‘             Two weeks ago I received a letter saying that I was called to follow my last vicariat training on April 15-25, which leads to my last ministerial test to become ordained as a full pastor of HKBP Church. Therefore, I’m going back to Indonesia on April 9th, and return to the Amsterdam on May 29th.

‘             This ordination was the main purpose of all my theological studies. This is a very important moment for me. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the calling this year. I asked one of my senior pastors about whether I will be called this year or not, and he said no. But then again, I was called. My dad told me that he received a letter about it. At first I was not so sure about the calling, I thought it could be an administrative error, but after I saw my name on the church’s website, I am now convinced. I wonder what I would look like with my black robe on?
‘             I need encouragement and support as I’m following the path that I felt was destined for me. Despite all the worries and problems I have now; i.e. my 2nd chapter, my living permit extension, housing contract extension, the ministerial test,
I believe God has plans for me. I just need to do my best and God will take care the rest. If you’re back home in Jakarta, or North Sumatera, there’s a big chance I would be able to meet you all! Hope to see you soon!

Turtle Swims from Papua to Oregon

Talk about sheer persistence! This turtle swims from Papua to Oregon in 647 days. Compare that to some of my friends who would complain after a 2 hours walk. The turtle was tracked by the satellite until the transmitter battery dies after 12,774 miles of journey.

This is the link to the full article

Rotterdam residents have shorter life expectancy

I would not want to live in Rotterdam right now. A recent study by Erasmus Medical Centre shows that Rotterdam residents have a life span 18 months shorter than the rest of the Dutch.  The report shows that the cause was, “There are relatively more smokers in Rotterdam and the concentration of particulate matter in the air is 13 percent higher than elsewhere in the country. The lower educational and income levels also play a significant role.”

Click Here for the article at expatica

Man lived with corpse for years

Here is another shocking story about a man who live with a corpse on his sofa for more than five years in a Bristol flat. The remains was finally found after neighbors complained about the smell. But this was after five years. Where have they been? Allan Derrick (in his 70s), the person who lived with the remains of Denis Pring, suffers a mental health problem.

Click here for news from BBC

This is the one program that I think you should attend! This would be an event for 300 youth around the world working out the differences to build the common goal in Millennium Development Goal!

International Youth Forum 2008
Bandung, West Java,Indonesia

Scholarship / Financial aid: Cost per participant is 350 USD Date: June 23-30, 2008 Deadline: February 29th, 2008 Open to: all interested applicants Announcement follows: International Youth Forum 2008 is a forum for youths to learn, share and experience mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among world youth faiths leader communities through real conversations on what things that matter the most, so that they can be the agents of a peaceful change in their own communities. The IYF 2008 will bring about 300 young people ages of 18-30 from around the world that have been actively engaged or interested in this program. Program’s Goal: > To promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among interfaith, international, and inter-civilization youth leaders in the world. > To bring clarity of divisive issues and help forge greater understanding towards peace. > To build a peace network > To provide creative space for peace thoughts, interactions, and social movement. > To build a Global Youth Action Plan and recommendation on achieving MDGs 2015 Program format: This program will offer a mixing speakers to share their own experiences of peace-building toward MDGs and youth empowerment issue, country paper sessions, inner reflection and sharing in which individuals can share their peace-building stories, panel-discussions, quiet time, world cafe, dialogue, field practice, social workshops involving the local communities, free time, workshop on practical exercises for skill improvement, cultural event, and family groups. Website: http://www.iyf2008.blogspot.com/

Application form can be downloaded at http://www.4shared.com/file/28342062/41791120/iyf2008_application_form.html

or click Iyf Application Form

Just want to wish my friends who are having their birthday today. May God bless you in love and life, and that you will be the blessings for others too. Happy birthday!

Former Indonesian Suharto dies today at 13.10 (West Indonesian Time Zone/ 5.10 GMT) because of multiple organ failure. He was treated last week at the Pertamina Hospital for the same reason but managed to survive. I would like to send my condolences to the family. He was one of Indonesia’s most influential President.

There are a lot of controversies behind his passing, but nevertheless he has contributed something to Indonesia. I will write more on this later on.

News From Examiner.com 

Click here for full link of the story 

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Map, News) - Former dictator Suharto, an army general who crushed Indonesia’s communist movement and pushed aside the country’s founding father to usher in 32 years of tough rule that saw up to a million political opponents killed, died Sunday. He was 86.

Suharto had been ailing in a hospital in the capital since Jan. 4 when he was admitted with failing kidneys, heart and lungs. Doctors prolonged his life for three weeks through dialysis and a ventilator, but he lost consciousness and stopped breathing on his own overnight before slipping into a coma Sunday.

A statement issued by chief presidential doctor Marjo Subiandono said he was declared dead at 1:10 p.m. The cause of death was given as multi-organ failure.

Doctors did not try to revive him when his heart stopped beating because it was too weak, said Dr. Joko Raharjo.

Here are the pictures. Congrats to Kevin, and for a reminder: We are watching you Kevin! hahaha.

These photos were taken by the courtesy of Grace’s camera.

Selamat merayakan hari raya Galungan, terutama buat teman-teman yang dari Bali. Semoga dengan kemenangan Dharma, dan menyambut kedatangan Kuningan, kita menjadi manusia yang lebih baik dan dapat memusatkan pikiran untuk pendirian yang seterang-terangnya.

Siapa saja yang sujud kepada Aku dengan
persembahan sehelai daun, sekuntum bunga,
sebiji buah-buahan dan seteguk air,
Aku terima sebagai bhakti persembahan
dari orang yang berhati suciBhagawadita IX.26.

Sebuah artikel dari I Made Titib mengenai Galungan dapat diklik di sini.

(kutipan)…. Hal yang sangat penting dalam perayaan Galungan adalah kesediaan kita melakukan transformasi diri bahwa dengan persembahyangan yang mantap yang kita laksanakan, diharapkan kita lebih maju dalam bidang spiritual. Transformasi yang dimaksud adalah perubahan diri, dari yang tadinya masih dibelenggu oleh sifat loba atau tamak, angkuh, suka menipu orang dan perbuatan sejenisnya berubah menjadi dermawan, suka menolong sesama umat manusia dan berbagai bentuk kebajikan. Transformasi diri akan terjadi dengan sendirinya bila mampu mengaktualisasikan ajaran agama dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Apakah artinya berbagai bentuk perayaan dan persembahyangan yang kita lakukan bila tidak terjadi perubahan diri, sifat-sifat Adharma senantiasa menguasai diri kita. Akibatnya makna sembahyang kita yang kita lakukan tidak akan kita petik dan sembahyang itu akan sia-sia. Sifat-sifat raksasa inilah yang harus ditundukkan dengan memohon karunia Tuhan Yang Maha Esa.

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      (Klik di judul foto ini untuk download)  Debat-calon-ketua-ppia.jpg Debat-calon-ketua-ppia2.jpg

‘             Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia Amsterdam (PPIA) adalah organisasi pelajar Indonesia yang beranggotakan para pelajar Indonesia yang menempuh pendidikan di daerah Amsterdam dan Diemen, Belanda. Sebentar lagi akan ada pemilihan Ketua PPIA periode 2008-2009 dengan 3 orang calon: Muhammad Maulana Gibran (Gibran), Kevin Widarta Tjandrawinata (Kevin), dan Dara Rosmailina Pabbitei (Nana). Saya sendiri pernah dicalonkan jadi calon ketua, tetapi karena merasa tidak sanggup dan bertentangan dengan komitmen saya untuk fokus studi tahun ini, akhirnya saya mengundurkan diri.

‘             Saya yakin PPI Amsterdam sebenarnya punya potensi yang lebih besar dari sekedar ngumpul-ngumpul bareng melepas rasa rindu akan kampung halaman. Paling tidak saya tahu bahwa mereka yang berkesempatan untuk belajar di Amsterdam ini minimum memiliki kelebihan-kelebihan ini: lebih pintar (makanya dapat beasiswa), lebih mampu secara finansial (makanya bisa belajar ke sini), lebih memiliki keinginan untuk sukses (makanya rela merantau), lebih gigih (makanya mau berjuang), lebih beruntung (makanya terpilih dari yang lain untuk dapat datang ke sini), lebih mandiri (makanya sekarang sudah bisa masak sendiri hahaha). Nah, mereka yang sekarang ada di sini minimum memiliki satu dari kelebihan-kelebihan di atas. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are the videos on youtube about the event last 14th December 2007, in Melkweg, Amsterdam. Performed by Bebas Band,

Vocals: Heri, Joop, Melati.

Bass: Harris

Guitar: Renaldo

Gutar&Keyboard: Rhein

Drums: Binsar Read the rest of this entry »

Someone posted these videos on youtube, which are the ones taken from the Christmas service on 24 December 2007 at Crossroads International Church. I was drumming, and that was a lot of fun. Thought you might want to see the choir because they really work for that day and you can see the good result

O Come Emmanuel

Joy To The World

KRT means royal descendant of a kingdom in Java who still exist until today. Yap, that’s right, I became royal for 3 hours hahaha. Yesterday, 19 Dec, I attended a doctoral public defense of Rev. Dr. Bambang Subandrijo at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. I was his paraname. He got the privilege to use his own traditional costume, which is Javanese instead of the traditional tuxedo like the tradition of a doctoral examination at the VU. He defended his thesis on “Eikon and Ayat: Points of Encounter between Indonesian Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Jesus.” Read the rest of this entry »

This is the first video i found so far, thanks to Mario from Eindhoven! Looking forward to seeing more!

Radiohead, the band formed in 1986 in Oxfordshire with many hit songs such as Creep, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Karma Police, etc, is going to perform in Amsterdam on 1st July 2008. For those who are fans of the band that lead by Thom Yorke, get your acts together because the tickets will be on sale starting this Saturday (8 December). Click here for the news from Expatica. I thought you might be interested. Read the rest of this entry »

Last Saturday, 10 November 2007, there were 5 brave young lads going with cheap NS tickets to Enschede, risking their wallet and time to fight for the Komandan 2 trophy for the pride of PPI Amsterdam. Those five lads are Andro (guitar), Prima (vocal), Rhein (guitar/keyboard), Binsar (drum/djembe/manualbeatbox), and Yudha (bass/kalimba). With the support of their faithful followers they were able to clinch the pole position and went home with pride. Here is the video of the first song, Gebyar-Gebyar taken by Sally Siregar. Read the rest of this entry »

I have to promote this Indonesian teen movie because my sister is acting in it hahaha… She didn’t play the leading role, only a small part, but I guess it’s quite ok since I haven’t seen the movie myself hahaha… She’s getting there… aren’t you sis?? She acted already in some movies, and her role is getting bigger all the time… hahaha… Ok, her name is Ruth Damaihati Pakpahan, preferred to be called Iyuth. I think, my family is getting into this art thingy…. hahaha… First it was my sister, then my dad also launched his own Batak songs album… Here’s a piece of the story…

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The show’s line-up:

dj Leroy-Rey / Bebas band / dj S-Dub / The Superblenders / Garra S. / Wayang Srikandi / Miss Indonesia Underground
Please check out the Indonesia Underground the 2nd on 14 December 2007, an event produced by the cooperation of Java Enterprise and PPI Amsterdam.

Friday 14 Desember 2007
18.30 - 03.00
Oude Zaal Melkweg, Lijnbaansgracht 234a, Amsterdam
Ticket Price: E 12,50

You can purchase the tickets on Ticketservice, TNT kantor pos, Freerecordshop, Amsterdams Uitburo and GWK Travelex. Or you can click here.

You can see a glimpse of the first Indonesia Underground on Youtube here.

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This is a recording of Bebas Band last gig on Saturday 6 October 2007. We played from 23.00 until 03.15 in the morning. It was a wild night. Everybody were dancing and I really enjoyed it. Here is the song where I sang, taken by Kevin, and uploaded by Ardho! If you were not there, you will feel very sorry now hahaha …. Enjoy!

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