Have I ever told you about this problem before? Hm... guess not, so here goes. My 206 has been in repairs since last Monday, 19th. The mechanics told me that there were problems in the Automatic Transmission systems, and they're doing their best to fix that. But until today, there is no avail. So my dad went to the garage and check the car.

Surprise, surprise. They can't repair the Automatic Transmission, and the only way to get my car working again would be to replace the transmission unit. And guess the price, gentlemen? I must pay Rp. 38 million (about 4,470 USD). Of course my father disagrees, because the car is relatively new and it has been never used for long trips. I bought it on September 2001, and until today it has only went 23,370 KMs (about 14,600 miles).

The only option left is to file in a Letter of Complaint to the central office in Jakarta. The director of Surabaya has agreed to help us file the claim, and now what is left is too see whether or not PT. Astra France Motor will cover the entire repair cost. It is just absurd, people. Just imagine, a 2-years old car, with only that much of distance travelled, has underwent so many repairs before. To name a few, during the past it has broke the Power Steering oil channel, the Hand Brake (it went nasty and can't brake firmly), and yes, most oftenly I had to take the car in because of transmission problems. European cars just can't work here in Asian countries... especially Indonesia.

All that is left is to surrender the matter to God. Selling the car and buying a new one (though I would like a new car so much) is not an option. So whether Astra will pay or not it will depend on God. If He has a plan, He will see it to the end, no matter which way it will take, and no matter whether I'll end up being paid or not, it will bring goodness to me. So, tonight I will "file in a Letter of Rescue Request" to Father God. I don't have the luxury of paying that 4,470 USD to fix the car, so if I'm not being paid in the end, I guess I will have to see what plan does He have yet to unveil for me. I need the car fast, from February 10th I will have to use it again to go to campus.

........so much for the Car of the Year 2001 and European Choice Car 2001. Guess we can never trust to go with the majority. It may be the best in Europe, or heck, even the world in 2001. But for me... *thumbs down*


••• Wednesday, January 28, 2004 •••
Some of you, who were lucky enough, have heard this story first-hand from me, as we chatted over YM/MSN. But there are still many who haven't heard this story yet. So I decided to write this, once again, for all to read it.

It all happened on Sunday...

Chapter I : The Lord of the Rings
Me, Mee-a and June went together to watch The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. It was a good and funny afternoon, just imagine, the three of us went in to the studio, and then I realized that we haven't bought drinks. So I went out to buy some drink and went back in. Then June realized that we didn't have food for the 3.5 hours movie, so there we went out again, this time to buy some food and snacks, then we came back in. For the first part of the movie, we basically were just munching the food and snacks. But when the story came into the interesting part, the part with the wars, the deaths, and the drama, we were attached to our seats and we put down our snacks. And then during the latter part of the movie, me and Mee-a were just crying hard. Maybe we cried about four or five times during the movie, I don't know. Some parts of it were just very touchy. The part where Frodo lost his belief on Sam and told him to go away, the part where Sam came back to save Frodo from Shelob, Theoden's death, Faramir's battle, Aragorn's Crowning Ceremony, Departure from the Grey Havens, etc.

There was some good moral story in the movie, especially about friendship and loyalty. Frodo and Sam. I think the one who has the most part in destroying the One Ring was Sam. Samwise Gamgee, a plain gardener of the Baggins' house. But without him, Frodo would have failed. Without him, Sauron would have been victorious and the One Ring would fall to his hands. The friendship between Sam and Frodo reminded Mee-a about the relationship between God and His children. Even though God loves us so much and always thinks for the best of us (on Sam's part, all he wanted was to help Frodo in his mission, remember when back then on the Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo wanted to go alone with a boat to Mordor from Amon Hen, when Sam noticed and ran to Frodo's boat? He was prepared to give his life for Frodo, he just walked, and walked to the boat, and when he literally walked to the depth of the sea and was about to drown, Frodo lifted him to the boat), sometimes we are so stubborn. We act like Frodo, we don't believe that God wants the best for us, we tell Him to go away and leave us alone. We want to go with people that we think are good, without ever realizing that God is far better.

But when we surrender it all to God, like Sam, He shows His eternal lovingkindess and loyalty for us. Even in times when we don't believe Him fully, He still gives the best for us. See, Frodo didn't trust Sam fully. On the Orodruin (Mount Doom), it would be better if Frodo just hand over the ring to Sam and let him cast it to the fire. But Sam knew, that Frodo won't let him take the ring. So instead of taking the ring, he lifted and carried Frodo with the ring to the peak of Mount Doom. Sometimes we are reluctant to give Him full access to all parts of our lives, but He's still waiting there. When you reach up your hands for Him, He will take your hand and lift you up. As He have said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you". If a Sam can be that loyal, surely God can be more than that.

Chapter II : The LORD of the Universe
So it happened, that after watching the movie, we were hungry, so we went to Cafesera for something to eat. We had a discussion. First, June asked some love problems, then, as Mee and I have different answers to the problem, we end up arguing in a hot debate. The debate spreaded to the classic problem of "why can't I hear God's voice?", "why can't I feel His presence", etc. Even on the road, the hot debate still continued. But finally, as June seemed to have something she wanted to talk about, Mee told me to shut up for a minute and let her speak.

June asked Mee why can't she feel God? She felt like God is not there, not seeing, not listening, and not doing anything. She's not asking much, not for tongues, or hearing God's voice audibly. She just wanted a sign that will let her know that He is there and He is alive. Mee was just giving some advices for a minute, when (according to Mee), God asked her, "I am their Father, and I want to talk with them so much. But right now, they cannot hear Me. So, will you today be an ear for them so that they can listen?". Then Mee answered, "Yes, Father" (at this time, before I knew what God asked her, I was puzzled, why did she suddenly say that?). And Father told June...

"I know how you feel, June. In times when you are alone, I see you. When you are hurt, My heart aches. When you were sitting alone in a corner, crying (note: at this time, Mee saw a vision of June crying in a corner of a room), I saw you and I heard your cry. When you think this world doesn't need you anymore, I still love you as my child. Cast away all your past, all your burdens, all your aches of heart, and look for Me. Even if it was only for you, even if it was only you in this world, I would still have come to this world, and died on the cross for you..."

Mee cried...

June cried...

I cried...

Mee then moved from the front seat to the middle seat and hugged June so tight. June hugged her back as if she would never let Mee go. I thought June must have never felt the love of a real brother or sister, she told Mee that no one have ever hugged her for years (maybe that's why she wanted a brother and a sister so bad, and she wanted me and Mee as her brother and sister). They both cried so hard, while I kept silent because I had to focus on the road, despite my tears running down from my eyes. Then they started to pray together, still holding on to each other. And they kept crying, until we arrived on Mee's home. June didn't want to let go, but Mee told her that she have to go to the church and join the choir practice. So June let Mee go, and I drove her to the church. Along the way, we were both silent, we can't find any word to speak but be thankful to God. And all that we could do was sing silently. It was a day of great works and miracle of the Father, and the wonders we still feel until today.

As I went home, I contemplated about how great and wonderful God is. All that June asked was a simple sign. But God gave her more than what she asked, that day. He gave a sign, yes, He has shown June that He is alive and He heard her cries. But even more than that, He showed her His love. From His words, from His sacrifice on the cross (that latter part about "if it was only for you, I would still have come and died on the cross" made the three of us cry), and more importantly, from the love that is shown by Mee as a sister. The hug that night meant much more than a million words. Now she will know that there is love for her. She is no longer alone, and she will never be. She will have the love of Mee-a as a sister, me as a brother, and more importantly, God as a Father.




••• Tuesday, January 27, 2004 •••
Guess what, now I "officially" have a big sister and a little sister. And we are now a small happy family. Okay, here's how the story went. Most of you probably have known that lately I always hang around with Mee-a and June. We're accepting each other as brothers and sisters, but we didn't feel there is a bond yet between us. Until yesterday that is. I was just about to go home from Youth, when I saw her. She have just finished a rehearsal for a play she's gonna take part in and she wanted me to take her home.

As both of us haven't eaten dinner yet, we decided to drop by a noodle restaurant nearby. We talked about things, then after that, as she didn't want to go home just yet, we take a drive around the city, stopping first at a nearby drug store to buy her some medicine for her cough. As we went around the Graha Family Residential Complex, she said that she wanted to regard me as her true brother, and she asked that I should accept her as a sister, a real sister. Err... yeah, being persuaded like that, what more can I say except "okay"? I felt glad though that I managed to control myself and hide my feelings for her, so I was able to act neutrally and naturally. She went on to tell me stories about a guy she liked and how she is broken-hearted right now. Hmm, so that's why.


But strangely, I feel happy and glad. As if my burdens have all been lifted away. To think about it, I have always wanted a little sister and a big sister, and now I have both. We have regarded each others as brothers and sisters in Christ in the past, but it's right now that I feel like Mee-a and June are my real sisters. Waaa, we are now a small happy family ^^ I can't wait to hang around with them even more in the future. *hugs Mee and June* Guess they have to cope up with me then, a loud, noisy, stubborn, naughty, and overprotective brother, hehe :)

To Mee and June: "I just want you two to know that you mean so much for me. Thanks for being my sisters!"
To Father God: "Thank You for giving me such nice sisters I never imagined I'd have! They really mean so much!"


••• Sunday, January 25, 2004 •••