Just some ramblings...

Is it a worry that I am starting another new project, when I have countless other projects on the go already? I told myself, "Sam, why don't you finish a project instead of starting another one..." But I just couldn't resist. I often need a break from my 'work in progress' projects otherwise I get a bit bored and frustrated with them. And then I make mistakes. So I need to let them sit for a bit so the creative juices can start flowing and my interest spark again. Well, at least this is what I tell myself.

Maybe I should actually go through all my collection and write a list of all the projects that are "in progress." I think I would be a bit mortified at how many there are. I know there are alot of them, but putting an exact number on them...well..it scares me then. Makes me feel like I never accomplish anything but UFO's. No, I think I shall stay in my state of blissful unawarness and start some more projects. :)

And besides, I'm always making things for other people, so it's about time I make something for myself (I say that in the nicest possible way, without trying to sound selfish.) I just hope this new project doesn't end up in my UFO box, resigned to being an unfinished idea that makes me feel even more guilty.

And what is this new project? Well, I haven't been able to take any photos as yet, but I will soon. :)

I am actually feeling very 'reminiscent' (is that even a word?) lately. This time last year I was over in Indonesia doing missionary work for two months. We primarily went to Kalimantan (Borneo) and Papua (what used to be known as Irian Jaya.) We lived in some hostile places and very remote villages, but it was the best time of my life.

In most places we would bathe in the river, wash our clothes in the river, and even wash our dishes in the river. Yes, all in the same river. And goodness knows what people upstream were doing in that river... well, it was a lovely shade of brown.

It was my first time going overseas, and what a culture shock! The weather, the humidity, the food, the smell, the mess, etc....but I loved it, and I grew to love the Indonesian people- especially the kids! Such beautiful kids who were so happy, even in the face of extreme poverty and hopelessness. It really puts things into perspective and makes you realise how blessed we are to live in such a wonderful country. We often take things for granted, and it's not till you go to these remote places in Indonesia, or other countries, that you realise that fully.

Actually, this time last year, we went to a Leprosy hospital in Kalimantan. I have never seen anyone with leprosy and at first I was shocked. To see these beautiful people with such deformities in their hands and feet, most missing toes and fingers. One man didn't even have any hands or legs, but he still managed to crawl around. And we found out he was a brilliant chess player!

I met a beautiful young girl called Anna, who was 17. She adored me! She sat next to me the whole time and we played a game of chess, and tried to talk (Even with the language gap.) She was beautiful.

Even with all the harshness and tough times that we went through (lots of injuries and sickness, extreme third dregree sundburn, living conditions etc etc), I would go back and do it all again in an instant. I was able to do so many things I never thought possible, like hold a wild python snake, go swimming in rivers with crocidiles and water snakes, see a mans leg healed, ride in the back of dump trucks, go swimming at beautiful tropical beaches, plant cocoa plants in a field full of tarantula spiders, thrash grass in a field for rice to be planted, teach english to kids and play games with them, and make people happy just be our prescence. 'Twas awesome. :)