April 25, 2008

The raging river.

We spent the last week in the mountains, where it rained a lot. One of the nights we thought we wouldnt make ministry cos of the rain - we had to cross two rivers - but we left anyway, just in case they would be passable.

When we got there though, there was this a surging mass of debris-strewn floodwater that looked far too menacing to attempt. We had nothing better to do so sat down for an hour as the sun set and watched the river slowly go down. (15cm over the hour.)

Then, just before the sun set, one of the locals completed a crossing of the river by foot. Then a group, then some more, so Ken (the missionary) said ‘we’re gonna do this!’ The missionaries and girls were riding in the Landcruiser and Brett and I in the back of a truck. The truck wasn’t good enough to cross so we left that behind with an Indonesian team member to guard it.

So imagine this Landcruiser slipping and sliding its way across a river. Imagine a car packed with people watching the water surge up to the level of the headlights.

Then, imagine Brett and I clinging to the BACK of the Landcruiser, holding on to the roof rack and with feet precariously perched below the number plates. After crossing, we drove another 5km with us guys still grasping whatever would keep us alive.

We reached the second river but this seemed shallower so we plowed right ahead. However, towards the end the car got deeper and deeper until the water was nearly at my knees! The water covered the bonnet of the car.

Once again on the topic of vacations, but this time on golfing!

Golf is already a very popular travel activity for many people but it is growing all the time. Places like Spain, Queensland (Australia) and the Pacific Islands are seeing growth in golf developments because it’s such a great way to pass time during the day while away.

Another obvious setting for holidays is Las Vegas. But for golf? I had never heard of it before but it makes a lot of sense despite the desert - what can’t you do in Las Vegas!!

LasVegasGolfing.com are all set up for anyone who is interested in spoiling themselves with a Las Vegas golfing vacation.

I can’t copy the pictures because the website uses flash but the courses look simply stunning! Beautiful green holes set in an arid desert, it at first strikes you as unconventional but it is really a spectacular setting to play your games of golf.

So rather than spending your whole time in Vegas gambling - although some of that must be done! - have an awesome time during your day putting around the greens as well. I’m sure given the nature of Las Vegas that the courses are very well catered for. This website also allows you some flexibility to pick the type of package that would best suit your needs.

I went to Indonesia at the end of 2005. Here’s one of a series of memorable moments.

The tinshack church. ( Or, ‘the oven church’)

We drove for 2 hours in the 2nd week of my trip to minister at this tiny church. It also turns out the tiny church had invited another team, a bunch of Chinese people who lived in Kupang, the nearby city.

The church was tiny so 70% of the people there were from our team (we had 6 iIndos and 3 Americans in our team as well) or the Chinese team! and then a lot of the people who actually went to church had to sit outside.. all the walls and roof and everything was made out of tin so we were all absolutely baking…

The pastor there was so sweaty his whole shirt was soaked in sweat. only two bits werent - part of his pocket and the ends of his sleeves.

I’ve never been in such a hot building - asides from saunas - in my whole life. The sweat was rolling down all parts of me in a highly unprecedented manner. Everyone was so happy to be out of there.  The following lunch was one of the best of the trip, featuring a gigantic fish as a feature dish.