Keeping up with Kuta

Countless ritzy night clubs, 5 star restaurants, and huge brand name shops-I was expecting Kuta, Bali to be a bit more westernized than the other places we had been but I certainly wasn’t expecting this! It seemed closer to Vegas than anything else! Horrible traffic, pounding pounding noise, people everywhere; this certainly was not the Ments! Luckily our hotel was on a back street farther from the craziness. It was certainly an upgrade from our last one boasting air-conditioning and hot water (that worked most of the time). Our first day was filled with more culture shock than anywhere else we had been as we tried to accustom ourself with being constantly barraged with people who no longer just wanted to say “hi” and take a photo but rather sell you something! We were just walking dollar signs in their eyes. This was a huge barrier we were forced to fight against while building relationships.

A typical day in Bali had us up at sunrise for a morning surf on Kuta`s beach break followed by breakfast, an apologetics bible study, and a time of prayer and worship to prepare us for ministry. After lunch we`d all split into teams and head to the beach to make friends and love on tourists and shop owners alike. I`ve always loved the beach, but my love for it has only grown during our time in Kuta! Not only is it a great place to surf, its also the perfect setting to share the gospel! People lounging about, nowhere to be, nothing to do, and open to talking and meeting new people! The first few days we were slightly discouraged. Everyone was happily surprised just how easy it was to make friends at the beach. However naturally bringing Jesus into the conversation was the more challenging part. After a couple days we became bolder and bolder about sharing our faith.

One day Fred, Randy and I met David; a total jokester selling beer and chairs on the beach. However, our conversations soon turned to our faith and David`s demeanor totally turned around! It turns out his name wasn`t really David, but Reuben! He shared his life story about how his parents had been trying to have a child for 8 years. After their pastor and church prayed over them Reuben (named after Jacob`s first son) was born! He said after leaving his home island and coming to Kuta, he hadn’t been following the Lord. Yet after talking and praying with us he became so encouraged and acquired a renewed thirst for Jesus, even wishing to come to church with us! God opened his eyes to the plan and purpose he had for his life from the very beginning of it! All our team got to experience similar God stories revealing to us all so evidently how Jesus is so here and at work in the lives of Kuta Beach. The city of Kuta may be ridden with greed, drugs, drunkeness, and prostitution but there is no darkness too dark for the light of Jesus to not shine through!

Never did I think I’d be confidently sharing the gospel with Muslims and Hindus on a regular basis but God had other things in plan! It’s actually amazing just how easy it is! Unlike Westerners, Indonesians don’t find offense when you ask them what they believe. They love telling you all about it and asking you questions as well! Carlos and Santos are two surfers who work at the beach and share a house not far from ours. They told us they are’t very good Muslims and live in fear of their good deeds not measuring up to their bad ones. We talked of good and evil and they asked whether or not I thought humans were good. From this I got to share with them the Gospel and how we are not good but fallen and sinful and in need of a Savior. The words just began to flow out of my mouth melodically with a sense of authority I didn’t know I possessed. It was though it wasn’t really me and it wasn’t, rather the Holy Spirit. I was just a broken vessel He decided to speak through. Carlos and Santos didn’t come to know Christ that day but I earnestly pray they will soon! The seeds been planted and its in God’s hands for the growing. I fell in love with the Gospel all over again that day and I can’t wait to keep speaking truth to the lost people of this world. For we are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden!

Jesus shines BRIGHTER than the flashing lights and LED screens of Kuta. His love is LOUDER than the blaring sirens and club DJs. He is GREATER than it all for he has overcome the world AND chooses to live within us!