Sandy's off to Bali

Sandy (People in Mission Coordinator) leaves today for a few days with the Gereja Kristen Protestan di Bali (Protestant Christian Church in Bali), a partner church with the UCA. The membership of the GKPB is around 8,000 people in a country of 2.5 million Balinese. Sandy and Rev John Barr (UIM Asia Area Secretary)will meet with GKPB church leaders, visit projects, and spend time with the two UCA volunteers, Karran and Lyn. The GKPB runs a hotel and conference/retreat centre, Dhyana Pura, the profits of which go to support Christian Education. Under the same name, the church runs a college for the hospitality industry that has more than 1,600 students. The school honours ethical principles and the maintenance of cultural values on Bali. The GKPB has been engaged in ministry to the many overseas tourists who come to Bali for holidays. The GKPB also serves the wider community in many programs including subsidising schools and health centres, and running orphanages. The GKPB uses the mango tree as a central image - it is highly visible, it adapts itself in a way that blends in with its rich, green, tropical climate, and it provides welcome shade in a hot climate and produces refreshing fruit.