One Life At A Time.

CHANGING THE WORLD.

Seems like a crazy idea but it’s not IMPOSSIBLE J

I just finised a book called Kisses From Katie, it’s about a work of Katie Davis (a -now- 23 years old girl) who established Amazima Ministry in Uganda to empower the people of Uganda. Katie started the ministry when she was still 19, she fell in love with Uganda when she went there for a mission work with her Mom in 2006 before finally decided to return there and made a lifetime commitment to Uganda.

Katie was so overwhelmed by the poor condition of the people and how the children suffer from malnutrition and lack of educaion. She often felt as if what she’s done is like trying to empty the ocean with a teardrop...yet what made her keep on going is, the fact that she learned from the Bible. Jesus didn’t heal everyone, but He stopped for one person and made a difference in that one person’s life. That’s how she learned to love, one person at a time. Katie couldn’t help everyone in Uganda, but she could help one person in front of her. 

From her compassion to one person it then led to another then to another then to another. Now, she has 13 officially adopted daughters from Uganda and Amazima ministry has been changing the live of one community in Uganda. From loving one children, now Katie has been able to send more that 200 Ugandan children to school, teaching the women to make necklaces from beads to be sold in America to help them earn some income for their family and recently, Amazima has developed a farm program to help the local people. 

I believe that what she's going through during these years were not easy but, she kept on going to love one person at a time and God trusted her more and He's working on the part she couldn't do herself. 

Austin Gutwein was 9 years old when he decided to start a movement called Hoops for Hope in 2004. What moved Austin was his concern for the children who had lost their parents to AIDS. He wanted to help then he decided to shoot free throws on World AIDS Day in 2004, he shot 2057 free throws to represent the 2057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school and with the support from friends and family, he was able to raised almost $3000 and the money was used to provide hope to 8 orphan children.

Over the past nine years, his effort has turned into the largest free throw marathon in the world with an estimated 40.000 people in more than 25 countries participating in Hoops for Hope and able to raised more than $3 million. The funds would then be used for the construction of the only high school in a rural region in Southern Zambia, four dormitories, two medical clinics, two computer laboratories, feeding programs, multiple water projects as well as the funding of a dormitory at an orphanage in Kenya and a school in India.

He started by loving a girl named Maggie, whom he saw from the a video about AIDS oprhan. His heart was moved with compassion and he acted on it. 

A friend of mine, a woman with two kids and one grandson, a wife of an amazing man and a daughter of a passionate father that I know whom everyone called as Mommy Inge, she's been taking care of homeless people. She couldn't help every homeless but she would love one person at a time. Now, she's living with people she's taken care from the street, giving them love, family and even a work to do. She's a woman with a great big compassionate heart. It's not always easy to love people, but from her, I learned that...if you keep on loving people even though they have hurt you, in the end it's not just changing their lives but also change your life. your heart is filled with greater love and their lives are changed because of the love you're giving them. 

I've seen people changing history in their lives. Not just Katie Davis, not just Austin Gutwein, not just Mommy Inge...but us, everyday people, who are willing to stop and love one person at a time. That's why I said, changing the world is not impossible if we continue to love and remember to love, love will change people's life.

I've met awesome people across Twitter every single day. People who are willing to stop and love one person at a time. I've read the story of Veronica Colondam, founder of YCAB, the story of Valencia, founder of Blood for Life and Three Little Angels movement, the story of Nila Tanzil and her Taman Bacaan Pelangi and the story many more who are willing to stop and love one person at a time then another then another then another until they are changing the lives of many people. 

I have a dream since I was young (well, I still am young now :p) that I want to make the world a better place. I want to be someone who are impacting the world, changing the world. It was sure hard to do. It's hard to change the world. But then, I learned to narrow down the scope. I stop trying to change the world, but start to change one life at a time. It's a joy when you know that your love is changing someone's life. It's a joy when you know that you can do something to help someone improving his/her life. And it will surprise you that the more you give out love, you can never be lack of love. 

Sure things are not always easy, dealing with people is not always easy but surely, loving people is never a vain thing to do. Loving people is not to let them take you for granted, but loving people is to build their lives to be better, is to encourage them and empower them to live a better life. 

Not everyone has to move to Uganda like Katie, not everyone has to start a movement like Austin, not everyone has to take care of the homeless at their house like Mommy Inge, not everyone has to establish a foundation like Veronica, not everyone has to be a blood donation ambassador like Valencia and certainly not everyone has to make a librarly for children like Nila Tanzil...because you and me, we all have our own parts to do in this life. You just need to find your part. It might in your office, it might be in your family, it might be in your school, it might be around your house, it might be your neighbours but it might also be the people from other countries. Your part, might be to become an enterpreneur, teacher, employee, speaker, doctor, psychologist, politicians and so on. Find your part and be a problem solver where you are.

Recently, I have committed myself to sponsor the education of two children through World Vision Indonesia. I cannot sponsor every child in Indonesia, but I at least I can change the lives of two children and hopefully in the future they will also change the lives of other people. It's kinda like "pay it forward" :) - my late aunt was also a child sponsor through World Vision Indonesia, when she passed away, my parents took over her legacy and be the sponsor of her child. Just two days ago, I got the news from World Vision Indonesia that the child is now working in one of the government beaureau and he wished to meet my parents to thank them for giving him the sponsor so he can finish his education. How wonderful it is to know that you are helping to improve someone's life. 

There are many ways for us to love and to care for other people. Find your own way to care and remember to always stop and love one person at a time. From the simplest act of opening the door for the elderly, to helping strangers or simply smile at a weary soul, you have taken a part in changing someone's life and the world.

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Remember to LOVE.

Life can trap us inside a circle called routines and when we feel we are too busy, too occupied with the tasks at hand. We somehow, stop to love. We no longer have time to think of other people. We focus on ourselves, on our work, on our achievements. We tend  to forget to spend some time to care for those around us. Let it be our family and our friends, let alone the strangers we've just met or people we only see once in a while.

There's a reason why I put the pictures above, it's because I would like to share the stories behind the pictures.

The first picture is a picture of me and an old woman I met around 5 years ago. She lived in a slum area in an old and abandoned chinese graveyard. She didn't talk much when we first met. She just smiled, A LOT and I didn't know why when I met her, I just fell in love with her smile. I came to visit her home. A small space with one bed, a little drawer for her clothes, a broken fan and nothing else. We sat on her bed. I asked her about her life, she explained briefly that she's married with a man much younger than her and he often beat her up when he's upset about something. "No one would come and help me, so I would just be silent and keep everything to myself. He's an evil, evil man. He often asked me for money." -- When I asked her about her children, she told me that her children lived far away from her. They didn't come visit her often. When they came, they would give her some money and her husband then would ask her for the money. 

I didn't know what to say after hearing such story coming from an old woman who's holding my hand while she's telling me her story. She already had trouble with her hearing, so most of the time, when I asked or said something to her, she couldn't really hear me that well but she would smile everytime. 

After that, whenever I returned to that place, I always came looking for her and spent the time sitting next to her, holding her hand or visiting her house, sitting on her bed and listening to her stories. Although she lived in such poor condition, she never asked me for money. She never asked me for anything. She's just happy to see me.

She always smiled whenever she saw me coming. The brightest smile I've ever seen and it warmed my heart. It always feels good to know that someone is happy to see you. 

The hardest part was always the goodbye, the sad look on her eyes whenever I hugged her before coming home and promised that I would come back to see her again. The last promise I made...I never really fulfilled it and it would be something that I will regret. I will tell you why later on. 

The second picture is a picture of me and some of the street children I met around Citos (a mall in Jakarta). They would beg for money of the red light and my first encounter with them was with some friends from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Perth. We were there simply just to meet the children and played with them. Something that's done once in a while then becoming a routine. We were playing, singing, laughing, exchanging stories, taking pictures and being fun. Although they were there to beg for money, they never asked us for some money. Our company, our love and our presence were enough for them. We let them sit on our lap, we listened to their stories, we hugged them, we kissed them and we played with them. 

The first time I went to meet them, honestly, I was afraid. I was afraid that they might do something that will harm me. I never be among the street children, I was always in my comfort zone. I was afraid that they would turn out to be rude and violent as maybe, many other people would think they would be. But, despite of my fear, I went to meet them because I wanted to know their life, I wanted to meet them and if anything bad might happen, I know God will protect me and...

I WAS WRONG.

They turned out to be the most loving children. They only long to be loved. They would hug you, cling on your arms and telling you their stories. Their love is changing my heart and in a way, changing my life. I thought I was going there to share my love but instead, I received much love from them. It's amazing when you just open your heart to love people. You might be suprised of the amount of love returned to you. 

Yet, what keep people from loving and being kind, is the fact that we often get too busy with ourselves and with our things. We worry too much about our own matters and we become self-centered. We stop being kind when we don't feel like it. 

That was my regret, as I got busy with work, new activities, new friends, problems at  work, home and church and a fresh broken heart...I eventually worn out and feel tired. I stopped coming to visit the old woman, I stopped coming to visit the children. I stopped doing anything. I swallowed myself in bitterness and sadness. My heart grew colder and all I want to do now is to care about me and my needs. I put myself out to do a lot of things just to make me happy, to make me feel better. The focus was in me.

Until...i heard the news.

It was in the mid of 2012. I was chatting with a friend whom I used to go to the slums with. I saw some pictures of her on facebook when she visited the slum at the graveyard and decided to have a chat with her. I told her how much I miss that place and asked her about the old woman whom I always called as "Nenek" (grandma in Indonesian). I wasn't ready to receive her answer...

"Nenek has passed away last year...her house is no longer there. I don't know where her children buried her, but some people said that she was buried not far from the slum area."

There I was, in front of my computer...unable to say anything. Overwhelmed by all kinds of emotions running through my heart, I decided to end the chat and logged out. I was unable to define what I felt after receiving the news before it hit me hard and I began to weep. 

I promised her that I would come back and visit her again. A promise that I couldn't keep until the end of her life. 

I still remember her, smiling brightly once she saw me coming. She would always smile and smile everytime I asked her about her day. She would put her head on my shoulder, hugging my arm and sit with me while we watched the children at the slum playing with my other friends. She would pinched my arms and told me how chubby I am then she would show me her tiny little hands and her wrinkly skin. 

The last time we met, she cried when I said goodbye. She held my hand tight. She had gone through hard times since the government decided to evict the people out of the slum area because a new building was about to be built in that area. Many houses from the slum area were demolished. Some people still insisted to stay but...sooner or later, the area needed to be cleared. Her house was soon to be demolished as well. 

The last time we met, our trusted friend in the slum, a husband and wife promised us that they would take care of her. The last time we met, she went out to walk me home the farthest she could. Then, when I waved my goodbye, I could still see her smile although tears were running down her cheek. 

It was really, the last time we met. Before I was busy with everything in my life and forgot about her. Forgot about the promised I made. My regret.

In the modern life, where people are technologically wired and connected to each other, LOVE is lost. What's I'm talking about is not about the love between lovers, but it's love towards one another. Love that we give to other people simple because we care about them, let them be our family, friends or even strangers at the streets or people that we see once in a while. We're too busy to stop and love. We're too occupied to stop and care. And that's so sad.

Although it seems like I have given up on them, it's the street children who are not giving up on me. They texted me, asking how am I doing, telling me that they've been missing me and wanting to see me. I thought of it as annoying at first, I was busy with MY LIFE and MY WORK and now you want me to divide my attention to you?! - I thought of them as demanding and it was just too much for me. My heart was growing so cold that it's no longer able to contain anything. I was upset with many things that I was unable to share my life with anyone. I was unlovable. But no matter, how short my replies and sometimes I didn't even reply to the text, the children kept texting me..they didn't give up. They believe in me, they believe in my heart that (used) to love them. They know the love is there somewhere inside me.

And it broke me down to my knees...

I cried to God at the fact that I have forgotten how to love. I have been so self-centered. I have been trying hard to be loved instead of to love. I have let so many things break my inner being, break my heart and break my passion...and I have let bitterness creeping into my heart. Taking over it and making it colder. 

The street children never forget to love me. Their love for me is the reminder that I too need to remember to love. That sharing the love doesn't mean that we're losing it or we're going to be lacking of it but sharing the love means to double it. That investing your time, your attention and your love to other people is never a waste, it will always come back to you in multiple ways through many people.

One day, during my holiday with the family when we're queueing for a seat in a restaurant. I went to the toilet. People were also queueing for the toilet, so I stood in line, waiting for my turn. Not for long, an old woman came in a wheelchair, her granddaughter was pushing the wheelchair for her. They were having difficulties to get into the toilet, no one else seemed to care, so I decided to help them. Once I'm done helping them, the old woman smiled to me and said, "Thank you dear, God bless you...God bless you dear..." - and my heart felt so warm. 

That's the joy of giving out the love and care to other people even if it's just a small thing done to a stranger: looking at how their face beamed with a SMILE...it will make you smile as well despite of how rough is your day.

Before it's too late, remember to love. No matter how busy you are, no matter how rough is your day, never forget to love. Some people wish to change the world and think that it takes a LOT to do that or simply they think that they need to DO BIG THINGS to change the world. Well, you don't have to have a lot first to give and you don't have to do big things first to change the world. You can change the world by changing one life at a time. HOW? by sharing the love to one person, by opening your eyes to the need of one person and help them. That's the best way to change the world. 

I believe that the love that I once gave to Nenek has changed her life, has given her hope and made her feel loved. I believe that the love that I shared with the street children has changed their lives, has given them the joy and the hope that they are worthy to be loved. And what did I get in return? Their love changed my life. Nenek's love for me has changed my life, The street children's love for me has changed my life. 

See, that whatever you give to other people it will come back to you eventually. You will never lack of love, that make you unable to give it to other people. You only need to be willing. To love means to let yourself open and vulnerable for people to hurt you, and believe me, sooner or later, people will hurt you eventhough you have tried to love them...but don't give up and you'll see that your love will change people.

About Life.

In life, I've learned a few things and those few things turn into a list and the list might go longer than these...*smile*

Just because someone is good to you, doesn’t mean they are good for you, you need to look beyond their kindness. In fact, you might even need some tough people in your life to help you grow. 

Managing expectations will save you from unnecessary heartbreaks and disappointments – we often hurt not by what we found but by what we hope to be found. Sometimes we set our expectations to high without even bother to see the reality. It doesn’t mean that we cannot have a dream or a hope, but make sure that we manage our heart’s capacity to deal what’s going to happen along the way.

It’s worth to have a little adventure to discover your passion – be brave to try everything and find something that you really like to do. Open yourself to know new people and do new things. You might never know where life would take you. Enjoy the ride, take the risk and fly!

Sometimes you will fall for the right person in the wrong time and the wrong person in the right time and that’s okay. No matter how irritating, exhausting and heart breaking it might be, one thing for sure. Every relationship that crossed path with us meant to help us grow better and make us know what kind of person do we really want to spend our lives with. Just believe that if something is meant for us, it will eventually happen. Just enjoy your moment in falling in love and never be sorry for loving someone, it's a precious feeling. 

Fall in love with the real person not with what you imagine of the person is very important. Taking time in getting to know someone is worth more that speeding up the process and let your heart fall uncontrollably. When we are attracted to someone, we tend to “close our eyes” to the bad things we see from that someone and building a certain imagination about that someone or worse maybe that person only shows you want he/she wants you to see. Well,  take it slow and decide wisely. Remember, managing your expectations is very important ;) - drag along your best friend, someone you know would be honest enough to tell you the truth. she/he might be able to help you see the reality.

It’s never right to be someone you’re not just to make people love you – because you are you. It is tiring and also hurting to try to be someone you are not just to fit in or just to make people love you. If they can’t love you for who you really are, maybe they’re not the right people for you and you should move on. 

Happiness is the thing you choose for yourself, it doesn’t depend on anything or anyone. Never let anything or anyone steal your joy. Happiness is your choice, you might not able to change your circumstances but you can always change the way you react on things. Remember that no one is responsible for your happiness but yourself. No matter how tough your situation is, you can always choose to be grateful and joyful.

You will become the five people you spend most of your time with – have you ever heard a phrase that says,“show me your friends and I will show you your future.” That phrase is true. Choose wisely the people you want to be in your inner circle because more or less they will be the greatest impact in you life. People who are closely related or spend most time with each other will eventually adapting similar behaviour and thinking. Thus, choose wisely what kind of people you are letting into your inner circle, are they affecting you in a positive way? do they build you to become better?

Never compromise your life values -- it's not worth it.

P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.I.N.G is a dangerous word. Never wait until tomorrow to do the things you can do today. It will save your ass from much trouble in the future and for sure, it will lead you to many new opportunities.

Those friends who stick with you through thick and thin for all seasons...keep them and appreciate them. Don't take them for granted. They are the gems in your life.

Never lose the sense of wonder or else your life will be very boring. Open your eyes to see everything and be excited. Never lose your passion and enthusiasm. Just strip off the boring adult pride and be like a kid in a wonderland. It will help you to see things in different perspective.

Doing something for other people will not just help them but also do yourself a help. doing a good thing will make you feel good and it's good for your soul & your heart. by opening yourself to the need of other people will help you to see that you're not the only miserable soul in this world and by helping other people you are also helping yourself in realising that you actually have the strength you need to overcome your hardships.

Give and it shall be given to you -- is a true statement. giving not always talking about material things but also time and attention. people think that giving will make them poor or lack of something, yet by holding back it won't make them richer or content. when you give to people, it will come back to you, not always from the same people  but it will come back to you in a way and through anyone.

Celebrate small achievements because it's important. don't wait until you get big achievement to celebrate. just celebrate yourself, pat yourself in the shoulder and let yourself know that you've done a good job. be grateful before you're becoming too busy to even celebrate the smallest things in your life - enjoy your moments! ;)

Why?

Why do you love being under the sea?

because when I am under the sea, I listen

I listen to the sound of my own bubbles

I listen to the sound of the current

I listen to the movement of the soft corals

I listen to the history of the hard corals

I listen to the sea creatures

I listen to their stories

Ones that look so fragile

But strong..

They fight against the current

They don't run

They don't hide

They fight face to face

They are very brave

I listen to the silent solitude

To my own self

To my own conscience

I listen to my faith

When there's no land before my feet

When I float in the depth of the ocean

I listen to the words of my Creator

When my ears are secured from the voices of the world

I listen to the sound of my buddies' bubbles

I listen to their tank bangers

I listen to their hand signals

I listen better and I care more

being under the sea has teached me humility

knowing that there's more beyond the surface

knowing that I am just one tiny little part of the big world

and that I am the weakest one down there

being under the sea has teached me wonders

knowing that every single thing I see down there never ceased to amaze me

knowing that what you see is not always what it is

and there are mysteries waiting to be unfold

that is why I love being under the sea...