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| At the feet of Jesus - Dili Beach, Timor Leste |
As many of you know, I have wanted to go to Timor Leste (East Timor) for a VERY long time (since I was a teenager!). So, when this opportunity came up for Laurence and I to travel to Timor Leste with YWAM (Mission Adventures) last week, we jumped at the chance!
Timor Leste was everything I had dreamt...and more! The landscape is breathtaking and the people are so friendly! I wish I could show you some pics, just to give you a glimpse into it’s beauty...However, my computer died...along with all my precious pics! So, we pray that we will be able to retrieve these in order to share them with you another time...
However, I did manage to salvage one pic I had posted to facebook (see above). Although ‘a picture tells a thousand words’, I will do my best to paint a little picture with fewer words...;)
After a short hour and fifteen minutes flight, we were greeted upon our very early arrival at Dili airport with the sun shining brightly and the heavy fragrance of tropical flowers....Here we were, at last, in Timor Leste! Despite our weariness, we couldn’t contain our excitement!
The first day the YWAM base (JOCUM) in Dili, we both got to meet a wonderful, inspiring missionary family from Oz - the Bacon family. We stumbled upon their blog a few months ago (or so) and have been keeping in touch with them via email ever since. They kindly took time out of a very busy day (of moving house) to come visit us at the YWAM base. They have moved into a new house they have built (which was still being worked on the day they moved) that will be a base for like-minded missionaries to come stay with them - their first group from Darwin were expected the very next day! (Checkout the Bacon’s blog: http://baconsbatimor.blogspot.com/).
We also got to catch up that evening (at an Indian restaurant) with my dear friend, Natalie. Nat works for The Leprosy Mission and is currently based in Dili, overseeing various projects including disability advocacy. She does a fantastic job and it was so good to catch up with her!
We also met a few of the wonderful YWAM team from Timor Leste....including two awesome, women of God, Kathy and Anne. Kathy shared about the many projects YWAM Timor Leste is involved in and her heart for this young nation...was so inspiring! Anne is the YWAM base leader for the little village of Weberek. On this first day in Dili, we climbed the stairs up to the Christo Rei (Jesus Statue) and Anne shared some of her adventurous experiences in Weberek.
The second day in Dili was our YWAM Darwin base leader, Jen’s birthday. We all helped share this special day with her in style, having lunch at the lovely Kafe Aroma. This is no ordinary cafe, as it is part of Casa Vida, a wholistic program for girls who have been sexually abused - giving them a safe home to live, counselling, education and vocational skills training - everything they need to live ‘normal’, healthy lives. (See: http://www.riverviewchildrensfoundation.com/index.php/projects/east-timor/casa-vida-house-of-life.html).
That evening, our small team had the privilege to share with a youth group from the Nazarene Church in Dili. We began the service sharing in worship - singing the same songs in both Tetun (as best as we could!) and English. Our team then did a short skit on Acts 3 (& part of Acts 4) that Laurence wrote, which beautifully lead into a teaching Laurence gave on what the Bible says about healing - everyone present was greatly encouraged (and challenged!) by his sermon.
A couple of us were also asked to share a testimony, specifically about our experience with the Mission Adventures program (since we were promoting this program in Dili). I shared a testimony about a young girl who came to the first Mission Adventures program (the week before) who had eczema, which was rapidly increasing each day. A friend of mine and I prayed for her one night and the next morning it was completely gone! This experience of God’s love for her really encouraged her faith and I saw her grow in her relationship with God in such a beautiful way the shortest time! Praise God!
The Timorese young people (mostly guys) of this church responded so enthusiastically to all we shared! A number of them have left their remote villages to study at university and a few even have hopes to be missionaries! Praise God!
The road to Weberek
Weberek is a lil’ village nestled on a fertile plain, amidst mountains of the southern region of Manufahi, with about 500 people living there. Although on a map, Weberek doesn’t look too far from the capital, Dili, the tracks (that barely resemble roads) that are cut out of the steep cliffs, make the journey quite an adventure.
Our 7-8 hour trip turned into about 15 hours (or so!), due to a flat tyre, the trailer hitch falling apart, with the ball being severed off by a make-shift chain hitch, and the crazy terrain! Our ‘troopy’ did get bogged at one point too, due to unseasonal rains...and this was in the dry season! I could only try to imagine how crazy this journey would be (if even possible!) in the wet!
However, in all this, our team remained relatively calm and unified - praying and worshipping our way up the steep hills. After our late night arrival in Weberek, we could only wearily laugh at it all!
As the first night included a delicious meal at midnight (prepared by the lovely Kathy) and the guys having to fetch water from a well, the next day was pretty much a write off!
The following days included us ladies sharing with the mothers (with toddlers) group, as I was asked (on-the-spot!) to share a testimony to encourage the young mothers. I shared a testimony from when I was a young girl and how I had faith (as a child) that our house would not be burnt in the huge Ash Wednesday fires. I shared how we are all to have a childlike faith and also how the Kingdom of God belongs to the little ones.
A very significant event happened in the village of Weberek, right in the middle of our visit: the new coconut factory, which was directly next door to the YWAM house, was handed over to the community. It had been started as a recent project of Timor Aid, funded by a Spanish NGO, Fundeso to bring employment to Weberek and to promote general well-being. (For more info: http://www.timoraid.org/weberek_article.html) Now the full ownership lies in the hands of the community of Weberek.
The occasion was marked with traditional dance, dress and music, ending in a lunch in which the whole community was invited to partake in. This wonderful experience gave us a real taste of Timor Leste culture and also an insight into the workings of the community.
One afternoon, the ‘girls’ of the group got to share, worship and pray with a ladies sewing group. That morning during prayer, God put Psalm 139 on my heart for this group. I chose a version that described how God had ‘woven’ them together (by hand!) in their mother’s womb - how each of them were the beautiful handiwork of Almighty God. I shared how God knew them and had many good thoughts towards them, loving them all dearly. It was pointed out to me afterwards that many of the Christians in Weberek still think God is angry with them and that they don’t understand His love for them.
Laurence and I also got to spend time in a Christian family’s home, to pray for and encourage them to take a stand for their faith. They shared their struggles and fears - the persecution of believers in Timor Leste is very evident and many believers in Weberek are still too scared to get baptised.
We also got to participate in a home-church, with people from various home-churches gathering, worshipping and praying together. At this service, there was one man who was new to the village (had recently married a local lady) who shared a personal testimony of his wife (and her family’s) salvation. This man was from the Timorese island of Atauro and he also shared on some of the incredible stories (including that of great persecution) from a revival that happened in Atauro. This man, who was clearly filled with the Spirit of God, was an inspiring preacher to all...even those of us who did not speak his language!
At this service, we had the opportunity to pray for people, with some of the prayer requests translated to us in English. However, it was interesting praying for people who we couldn’t understand what they were saying and hey couldn’t understand us! However, the Spirit of God is not limited by what we may view as ‘hindrances’, and I heard through our interpreter, that one lady got healed of her headache instantly and the other got healed of sharp pain in her leg! Praise God!
We had a few other opportunities to pray for people in Weberek - more often at their own request. There was definitely an openness to the things of God, but we were saddened to hear that folk didn’t want the Timorese believers to pray for them, as they didn’t trust them. It became very clear to us that there is a great need for true discipleship in Weberek - the kind that causes the people to fear God and not man. And to cause them to rely fully on God.
The journey back to Dili went perfectly and was completed within 8 hours - the road had dried up and the weather was amazing. We went along a road the wound around the cliffs of the coast and gazed at the sparkling, clear turquoise ocean, white sands against the rugged, rocky cliff edges....lush palms, despite the so-called ‘dry’ season!
We honour those faithful few who work so tirelessly in Weberek, such as Anne, for taking up that calling to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations.’ However, the scripture is also true that the harvest is ripe and plentiful, but the labourers are few! We pray that the Lord of the Harvest send us again (soon!) to Weberek and beyond!
Stay blessed!
C & L
Stay blessed!
C & L
