Achi Perl and Jakarta

It was a very sad news that made me and my husband hurriedly searched the net and booked our way to Jakarta. One of our ninangs in our wedding, Achi Perl was diagnosed with Stage 4 bone cancer earlier this year. And so, with our tickets secured, leaves approved, Eldee, Dan and I found ourselves on a flight en route to Jakarta to visit Achi Perl.

I met Achi Perlita thru Dan 3 years ago (we were just bf-gf then).  She is a picture of strong and independent woman.  She is confident, smart and very funny. Many could be said about her (not to mention,  people love her! very evident during our wedding...hahah!), but there are two things that I really admire about Achi Perl - her passion for God and her passion to seek and save the lost.

Achi Perl is a missionary in Indonesia.  Even before I knew her, her heart was already set for the Muslim. She'd also been a missionary in Palawan (where she evangelised to Tagbanua tribe) and Davao. Her whole life was devoted to God and His people. Before,  I thought she was insane - to leave her family/friends just to go to a strange place ALONE (she's still single by the way) to teach and spread the Good News. But now,  I really admire her courage and sacrifices to follow and heed God's call. 

Soooo back to our visit, these are the things we did with Achi Perl when we went to Jakarta (apologies for the blurred iPhone pics):

Ate some Peranakan dishes 

Tried some not usual local dishes

we also did some local shopping. Above are colorful batik shirts

did more window shopping...(ooooh!! look at those Japanese fluffly ube and pandan buns)

back to regular eating :) - ate those yummy kueh

Tried the #1 bottle drink (yes! more famous than Coca-Cola) - Teh Botol

treated ourselves with A&W's waffle and float. Both taste too sweet!!

We also got to visit Achi Perl's local church

Regarding Achi Perl's condition, we were so relieved to find her okay, and very well loved and taken care by her peers! :)

Previously, I had this notion that if you are in the mission field, you live in tacky, old, dirty place. And with Achi Perl's illness (which was not so obvious because she even walked faster than me and Dan!!! >.<),  it might be too much bear.  But that is not what we saw. Achi Perl lives in a condo (with a swanky pool). Her place is just a tumbling away from the mall,  near the taxi stand, laundry shops, restaurants, etc. Everything was so convenient. 

We also learned that she has colleagues living within the condo so in case something happens, there are people she can call. In a way, we were relieved, and thankful to God for being so gracious to Achi Perl. To me, it's a testimony that God provides and is faithful to those who trust and obey Him.

We were also blessed to visit the Achi Perl's school, where she is the chaplain. I had the opportunity to share my testimony with the primary school kids and it was really nerve-wracking (my stage fright kicked-in!!). All in all, it was a good experience! :)

new student or new teacher ang peg?

loitering new students...

With the school chaplain

Though our 3-day visit to Jakarta was too short, I want to thank Achi Perl for taking care of us (instead na we take care of her).  May God take care of her, and use her as a vessel of God's love and grace to people around her, in sickness or in health.