The conference has officially started

After one year of preparation the conference was opened on Tuesday and this was a very special occasion. Even the mayor of Metro and a representative of the gouvernor of Lampung Province joined the ceremony. They also gave a speech for all the participants and it was nice to notice that they became well prepared and also were very intested in the conference. The main point of their speech was that they hope that the churches together could fight poverty and they recognized the important role churches play in this process.

Besides many speeches we were also treated to a beautiful performance of traditional dance and drama about diaconia, and a delicious meal afterwards. All together it was a big feast!

We are in the local newspaper :)

Today the Lampung Post, a local newspaper for Lampung province, published an article on the conference in Metro. This is only one of the results of the team of journalists, all volunteers from the GKSBS church, that are covering the activities during the conference for all newspapers that are interested. And many are! Lampung Post has already agreed upon publishing a daily update of the conference this week. Tomorrow, before the opening of the conference, there will be a press conference where several journalists from local newspapers and television will come to hear about what is going on in Metro. Hopefully this will also be good for the image of the church in this province.

Complete makeover!

After a good trip we arrived in Metro, Lampung province South Sumatra, on Saturday. And what a suprise we got when we arrived! The GKSBS Center has received a complete makeover! All the meeting rooms and bedrooms have been renovated and new meeting rooms have been build. Inside as well as outside the Center is looking very nice right now. All ready to receive the guests.
The first guests already arrived on Sunday, but most people will arrive on Tuesday afternoon. All together we expect around 90 people to join the conference from around 50 different churches and organisations! The last preparations are being made now, almost ready for the big opening tomorrow!
If you would like to see more pictures of the new GKSBS center, check the Diakonia wiki!

Only two days before departure...

Only two days before Herman, Geert and I will travel to Indonesia! We will arrive in Metro on Saturday June 20 to prepare the last things and be ready for the conference on Tuesday...

Today Mrs. Rommie Nauta, head of the Mission department, made a video message for the participants of the conference. It is on the diakonia wiki, but you can watch it here as well.

I have created a new blog!

To keep you informed about what is going on in South Sumatra this June I have created a blog. During the conference I will keep you updated about activities, speeches, experiences and results. So if you are interested: read this blog!