Dear Friends,

Janice and I send you greetings from Jakarta. Over the past couple of months Indonesia has continued to make the news, however, not normally in a positive manner. Yes, there have been terrorist attacks here in Jakarta and lots of general unrest throughout the country, but from our point of view there have been many good things happening here in Indonesia.

During the semester break several of our students returned to their homes to work in the churches and to help start new works. Pastor Tambunan, the head of the Bible school here in Jakarta, gave me the following report on the activities of the Bible school students during the recent semester break.

Marthen returned to West Timor where there were 18 professions of faith and 6 baptized. Julius, Sudarsono and Serpulus returned to West Kalimantan (West Borneo) where there were 20 professions of faith and 20 following the Lord in believers baptism. Meanwhile, the students that remained here in Jakarta ministered in the various churches here in Jakarta and reported 57 professions of faith and 3 baptisms.

The first of August, the Bible school here in Jakarta began their second semester with several new students. At present we have about 60 full time students living in the dorms here in Jakarta. About one third of the students are located at Pastor Markus' church in Mampang and the rest are in the main school campus in Palmerah. I spend Monday teaching at the Mampang campus, while spending Wednesday and Thursday teaching at the main campus. The semester did not start well as about half the students at the Palmerah campus fell sick with several needing to be be hospitalized. As of this last week all are on the mend and attending classes. Contrary to popular opinion my teaching did not cause the sickness!

Also, this semester I am trying to train several of the students at the Palmerah campus to use the Linux computer operating system and Linux programs. During the semester break I installed Linux on several of the computers we use at the Bible school. My main aim in doing this was to get rid of all the illegal software that has been installed on the machines over the past few years. Also, I hope to bring some order to the chaotic virus infected computer system the Bible school has had, while giving the students free legal software that can be used in the churches where they minister. Alas, as with all my computer projects, this is requiring much more effort to complete than to start. Each Saturday morning I am gathering a few students and working on training them. The first sessions totally discouraged me, but by last week I left with a ray of hope. Lord willing, step-by-step this project will show some fruit.

The churches here in Jakarta are all doing fine. Most are growing, even Pak Hadir down at Sunter Jaya is showing signs of life again. Thank you for your continued prayers for he and his wife, Vera. Please continue to pray for Pak Yusuf and the church out at Cibubur. The Cibubur church really needs to get a building, so I would like to ask you to begin praying toward that end. It is truly a joy to have a part in working with the churches here in Jakata.
Personally, Janice and I are doing fine. We continue in our every day lives as usual. We do want to thank you for all the nice cards sent for our birthdays. Hey, we are getting a bit older, but the Lord's promise hasn't changed, I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

May the Lord bless you.

In Christ,