It’s springtime, meaning some ETAs will be celebrating Easter with new-found loved ones in Indonesia. This month, ETA Emma Muth celebrated Ash Wednesday in a Javanese Christian Church in her community. She attended the service with her co-teacher, Bu Suko.

Bu Suko is a busy woman, dividing her time between teaching at SMAN 1 Temanggung and fulfilling her role as a pastor’s wife. Emma was curious about Bu Suko’s church community from their many conversations in the teacher’s room and enjoyed seeing another important part of Bu Suko’s life.

Many things felt similar to Emma’s church at home—greeting everyone as she walked in, the songs, the offering basket—and was a great reminder of how universal religion can feel, even across oceans. During the service, the pastor invited the congregation to write their hopes for the future on slips of paper and hang them in the front of the room. This was a great moment for Emma to consider how she wanted to finish out her time in Indonesia as the end of her grant rapidly approaches. Emma was grateful to be welcomed into a different church for this holiday and looks forward to celebrating Easter this April.

Emma Muth is currently teaching at SMAN 1 Temanggung, Central Java.