A Difficult Choice
Throughout this pregnancy we have seen over and over that "your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matt 6:8). From the beginning our hope was to give birth here in Indonesia in order to build stronger relationships and have a smoother transition into parenthood (meaning without tons of traveling, jet lag, etc.) but we came to realize that this isn't feasible for our family - at least not for our first baby. While there are many positives about the healthcare system here, we have also faced a number of difficulties with finding specific medications or locating a nearby hospital that can meet all of our needs. It has been humbling to lay down our plans and trust that the countless hours of prayer, research, and preparation have still served a purpose. There are many other details about how we finally came to this decision, so if you have questions please ask!
We'd like to get back to Indo as quickly as possible after the birth, so our plan is to return to the States at the end of October, then fly back to Indonesia again mid-February. Though this wasn't our original plan, we are looking forward to connecting with as many of you as possible while Stateside! It will be a huge blessing to be surrounded by other believers as we transition into parenthood.
Multiplying the Time
We are finally back safe and sound in the United States! The trip took about 48 hours to complete, and in spite of strict COVID regulations and Amber being 30 weeks pregnant everything still went quite smoothly. Our last few weeks in Indonesia felt incredibly meaningful and productive--it truly felt like our Father was multiplying the time before our departure. Jake spent 10 days in Sulawesi collecting data for his thesis project and connecting with farmers and leaders in the area. Our Father clearly went before him and Jake felt His favor in more ways than one (see the stories below). Amber taught right up to our departure date, and had meaningful opportunities to connect with new friends and old. She was also graciously invited to a large gathering of relatives with her Arab friends. She's been seeking more opportunities to connect with the culturally Indonesian Arabs in our city (that is, Yemeni and Saudi women who have been living in Indo for over two generations) and this was an incredible opportunity to meet a number of matriarchs in the community.
Here are few additional updates:
Our team leader, Katie, hosted a baby shower for Amber. It was a very diverse group with women from six countries and 5 different languages represented, but everyone enjoyed themselves and new relationships were formed.
An end of an era. Amber, Sarah, and now more recently Katie have been consistently meeting with the Yemeni sisters for almost three years now, but this season is ending as Sarah leaves the field to get married. The girls gathered together to say goodbye, and expressed through tears how meaningful these gatherings have been to them over the years. When they first immigrated to SE Asia their lives were incredibly difficult, but they said that after meeting us "it was the start of many beautiful things" and "they have learned much from us". Though Amber will be Stateside for a few months, they are looking forward to begin meeting again after Baby Fettig is born.
Jake completed a project supporting the administration of the local non-profit founded by REI staff. The foundation is now approved to receive grants that will help with the capitalization of various projects.
"It is a gift"
During Jake's time in the villages, he stayed with the village leader again and grew closer to his family. There were a few of college students staying there as well for an apprenticeship, and he enjoyed connecting with them. In fact, as the college students wrapped up their internship the village hosted a going away party and Jake was asked to prepare a song! He chose "Be Thou My Vision", and even though the people didn't understand much of the lyrics he was able to give a brief description of the song's meaning.
Part of Jake's research is related to ethno-botany, which has provided unique insight into the origin and beliefs surrounding the Loka Pere banana. While interviewing farmers, Jake asked where they believed the banana originated and one man said, "We believe it is a gift from Allah". Jake's positive response to this comment made the men feel more comfortable to discuss a few proverbs as well, and they clearly gained respect for Jake as he laid a foundation of common ground.
A Note on Timeline
Once again, there was a different path for us other than our own plan for returning to Indonesia. Visa processing for our son took longer than expected, so after the writing of this letter we stayed in the US until May 2022.
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