Did you know that Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world?

“Lord, where do you want me to go next?” – this is a dangerous prayer. I had many ideas of where I wanted to go but Asia wasn’t one of them. Indeed I had no desire or heart for Asia in general. It just didn’t seem that appealing to me. Well, God had different plans and he spoke to me about Bali and that this was my next step.

What could I do now? 

After some research I found out that Bali is part of Indonesia. I didn’t even know that till that point. So what could I do now? I could do my own thing and run into the blue without a plan or I could walk in obedience and go to Indonesia with an open heart. In life we have a lot of crossroads and decisions to make. It’s not always easy or the way we would like it to happen. But in all this uncertainty there is one thing we can hold on to. We can trust God and that he wants the best for all of us.

We are all made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). He created everyone of us (Psalm 139:13). And his love is for us, he has not forgotten us but he cares. He cares about each person on this planet and he wants to see the best for us. He sees the gold in us and His heart cries for us.

After some questions, prayer and conviction

I applied to be a volunteer with YWAM in Indonesia and very soon I felt quite home there. I met new friends, been part of the local ministries and even staffed a school. In total I lived there for over half a year. This time changed my heart. God changed my heart. I am in love with Indonesia/Asia, the food, the culture, the people, the weather, the nature. I allowed God to work on my heart and to show me this beautiful nation and for sure he did. I am filled with joy and gratitude that I didn’t wander off my own way but that I walked in obedience and see the world a bit more through God’s eyes and understand His heart for the nations a little bit more

One moment that showed me God’s heart especially was when we went out in the night to the ladies beside the streets. Most of them got trafficked and the men promised them a good job in a hotel etc. but then took their passports away and keep them and sale them to men for a night. Once a week I went out to talk to the girls, giving them presents, build up relationships and offered help in various ways.

I remember it so clear to go out and walk into that room and all the girls are sitting on the benches like in a cinema but where the screen would be there was a big window and men would look inside and choose who will come out with him. Sitting in that room and connect with the girls, listening to their stories broke my heart. They are all so lovely, beautiful, vulnerable, honest and often trafficked. The men on the other side of the window are starring, judging, comparing and often have a hole in their lives they try to fill. But Jesus died on the cross for both sides of the window. His love doesn’t stop on a window, he sees even deeper into our hearts. He understands, he sees the trouble, the desires and the gold.

It is so easy to look towards a nation, a situation, a person like through a window. We see are starring, we judge, we compare and see in black and white. But God wants to bring out the gold, the colours, the value, the love, the beauty. He is after our hearts and he would like us to explore His heart for the nations more.

Maybe it is time for all of us to ask the question again “Lord, where do you want me to go next?” and be ready for transformation.

Lord, where do you want me to go next?

Written by Jarieke Lappoehn