Isn't this what it's all about?

This picture is a good reminder for me of why I do my job. To watch children all over the world discover Jesus, worship and pray in their own language brings joy to my heart. Looking at the faces helps you realize why these little ones are at the heart of God. Praise God for these little ones!

So this is Manado, Indonesia

If you are curious about what Mando looks like, it is beautiful! The first picture is sunrise from my hotel room and the second is overlooking the city .

It is a very tropical place, very lush and green. The heat here is quite a nice change, but the humidity is a shock, to my hair mostly. It is a very famous place for scuba divers apparently. It kills me that I forgot my diver certification card. If only... Oh well I was able to go snorkeling which was really beautiful. The people are so friendly and nice. They seem to speak quite a bit of English too, which is surprising. Apparently their language is based of the Dutch language due to their occupation here. Many of the older generations actually are fluent. So interesting fact of the day. Here's some more info in case you are interested...

The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic (a large group or chain of islands) state and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and controlling avian influenza. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face a low intensity separatist movement in Papua. - The CIA World Factbook

Little known trivia...
**Indonesia has more than 300 ethnic groups and languages. However, most Indonesians converse in Bahasa Indonesia.

**Indonesia is the native home of the largest lizard in the world, komodo dragon.

**The largest flower in the world, Rafflesia Arnoldi, is native to Indonesia. The flower was named from Sir Stamford Raffles. Even though it is huge, it doesn't smell nice like roses or jasmine flowers, for Rafflesia is an insect-eating flower.

**Indonesia consists of more than 13,000 islands, making it the largest archipelago in the world. However, most of the islands are uninhabited.

**Balinese have four basic names for their children, namely, Putu/Wayan, Made, Nyoman and Ketut. If a Balinese has the fifth child, it will be named Putu/Wayan.

**Indonesia has more volcanoes than any other country in the world - there are 167 of the 850 active volcanoes known in the world.

Indonesia Food

So Indonesians are very proud of their food. Some of it is good, some of it I have avoided like the plague. They are very proud of the fact that they eat bats, cats, rats, mice, and dogs. I have had fish for almost every meal and chicken when possible. The picture above is what I COULD have had for dinner. It is called a Coconut Crab apparently. It is an endangered species so I can't figure out how they can sell it for eating. Apparently these things live in coconut trees. I am supposed to go snorkeling on Saturday and I am now terrified to walk under trees. This thing's body is about as big as my head, not including the legs. Yikes! Tonight I am really hoping we have dinner on our own so I can go down to the Pizza Hut! I would give anything for a pizza or pasta.

Singapore and the Transit Hotel

Ok, so if LA is now my least favorite airport, Singapore is my new favorite. It is so spacious and open. There are so many windows and plants and comfy chairs. It is really a very peaceful airport. My favorite feature is the Transit Hotel. This is a hotel, within security, for travelers to stay in. I had a 11 hour layover in Singapore on my way to Manado and let me tell you this room was a totally blessing. Just to have a quiet place to lay down was nice, but a hot shower and dark room was amazing. After my 18 1/2 hour flight from LA this was a welcome refuge. I don't understand why more airports don't build these places in. I am a fan!

Does this look like a $14 lunch to you?

Good grief $14 for this? So every time I fly internationally I switch back and forth as to which US international airport I hate the most. This trip, since I was going through LA this time, LAX takes the cake. There are so many irritating things like the fact they don't have a SKYTrain or anything so you have to go out of security to change buildings and re-enter security in the new building. This is really obnoxious due to the sheer number of people that go through LA. Don't even get me started on the immigration lines either.

Anyway, my favorite thing is that they don't have any food places except a little kiosk that sells this stuff within security in the entire International terminal. How crazy is that? Do they think international travelers don't get hungry. Anyway, I got this lunch and it was pretty decent. Too bad $14 dollars of Compassion's money went to the lunch though. What can you do?

The coolest thing happened today

So after only 34 hours in the hospital, little Morgan Elizabeth Partlow made her entrance into the world. I am so pumped to be an aunt but something even cooler happened today. I got to experience today the joy of seeing the light in my big brother's eyes as he became a first-time dad. 

What an amazing thing to grow up with this imaginative little boy who made playing G.I.Joes in the gutters of West Texas or turning our bunk beds into a fort complete with a fireman's pole, such an exciting adventure. Life goes by until one day I find myself standing in his wedding, watching as this boy becomes a man and a husband by marrying his very best friend. Before you know it its 7+ years later and I get to see this same man become a father in front of my very eyes, now with a beautiful daughter of his very own.  She is so small but she already has her daddy's spunk and lungs. She put up a fight to come into this world, I think only because Lindsay had kept her so safe and comfortable inside. But she's here now weighing in at 6lbs 6ozs and 18 1/2 inches long. She was born via c-section around 10:45pm on February 21st, 2008. Officially she is 3 weeks early but you wouldn't know to look at her. Great job Lindsay!

Please join me in praising God for this wonderful blessing to the Partlow family and congratulating the happy (and exhausted) new parents. Here's to you big brother and sister. I am so excited for you. Don't forget to call me to baby sit. I have much spoiling to do. I love you guys!

Love, Aunt Heidi (has a nice ring to if I do say so myself)

By the way I am sure they will have lots more pictures of Morgan on their blog as soon as they get a free moment. http://partlows.blogspot.com

I'm gonna be an aunt...but not quite yet

So for all of you keeping up on the progress of my sister-in-law Lindsay, she is doing well but no baby yet. Lindsay is a trooper with the pain but has been laboring all day and isn't moving nearly as fast as they would like, or as I would like really. The baby's heartbeat is strong and doing well. Big Papa Marshall is holding strong too. Everyone please keep praying for them. I hope to post a picture of my beautiful niece soon.