Report from Indonesia, Nov 2007

Moving Impossible Stones

Rolling impossible stones away is nothing new for God. He likes us to stare at the impossible and know we cannot do one thing under our own strength to change things. There seems to be an immovable stone that stands between Muslim’s and Christian’s in this region. The conflict that raged for more than three years in this region cost an estimated 10,000 lives and some 500,000 displaced people. Militias came into these islands to attack Christian villages and the retaliation attacks on Muslim villages caused hatred, suspicion and deep wounds. I have been in both Christian and Muslim villages and have seen destroyed churches and mosques. It is clear to see the divide that exists.

How do we move these impossible stones of suspicion and hatred? I am happy to tell you that we are seeing some of these stones being removed. We can lean our shoulders on these stones and not budge them one inch. It is the Divine work of forgiveness and respect that can touch a heart. Forgiveness and kindness are the keys to the future of this region.

I wish all of you could see what I saw this last trip to Indonesia. It would help bring hope to the big questions many of us are asking about our current world’s troubles. IFC Medical teams go to villages in this region to give free care to the poor. We go to any village we get an invitation. We were invited to do a clinic in a remote Muslim village. These people had suffered during the conflict and were now suffering from an outbreak of Malaria. We came to serve them and by the end of the clinic we were seeing doors of respect open. Respect began to open the way to friendship. It was the genuine heart of compassion that led them to ask us for a favor. They asked us to help train two of there young men to be medical workers. It was an easy decision when the leaders of the medical staff asked the question—what would Jesus do. The loss of so many in this village due to malaria needed to be addressed—nearly every family had lost someone. That is when Hayati and Ikram came to study with our staff. We knew we were put to the test.

Johannes (called Annes) was one of our staff who had lost several members of his family to the attacks on his village. He told us with tears how his aunt was raped and then cut to pieces along with her unborn child. It hurt and he had a lot of reasons to carry hatred for the injustices against his family. Annes has chosen to forgive those who killed his family members. He was now moving that immovable stone. He met these two Muslim men and began to see a friendship starting. Annes would talk to them for hours and would help them with their studies. While I was there I spent some time with Hayati and Ikram. They shared their stories and their gratitude for the training. They will not be full-time staff they will go back to their village and serve there. They both had concerns about the malaria problems. Annes helped them during the month of fasting. I can tell you the best witness to the love of Christ is not to argue doctrine but to show the authentic love of God. Christianity began when a stone was moved from the entry to a grave. We are in the business of moving impossible stones.