Download this free 4-day Family Devotional (printable Booklet here; tip: it’s a booklet, so print on both sides & flip on the short side or a Digital copy here) as you learn and pray during your “Travels.”
Or use this simple Pray for Indonesia Prayer Card pdf or jpeg version
Below are some fun facts and information to learn about the country and people of Indonesia, including:
- Overview
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Foods
- Indonesian Culture & Arts
- Spiritual Needs in Indonesia
Overview
Indonesia is a country of 17,000 islands in Southeast Asia, situated between the large continent of Asia to the north and Australia to the south. If Indonesia was placed within the US, it would roughly stretch from San Francisco to Chicago (3,100 miles east to west) and would become the largest US state. It is the 4th largest population in the world, consisting of 285 million very diverse peoples. Indonesia has the world’s longest coastlines, approximately 34,000 miles. It also has many active and inactive volcanoes that make up part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The country of Indonesia only gained its independence after World War II and today consists of 38 provinces. Indonesian society is comprised of hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups and although Indonesian is the official language, there are over 700 other spoken languages, a testament to how long these islands have been inhabited. Indonesia’s long history has been influenced by the Asian countries to the north: from immigrants looking for better farming, religions looking to practice freely, to military invasions from neighboring countries looking to control trade routes through the thousands of islands. It was because of the desirous trade routes that Islam became the predominate religion in Indonesia. Today, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world and though 10% of the population are registered as Christian, there are still hundreds of people groups that have never heard about Jesus. You can learn more about the different ethnic groups and their spiritual needs here: https://joshuaproject.net/countries/ID
Print off this coloring page for your younger kids to enjoy as you learn about Italy together.
Indonesian Language
Indonesia is the second most linguistically diverse nation in the world, with over 700 different languages spoken. Most of these languages are similar, part of a language family group spoken in Southeast Asia, which is made up of languages like Javanese, Acehnese, Sundanese, and Taiwanese. These languages are predominantly in the western and central regions of Indonesia, whereas the regions closer to the Papua and Maluku islands are very different from its neighbors. The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian, which is a standardized form of Malay. It is known by local Indonesians as Bahasa Indonesia and almost everyone can speak it. Mirroring the diversity of the thousands of islands and rich Indonesian history, the language borrows heavily from other languages, such as Javanese, Dutch, Sanskrit, Portuguese, Arabic, and even English. For example, to say “hello” in Indonesian, you can say either “Selamat Siang” or simply, “Halo!”
A fun way for kids to get a taste of a different language is hearing a song they know sung in the new language. Here is “Jesus Loves Me” in Bahasa Indonesian: https://youtu.be/mITLG_yWl-M?si=qYoI04h06vP2vfvN Can your children pick out any of the Indonesian words? “Yesus” is Jesus! Take a video of your kids listening to the song and tag me on social media or share in our Facebook Community!
Watch this short 3min overview video about Indonesia with your kids: https://youtu.be/ngt0f8-uzcw?si=5Ga1Qb1ELiVSRG6F
Take a video of your kids listening to the song and tag me on social media or share it in our Facebook Community!
Indonesian Food
Indonesian food differs a lot based on the island and region due to local crops, fishing options, spices, religion, trade, and general population make-up! Some areas are going to be heavily Indian-influenced while other areas seem like you’ve been transported to China, the Middle East, or even the Netherlands! But almost everywhere, rice is a staple, usually consumed with a side of meat, fish, vegetables, and condiments/spices. Make a fun family outing of going to a local Indonesian restaurant (try to find one owned by an Indonesian family) and explore their cuisine. Make sure to ask your host which island they or their family are originally from in Indonesia and for their recommendations. Indonesian food is as diverse as its people and varies a lot based on the regions, so try different restaurants to find what you like! Don’t be afraid to try new things and encourage your children to as well. While you (and they!) might not like everything (most westerners find it to be spicier than they are accustomed to!), enjoy it as an adventurous experience and laugh together. Your hosts will appreciate your candor and feel loved by your interest in their culture and food.
Want to try a few Indonesian recipes at home? Involve your kids! I’ve previewed these recipes so they have ingredients that you should be able to find at your local grocery store:
- Indonesian Fried Rice: Recipe for Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
- Indonesian Salad with Peanut Sauce: Recipe Gado Gado (Indonesian Salad with peanut sauce)
- Indonesian Noodles: Recipe for Mie Goreng (Indonesian Noodles)
Indonesian Culture & Art
Like much of Indonesia, the culture and art will depend upon the area and vary greatly by local history, language, and community. Traditional favorites include performing arts, visual arts, clothing, and literature. Wayang puppet theater, using shadow puppets, is popular especially on the islands of Java and Bali, and consists of dramatic stories that depict local mythologies. Batik is a well-recognized Indonesian dyeing technique using wax resist, but each area will have favorite patterns and techniques unique to their culture and heritage.
Make your own Indonesian Wayang Puppets and create your own performance here: https://layers-of-learning.com/wayang-puppets/
If you are interested in learning more about Indonesian culture and people, search your area for Indonesian cultural festivals. Because the ancient Indonesian calendar was a lunar calendar, the dates of these festivals float around our modern calendar. Some favorites are: Nyepi (Balinese New Year or Day of Silence) which celebrates the marking of a Balinese New Year, Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr) at the end of Ramadan, Lombok (Fishing Festival) cultural festival, and Baliem Valley Festival. As with everything from Indonesia, festivals will depend upon local histories, customs, and religions and not every Indonesian will celebrate the same festivals or holiday. Do your research on any festivals you choose to attend before you go so that you can understand the significance and explain these to your children in light of what God says in the Bible.
Spiritual Needs in Indonesia
Set aside some time to pray for the country and people of Indonesia. Your family could pray for God to open the Indonesians people’s eyes to the Gospel. Pray for culturally relevant opportunities for missionaries to speak about Jesus there. Pray for God to break into a country where religions other than Islam are persecuted. Lay your hands on the globe or map and cover Indonesia with your prayers.
Print off this post-card sized prayer card and commit to pray for Indonesia as a family!
Or download my 4-day Family Devotional on Indonesia!
For more information on the spiritual needs in Indonesia, watch this full 40-minute documentary on missions in Indonesia: https://youtu.be/cETKTvsAREc?si=Fvgeb9w_8z2u0XRe
And enjoy listening to these Indonesian Christian worship songs: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TdHddmzXYsrwWVdLkOqrs?si=vpCPdq_6QfiwfBucBN1Ygg
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