Defeating Plasmodium falciparum

After one-half year I've been in Papua, finally i got special welcoming from Plasmodium falciparum. Yeah, i got malaria. Something that I thought I would not have at least for three years of my contract here.
As my seniors said, malaria can be prevented by regular rest and meal, also happy feeling. I got those. I am one hundred percent fit! Even now, i feel well. I am still confused why should i got malaria last week.
It started on Sunday, Jan 18, i joined outing with Catholic youth to Laskar Kristus in Kertosari. I felt dizzy because it was noon bright and so hot, then i got wet because they splashed water to me.
That night i just got fever and headache. I thought it was only usual fever which would be better at night.
On Monday i forced myself to go to school and teaching, but i dropped and felt so dizzy, then got fever again. My housemates felt anxious i got malaria, they suggested me to get plenty rest and eat a lot.
I felt better so i decided to go to school again on Tuesday. Actually, i didn't feel well but i forced myself to walk to school and teach. I stand just for one class. I asked permission to leave early and had blood test.
Amazingly, I got brave suddenly to have blood test in Talenta Lima laboratory in Sentani. The result was shocking me to the moon and back hahaha.. Positive malaria tropica +4 Leukocyte 4700
The lab man said, i have to get proper treatment if late, it will be worse and affect my brain. *sigh*
I couldn't think well and just cried asking to send me back home. I don't want to be there anymore, i don't like here because i got horrible sickness here.
My boyfriend tried to comfort me, but i just felt bad mood and drop. At 3pm i got fever again. On evening, my boyfriend accompanied me to consult to doctor and get medicines. The doctor said i probably got two kind of malaria :tropica and tertiana.
From articles that I've read:
Malaria tropica is caused by plasmodium falciparum which attack brain by blood artery
Malaria tertiana is caused by plasmodium vivax which attack heart

at night i got bad headache also fever, muscle pain and felt so cold even i got sweating. I just pray and hold it as i can because i didn't want to call my housemates.
On Wednesday the cycle was better, i didn't feel too bad headache and fever, i still could hold it because i took the medicine regularly. I still couldn't eat much since i lost my appetite *FYI : lost of appetite is one of malaria symptoms.

Thursday and Friday were the same, i got bored to be at home and doing nothing. Beside that i couldn't enjoy my sleep because sometimes the headache attacked. I also felt starving for some food and beverage but i couldn't taste it well.
I had blood test again on friday evening, the result was negative malaria and 10700 for Leukocyte. I just so happy to win the war defeating malaria without hospitalized. Hahaha.. But doctor said it could be false because of the medicine effects, i have to get tested when i am not consuming malaria medicine and feel better.

Saturday and Sunday, i got better and eat much than last week. I still took antibiotics and vitamins regularly also hold myself from overwork. Because my seniors said malaria could attack back and it will be worse if it is back then.

I reflected some things from this war against malaria.
1. Without Christ, I am nothing
2. Surrender my life to Him, He is the Healer
3. Thankful for people around me, they are God's angels in my life
4. When i am about to give up being teacher here, think of Jesus, His life on earth compared to mine. I am nothing. I haven't done much as a teacher here.
Compared to His suffering on the cross, malaria is nothing.
Compared to His pain being apart from His mom, my homesickness is nothing.
Compared to all my wishlist, prayers, wants, that God hears every second, books and paperwork of my students which await on my desk those are nothing.
Compared to disappointments I've caused, my disappointment to some people is nothing.

Finally, I would like to say Jesus wins me in the war against malaria!

Just like in Matthew 8:8 and in every eucharist i love to say it repeatedly
"Tuhan, aku tidak pantas Tuhan datang padaku, tapi bersabdalah saja maka aku akan sembuh "

Thanks Jesus!

Chapel grade 7 Selasa, 12 Agustus 2014

Matius 5:13-16

13 ¶  "Kamu adalah garam dunia. Jika garam itu menjadi tawar, dengan apakah ia diasinkan? Tidak ada lagi gunanya selain dibuang dan diinjak orang.
14  Kamu adalah terang dunia. Kota yang terletak di atas gunung tidak mungkin tersembunyi.
15  Lagipula orang tidak menyalakan pelita lalu meletakkannya di bawah gantang, melainkan di atas kaki dian sehingga menerangi semua orang di dalam rumah itu.
16  Demikianlah hendaknya terangmu bercahaya di depan orang, supaya mereka melihat perbuatanmu yang baik dan memuliakan Bapamu yang di sorga."

Pelita tak berguna jika disimpan di dalam lemari, dan garam tak berguna jika masih berada di wadahnya.

-          Apakah fungsi garam?

o   Penyedap, bukan hanya menciptakan kesenangan bagi orang tapi kesenangan bagi Tuhan. Contoh perbuatan yang menyenangkan hati Tuhan? Tidak boleh kehilangan rasa asinnya (Lukas 14:34-35)

o   Pengawet

o   Penyembuh luka

-          Ayat 13: kamu adalah garam dunia, adalah merujuk pada eksistensi bukan hanya perubahan. Garam mempengaruhi, bukan dipengaruhi.

Contoh:merokok, mencontek, minta uang, bolos, mengobrol saat ibadah, memaki, kata kotor.

-          Ayat 16 Yesus adalah terang dunia (Yohanes 1:9), manusia hanya memantulkan terang Tuhan.

o   Terang menyolok dalam gelap

o   Terang tidak boleh disembunyikan

o   Terang memberi petunjuk

o   Terang makin dibutuhkan di tempat yang semakin gelap

o   Terang mempengaruhi yang gelap bukan sebaliknya (Yoh 1:5)

o   rumah-rumah di Palestina, tempat Yesus pada saat itu mengajar, semua rumah sangat gelap, karena biasanya hanya mempunyai satu jendela kecil dengan garis tengah kira-kira 30-40 cm saja. Pelita yang dipakai di rumah-rumah itu berbentuk seperti perahu kecil yang diisi minyak, dengan sumbu yang terapung. Biasanya pelita itu ditempatkan pada sebuah tiang kecil (dian), yang terbuat dari potongan dahan kayu. Dengan demikian maka pelita itu akan terlihat. Jelaslah bahwa fungsi utama dari pelita itu ialah untuk dapat dilihat dan dapat menyinari kegelapan sehingga menjadi terang. gambaran tentang pelita inilah yang di ambil oleh Yesus dalam hal Dia mengajarkan tentang peran dari setiap pengikutnya.

-          Dalam Filipi 2:13-16, kita dapat melihat dalam ayat ini bahwa kita harus lebih lagi menjadi terang dunia. Yesus berkata: terangmu harus memancar seperti bintang-bintang di dunia dan kita juga harus memancarkan Firman hidup. Ayat ini merupakan sebuah kunci. Yesus mengatakan dalam hal yang baik agar orang lain bisa memuliakan Bapamu di surga.

-          Seorang teolog besar (John Stott) berkata; “ jangan bertanya kenapa dunia ini semakin gelap, tetapi bertanyalah dimanakah terangnya, jangan bertanya kenapa dunia ini semakin busuk tetapi bertanyalah dimanakah garamnya”

KESIMPULAN

-          Agar dunia menikmati keberadaan kita dan mengenal Kristus, Markus 9:50 (pembawa damai)

-          Agar dunia merasakan kasih Kristus dan memuliakan-Nya (ay 14&16)

2013 caleidoscope

better late than never...
in these new days of 2014, I still want to share His blessings in every moment that I still remember, every day in 2013 was important to me, there was always 'first-time' for some things and I still wonder how He compiled every person, every place, every time and every moment in my life as one year that changes my 'lucky' life to be a blessed life.

January

I am still struggling for thesis making, believe or not, I started to wonder where will I be in next year... *worrisome for placement*

February

It might be my last Chinese new year with my family for next 3 years, I thought I would be placed far away from home. -_-''

To 'enjoy' my senior year in college, I joined UPH AWARDS 7 committee, it was too bored only with thesis stuffs...ehehehe... I joined it with my 'committee-mates', Irena, Mely, Alex and Joe. We were in some other divisions, but me, irena and joe in one division which was registration. They are the best in administration hahahaa.. I got a solid team surely!
in there, I really did enjoy the co-workers, leaders and event. Even though it was not as 'success' as the previous committees, but I believe that it was not a coincidence that me and Irena enlisted as nominators of Senior of the Year.
I knew that I am not as good as the other nominators, but I leisurely enjoy it, to get the privileges as a nominator before leaving this luxurious campus  ;p

March

 YEAAAH! Finally I made it! thesis submission! This is my first and might be the last thesis that I submitted as undergraduate student!
I really enjoyed every moments of boring, excited, and nothing to write with my MR. S! I realized well that I had not done my best, but in all my lacks, weakness and  sloppiness in typing each word in my thesis, I thank God, He enables me! :) <3

Celebrating Easter at home, I treasured each time I spent and the people I spent time with.

April

That was so 'heartbeating' moment for me, I had my first thesis defense on April 4. I prepared all the materials and presentation by my best. I learned to lean on Him alone. My panelists are Dr. Dylmoon Hidayat, Mrs. Janine Allen, and Ms. Mery Fuji Siahaan. One of my panelists in thesis defense was from Corban University, USA, my university partner that gave my bachelor degree. She was Mrs. Janine Allen, she appreciate my hardwork much, it made me an ease.
And thank God, even I was so trembling, He enabled me to pass it on. I am graduated as a Bachelor of Science in Indonesian Education and as Sarjana Pendidikan!

Melisa Apriyani B.Sc., S.Pd. 

 that would be the biggest present that I could give for my father's and grandma's birthday on April 5 and 12!
I spent the rest of the day before being 22 by revising my thesis. It was easier to make it from the beginning than to edit and revise the thing that I certain to be perfect (i'm a perfectionist hahahaa..)
I got some surprises party threw by my room-mates, schoolmates and besties in college. Since I was a 'surprise-maker' I used to know when my friends wanted to make a surprise for me...hahahaa...

May

the most worrisome moment came up in May 8, that was placement announcement day! As I had been guessed, I am placed in a far away land.... Papua.
In that paper was written I would be a teacher in Sekolah Lentera Harapan Kampung Harapan, Kabupaten Jayapura. It is a public school that managed by Yayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan. I hadn't known anything about the school, but since some of my seniors were there, I heard some 'interesting' things from them.
The first person I met? my counselor, Ibu Debby Melanie.
I thank God for her, she was so nice and comfort me much. I talked to her my worries and even I didn't get any solution for my problems, I felt a bit ease to tell her and listen to her sharing.
I cried a lot at that day, not because of the place, but to be separated from beloved ones. I knew technology could do much, but I couldn't imagine how could I be not having a quality time with my 'families'.
The key is, TRUST IN GOD!
Being separated in place and time like this makes me even more trust in Him. Trust Him that He could keep my families and teach my family to trust Him that He will keep me there.

I spent May with so many meetings about placement and commissioning service preparation. Yeah, every year, my faculty held a commissioning service for student-teachers who will be placed as a teacher in all over Indonesia. I was experienced as a head of committee of this event last year and became a committee for previous 2 years and in each time, I was so touched. I couldn't believe that I was the one who commissioned in this year!
There must be something special in every commissioning service and in this year, they prepared some students to be the representative of our future-students in each place. Since the students were came from my previous practicum place I was so touched and grateful to Him, I will be a teacher, who touches their life and has a never-ending influence for their future.

June

every June in my college life was a farewell time and I hate it the most. I spent my time to have so many quality time with my beloved ones, I even thought that I shouldn't have any resting time since I would be able to be with them as much as I had. My melancholic personality came up :"(
I didn't cry a lot, I remembered that I couldn't cry, I still figure it out why was my tears couldn't fall at that time even I saw that my friends were crying because they had to be parted.
I got back to my hometown after commissioning service and met up with some of my schoolmates, they were so shocked when I told that I would be a teacher in Papua. I thought that they imagined Papua as a scary and forest-only land hahahaa... I had small reunion when one of my best friend in high school was married. Her name is Febriyanti. I remembered that she was so spoiled to some of us in our gank, but at that time I saw she was so beautiful in white. Congratulations my dear, Ebi :)

I had so many to do list for my holiday, I made passport and went to my dentist. I searched many things about thingies that would not be had in Papua, that's why I ate a lot and shopped a lot.hahahhahaa...
After I came back to UPH, I had my first work training.

July

After the training was over, I headed to Sentani, Papua. It was in July 6. My feelings was so mixed, I couldn't think properly, but one more thing that I grateful for, friendship. At that day I escorted some of my friends who headed to their placement places and I was escorted with my family and friends. I was so sad, but no tears fell.
And after about 6 hours flied in the plane I woke up and saw a beautiful Sentani Lake. I was falling in love with this land.
There were so many unforgettable things that happened at the time we landed in this land and try to organize our 'new life' there. I thank God for sending Pak Djarot and Ibu who have been became our family there.

I started my first officialy day work in July 8. I was so excited to know where I teach and how the culture there. My senior was accompanying us in our first walk to school. The timezone there is 2 hours earlier than in Jakarta or Cirebon, I was a bit jet-lagged.
The first day of school? July 22! I was so excited and nervous to meet my first homeroom students, since they are 8 graders, they would be as tall as me hahaha..
I tried to be as calm as I could. Some silly things came up, but I keep thanking God for His guidance in my words and deeds :)

august 

I visited a very beautiful beach in Sentani, the name is Harlen. The beach was so beautiful with the sea corals and bright colored fishes. Thanks to Yayasan! ahahhaha...
I tried to explore this land as much as I can, that's why I was so excited when my seniors wanted to accompany us to get there :)
I was so sun-burnt! ;p
August 17  was my first independence day as a teacher in a new land.
Interesting tradition in Jayapura is 'makan bunuh' or killed by eat! ahahaa.. it is a kind of visitations to colleagues or relatives who celebrate Ied Mubarak. Yeah, Indonesian are so multicultural nation :) I appreciate this tradition, that is a good thing, even though we have different religion we could respect each other.

september 

I think I know one of the reasons I am here. Learn how to supervise student organization. Even though I have been known about OSIS or student council organization, it was very different when I am being the teacher who guide the pupils. I am pretty sure that they have leadership potentials, they just need chance and time to explore it and experience an organization and it's "complicatedness"! hahaha

october

WOW! another first time came up when I had to write narrative reports for 20 of my students! What is narrative report? It is a description of each aspect in learning: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. DESCRIPTION! When I was senior high I did have experienced a report card by description, but I didn't think that it would be as simple as I had. And the most complicated was, I am the teacher! I am the one who will type each word!
I enjoyed the process much, start from recording the grades, comments from teachers, queuing the printing, and checking each error that happened! That was my first time to meet my students' parent :)
They are so kind and friendly to me, even though I look too young to be their teacher, but I thank God that they support my kiddos much. I pray for them that their trust to school might be a solid bridge to connect student to teacher, teacher to student, parent to teacher and student to parents :)

november

Okay, it was the moment that I waited much in my 4 years of college. UPH GRADUATION? why?

1. UPH's graduation gown is the coolest and unique in Indonesia, it is red and so elegant!
2. I hoped I could be the best student (but I haven't)
3. The ceremony solemnly and elegant.
4. I graduate from a prestigious and luxury campus!

hahahhaa.. those might be a silly reasons for me to push my father to pay my plane tickets Jayapura-Jakarta-Jayapura. It was expensive for me, more than 3 millions rupiah :(
I spent a lot for 5 days trip Jakarta-Karawaci-Jakarta-Cirebon-Jakarta-Jayapura.. but I think that was worth for the moments and memories that I got.

It was the first event that held by OSIS, Bahasa celebration and National Heroes day! I am so proud of their hardwork, eventhough there were so many weaknesses and difficulties, they worked as much as they could. They entered the phase of exploring and experiencing!

december  

The month that I waited: holiday season!
had been so busy when I became the secretary for school final exam committee. There were so many tasks that I had to make before final exam and report card distribution.
Me and some teachers spent our spare time to have Christmas celebration in a charitable institution. I really learned so many things about how celebrating Christmas in a simpleness. Doesn't matter if we doesn't have anything if we have Christ in our heart :) They come from Pegunungan Bintang a highland area in Papua. It is such a remote area because there are not plenty transportation that can reach. They learn diligently and love one another. They know Gospel well, better than me.
Then my first final exam as a teacher came up. Pray for my students much.
Because 8th graders are using KTSP different than curriculum 2013, I have to think about 2 different ways of report cards. I did have to write my homeroom students report card by my handwriting, but in grade 7, I have to type all the description of each student grades. I still learn how to make it easier and faster. It needs plenty time and concentration! *sncaksalso* ;p
Then I proudly presented my second time to meet my kiddos parents. I was a bit nervous, but it was not as nervous as in the mid term semester. ehehhee...

I deeply treasured what family means. I thank God for Brenda's family who have became our host during Christmas holiday. Brenda's mom cooking is the best! hahaha.. *it made me miss my grandma*
I enjoy the beauty of His creations a lot there. Bosnik Beach, Tanjung Saruri, Wari Beach, Warsa waterfall and many more!
not coming home was not bad at all ;p

Last seconds in 2013, I spent with my closest persons there. Debby, Ibu Djarot and Bapak Djarot, they are sooooooooo lovely persons... I am so grateful to have them. I even had Holy Mass together with them in Sang Penebus Catholic Chruch.
New year eve in Papua? fireworks and barbeque-ing jazzed up my first year there.

Thanks God.  

am I?

Baru saja, saya mengusir seorang anak untuk pulang. Hati saya tersentak seketika, mata saya berkaca-kaca... bukan karena saya tidak mengasihinya. Bukan karena saya tidak ingin melihatnya datang lagi ke sekolah... dia yang sudah tidak memiliki orang tua untuk bersandar dan dibanggakan, dia yang sudah mau bertobat, masakkan saya tega menyuruhnya pulang?

Saya berbisik dalam hati "mengapa kamu begitu kejam? begitu tega mengambil sesuatu yang ia sangat inginkan dan menyuruhnya pulang?"

Saya termenung dibalik meja kerja bersama setumpuk koreksian, saya teringat bagaimana ia begitu mencintai tarian, begitu meluangkan seluruh waktu dan tenaganya untuk berlatih, ikut audisi dan menampilkan yang terbaik untuk pelayanan Natal sekolah tahun ini...bagaimana saya dibuatnya berdecak kagum akan talenta yang sudah Tuhan berikan, bagaimana ia bersemangat menanyakan hasil audisinya dan datang di hari latihan yang pertama...

Sekarang seolah semuanya sia-sia karena ia tidak menepati janjinya untuk pulang tepat waktu dan selalu menghadiri latihan atau meminta ijin terlebih dahulu jika tidak dapat hadir. Hal yang mungkin sangat sederhana dan dapat ditolerir oleh kebanyakan orang, tapi bagi saya itu sangatlah penting, integritas dan ketaatan.

Begitu banyak pertanyaan dalam benak saya. Apakah dia akan datang meminta saya lagi untuk bisa ikut pelayanan? Apakah dia kepahitan? Apakah dia besok tidak mau datang ke sekolah lagi? Apakah setelah ini dia tidak mau terlibat lagi? Apakah dia akan mengurungkan niatnya untuk berubah?

Sedikit cerita, dia dulu adalah seorang murid yang sangat nakal di sekolah yang terdahulu, nilainya banyak yang tidak tuntas, sering ikut tawuran bahkan melakukan kenakalan remaja yang lain seperti membolos dan merokok. Dia dipindahkan ke sekolah ini oleh tantenya mengingat ia tidak lagi memiliki orang tua dan itu adalah amanat orang tuanya. Namun kini ia tidak pernah membolos dan berjanji tidak akan merokok lagi.

Hati saya tidak bisa berbohong, saya begitu mengasihinya, saya begitu terbeban untuk terus menggali potensinya, untuk melihat dia menjadi pribadi yang dipakai Tuhan untuk menjadi berkat bagi sesamanya.

Maafkan Miss Melisa karena hari ini mengambil apa yang begitu kamu idamkan, semoga kamu mengerti Jhordan :)