Step by Step

22nd October 2014

They're so young
They're so fragile
They're passionate about tomorrow
They laugh a lot over a friend's joke
They go out beyond midnight
They have breakfast at 1.16 AM
They give birthday surprise to their loved ones
They cook for their loved ones
They take selfies
They take groupies
They dont wear jacket at night
They go to movies
They talk about food
They share food with one another
They have too much energy
They easily get starve
They eat a lot
They hate doing sport
They are 

Step by Step

Sunday, 12th October 2014

My favorite day after all. I was getting ready for the morning service, I put on my new "skort" (short-skirt) and my pink shirt. It was just another exciting Sunday. I was thinking, in a while I would see the Lifehousers; we would have a great time praising-worshiping our Lord Jesus, listening to inspiring-motivating-encouraging message to build our faith in Jesus, having people come to listen about Jesus and His greatness, and many more. Only by having those thoughts I felt so pumped up. I rode my bike singing along the way. When I got there, the room has been set up and we were almost ready for the fellowship. Then, Ka Dini and her husband arrived with a box of cake from Surabaya. I stood up and gladly received that box as others started teasing me about that but as usual I didnt care (I love cake like a lot, even better when it's free hahaha). I let Bang Gomgom (our pastor) and his wife to take the cake firstly as we followed. Sharing is the best thing to do among believers after all. When we share it's like we let people come in and be closer to us and as one family in Christ it's very important for us to love doing it.  So, we started the morning service with room packed with people as the kids church also had started the fun outside.  I loved the message delivered at that moment. It was about Esther - Godly woman in the bible, how she lived not only for herself but also for God and her people. I have read about her story before but I never really noticed about this one thing that I can learn form her story. I learned to live for others which means I need to concern about their salvation. It doesnt mean that I have the power to save them, only Jesus can save them, but it simply means that God can use me to share about His good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to people. I have experienced God's love, His grace saves me, I have His promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven, I know for sure that Jesus is the only way, truth, and life that no one can come to the Father but through Him, I know that if we dont put our faith in Him then hell is our final destination. Why wouldnt I share this to people? I mentioned before that I love sharing, so why dont I share this amazing good news to people? My part is to share and the rest will be taken care by God; whether that person believes in Him or not, only God knows. Just do your part, sharing. By doing it, I dont live only for people but also for God since I become worker in His work-field. I follow His command to go out and share about Him to people. God doesnt have to use me but He wants to. He wants me to be His partner. Instead of working for Google, Microsoft or some other massive companies, it must be way more better to work with God, like really. We finished with the morning service and started to pack up. Another service to go, remix service.

I dragged piles of chairs from the back side toward the stage and began to put them in order. There were 5 of us busy preparing the room for the remix service. While dragging the chairs what I had in my mind was just getting the room ready for people to come in and listen about Jesus. It's exciting to think of room packed with young people whose hearts will be touched by God, whose life will be different after they received Jesus as their Savior, whose sins will be forgiven, whose burdens will be taken off. They will have the same hope, the same joy, the same piece, the same promise, the same faith in the same God with ours, Jesus Christ. Taking part in such a ministry is a privilege. I believe that there's no small or big part as we serve God and minister His people, since we are body of Christ so every single part is important. If we do our part well, even if it's only a "small" thing in people's eyes but it's not in His sight. When we do it, do it for Him. God sees always. He was there when I dragged the chairs, when Andri-Arudo-Bang Yos set up the curtain, when Varol put the drums in order, when any of us, His workers do our parts - He's there looking.

After the service, I and some other friends went out for dinner and planned to go watching the final show of 3030. It was the very last show and we decided to go for it. We had to be in a very long line before we could go in. After we got in we still had to wait for an hour. We killed the time by playing game, taking pictures, and teasing one another. We laughed out loud and got people's attention but it didnt matter since we just wanted to enjoy the moment. The last show was crazy. They gave all out, all the jokes and craziness. I enjoyed it. At the end of the show, I and Uma wanted to take pictures with our favorite performers. So, we waited for them and got to see them. It seemed ridiculous for some people, even some of my friends said that I looked so countrified. But for me it's all about creating memories, it doesnt matter if people look down at me because of that. It's my memory of life to be created, not theirs, so whatever they say about it bothers me not. What I mean here, just enjoy your life while you're still young, be ridiculous, dont hold yourself down. Jesus died for you so you can have the victory over death, your biggest fear. It also means that He wants you to enjoy the life that He gives to you without being afraid any longer. And while you're still young just be free (in positive way) as much as possible because things change as you get older, you have more responsibilities and less time to enjoy yourself. So, if people stare at you strangely as you try to enjoy the moment and create memories just let them see it. Dont ever let them ruin your moment. At the end of the day you will lay down on your bed all alone thinking about things you have done for the day, if you let people interrupt your chance to enjoy the moment I bet you will regret it. So dont!

Step by Step

Saturday, 11th October 2014

I woke up seeing my bedroom was in a mess, I thought I still have time to clean it but I didnt. I went to my bathroom and took only few minutes in it before I dressed up. As usual we, Lifehousers, have this program called COME2US. Through this program we spread the flyers of Blaze to students and university students. Recently, we will get together firstly in CK Renon Park, park our motorbikes there and leave with Bang Gomgom's car. Today, Andri arrived first as I followed, then Tian. They went into CK to buy breakfast, but I went toward different direction to an old woman with her bike with big basket filled with wrapped rice, big-sliced fruit (papaya, watermelon and melon), sweet potatoes etc. I bought 2 big slices of papaya and 1 sweet potato for my breakfast (since I claimed to be doing carbo diet). We were still waiting for Tiff, Bang Gomgom and Simon while had breakfast. After everyone got together, we left CK but I couldnt find my keys. I looked around and realized that someone had found it. I left my keys inside the old woman's basket before, I've been so careless. Inside the car, they told me to sit alone in the back but I didnt want to so four of us (I, Tian, Tiff and Simon) squeezed in the second row. Our first destination was STIKI, we've been there before but none of them really stayed so we decided to give it another try. We broke into two groups, I was in the same team with Tiff and Tian. We started to spread the flyers and I got a call from my boss' husband saying that he wanted to go to the studio to work on his wife's little shop. He wanted me to make sure that the studio was empty, I told him I would have to call Bree-the instructor. When I called her, she said she had left the studio because the power went off. I got surprised thinking that it must be because I forgot to refill the power. I was freaking out. I was afraid if my boss' husband figured it out when he arrived in the studio. I then decided to leave STIKI and went back to CK to take my motorbike. It was a long suffering. I had to wait for a very long time to get into the public transport three times (Bali needs more public transport) and then spent my 10K for only a short trip with the motorbike-taxi. It didnt really matter since I was in hurry. I jumped onto my motorbike and rode it as fast as I could toward my workplace. I coulndt stop praying, asking God that things would be just fine. It was a very hot day but I didnt care. Later, I figured out that the power went off directly from its center, it had nothing to do with me. I met my boss' husband as he was almost done hanging and putting all the clothes out to be sold. I got to help him a little bit and things went well. I thanked God but also I felt stupid that I worried too much and left the team. Lesson learned. 

On my way home, I felt so tired and sleepy along the way. It must be because of the day temperature, it sucked all of my energy. I even almost hit somebody, thank God He protected me. I fell asleep as I arrived in my dorm (my room was still in a mess). Few hours later I woke up and it was almost 5 o'clock. We had planned to play badminton at 5.30 (one of Lifehouse's small events called Badminton Fun Day). I didnt take a bath since I would get sweaty after all. The event ran well, we had some new friends, I got to know a friend named Tias a little more, everyone had some fun. I went home early with Sindi, a friend. She wanted to go to my place to take a bath. I warned her that my place wouldnt delight her but she insisted so I said yes. I left my room in a mess and found it in the same condition and Sindi got to see it (it was embarrassing, really). Sindi is a moslem and I have two dogs (they're not mine actually, they belong to my dorm's owner), so we struggled before she could take a bath. I had to make sure that the dogs wouldnt be able to go after her. Another problem solved after I had those dogs in their cage. We both then ready to go to watch the laser performance held by a network provider called 3. It's a free entry event with fabulous performance, they played drama using laser, it amazed me a lot. I actually have watched it three times but they still entertained me. The last show would start at 10 pm so I went to Kedai Bamboo firstly to help Andri and Simon prepared the room for our morning service tomorrow. People were still using the room so we waited. We discussed about things dealing with the church. As leaders we see things, find troubles, and discuss about it. We love to do it. The clock hit 10 pm but the people had not left. We were about to go to watch the laser performance firstly then the room was finally empty. We stayed and prepared the room. When we finished, the laser performance had started; we didnt get the chance to watch it. I was okay with it (I watched it three times already, come on). We took pictures of us holding the tickets with sad faces, pretending that we were dissapointed but we were not. We joked a lot, laughed, teased one another then decided to find something to eat. Baked corns became our choice for dinner. As we ate it, Simon stood up and started to lead us playing some weird games. I didnt even know how to play them till the last game we played. I was playing prank on him saying that if I were a psychopath I would have killed him because of those annoying games he made up. We stayed up until 1.30 in the morning then decided to go home. It was a lot of fun spending my time with them. They are good friends to be around with. They will not take their friends for granted, they love to share, they love to support, they love to help, they love Jesus. Having them as your friends will surely make you feel better about your life.

Step by Step

Friday, 10th October 2014

I woke up this morning feeling so excited thinking "Thank God It's Friday". I work 5 days a week, starts at 7 am and sometimes 8 am and go home at 4 pm. My job is "light", like I dont have to do so many things, even sometimes I dont have much to do. I like it, but for some reasons it gives me no challenge. I spend most of my time sitting in front of the computer, reading articles, but not like full-of-information articles, they are more like articles about events happen around the world. Horrible things happen everyday, this world is getting worse; the nature, the people. I can say so because I read about it everyday. A young boy who shot himself at his school bathroom since he couldnt stand being bullied by his friends, a transgender woman was killed-chopped-and cooked by her boyfriend, a girl was laid by his step father since she was young, and more. When I read those news I feel sick but in the other side grateful as well. Im grateful because my God, Jesus is protecting me always. Like He's always right beside me whenever or wherever I am. I will never feel lonely. It's so great having Him as my God. He also gives me great friends to be around with, Lifehousers. Like today, Im planning to go to Serangan Beach with one amazing girl, Uma. We plan to go there by motorbikes to enjoy the sun-set. I always love spending my time in the beach. I love when the air blows and gives me a chill, I love to feel the sand with my bare feet, I love when the wave hits me softly, I love when the sun shines so I can feel the warmth, I love everything about beach. It's gonna be my first time in Serangan Beach and Im going to make every single moment worth. I just cant wait. Yaiyyyy!!

Berbagi itu Menyenangkan

Aku tiba lebih awal dan Tanya sudah berdiri di depan pintu rumahnya menyambutku dengan senyuman. Ini kali ketiga aku datang berkunjung ke tempat tinggalnya dan aku tahu bahwa kunjungan kali ini akan jauh lebih menyenangkan. Potluck party yang sudah kami rencanakan seminggu sebelumnya ini adalah yang pertama kalinya dan persiapan yang kami lakukan hanya berlangsung via telepon. Aku memasuki rumahnya dan langsung menuju ke ruang makan, rujak yang kubeli tadi siang kutunjukkan pada Tanya. Dia belum pernah merasakan rujak sebelumnya dan aku pikir dia akan menyukainya jika bumbunya tidak pedas. Beberapa saat kemudian Andri dan Arudo tiba, mereka berdiri canggung di depan pagar rumah dan kami harus keluar untuk menjemput mereka masuk. Dua plastik hitam berisi tahu goreng, semangka dan melon disodorkan padaku. Arudo memintaku memotong semangka dan melon yang dia beli, dengan senang hati kulakukan. Aku beberapa kali meminta ijin Vlad dan Tanya untuk menggunakan peralatan dapur mereka hingga akhirnya Vlad seakan memberiku kuasa penuh untuk memakai peralatan apapun yang aku butuhkan dengan memintaku untuk membuat diri seakan di rumah sendiri, "make yourself at home", dia bilang. Kami benar benar melakukannya, kami mulai ribut dengan candaan kami sendiri di dapur, tertawa dan mengejek satu sama lain sementara Tanya sedang mandi dan Vlad berdiam di kamarnya. Pukul 3.20 aku memberitahu mereka kalau aku harus pergi ke tempatku bekerja dan aku akan kembali setelah selesai. Sekembalinya aku dari tempat kerjaku, beberapa motor terlihat sudah terparkir rapih di halaman depan. Meja makan sudah penuh dengan kotak-kotak berisi berbagai jenis makanan dikelilingi oleh beberapa teman yang sudah tiba. Simon, koordinator acara ini terlihat sedang sibuk menyiapkan pasta yang dimasaknya langsung disitu agar bisa kami makan bersama nanti selagi masih panas. Beberapa yang lain juga ikut membantu, Arini dan Dhidhi di bagian sisi dapur yang lain sedang mengiris daun oregano dan Arudo yang meniriskan pasta yang telah direbus. Rujak yang kumasukkan ke dalam kulkas sebelumnya untuk menjaganya tetap segar aku keluarkan. Tanya dan Yumiko tertarik untuk mencoba dan mereka menyukainya. Yumiko bahkan menanyakan resep saus rujak tersebut, dia memfavoritkan rujak. Aku berusaha memberitahu jenis-jenis buah yang dipakai dan tidak dapat menjelaskan apa itu bengkoang kepada mereka karena aku tidak tahu terjemahannya ke dalam bahasa Inggris. Yumiko, sukarelawan guru Blaze Nihongo yang telah sekian lama membantu gerejaku (Lifehouse Bali) untuk menjalankan program kursus gratis bahasa kami - Blaze, terlihat menikmati saat-saat kami bersama mengitari meja makan dan mulai mencicipi makanan yang ada. Aku tidak pernah bicara banyak dengannya sebelumnya, dia selalu terlihat sendirian di sudut belakang saat selesai mengajar dan lebih banyak diam, tapi kali ini kami bisa bergaul akrab. Dia membawa sejenis makanan asal India (aku lupa namanya), dan itu terlihat lezat, aku mencicipinya sedikit. Aku yang bertugas sebagai seksi acara berpikir bagaimana agar suasana acara itu bisa lebih menyenangkan. Aku telah menyiapkan permainan sederhana menggunakan balon dan bahkan meminta Vlad menolongku meniup balon-balon itu, akan tetapi aku menyadari kalau kita tidak punya cukup waktu. Aku pun mengusulkan agar kita berkaraoke saja, aku sangat suka karaoke. Aku meminta bantuan Vlad lagi untuk men-download video karaoke beberapa lagu hit dari penyanyi-penyanyi muda seperti Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, juga penyanyi lain seperti Avril, Simple Plan dan lainnya. Karaoke pun dimulai dan ternyata tidak semua orang tahu membawakan lagu yang aku minta putarkan. Suasana menjadi agak canggung karena aku heboh sendiri menyanyikan lagu-lagu itu. Akhirnya aku pun meminta masing-masing orang untuk me-request lagu yang mereka bisa bawakan, kami langsung terhubung dengan koneksi internet dan mengandalkan Youtube. Lagu-lagu yang kami nyanyikan pun menjadi beragam menurut genre dan penyanyi/band favorit masing-masing orang. Masih ada yang bersikap malu-malu dan tidak mau ikut bernyanyi tapi mereka terlihat menikmati menonton aku dan beberapa teman yang asyik berkaraoke. Vlad yang pada awalnya hanya menonton akhirnya me-request sebuah lagu berjudul 'Sewn". Itu adalah lagu yang dia ingin nyanyikan untuk Tanya, istrinya. Itu adalah lagu yang romantis. Vlad bernyanyi dengan baik. Itu pertama kalinya aku mendengar lagu itu tapi aku langsung menyukainya. Kami terus bernyanyi hingga sudah malam hari dan beberapa orang mesti pulang. Masih banyak makanan yang tersisa sehingga beberapa kami membawanya pulang. Aku dan beberapa teman tinggal sebentar untuk membantu Vlad dan Tanya membereskan rumah mereka. Mereka meminta kami untuk tidak melakukannya karena seseorang lain yang telah mereka bayar akan melakukannya di pagi hari, tapi kami tetap melakukannya karena kami menyukainya. Satu per satu orang mulai pulang, aku masih duduk dengan nyaman di salah satu sofa empuk milik mereka, aku sangat menyukai sofa itu. Akhirnya hanya tersisa aku, Arini, Vlad dan Tanya. Tanya memintaku tinggal sebentar karena dia ingin menunjukkan beberapa obat jerawat yang dia miliki dan bagaimana cara memakainya (aku memiliki masalah jerawat yang cukup serius dan dia peduli). Beberapa saat kemudian, Vlad menenteng laptopnya dan malah mengajak kami menonton sebuah film bersama mereka. Tanya menyebutkan Sandra Bullock dan George Clooney sebagai pemeran dalam film berjudul "Gravity" itu. Dia menceritakan sedikit tentang film itu dengan semangat, aku dan Arini pun penasaran dan memutuskan untuk tetap tinggal dan menonton bersama mereka. Aku yang sudah merasa agak lelah duduk di salah satu kursi dan disodorkan bantal. Vlad memadamkan seluruh lampu, dan kami mulai menonton. Beberapa saat kemudian, lampu kembali menyala dan aku ternyata ketiduran. Film itu memang sedikit membosankan, ditambah lagi aku yang memang sudah lelah. Tapi hari itu aku serasa tidak ingin pulang, aku ingin menghabiskan lebih banyak waktu dengan pasangan yang menyenangkan ini, tapi tentu saja aku harus pulang karena mereka juga harus mulai bekerja (mereka bekerja secara online). Mereka berdua akan segera meninggalkan Bali, aku sedikit sedih karenanya, tapi aku berharap akan segera bertemu mereka. Kebersamaan kami yang cuman sebentar saja sudah sangat berkesan. Kami berbagi banyak hal dalam waktu yang singkat. Hari ini juga aku merasakan indahnya berbagi, hanya dengan saling berbagi makanan kita bisa mengenal seseorang lebih dekat dan bahkan memiliki waktu yang menyenangkan bersama mereka. Aku harap kita bisa sering melakukannya. Aku suka.

Jejak Mereka

Aku tidak memiliki banyak teman, tapi teman-teman yang kumiliki berarti bagiku. Saat aku meninggalkan Kupang, kota kelahiranku aku membawa kesan yang berbeda dari tiap mereka. Hari ini aku merindukan mereka dan memutuskan untuk menulis tentang mereka. Tiap mereka berharga dan daftar ini hanyalah segala hal yang paling kuingat tentang mereka, aku akan memulai daftar ini dari dia.

Awad:

• Aku ingat bagaimana dia begitu baik pada semua orang
• Dia selalu mendahulukan kepentingan orang lain
• Dia penyemangat yang baik
• Dia selalu bersikap lembut pada semua temannya
• Dia tahu bagaimana menghormati orang lain
• Semua orang menyukainya
• Dia bersikap baik bahkan pada orang yang merugikannya
• Kami sering makan bersama
• Dia menyukai bakpao
• Dia tidak terlalu percaya diri dengan bentuk tubuhnya (menurutku dia baik-baik saja)
• Dia sering memaksakan diri untuk diet
• Dia sangat menyayangi ibunya
• Dia sering merindukan neneknya
• Dia tidak terlalu akur dengan ayahnya
• Jangan hubungi dia setelah lewat jam 9 malam (dia sudah tidur pada waktu itu)
• Dia disukai banyak teman wanita tapi dia sering dikecewakan
• Dia setia kawan
• Dia keren 
• Dia punya impian tinggi tapi takut dia tidak bisa mencapainya (menurutku dia mampu)

Oni:

• Dia menyukai dirinya (sangat)
• Dia suka bereksperimen dengan fashion (terkadang dia terlalu ekstrim) 
• Dia akan selalu mengabaikan anggapan negatif dari orang-orang
• Dia suka menjadi pusat perhatian
• Dia pembuat onar
• Dia melakukan banyak hal sendiri
• Dia akan selalu mengambil pilihan yang lebih mudah
• Dia sangat mencintai keluarganya
• Dia selalu bersikap tegar
• Dia seringkali patah hati 
• Dia punya banyak sahabat pria
• Dia memiliki visi di dunia pendidikan
• Dia cepat akrab dengan orang lain
• Dia memiliki rambut yang indah 
• Dia suka membaca
• Dia suka K-Drama
• Dia sangat menyukai langit

Mey:

• Dia menarik
• Dia pandai
• Dia menyukai anak-anak
• Dia berpendirian keras
• Dia pandai bernyanyi
• Dia menyenangkan 
• Dia pendengar yang baik
• Dia pemberi nasihat yang baik 

Steven:

• Dia menyebalkan tapi juga menyenangkan
• Dia suka bicara apa adanya
• Dia tidak suka dirugikan 

Jack:

• Dia suka bernyanyi
• Dia penerjemah yang baik
• Dia tidak bisa bangun di pagi hari
• Dia sering begadang
• Dia royal pada teman-temannya
• Dia suka makan
• Dia terkadang sensitif 
• Dia pandai bermain alat musik
• Dia peduli dengan teman-temannya

Elvis:

• Dia sangat setia kawan
• Dia mau dirugikan demi teman-temannya
• Dia teman perjalanan jauh yang dapat diandalkan
• Dia pria yang baik
• Dia suka mengejekku
• Dia merindukan ibunya 

Harti:

• Dia K-lover
• Dia teman yang baik
• Dia pandai tapi tidak menyadarinya 
• Dia kurang percaya diri akan banyak hal

Raisa:

• Dia sulit bergaul
• Dia seringkali bersifat egois
• Dia pandai memasak
• Dia takut akan banyak hal
• Dia suka mengandalkanku
• Dia sering bertentangan dengan ibunya
• Dia tidak terlalu menyukai kakaknya 
• Dia setia pada teman-temannya
• Dia suka berkhayal
• Dia memiliki banyak potensi tapi tidak pandai mengembangkannya 
• Dia seharusnya bisa lebih baik lagi jika dia mau 

Aku menghabiskan banyak waktu dengan mereka, masih ada banyak hal yang tidak aku tahu tentang mereka, tapi aku bersyukur mereka pernah dan masih menjadi bagian dari hidupku. Aku harap mereka ada disini, itu akan sangat menyenangkan. Aku hanya merindukan mereka dan waktu yang pernah aku habiskan bersama mereka. Aku harap mereka tahu itu.