disadvantages that became advantages
TRANSCRIPT
Do you have things that you greatly dislike about your life? I’m not talking about the little things
that annoy you, but rather your life situation or the way you were made. I have certainly had my
share. However, my transition to Indonesia has turned a lot of those things into advantages.
1. Being short. Don’t laugh, all of you taller people who never grew up being at the end of the
line on class picture day. Ever since I was young, I’ve been among the smallest of my peers, and
it gets old when you can’t reach things, when you are mistaken for a kid, or when you have to
spend extra money to hem all of your pants. Many people are surprised when they find out that
I’ve hated being small for most of my life, but it’s true. That has changed in Indonesia, however.
I’m around the same height as most Indonesians, including the men. When I buy clothes, my
size is XL. Being short has helped me fit in because I don’t tower over people and I can buy
clothes that fit. Additionally, more cargo can fit in the plane with me than with most other pilots.
2. Being a kid of Asian immigrants. I grew up in Colorado, and my class in school was 95% white.
My mom packed lunches that the other kids didn’t recognize. I wasn’t taken to movies or rock
concerts like other kids, because my parents didn’t grow up with those things. I hated that I
wasn’t like everyone else. Now, I am so grateful that I grew up eating Asian food because I don’t
get homesick for American food. I am grateful that I grew up being confused about cultural
differences, because I’m rarely uncomfortable when I’m confused about Indonesian culture.
Oh, and knowing how to play ping pong has come in handy.
3. Moving to Maryland. When I was 13, my world was turned upside down when my family moved
to Maryland. Colorado was all I had ever known. It was cool and dry in Colorado. Maryland can
be horribly hot and humid in comparison, and for a year I refused to exercise unless I was
forced to in gym class because I couldn’t stand sweating like people do on the East Coast. I
prayed every day to move back to Colorado and couldn’t see the move to Maryland in a
positive light. Now, I’m so glad I’ve had years of experience with East Coast summers. When I’m
sitting in a plane with sweat running down my back, it actually feels pretty normal.
There is a famous verse that Christians like to quote from Romans 8:28, which says God is able
to work all things together for the good of those He called according to His purpose. As I’ve
looked back on my life, it has been cool to see the many ways in which this verse has been true
in this calling to serve in Indonesia.
News from Joyce Lin
October 2019
Disadvantages that became Advantages
One-time startup costs
Monthly support
$30,000
$6,800
Mail: P.O. Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653 * Email: jlin [at] maf.org * Phone: (208) 498-0800 * Web: www.maf.org/lin
Tarakan I have greatly enjoyed the process of getting up to
speed in my IT role. My team supports all MAF
bases in Indonesia, not just the ones in Papua. My
orientation to the IT program brought me to
Tarakan for 1.5 weeks in September. Tarakan is on
the island of Kalimantan, in central Indonesia. In
Tarakan I helped put up a wireless antenna for the
first time, monitored the installation of solar panels,
and fixed several computers. I also greatly enjoyed
getting to know the MAF staff in Tarakan (e.g. see
the photo on the first page).
This trip to Tarakan was just the beginning of a busy
fall travel schedule. I would appreciate prayer for
smooth travels and energy to complete the
upcoming trips successfully!
Oct 28 - Nov 1: Spokane, WA (Kodiak simulator)
Nov 4-8: Nampa, ID (Initial lessons in MAF Kodiak)
Nov 11-15: Uganda (Biennual MAF IT conference)
These two antennas beam information between
the MAF hangar and the MAF school in Tarakan.
The process of removing a laptop hard drive can
be compared to treasure hunting: the map is
not easy to read, and the treasure is arguably
buried under layers of misdirection.
This is the hardware that links our solar panels with both
backup batteries and the local power grid. I never thought
I’d actually use those electrical engineering classes that I
was forced to take in college.