We plan, but the airlines decide. It turns out that if we want to visit an area that does not have a large airport, it is not easy to determine the exact departure time and arrival time at the location. Even if you have a ticket on the schedule, you can't be sure you'll fly on that schedule.

 

The experience of flying from Jakarta to Halmahera via Manado that we planned on Monday, July 29, 2024, had to be shifted to Tuesday, July 30, 2024, after the airline provided information 2 days in advance. Quite inconvenient, because some agendas in the early days were delayed. We want to switch via Ternate, the time is not right and the luggage is quite a lot because we have to go through land and sea travel with longer travel time.

 

We flew from Jakarta at 01.30 WIB arriving in Manado at 06.00 WITA. Not leaving the airport, we immediately waited for boarding to fly to KAZ, Kuabang Kao airport, North Halmahera using a Wing Air ATR72 aircraft. Throughout the air journey, we could see hills, mountains and the ocean on the way and along the landing strip was a green carpet of coconut trees.

 

We arrived at KAZ airport at 09:20 WIT. Exiting the airport, we continue our road trip to Tobelo (the capital of North Halmahera). The journey takes one and a half hours (approximately 80 km). With a smooth road paved with hotmix along the coast of Tanjung Pelayan with green coconut trees on either side. The weather was a scorching 30 degrees Celsius.

North Halmahera Regency has been known as a producer of spices (copra, cloves, nutmeg and of course fish) since the Dutch era. Until now, reaching one place to another in Tobelo still relies on bentor (motorized rickshaw). The limited internet network is indeed an obstacle for newcomers. But on the bright side, this situation can be considered a blessing in preserving local culture and wisdom.

 

We are currently preparing for Bible Week activities in Tobelo. The Bible Week in Tobelo is one of dozens of Bible Weeks in various cities across Indonesia to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Indonesian Bible Institute. Through Bible Week, LAI is present to greet the people of God in order to greet the people as loyal partners of LAI publication users, as well as strengthen partnerships with churches in an effort to strengthen, inspire and build people's faith. For the record, Tobelo city is the center of Christian ministry in North Halmahera.

 

LAI's activities in Tobelo began with Temu Mitra, an appreciation evening for supporters of LAI activities coordinated by the Manado Representative Office of LAI, which oversees the regions of North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, and North Maluku. Temu Mitra was held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at the Marahai Hotel.

 

After the Gathering of Partners was Bible Week, which included an exhibition of Bible objects and LAI products, as well as competitions to inspire children, youth and adults to love the Bible. These activities were held at the University of Halmahera, owned by the Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera (GMIH) from July 31 to August 2, 2024. All of LAI's celebrations and activities in Tobelo were made possible thanks to the support of LAI's partners from various backgrounds, especially  The Support Raising Working Group (KKPD) of Tobelo region. May God enable us all to always be doers of His word. (alpha).