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Dear faithful friends, family and fellow pilgrims,
It's time for a blog post. To bring Easter greetings, to share life, and to herald the last 3-ish months left of SALT! This last point brings great joy and also deep sadness...
Happy Easter to you all, I hope that you took this holy-day to reflect and worship the risen King! Hallelujah, he has risen indeed :)
I have really enjoyed the past few weeks, they've been pretty full. There's never a dull moment. A few stories...

• First, after a detailed application process, got the invitation to become a Resident Leader (senior housing) on CBC campus next year!! I am thrilled! Also incredibly nervous. This is a position I didn't see myself in until very recently, and am counting on the Lord to give me courage and wisdom as I take on this role. 
• As the leader of the English Club here at PPBA, I've enjoyed the meetings and am so encouraged by the students that participate! In March, we had Epic Board Games (giant Dutch Blitz being the "epic"ness) with friends from MCC, a potluck and Easter celebration (delicious snacks!) and a small group of us going to UKSW (Salatiga's university) to watch Hairspray, the musical. Five EC members, my boss and I watched the English department give a great performance, they did so well! This is one of my favourites for music and choreography, SO good! I am impressed with our own group and the few students that show real enthusiasm on a weekly basis. Props to my fellow "foreigner", a student from East Timor, that has a passion to practice English!
• The highlight of March was spending a week with my MCC family. Even routine immigration trips to Semarang are enjoyable! This is the first time since October that all the YALTers were together and oh what joy to see everyone again! Minus our dear friend in Canada, of course. We packed up a bus and the entire staff (with families, about 35 people) drove to Pangandaran, a tourist destination at the edge of West Java. We spent 4 lovely days swimming in both pool and ocean, "walking-walking" (sight-seeing), watching a sermon series from Canada ("Inglorious Pastors" on peacemaking and Christ), sharing stories, worshiping together, laughing, praying and playing games. Needless to say, we were all quite tired by the end of it! But I had such a great time reconnecting with everyone. I was able to spend a lot of time with my Salatiga host family, who continue to shower me in love and the privileges of being their daughter. So blessed! Thanks to everyone for the great time! It was refreshing in the sense that I feel ready to take on the remaining time with focus and passion.
• Since I've been back in Jogja, things have picked up again. I mentioned that there's never a dull moment. Now, this being said, don't misunderstand: there's a lot of "down time" in which I must pick constructive things to do! Therefore, I have become very thankful for wonderful and talkative host parents, friends to keep up with around the world, and Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship - my most recent pursuit into a curious topic. The first few chapters of this book have been a challenge to read (not including the translated German, 1930s writing...) but I have enjoyed it. Discipleship has been a topic on my heart since last year's classes at Columbia. What is discipleship? What did it mean in Christ's time? What did it mean to the Anabaptists in 16th century Europe? What does it look like in my life, a 21st century Canadian claiming to be a follower of Christ? These are all things I am thinking about and, because I'm not a theologian or skilled in rhetoric, check it out yourself! ;) Or, I'd love to talk one-on-one later if anyone's interested. I just encourage everyone to give Christ a thought - a SERIOUS thought - and ask if your life matches up to his. Are we living as he did? Do our passions seek to bring his name glory and bring justice to those seeking it? Is our purpose in life to live as a "good person", helping ourselves and others, or is there more? 
• My struggle is to fully commit to this and my goal is to make the last three months in Indonesia totally worth it. I am blessed by great communities and friends that I am serving alongside. Please pray for continued understanding, opportunities to serve, and eyes to see God's work in front of us. Time is really short now (where did it go?) and I'm realizing how much I'll miss. The people are great, I have my met wonderful people, the [mild] food is delicious, the culture is intriguing and the way of life is comfortable. However, I will continue to pass on certain aspects, thank you very much. I don't want whiter, clearer skin and I don't need three cell phones... 

Thank you, as always, for your prayers and thoughts! They mean the world to me and I persevere because of them. I'm also encouraged that YOU are encouraged by what goes on in my life. Isn't it great to be part of something much bigger than ourselves?? That's why, my fellow pilgrims, we must stay connected and build up the body that has been called to earthly ministry - for eternal results! Semangat!
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

Shalom,
Lisi

Family!