reflection for a life-changing moment: First Communion

today, i witnessed First Communion in Sang Penebus Catholic church. .  and the first thing that i thought was they are so lucky, because most of their parents come and accompany them in their life-changing moment... i have read communion means becoming one with Chirst.. what an unforgettable moment, isn't it?

my mind flied to 13 years ago, when i was 3rd grader in St. Joseph Cathollic Church, Cirebon and with a proud heart I told my parents I had finished my preparation course and i invited them to witness my First Communion. 

i was only a little girl, and guess what was my feeling? disappointed and hurted.. but my mother could come and accompanied me, i remember that because i had seen the photo. 

i asked myself, why did they not want to come as other friends' parents came? i remember even my white gown that my friends talked about was my older sister's. 

i asked GOD why was my parents not as care as the other parents?

ihad neen tried to get all my teachers' signs in my prep course book, i was dilligently came to church to see how people receiving Holy Communion since my dad did not come to church and my mom rarely accompanied me, i always came with my grandma who also did not want to enter the church anyway. 

i questioned myself, God, my sister and my brother... yet none of my family could answer my question.

today, i heard after they received Holy Communion they together praying for themselves, their parents and teachers. 

i think about my experience as little girl, what prayer that i did at that day? could I pray for my parents even though they was disappointing me?

i cried in my prayer, thank GOD i am who i am that You've chosen from the beginning, You've  called my mother to baptized me in Catholic faith, thank YOU because You've planned a beautiful plan for me in my family... because i've gotten the very best part, to pray for my parents not only for healthy and wealthy, but to Know YOU and love YOU, as  YOU have loved and always love me

maybe for many people would say, it's impossible for parents who didnot know God to  raise their children in God,but i want to tell you this my mess turns to messges nd my trial turns to testimony.

after years i have struggled about my parents, last year my dad said "just pray, pray to GOD" 

My tears fell, thank GOD, even though it will take more than years, it will take a longer time to change their heart, i will pray that one day we will have Holy Communion together, and my family can testify Your blessings bless us aabundantly.

Palm Sunday in Sang Penebus Catholic Church

Meskipun ini bukan kali pertama saya merayakan Minggu Palma tidak di gereja 'kampung halaman' saya begitu merasa kuatir. Mengapa? Karena tepat hari sebelumnya, terjadi kericuhan antarkampung di dekat tempat tinggal saya sekarang ini. Kericuhan itu sontak membuat saya dan teman-teman guru lainnya mencari tempat yang lebih aman untuk berlindung. Bersyukur, karena ada Bapak dan Ibu Djarot yang bersedia menampung kami para 'pengungsi dadakan' dan mengajak saya ber-misa bersama.

Jujur, saya agak trauma dengan kejadian Sabtu lalu, karena saya melihat dan mendengar sendiri suara tembakan dan orang-orang kampung yang berlarian mengungsi ke hutan. Saya berpikir satu kalimat yang singkat namun berat. "Karena bagiku hidup adalah Kristus dan mati adalah keuntungan." -Flp 1:21

Saya tidak akan berpikir bahwa saya akan mati saat itu, namun mendengar tembakan senapan dan orang yang terkena panah membuat saya sangat takut jika saya atau orang lainnya harus menjadi korban dari kekisruhan yang saya dan mereka sendiri tidak tahu sebabnya.

Saya bertanya dalam hati, apakah ini yang orang-orang lakukan untuk mempersiapkan diri menyambut Paskah? Saya yakin, dengan mayoritas penduduk yang Kristen, tidak mungkin jika mereka tidak tahu ini adalah masa PraPaskah, terlepas dari apapun denominasi gerejanya. 

Saya mengingat rasa takut dan kesal saya kemarin, tapi mungkin juga saya melakukan hal yang sama dengan mereka, berperang dan saling menyakiti, dalam sikap dan keseharian saya dengan rekan kerja ataupun dengan siswa-siswi yang saya temui di sekolah. Mungkin saya 'memanah' mereka dengan kata yang sinis dan menyakitkan, atau tidak mau berbagi dengan mereka yang membutuhkan.

Sepagi mungkin saya bangun dan bersiap untuk ke gereja, karena menurut Bapak dan Ibu Djarot akan sulit mencari parkiran sehingga kami berjalan kaki ke gereja yang kebetulan letaknya tidak terlalu jauh. Kami tidak membawa daun palma karena tidak menemukan pohon palma di sekitar rumah dan kemarin terlalu sibuk dengan aksi pengungsian saya. ;p

Beberapa menit sebelum misa dimulai saya sudah tiba di sebuah sekolah yang dijadikan tempat berkumpul sebelum perarakan menuju gereja dimulai. Ternyata umat diminta berbaris bersama komunitas basis atau kombasnya masing-masing. Saya yang ceritanya adalah pengungsi dadakan tidak termasuk kombas manapun yang ada di situ karena menurut tempat tinggal, saya termasuk dalam Stasi St. Stefanus Martir I Kampung Harapan, kombas St. Maria Magdalena. Saya turut dalam kombas Bapak dan Ibu, kombas St. Kristoforus. Sayat idak banyak mengenal jemaat di gereja ini, hanya beberapa orang yang saya pernah lihat sesekali di gereja.

Perarakannya berbeda sekali dengan sewaktu saya di gereja St. Yosef atau Bunda Maria Cirebon, biasanya perarakan dimulai dari halaman gereja ke dalam gereja, misa pun tetap seperti biasa frekuensinya hanya yang misa pagi akan ada perarakan, selebihnya tidak ada. Sedangkan di gereja Sentani ini misa dijadikan satu kali dan perarakan dimulai dari luar area gereja. Jarak sekolah tempat kami berkumpul ke gereja tidak terlalu jauh, namun cukup menimbulkan kemacetan lokal dan diatur oleh pak polisi.

We commemorated Christ's entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery. In the old calendar before Vatican II, the Church celebrated Passion Sunday two Sundays before Easter, and then Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week. The Church has combined the two to reinforce the solemnity of Holy Week.
The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians who, in the "fullness of faith," make their own the gesture of the Jews and endow it with its full significance. Following the Jews' example we proclaim Christ as a Victor... Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. But by our faith we know, as they did not, all that His triumph stands for. He is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. He is the sign of contradiction, acclaimed by some and reviled by others. Sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan, He underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphant from the tomb, the victor over death, making our peace with God and taking us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.

Ya! Minggu Palma mengingatkan kita bahwa Kristus memulai karya keselamatan umat manusia. Ia tidak hanya dimuliakan oleh manusia yang dapat berubah dan mengkhianatinya, Ia dimuliakan oleh Allah Bapa karena telah mendamaikan manusia dengan Allah. Saya tidak tahu apakah kata-kata saya tepat tersusun, tapi itulah yang saya renungkan. Saya memuliakan Yesus, namun tidak lama kemudian membicarakan orang lain, atau memikirkan hal yang lain atau berbuat hal lainnya yang tidak berbeda dengan apa yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang Yahudi masa itu. Bedanya, Yesus tidak ada lagi bersama manusia di bumi, jika ada entah berapa kali Ia harus dicambuk, dihina dan disalibkan.

Aku menunduk sekali lagi. Aku tidak layak. "Apakah hidupku telah tertidur seperti murid-murid Yesus di taman Getsemani?"

I thank God for this opportunity, I could celebrated this Holy Week in this blessed land. I remember what the pastor said during sermon, 'carry the palm and tell the world Hosana! Bring that home and put it where people could see, it might be a sign of the King of Peace's children.

Have a deep Holy Week!

sumber: 

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-4-13

History of Lent

As I start my first Lent season in this Blessed Land, I reflect, why should we have Lent as a Catholic? Is it only a tradition? Is it only a church decree?

Let us read this good article about the history of Lent so that we can prepare our heart well :) I did not write this article. I took it from a Catholic faith website. 

by FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

What are the origins of Lent? Did the Church always have this time before Easter?

Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. In the desire to renew the liturgical practices of the Church, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican Council II stated, "The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent -- the recalling of baptism or the preparation for it, and penance -- should be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in liturgical catechesis. It is by means of them that the Church prepares the faithful for the celebration of Easter, while they hear God's word more frequently and devote more time to prayer" (no. 109). The word Lent itself is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten, meaning "Spring," and lenctentid, which literally means not only "Springtide" but also was the word for "March," the month in which the majority of Lent falls.

Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of Lenten preparation for Easter. For instance, St. Irenaeus (d. 203) wrote to Pope St. Victor I, commenting on the celebration of Easter and the differences between practices in the East and the West: "The dispute is not only about the day, but also about the actual character of the fast. Some think that they ought to fast for one day, some for two, others for still more; some make their 'day' last 40 hours on end. Such variation in the observance did not originate in our own day, but very much earlier, in the time of our forefathers" (Eusebius, History of the Church, V, 24). When Rufinus translated this passage from Greek into Latin, the punctuation made between "40" and "hours" made the meaning to appear to be "40 days, twenty-four hours a day." The importance of the passage, nevertheless, remains that since the time of "our forefathers" -- always an expression for the apostles -- a 40-day period of Lenten preparation existed. However, the actual practices and duration of Lent were still not homogenous throughout the Church.

Lent becomes more regularized after the legalization of Christianity in A.D. 313. The Council of Nicea (325), in its disciplinary canons, noted that two provincial synods should be held each year, "one before the 40 days of Lent." St. Athanasius (d. 373) in this "Festal Letters" implored his congregation to make a 40-day fast prior to the more intense fasting of Holy Week. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386) in his Catechectical Lectures, which are the paradigm for our current RCIA programs, had 18 pre-baptismal instructions given to the catechumens during Lent. St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) in his series of "Festal Letters" also noted the practices and duration of Lent, emphasizing the 40-day period of fasting. Finally, Pope St. Leo (d. 461) preached that the faithful must "fulfill with their fasts the Apostolic institution of the 40 days," again noting the apostolic origins of Lent. One can safely conclude that by the end of the fourth century, the 40-day period of Easter preparation known as Lent existed, and that prayer and fasting constituted its primary spiritual exercises.

Of course, the number "40" has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation. On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, "Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water" (Ex 34:28). Elijah walked "40 days and 40 nights" to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb (another name for Sinai) (I Kgs 19:8). Most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before He began His public ministry (Mt 4:2).

Once the 40 days of Lent were established, the next development concerned how much fasting was to be done. In Jerusalem, for instance, people fasted for 40 days, Monday through Friday, but not on Saturday or Sunday, thereby making Lent last for eight weeks. In Rome and in the West, people fasted for six weeks, Monday through Saturday, thereby making Lent last for six weeks. Eventually, the practice prevailed of fasting for six days a week over the course of six weeks, and Ash Wednesday was instituted to bring the number of fast days before Easter to 40. The rules of fasting varied. First, some areas of the Church abstained from all forms of meat and animal products, while others made exceptions for food like fish. For example, Pope St. Gregory (d. 604), writing to St. Augustine of Canterbury, issued the following rule: "We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese and eggs."

Nevertheless, I was always taught, "If you gave something up for the Lord, tough it out. Don't act like a Pharisee looking for a loophole."

Second, the general rule was for a person to have one meal a day, in the evening or at 3 p.m.

These Lenten fasting rules also evolved. Eventually, a smaller repast was allowed during the day to keep up one's strength from manual labor. Eating fish was allowed, and later eating meat was also allowed through the week except on Ash Wednesday and Friday. Dispensations were given for eating dairy products if a pious work was performed, and eventually this rule was relaxed totally. (However, the abstinence from even dairy products led to the practice of blessing Easter eggs and eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.)

Over the years, modifications have been made to the Lenten observances, making our practices not only simple but also easy. Ash Wednesday still marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts for 40 days, not including Sundays. The present fasting and abstinence laws are very simple: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the faithful fast (having only one full meal a day and smaller snacks to keep up one's strength) and abstain from meat; on the other Fridays of Lent, the faithful abstain from meat. People are still encouraged "to give up something" for Lent as a sacrifice. (An interesting note is that technically on Sundays and solemnities like St. Joseph's Day (March 19) and the Annunciation (March 25), one is exempt and can partake of whatever has been offered up for Lent.

Nevertheless, I was always taught, "If you gave something up for the Lord, tough it out. Don't act like a Pharisee looking for a loophole." Moreover, an emphasis must be placed on performing spiritual works, like attending the Stations of the Cross, attending Mass, making a weekly holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament, taking time for personal prayer and spiritual reading and most especially making a good confession and receiving sacramental absolution. Although the practices may have evolved over the centuries, the focus remains the same: to repent of sin, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the mysteries of our salvation.

---

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Saunders, Rev. William. "History of Lent." Arlington Catholic Herald.

This article is reprinted with permission from Arlington Catholic Herald.

THE AUTHOR

Father William P. Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls and former dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. Father has been writing his weekly "Straight Answers" column for the Arlington Catholic Herald since 1993. The above article is one of those "Straight Answers" columns. Father Saunders is the author of Straight Answers, Answers to 100 Questions about the Catholic Faith, a book based on 100 of his columns and published by Cathedral Press in Baltimore.

Copyright © 2002 Arlington Catholic Herald

Bolang episode Biak: Christmas eve in St. Maria diangkat ke surga Catholic Church

Christmas is only a season of christmas when Christ isn't the reason. This Christmas mass was different than I used to. It was not the first time I celebrated it without family. I haven't celebrated it yet with my family and had mass with them even once. I wish someday I could have once...

I had mass for this Christmas in a new land, in a new phase of life, as a teacher, which is the calling that He wanted me to be. But since it was not in my hometown neither my current domicile, I felt I was a stranger there.

My junior, Tika accompanied me to have mass there. This Church is the only Catholic church in Biak, she said that there are not many local people who are Catholic, most of them are Protestant.

twilight before Christmas eve

inside the church, I came early so there weren't many people yet

Merry Christmas from the east of Indonesia!

Thank you, Biak... i want to keep being grateful wherever I am.

 Thanks God for every people that you've called. Christmas happens everyday in our heart.

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.  

BoLang episode Biak: pasar ikan Biak Numfor

From Jl. Samofa (my host's place) I can get there by taking a 'taksi' it costs IDR 4k for one person for one way. Actually, I hadn't been shopped in traditional market for my own cooking...hahaha... I do like eating, but for cooking? I suggest you to think twice before trying my cooking ;p
There are different traditional markets in Biak: Pasar Ikan and Pasar Sayur (vegetables). It depends on major commodities that are sold in that market. Because it was the nearest market and we just wanted to eat seafood, we decided to shop there.

welcome to pasar ikan Biak Numfor

yellow tail fish, isn't it?

look at to the sea!

There are so many ladies (we called 'mama') who sold this kind of fish, ikan julung. It has unique shape and delicious taste.

ikan julung IDR 15k for 20 pieces

giant julung fish ;p

tomatoes, a bit more expensive than in Java *sigh

What we bought:
squids IDR 100k for 2 packets (about 15 pieces)
ikan julung IDR 15k (20 pieces)fixed price
tomatoes, onion and chilies IDR 10k
limes IDR 5k (4 pieces)
seasoning flour+tomatoes 10k

Transportation 4k+5k

what would we make?

• fried squid 
• fried ikan julung
• dabu-dabu

how did we make it? please wait for next post! ;p

Bolang episode Biak: landed in Biak

It was my first time to have vacation in an island by using my own saving in my first year of teaching. Rasanya berbeda sekali dengan liburan atau perbolangan sebelumnya. Meskipun saya selalu menabung untuk setiap perbolangannya tapi sumbernya berbeda2.. ada yang hadiah lomba OSN, jualan Oriflame atau menyisakan uang jajan..hehehe...

Dengan bermodalkan tiket PP seharga Rp 1,6 juta dan 1 juta untuk akomodasi selama di Biak, saya memberanikan diri terbang bersama 3 bolang-mates saya: Kak Nur, Kak Lisa dan Deby.

Kami mendarat di Bandara Frans Kaiseipo, dulunya ini adalah bandara transit penerbangan Jakarta-Amerika untuk Garuda Indonesia. Namun sekarang sudah tidak melayani lagi, hanya ada penerbangan domestik.

Dari Jakarta ada penerbangan langsung ke Biak, beberapa airlines juga ada penerbangan menuju daerah lain di Papua yang transit di pulau ini. Harganya bervariasi, tinggal pilih yang sesuai budget. Lebih mahal daripada penerbangan Jakarta Singapore atau Kuala Lumpur? YA! 

Bersyukurnya, ada seorang junior saya yang berdomisili di Biak, saya cukup dekat dengannya karena saya pernah menjadi mentor sewaktu ada Youth camp di kampus :) Dia adalah orang pertama yang saya hubungi ketika berpikir untuk menjelajah pulau Biak. Dengan ramah Brenda, namanya, dia mempersilakhan kami untuk menginap di rumahnya sambil kami mencari penginapan di sana, bahkan ia mempersilakhan kami tinggal di rumahnya selama di Biak! what a blessing :) *thanks God

Bahkan, Brenda pun menjemput kami di Bandara Frans Kaiseipo dengan mobil pick upnya. 

Bersih dan rapi adalah dua hal yang istimewa kutemukan selepas dari bandara. Pemandangan bibir pantai, matahari yang cerah dan angin semilir menghiasi perjalanan kami menuju rumah Brenda.

mencoba berdiri di atas mobil yang melaju tapi...gagal ;p

Jalanan yang kami lalui sangat lengang, padahal ini hari Senin, harusnya di kota banyak aktivitas perkantoran dan sekolah yang nampak.

welcome to BIAK!

Saya mengamati tiap keunikan bangunan yang ada, hampir di setiap bangunan pemerintah ada gapura beraneka bentuk, ada yang kerang seperti gambar di bawah, ada burung cendrawasih, dan sebagainya. Tata kotanya sangat rapi, tiap rumah tidak berimpitan satu sama lain, selalu ada taman atau jarak yang cukup antar rumahnya.

gapura di salah satu gerbang gedung pemerintahan, lambang kota Biak, kerang

Berbeda dengan kota-kota di Jawa atau di Jayapura, jalanannya sangat lengang, tidak ada angkutan umum yang berpacu untuk berebut penumpang. Kebanyakan penduduk bermodakan sepeda motor atau mobil. Angkutan umum yang berbentuk mini van disebut taksi di sini.

transportation in Biak: taksi, mobil, motor

Pusat perbelanjaan yang ada kebanyakan berbentuk toko atau ruko-ruko di pinggir jalan, sepengamatanku banyak toko yang menjual kebutuhan sehari-hari.

deretan pertokoan

Kami pun melewati pusat kota yang merupakan juga pusat perbelanjaan dan pusat keramaian di Biak, Jl. Imam Bonjol yaitu Hadi Department Store *kalogasalah*

Hadi, supermarket satu-satunya dan yang terbesar di Biak

Semakin penasaran mengeksplor kota sekaligus pulau ini. List panjang tempat-tempat yang ingin kukunjungi sudah kusimpan rapi dalam tas. Nantikan cerita bolang berikutnya ;p

budget (4 orang):

tiket PP Jayapura-Biak Rp 1.617.200,-

taxi airport ke bandara Sentani Rp 100.000,-

airport tax Sentani airport Rp 120.000,-

oleh-oleh untuk host kami (kue abon gulung) Rp 240.000,-

transport ke rumah host: gratis