The Journey of A Thousand Miles Begins with One Step

No, it's not that I'm going somewhere a thousand miles away on foot, nor will I ever intend to do such a thing :p Just thought of jotting this down to mark the first historical step I've taken today towards a dream that God has put in my heart a few years back while visiting Lombok, Indonesia. There I met many kids selling goodies to tourists and I got the chance to interact with them and ask them questions regarding their life. Most of them have to help their parents earning money by selling the goodies after they finish school in the afternoon and a few of them already quitted school (they only completed elementary school) because their parents couldn't afford to pay for school fees.

I felt my heart was filled with such compassion towards them and I thought to myself I should be able to help them.. I would be able to teach them for free.. they would be able to have a better education and chances for better life.. plus teaching has always been a passion of mine ever since I was little.

So, the initial plan was that I wanted to do this during my retirement age when my kids (if God grants one or two or three or four to me) are all grown up. Then one day I was sharing this passion of mine with a group of good Christians and I'm not quite sure how it happened but suddenly I realized.. hey why don't I start doing something about it now? Not like doing it now, but taking some steps to test the water.. is this something I could handle? will it be something I'd love to do everyday? I talked to a friend who has been on a mission trip to Cambodia and his story inspired me. He was also saying that he's had this idea with his friend to setup a computer learning center in Cambodia, and that I would be able to use my computer skill to teach there. I was like WOW! That would be just awesome! Doing the thing I know how to do and through teaching which I love to do and working for God..

Then it so happened that a week or two after that, I met another new friend who was sharing with me how she went on a 5-month mission trip (3 months preparation through Bible study in Hawaii and then 2 months in Cambodia). I was really encouraged by her story.. The idea of taking 5 months off my work life... learning about God while living in another foreign country (and nice island!), then went on the mission trip to Cambodia.. it appeals to me so much.. I felt like just jumping unto it at once.. Okay, you may say that I'm a rather impulsive person..

I did some research about it on the Net, talked to more people and one day shared it in my bible study group. And someone just popped up this question.. why don't you start doing it in Japan? Aren't you in some way on a mission trip? Living in a foreign country and serving God.. and Japan also has orphanages. It came as rather surprising.. it's so clear, yet I never realized this..

And so the first step of the journey of a thousand miles began.. after a few delays and some disappointments in between, today I went to an orphanage. The place itself is not really unpredictable.. and it's related to a church which is really good. But somehow I came back feeling rather down.. I could see a big mountain in front of me.. my super limited Japanese capability is definitely gonna be the biggest obstacle.. how would I be able to help them with their homeworks, console them, tell them about God's love for them if I couldn't even speak their language.. and then I'm not even sure if I would be able to have a good relationship with the kids.. or even to have the long-term commiment that the kids need most.. I guess I'm just scared.. It's the journey to the unknown.. and that always scares me..

Warung Bali

I was planning to write about autumn in Japan after my trip with some friends from KBF to Arima onsen (natural hot bath) earlier this week, but alas my camera was broken :( So instead I opted to finish my postponed writing about this subarashi authentic Indonesian restaurant in Kobe where I have been a loyal customer from day one. The name is Warung Bali (http://www.warungbali.com/). The owner is a Balinese man who is married to a Japanese lady. Other than 'Warung Bali', there used to be another authentic Indonesian eating place in Kobe named Rasa Sayang. Quite interestingly, this one is owned by a Javanese lady who is married to a Japanese man. I used to alternate going to these two restaurants every week, or sometimes when I'm food-homesick, I'd go to both in the same week. Too bad without any warning, this restaurant was suddenly closed. I hope Mbak Siti and her husband are doing fine.

Anyway about Warung Bali, the oishii (karai, on request) food is only half the attraction.. the other half is the owner who is famously referred to as Mas Made.. outgoing, funny and wise man. He represents the general image of the peace-loving-Balinese people. Plus with his experience living in different countries, he has got a broader perspective on many issues in life. A bit on this, I do believe that living in different countries is really an eye-opener. The world is no longer so small like you once knew and what once was normal to you suddenly is no longer normal and vice versa; what is strange to you could be so normal in other places. I myself have been tremendously blessed with the chances to experience it and am forever grateful. Although the road hasn't been easy at many times, especially with my strong distaste for flying and my motion-sickness-prone-body, travelling alone long distance is really never enjoyable. But to be able to look back and see how much my horizon has expanded, how I've changed to a better, more accepting person is truly wonderful.

Now, back to Warung Bali, sometimes I go there just because I want to have a nice chatting time.. especially during the beginning of my stay in Japan when I felt lonely so often.. At one memorable occassion, I was sick with flu and feeling very low.. I went there, had some yummy home food and was even given some lemon to take home to treat my sickness.. it wasn't the biggest act of kindness, but given the circumstances, it touched my heart deeply and I always remember it.

Mas Made has a big heart.. he cares a lot about his country. He actively promotes Indonesia to Japanese people.. hoping to attract more of them to come and visit Indonesia and thus help to improve the welfare of people there. He helped some young Balinese guys to come to Japan to work so that they could have a better life. He thinks about long-term and long-way benefits, instead of just trying to get as much money as possible today and don't care about the consequences and the future.
Then most of the time after discussion about different topics, from politics to economy to latest news in Indonesia to Japanese people :p, he'll end it with some funny, sometimes silly remarks. Typical Indonesian, I think..

Getting back on the food track..frankly speaking, the meal cost is a little pricey; expect to pay between 2,000-3,000 yen and could easily be more. But of course, you get good quality food with it. The best money-valued and my favorite meal is nasi campur which costs 1,500 yen. It comes in a plate of rice with mixed food: gado-gado, sate, perkedel, tempe goreng, and meat. And of course a small plate of sambal.. hmm.. yummmm... some days when I feel like to, I'd order pisang goreng (banana fritter) as desert.. and then I'll go home fuuull and satisfied :)
That's all about Warung Bali.. one of my oasis in Japan