Mission: Indonesia 2013 Trip Report

Reunion on Rinjani

Sunrise on Rinjani. (Photo by Budi Yuwono)

Budi Yuwono and Alexander Wijaya, two Climbing For Christ Indonesia members, went to the island of Lombok in early May to climb Mount Rinjani as a follow-up to Mission: Indonesia 2012. “Very good trip,” Budi reported. “So close with ‘A,’ ‘R’ and (their) families.”

“A” and “R” were our guides on Rinjani in 2012. Our team, which included Budi, began to develop relationships with these two Sasak men. There are only a few hundred Christians among the 2.7 million Sasak people in Islamic Indonesia.

Budi and Alex flew to Lombok and drove by car to Gunung Rinjani National Park, where Mount Rinjani is located. At 12,224 feet (3,726 meters), Rinjani is the second-tallest volcano in Indonesia. They visited the house of “A” upon arriving in a village near the mountain that first day.

Before starting to climb on Day 2, our C4C brothers prayed for the young sons of “A.” Then they prepared “the bags, tools, food and everything to climb the mountain,” Budi said. They trekked – “we are talking, sharing” – from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “We got to the last post to make a tent and rest before climb to the summit,” Budi said.

Rinjani's ridge. (Photo by Budi Yuwono)

The climbing party awoke at 2 a.m. on Day 3 and prepared to go for the summit. It was about a four-hour ascent. It was cold and windy – “dangerous for a long time at the summit,” Budi said. They ate breakfast together. “We (were) sharing and being friends with them. On the way down, we were still sharing.”

In the Sasak language, Lombok means “straight” or “the way.” Budi explained what we mean by “the Way.”

“We are making sure that Jesus is the Right Way,” Budi said.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6 (ESV)

The climbing party returned to the starting village by 6 p.m. on Day 3. After dinner, “A” and “R” talked about how different the C4C climbers were from others who visit Rinjani. It is because of the relationships that have been established.

Budi identified physical needs for these men, who are poor, and has a plan to send tools of the climbing trade to help them with their trekking work. “We have an idea to follow-up (with) ‘A’ and ‘R’ and (their) families. Pray for us.”