We’re currently anchored off of an island in Nusa Tengarra Timor, Indonesia. Where palm frond huts line the beaches & families live off the land and sea; being extremely knowledgeable, resourceful & self-sufficient in everything that they do. The local market is just once a week, & a surplus of food & resources is hard to come by. It’s ironic, & quite interesting really, we as westerners coming out to these places, these remote islands, thinking that we can bless these villages & help these people, when really it is our first-world nations that need help. How many people could spend a month out here & survive off of the land? Live in a hut? Catch their own fish? Not have a surplus of food (or toilet paper) in their pantries & be okay about it? If you’re a surfer / spearo / friends in my circle you’re probably thinking are you kidding!? This is the dreammm! We’re just wired in a weirdly abnormal way haha, but the scary thing is… it should not be abnormal. This is how we were created and designed to live- to be immersed in community, with family, to tend to our fields & to literally reap what we sow. To love and be loved. To live a simple life living off just what we need and no more.
I look at what’s happening in the US and the West- state laws in major cities like California, San Fran & New York where shoplifting items under $950 is casually called a misdemeanour. “Professional shoplifters now operate in public and with clear impunity. Every day, videos emerge of robbers blithely filling duffle bags as store employees watch helplessly out of fear of violence or legal retribution.” Heroin, cocaine & meth are being legalised in small doses in Canberra, Australia. For companies & brands to maintain their influence in society, they are having to promote ‘woke’ marketing & advertising. Won’t play their game? You won’t get their investment. It’s called woke capitalism with a woke credit score to go with it. Chinas social credit system where individuals are scored based on their behaviour: blacklisted & publicly shamed for speaking out truth or jaywalking? Say sayonara to any chance of buying a plane ticket, train ticket, house or even access to the internet… straight out of George Orwell’s 1984, & another casual Black Mirror episode. China has always been the blueprint / trial for the rest of the world, and we’re not that far from actually seeing that come into play. There are currently 72 different gender identities. All-age pride events feature children’s books with sex positions & pornographic content, titled “It’s Perfectly Normal.” Bill Gates is promising another pandemic with a smile. Major cities continue to get wiped out by directed energy weapons & ‘climate change’, for the implementation of smart cities (you can read UNESCOS 351 page document “Smart cities: shaping the society of 2030”.) Netflix films are zombie apocalypses & beasts coming up out of the sea (straight out of Revelation, a chapter in the Bible- by the way). Transhumanism. The Fourth Industrial Revolution. New World Order. Agenda 21. The Great Reset. Ahhh I’ll shut up now, but the list goes on.
This is an excerpt from Felicity Oriander’s personal testimony on how she came to faith in Christ:
“It became obvious as global deceit on a magnanimous and shocking scale became exposed through 2020 and beyond that there IS indeed an objective truth to the running of the world. Yes, there is a global elite and the truth became evident in unison with Jesus’ name. Hollywood mocks him, there are satanic rituals performed out in the open at celebrity concerts, the Superbowl and, in certain social commentary, it is commonplace to associate ‘Christian’ with ‘right wing extremism’. A wise man once said, ‘people always mock what they’re afraid of’ and He is mocked across all spheres of popular culture. You can say you believe in being an alien from another planet helping to ‘ascend the Earth into 5D’ and no one bats an eyelid. Announce that you’re a follower of Jesus and notice the emotional thermostat turn to ice.”
You can read her full testimony here.
Living in a world that is constantly in turmoil, it can be difficult to have hope for the future… but Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
In whatever situation or circumstance we are in, we can have so much peace in knowing that Jesus has already won, everything is in God’s hands & it is all written. Although we live in extremely dark times, where the prince of evil (Satan) has been given power & authority- we can find peace, HOPE, freedom & JOY in Christ, & knowing his deep love & plan for us.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
But the question we have to ask ourselves is, where do we stand personally with God? There’s only one battle at play here, and that’s between God & Satan. Which side do you choose to be on? The kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light? The prince of evil or the prince of peace? You don’t believe in any of it? Well unfortunately it still affects you.
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Here is a journal excerpt of one experience stepping on land in a remote island in Indonesia…
“I just stepped on land; it’s so incredible. Trekked up through the back country, up through the dry fields and rocky outcrops. Up onto the big rocky bluff above us. The ocean is turquoise clear below. You can see the outline of the reef & intricate shades of blue. Small painted, wooden indo boats dot the shore. Lines of waves rolling through further down the coast, perfectly peeling through. Palm trees and palm frond huts line the beach. Apparently surfers pass through here every month, but we saw no westerner.
We walked further up, following the ridge line down into a field of veggies & banana crops. Traced along the back of a palm fence & found a small oasis (although super dirty), hidden amongst the rocks & amongst the top of the valley. This is how the families irrigate their small rice paddies & vegetables further down. From this spring, there’s many water wells too. In November when it starts to hit rainy season, it almost floods- that oasis turns into a gushing river and waterfall. Water buffalos & wild boar bathe in the pools below, near the entrance to the sea.
The day before the girls had gone on a mission to find fresh vegetables. An adventure it was; the kids leading them up over the mountain, through the jungle, to a field of fresh homegrown veggies from Bapak Mike. We found Bapak Mike again- right next to the small ravine, their hut situated to the side, nestled amongst the trees. Clothes were out on the rock drying. He welcomed us in through the gate and down the narrow path. It opened up to this beautiful flat, cream dirt ground- daily swept with deep care & pride. There was a clear space / opening in the middle, half of the area covered with shade from the surrounding banana palms and lush green foliage. To the left a pot was over the open fire, Ibu was cooking sayur hijau (green vegetables) with coconut water. To the right, nestled under the shade, an open table and palm frond mats. Pak Tommy shredding the dry leaf Lontar palm & getting bunches together to make the mats. We were sitting on the outcome of one… finely & intricately woven. The whole family, from oldest to youngest knows how to make these woven mats. The skills passed down through generations. An item that is used for almost everything- and so a necessity to know.
They called their son Danny over, he went to climb a tree & came back with three fresh coconuts for us. Pak Gabriel walked up from the rice paddy field & greeted us also. He was named after angel Gabriel from the bible. We sat with six members of the family, sharing stories & drinking coconuts. Becca can speak fluent Bahasa, so she was our translator hehe.
Bapak Mike- he has 17 kids. 9 to his first wife who passed away, and 8 to his second wife. Gabriel is a pastor and has been for the past 10 years. He’s 61. I asked if they’ve had any dreams or visions from the Lord; no, but John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…” is their favourite verse hehe. Their faith is very strong. They say people have come into their church screaming- full of demons. They have cast some out, in the name of Jesus.
This family has known Jesus from three generations ago… when missionaries first came to the island. It’s kind of wild that even in the most remote islands the name of Jesus is known… Matthew 24: 14 says: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” If this is one of the last prophecies… Lord ya coming back quick.
They say there’s still a lot of lost people / spiritual darkness here, but it’s funny, we always seem to come across other believers, and get the opportunity to encourage & lift one another up. They prayed over us & we got to pray for them too. Bapak Mike threw some pretty rad hallelujahs haha. It was really quite beautiful.
So how shall I conclude this?
For me, it’s just interesting to witness & see these people that we label as ‘poor’ or in need, actually live the most beautifully simple yet fruitful life. Family, community, loving on their neighbours like they would themselves, growing their own food & catching their own dinner, bartering goods, being self-sufficient & using everything that the earth / God has provided them with, & praising the Lord for it all…wow.
What do you value most in your own life? Is it family? Freedom of speech? How much money you make? Success through the lens of society?
What is it that drives you? Why is the world like it is? If there’s a God why is there so much pain & suffering? I encourage you to ASK questions. To stop, to reflect, to sit down for a moment. To think & to SEEK.
Revelation 3:17 // “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 // “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”