| Letters of Aquila and Priscilla |
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Prologue |
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Viewed another way, this book gives an account a brief history, if you will of the life, the experiences, the difficulties, and the joys of a Christian community living in a specific place during a specific period of time. As such, it also provides an insight into the thoughts of the author as he endeavors to lead the community that he helped establish towards a closer personal relationship with Christ. The articles reflect his struggles and difficulties, his strengths and weaknesses, his joys and sorrows while growing in that same personal relationship with Christ. The CFC expatriate community in Jakarta, Indonesia began in 1993. A brief account of the establishment of the community is found in chapter 29 Here I am Lord. You called me. As the community grew, it became apparent that there was need to publish a newsletter in order to facilitate communication among and between members who were scattered all over Jakarta. Letters of Aquila and Priscilla was born in 1995 as a two-page newsletter containing an article from the head of the community, Jun Uriarte, and announcements about birthdays and wedding anniversaries of members, as well as, the schedule of coming activities. Jakarta had a large and vibrant expatriate community, many of whom were highly successful Filipino executives who ran the various large corporations in Indonesia. They were well paid and lived comfortable lives. Their children attended the Jakarta International School. They played tennis and golf. They had their annual family vacations in Manila, the United States, Europe or elsewhere. However, during the latter part of the four-year period covered by the articles in this book, a severe financial crisis hit the Asian region starting from Thailand and rapidly spreading into the neighboring Asian countries including Indonesia. And in the case of Indonesia, the financial and economic crisis also resulted in political turmoil. Riots and burning rocked the capital city of Jakarta. Particularly affected were the minority ethnic Chinese community, majority of which were Christian. Numerous cases of looting and assault, including rape of Chinese Indonesian women, were reported. The political conflict took on the color of a racial and religious conflict as well. Many expatriates were forced to flee for fear for their safety. Others left because good jobs became scarce and salaries dipped precipitously. A careful reading of the articles in this book would allow one to discern these changing conditions experienced by the community as it tried to live as a people of God with a common mission and vision to live as families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth. The first part of the collection articles written in 1995 shows glimpses of a young and small Christian community in a predominantly Muslim country still trying to understand the mission and vision of the larger community of Couples for Christ. The author, also relatively new in the community but already tasked with establishing, developing and leading the community, struggles to lead and inspire the new members and inculcate in them the culture, vision and mission of the community, which he himself is also trying to more fully understand and appreciate. Without much experience, the new members have only one thing on their side their zeal and enthusiasm. But the Holy Spirit has blessed them with the grace of zeal for service and a great love for the work of evangelization for bringing others into the same community that they are now learning to enjoy and love. At this point, the community is just beginning to experience and understand what it is to have a personal relationship with Jesus. The second part of the collection articles written in 1996 echoes a community struggling with both internal and external problems and concerns. On one hand, the community is expanding rapidly and there is an ever-increasing demand for service. Unprepared and inexperienced, the members of the community struggle to stay on course and keep focused on the mission and vision of the community. On the other hand, the rapid growth and the demands of living an intense life together impose internal problems and conflicts. There are conflicts pertaining to positions of leadership. Older members have become jealous of younger members who, because of their enthusiasm and hard work, have been given greater responsibilities and positions in the community. This is resented by a few who feel that they better deserve such positions of leadership. The author, as the leader of the community, has to deal with these concerns while struggling to keep the zeal alive, exhorting the community to greater service, instructing the community on the meaning of the task ahead, and giving the community the proper perspective regarding its mission and vision. The third part of the collection articles written in 1997 reflects a community that is growing in holiness, a community full of zeal for evangelization, and one that is witnessing to a personal and living relationship with Jesus. Celebrating its fourth anniversary, the community looks back and reflects on how God has called them into the community and on how the Holy Spirit has worked powerfully in their lives, individually, and as a community. Recognizing that the greatest danger at this point is to be lulled into complacency, the author cautions the community not to confuse zeal for service with the purely emotional feeling of enthusiasm that zeal for service should be based on profound love and not on shallow emotion. He calls them to greater devotion to the Blessed Mother who will bring them even closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. The fourth and final part of the collection articles written in 1998 depicts a picture of a community in danger and facing great problems resulting from the regional economic crisis and the countrys political turmoil. The author exhorts the community not to be afraid, to take courage and have faith. He tells the members to come to the Blessed Virgin Mary for help and protection; to remain steadfast, like the friends of Daniel, and continue to serve the Lord and proclaim the gospel. He encourages them to pray that God may grant them the grace to truly believe that God is present in the community and that the power of Christ dwells in them. He assures them that the time of great crisis and suffering is in fact the time of salvation. The book ends with the author and his family saying goodbye to the community and the leadership passing on to others. He reminds them: Although renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit, although enjoying a close personal relationship with Jesus, we remain weak, fragile vessels of Gods graces. God has chosen it to be that way so that we may not commit the sin of the angels, so that we may acknowledge that all that we are able to do, all that we are able to accomplish come from the power of God.
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