The month of May flew by! Two weeks ago the four summer interns arrived and we've been busy getting them settled into their homestays, leading training sessions, and providing guidance on their summer projects in order to best contribute to the work here. They are all so eager to invest and learn, and their excitement has definitely spilled over to us. They are helping us see Malang with fresh eyes with their excited questions and observations (like: "Look at that papaya tree! Look at that chicken crossing the road!") They are also wanting to be good stewards of the time here especially in regards to relationships. Please be lifting them up as they interact with their host parents - that they'd have wisdom, opportunities, and miraculously overcome language barriers!
Other highlights from the last month:
Gideon made his first trip out to the new processing facility
We interviewed and selected 3 great candidates from Brawijaya University to partner with the summer interns on their projects and "kerja sama" (work together)
Amber's Yemeni friends have gathered a couple times, but one girl in particular LOVES babies and has been wanting to spend more one-on-one time with Amber.
We've had more relational opportunities than ever!
Going Deeper into the Culture
Since becoming parents we've needed to become students of the culture all over again in some ways. Here's some of what we've been learning from our friends here:
hiccups mean baby is growing
babys' heads should be shaved right after they are born
mothers should nurse for at least 18 months
babies should sleep in bed with mom
never hold baby on your hip - otherwise he will become bowlegged
Other cultural norms have been a bit harder to adjust to (like strangers trying to take Gideon out of my arms while kissing his face, or friends/acquaintances trying to take him back to their houses without asking if it's okay) but there are so many positives underlying these actions. People love Gideon so much and sincerely want to help. "It takes a village" is a popular phrase in America, but we feel like in many ways we are experiencing this concept in its original form.
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