I wrote this as i was sitting in my backyard one day at 6pm listening to the calls to prayers. There are at least four/five mosques within hearing distance of my home.

listening to the
calls to prayer
is like
watching a marathon
at first there are a few
people that pass
then more and more
and more
then it gets less
and less
again.
And you are left there
sitting
in the same spot.
not much has changed
but you know
something profound
just happened
maybe even felt
compelled to join.

I want to take you through a Sunday morning worship service here in jepara.
just before 6am a hymn is sung
the church bells are rung
we sing another hymn
announcements are made
there is a prayer to open the service
we sing 'mulia bagi papa'
another hymn
bible verses maybe read
the offering is taken
the choir sings (that includes me)
the verses for the sermon are read
we sing 'hallelujah'
there is a sermon
we sing a hymn
there is the closing prayer
we sing Praise God 'Kepada Allah'
we file through the back doors and shake hands

i think that is why i feel peace.
here is part of a poem i wrote contrasting hymns and praise'worship music

....hymns
do not give you highs
they do not get you jumping
up and down
for your creator
but they bring you deeper
they hold meaning
you dont
crash
after them

and that is why i am torn
i am pulled towards
praise and worship
by my emotions
but i am pulled towards hymns
by my desire for depth...
....
spirituality
can not rely on feelings
feelings are not reliable
....

to feel peace
is to know you are not complete
not finished
yet rejoice in that
knowing you can grow
expand

the silence in my soul is heaven
not an empty silence
but a content
knowing
silence

until next time......

hello.

i decided it was time i update my blog after having a friend ask me if i have to bike a long way to use internet. (I have internet with in ten minutes of my house)

last time i wrote it was still rainy season here. It is now beginning to be the hot season. However just last night there was rain.

I am still enjoying my life here but at the same time looking forward to going home. However as i feel the day of departure getting nearer I feel the realization that I may never see the friends I have made here again becoming clearer.

There are times when I just wish I was home already but there are also, more frequently, times when I feel happy here. Just the other day I felt at peace, complete peace. I will be sad to leave the community that has helped me find that peace.

An average day here for me now looks like this
I get up around 6/6:30
I go to school and teach for a few hours
I walk around town, visit with friends, sit at stores and watch life in Jepara
Eat lunch
maybe sleep in the afternoon
spend the evening at church, choir practice, bible study, meetings.

Last week Friday I was interviewed on the churches radio station in bahasa indonesia. It was a good experience.

That will be all for now, as I need to go back so school and teach!