spent time getting to know Ashi.

Here is a bit of his story.

All photos and captions are by SARAH.

Enjoy.

 The Chiang Mai Cabaret show is the only one in Chiang Mai, Thailand`s second largest city. The Cabaret show is on nightly performed at a small bar inside the busy city`s night market. Every night there are up to 20 dancers getting dressed before a performance. Ashi, 22 years old, a ladyboy dancer from Chiang Mai puts on his make up and gets dressed before the show.

 Ashi began to work at the cabaret show 1.5 years ago. He went to a dance audition to become a dancer in the show. Every night he puts make up on and get dressed like a woman. Ashi taught himself how to put make up on and he researched for different looks to identify more like a women. At his place in front of the mirror there are many different cosmetic tools that he uses for different make up.

 Ashi looks in the mirror to get ready before the cabaret show starts. Ladyboys are very visible and much more accepted in Thai culture, they are called the third gender. Ashi left his parents early, to find work that he can support them financially, weekly. His parents and his older sister accept him for who he his and that he is a ladyboy dancer. They accept it but at the same time they do not have much contact with each other. Ashi is living with his boyfriend in his own apartment together close to the bar. 

 Every night Ashi looks perfect and he looks after every detail that it fits well on him. He knows exactly what he wants to look like and he is doing it with a lot of passion and patience. Ashi is a boy most of the time during the show but also in his private life. In his free time he wears boys clothes and does not wear any make up. During a walk at a mall he stopped at a shoe store and he tried some high heels on. For Ashi is it normal and common to look at dresses and high heels for the show. Ashi is taking care of his body that he can fit in any dresses wich he likes and that means sometimes for him to not eat anything. He is watching what he eats, so that he can fit in any women clothes at the show and to look like a lady. 

Lastly he puts on his dress to go out and invite people for the show. In Thailand is it more common to see many ladyboys on the street and there is a big tolerance. This comes from the main religion in Thailand -  Buddhism. His tattoo on his back is a buddhism tattoo and there is a cat and a mouse on it. The cat has a great significance in Buddhism, because the cat is a guard for the owner and if the cat passed away, it will say a good word for his owner to Buddha for the next life. Ashi believes in Buddha and this tattoo has a big meaning for him. When Ashi is done with everything, he looks like a totally different person. 

 Before the cabaret show starts all of the ladyboy dancers are at the night market to invite the tourists to their breathtaking show. The ladyboys are standing in two different spots at the market and sometimes they dance to give people an impression. Every evening before the show Ashi is a lady to invite the tourists, handing out flyers.  It is huge attraction and the people stop to take a picture of them. Some of them go to the bar to watch the show but most of the time the people walk by.

 Right before the show Ashi goes backstage to take off the lady outfit and dresses like a man. He is a male background dancer and support the lip singer most of the time. Ashi loves to dance and his biggest dream is to have his own dance company and to teach people dancing. 

 Ashi and Nataly are performing a new song at the cabaret show. All the dancers and lip singer learn new songs very fast for the performance. Sometimes Ashi is the main person on the stage but mostly he is supporting the singer with dancing. When Ashi is on the stage he is full of passion and he has a lot of fun with dancing. 

After the show all the ladyboy dancers are in front of the bar and every visitor can get a picture with them for a tip. The ladyboy dancers have sometimes a good amount of visitors but sometimes not. It is a hard business for them. For Ashi, it is it important to have a good night with a lot of customers to earn money so that he can support his parents but also to pay his own rent. He is sharing his apartment with his boyfriend who is working as a DJ at the cabaret show. After the show all the ladyboy dancers  practice the show for the next night and then their work is over but sometimes Ashi has a visitor where he has to dance for him and it can take the whole night. Ashi changes his day to a night and his night to a day life. 

ALL PHOTOS ARE BY SARAH GNADIG

Besides this story, Sarah has completed many projects.  She did a story on a Hippie camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she wrote a story about some drug addicts and gang members who lived under a bridge in Lima, Peru, and she created and edited her own support video and a video for the team.

Please check out her blog: Sarah's Blog  

Thanks for reading!!!

We're on a poster!!!

We're famous!!!

But seriously.

This poster is an advertisement for a Photography Workshop we taught on Thursday.

There were about 75 university students who attended the workshop.

We met a band from Perth, Australia.  They were great!

Some of the University students from Jakarta who attended our Photography workshop.

A tuc tuc driver stops at a corner store to spend time with some friends.

Abraham, a 7 year old student from Bright Star school waits patiently for his teacher to help him with his school work.

Good day friends, family and fans :)

I hope you are all doing well and that the Lord will bring many blessings to you during this week.  

One thing I have been trying to practice is thankfulness.

Being thankful in every situation is tough.

Sometimes it's easier to voice a complaint.

Try to wake up each morning and be thankful for three things.

Three things I am thankful for:

My healthy body.

My mom.

My camera.

Our team has started full swing into ministry.  It's exciting to see all the different avenues our students are choosing to focus on during our time in Jakarta.

We are visiting slum villiages, teaching photography workshops, working with girls who have been traffiked, working with transvestites, and speaking to Muslims about God.

Please continue to pray for our safety.

Also, to raise support, my friend Layne Grime is hosting a garage sale in June.  Please contact me on how you can donate items for the garage sale.

Thank you for all your love and support.

p.s. I'm sorry my "blog a day" is not working out.  I try everyday, but sometimes the internet works, sometimes it doesn't.  Forgive me!!

Meet Jakarta

Halo from Jakarta!!

We have been staying with the Sangian family in Jakarta, Indonesia.  They have been hospitable and kind to us during our first few days here.  The internet hasn't been too cooperative for writing a blog a day, I apologize.  One day I waited for an hour for the "create a blog" page to load, and then thought my time would be better spent doing something else.

Here are a few "photo a day" shots that were missed...

FRIDAY, MAY 17 - Andrew and I had a staff meeting.  They're always a delight when Starbucks is involved.  Coffee makes us more productive, ya???! haha.  This Starbucks was great.  They remembered my name, and when Andrew returned a few days later they asked where I was. 

Oh how sweet :)

SATURDAY, MAY 18 - People can mount almost anything on a bicycle (or tricycle) and have a mobile business!  This gentleman had an old sewing machine attached to the back of his bike and even demonstated his sewing skills for us, right on the side of the road!

SUNDAY, MAY 19 - We visited a church service and afterwards went to a slum villiage near Tomang area.  There we met Uli and her team of university students who go to teach and play with ths kids every Sunday afternoon.  We got to take photos and participate in their dances and games.  We also handed out milk to the children afterwards.

MONDAY, MAY 20 - Herman, a UPS delivery man poses on his motorbike on the streets of Jakarta, Indonesia.  It has been exceptionally rainy the past few days considering we're in the dry season and delivery jobs like Herman's would be challenging on a motorcyle.