Friday, June 03, 2005

English Report in December 2002

English Report of Denny Wahyudi

2. Today is Sunday night, The Second Advent term, December 8, 2002, at 07.20 o’clock p.m., the time of Franklin-Wisconsin, USA. The outside of temperature is minus 7 degree Celsius. Last Monday was snowing, but till now there isn’t snowing again, and now there is little bit snow at field.
The feast of Saint Francis Xavier the patron of Mission and our congregation, Xaverian was not celebrated specifically. We did a mass in the morning and at night we went to Knight of Columbus, a simple restaurant, we ate together with the older men, the friends of Xaverian with the food was taken by them. After I was sick last week, my appetite at the first time is too high, now I can’t eat too much, so I can’t eat cake. That is a meaning of my sick last week, that I will no too fat, I thank to God for this case, like I was remembered to eat enough, not too full, because it’ll make me not comfortable with my stomach. Now I feel good and health.
On last Wednesday, I made presentation in my school about ‘Wayang Kulit of Java’, I wore ‘blangkon’ (a hat) and traditional shirt from Java which I bought in Malioboro Yogyakarta, and a wayang kulit miniature with a mini stage. I tried to record the music of ‘gamelan’ for wayang kulit from Internet and I can do successfully to complete my presentation, which was limited only 10 minutes. The result is good enough and the tools I used can help me and full of interesting. My classmates and my teacher who watched my presentation were happy. The last minute I switched off the lamp and I tried to play my wayang…’ooo bumi goncang-gancing langit kelap-kelap…oooo’ and not deliberately the light of candle in front of me for the playing was blown by my voice and off, so the playing was ended. Every presentation was recorded by video, so I can evaluate myself, which the positive and the shortage, it’s useful for my next presentation.
On Wednesday I could call Mrs. Sian Lie by phone in Colorado-USA. She and her husband have been visiting their children who studying in Colorado, and they will present the graduation of Lidia, their first daughter which will be held on December 14. (Mrs. Sian Lie is a benefactor and friend of Xaverian Society in Indonesia).
This Friday is the last day of our school in Sacred Heart, we played some games and graduation both of our classmates, young Indian priests, Father Sojan and Father Tobiyas. They will work in Texas, in a parish. Then we ate a little bit of cake and fruits, watched a video. This Friday is feast of Saint Nicholas too (December 6), the day which I fulfilled my vote to cut all of my hair. It’s my desire when I was in Jakarta, I want cut all of my hair to be a new man with a bald head. My vote was executed by Mario Toledo Guzman, my Xaverian classmate from Mexico successfully, after supper. Don’t worry next time I will send my photo via email, with a bald shinny head, like Shaolin bhiksu.
On Saturday, I watched a video of the World Youth Day in Toronto-Canada, with Pope John Paul II and was attended by 800 thousand youth from all of the world, include of 600 cardinals and bishops. Father Victor gathered this event with Bishop Biguzzi, a Xaverian bishop in Africa. It seemed Pope with the old physic, but still can read without glasses and could speak various language of the world. This video was ended by the coming back of Pope by a black helicopter. See you next time in the World Youth Day in Koln (Cologne) – German in 2005.
This second week of Advent, I followed Father Alfredo took a mass in the nursing home of Mount Carmel. There are about 400 patients, and more about 70s patients gathered the mass. I helped some patients to gain the place of mass with their wheeled-chair. At afternoon I was picked up by Mr. Ben and his son Francis, went to a site which gathered a group of Dutch-Indonesian, celebrated Saint Nicholas. There were about 50 people of children, youth family and the older. It seemed an assimilation married, ther was a face of Indonesian and Western and mixed both of them. Most of the older people have stayed for long time in USA, and ever lived in Holland. Their children and grandchildren don’t speak Indonesian language anymore. Mr. Ben and Ms. Netty Ridijk his wive are the close friend of Mr.Wiranto and Ms.Linda (benefactor of Xaverian in Indonesia) which were introduced to me when I was in Jakarta, before I leaved for America. I was welcomed very well by them and picked up me back home. In America the older man still drive a car, like Mr. Ben is 69 years old. I was introduced for all of them by Mr. Ben. There was a saint Claus and Black Piet which consoled the children, remind me when I was a child in a Christmas day of my Kindergarten in 1980s. In order to I seemed not to shinny, I wore a black hat, ‘peci’ specifically of Indonesia, and took a photo with them as a memory.
Other thing is: I have been trying to translate my experience writing every week in English. It’s for my exercise to write the right English, and I send to my teacher, Ruth for correction. I do this job too in this holiday, and I like to do it. I hope my efforts can help me to improve my English. Our school will off till open on January 13 next year. Our planning in next week there will a lesson from 3 teachers about conversation in American English about tradition of Advent in America and how to read the bible correctly. They are teacher or activist from a parish who available to help us to improve our English. Father Larrry will teach us about the Scripture of healing. How will these work, I will inform you next week. An the other planning in December 15 we will gather with the theology community of Chicago for vacation and trip to Florida and other states, knowing more about America, the history and culture.
OK, that’s all my inspiration, thank you very much for your attention to read patiently.
My best Greeting and prayer always for all of you,
Denny Wahyudi, sx
Franklin, December 08, 2002

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