Susan Hoover

Here are some highlights of things that really touched me during my 1^st few days back in Berastagi:

My very 1^st night back I went to eat and visit with Ibu Tika. (a close friend of ours who is a devote Muslim but last year was open to hear the gospel and even asked for a Bible). She had obviously been thinking a lot because she bombarded me with tons of questions… it was wonderful! She testified about all the miracles that have taken place in her family! But she still couldn’t quite understand how we had so much power. Because even though she is a very devote Muslim her prayers are not answered like that. It was a beautiful conversation we had.. all about Jesus!! How we are nothing. We have no power. We are not any better than she is. But Jesus.. He is everything! He is the one who heals her and works miracles in her family!

As all the children were coming out of the mosque one night. I was walking up the path. When Tika saw me she came running..”sussssan”! Her ‘sembahyang’ (long, white covering used for prayer) flying everywhere… And ran into my arms to give me a big hug. That was a probably the best welcome I could ask for.

Do you remember that group of boys in my neighborhood from last year? They all live in student housing near my house. They all got saved, baptized and helped us in our village outreaches. Well.. I was so happy when I came back and I saw that many of them are even more involved in the church! Some have even moved into the church to help with the work there! Within a few days my house was full of their laughter again.. and their 1^st question…where is the next village we will reach?!

Semi Rosa came from a hard family background and from the Muslim religion. But Jesus has really changed her life. And last year she became my most faithful partner to travel to all the villages with me. While I was gone in Canada she graduated from the Bible School here. When she was on her missions trip on the coast she met many Muslims and she remembered all the times she’d spent with me and she felt bold to share the gospel! I was really touched as she shared that she feels called to bring the truth about Jesus to those in the Muslim religion so that they can be saved! When others asked her what she wanted to be she answered. “I want to be like Susan”. Not to be like me… the person that I am.. but to do what I do.. bringing the good news of Jesus to those who don’t know it!!

My heart for the Muslim people increases each day! One night I walked by the mosque in my neighborhood, as I do many times every day. But this time it was lit up in the night and I could see all the children sitting there dressed up in their sembahyang. As I looked at their faces a new revelation came to me.. How hard it must be to be a Muslim. If we are Christians without the real life of Jesus in us we are bored and think it is difficult to go to church. But what if we had to be as dedicated as they are! Even the children must pray 5 times a day, fast everyday this month, and they are praying and listening to what they can not even understand! It is one of the hardest religions to follow.. and religion has no life or joy in it. So why do they do it? Honestly. I think most of the Muslim people are so beautiful. They are so kind and so nice. They are just trying to do what they think is the best.. they don’t know any better! They don’t know what Jesus has done for them!.. They don’t know that their sins are already paid for! They don’t know!!!!  

I really have compassion for the people here. And I know God will use us this year to bring the truth to them.. so they have a choice between following a dead religion that can not save them or living with a wonderful savior named Jesus.

It is great to be back and to continue on the work here! Tomorrow I will be going down to the prostitution village. My friend there has wonderful new ideas of how we can reach the people there! I am so excited for all the great things I know will happen there!!

During October I will be traveling to the island of Java with my good friend Ester. We are going to visit two villages there. With the purpose of bringing those families there to know Jesus! This will be quite an experience… staying with a Muslim family during the Muslim Holiday! Definitely my first time doing something like this! I ask you to please pray for us.. our only desire is that they would believe and receive Jesus as their savior!

I will also be staying in that area to help out in the Festival with Pastor Peter in the city of Surabaya. The city of Surabaya holds millions of people who don’t know Jesus.. what an amazing event this will be.. I’m so excited to be a part of it!!

It is truly so wonderful to be in Indonesia again! To be a part of all of this! Thank you for being a part of it with me!!

Allah Kita Dasyat!! (Our God is Awesome!),

Susan Joy