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Aku cinta kamu, Batam.

Saturday, Final Habitat Build Day

Today was our last day on the work site and our last full day in Batam; I'm so sad it's over!

We couldn't start working until about 10:45 because it was raining so hard. I LOVE the thunder and lighting! (Not because it prevented us from working-- that was a bummer-- but because it's so neat!) I forgot to mention yesterday, we had to leave the site a bit earlier than usual because of the lighting, and then when we pulled onto the first main dirt road, lightning struck right in front of our van. Crazy! 

We were practicing our Indonesian words today (unglar like singular means slacker / maaf means sorry / terima kasih means thank you (or "makasi" less formal, like saying "thanks") / suka means like / cinta like chin-tah means love) etc & I told Jeremi (one of the Indonesian laborers who actually received his own Habitat home last year & now works for Habitat) "Aku cinta Jeremi." He laughed and said back to me, "Addie cinta Jeremi"-- you love me. 

After some final rebaring, we got to play with the children before the dedication ceremony. Sherith & I led them in Boom Chicka Boom. After several versions (really loud, whispering, janitor style, surfer style etc) they finally started to join in. :) 

The lunch and dedication ceremony made all of our hard work worth it. Saepuloh and Sandra were so grateful to all of us for their new home, and we are SO grateful to them for this experience-- for the lessons of gratitude & joy & love. 

It was heartwarming to celebrate with all of the families and children of the community, the Habitat crew of Indonesian laborers and our team from Ascension. 

After the dedication, we got to PLAY! Our favorite. :) We danced, played catch, hackysack & soccer, and ended with a giant game of duck, duck, goose. 

One of the older boys who is like the leader of the crew (all the kids follow him and do what he says-- we call him "Top Dog") was acting "too cool" to play and sitting outside the circle. On our final round of duck, duck, goose, Gunnar was "it" and he ran outside the circle to tag Top Dog. He hesitated for only a second before taking off after Gunnar. They ran in circles and all around before Top Dog finally tagged Gunnar. It was the perfect end to our time with the kids. :)

Everyone stood around giving hugs and high-fiving and blowing kisses and waving as we piled into the van to leave the work site for our last time. It was a bittersweet good-bye! 

That night during our reflection time before our closing dinner together with the Habitat team, Jackie shared this poem with us:

Beautiful faces
Far away places
Each life a story
All for God's glory
Speaking to my heart
Breaking it apart
Brining me back
Knowing I lack
Trusting in the Lord
Being in one accord
It's not about me
So much I don't see
Lord break down the wall
May I hear your call
Doing what is right
With a spirit contrite 
Take this piece of clay
And Lord have your way
Please write my story
All for your glory

All for His glory! What a beautiful reminder of our purpose here on earth.

With tired feet and full hearts, we walked over to Cream (the bar next door to our hotel) to celebrate once more as a team. We were welcomed like old friends and treated like celebrities. Griffin & Gunnar were invited onstage to play a song (Griffin on keyboard, Gunnar on guitar) for the small crowd and experience their 15 minutes of Indonesian fame. What a blast!

We all agreed that our time here in Indonesia will forever be remembered & we'll all be leaving a piece of our hearts here with our new Indonesian friends.

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