[caption id="attachment_1277" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="----A Palm Fruit----"][/caption]

It had to be a script from a movie. In one scene I was chatting with high-powered fund managers and Singapore “Wall Street” Executives, and in the next embarking on an Indonesia jungle speedboat ride through former headhunter territory, being chased by a massive storm surrounded by haunted, fog-covered islands that looked like they were meant to lie unexplored so as to protect humanity from the angry beasts within.

Such was my recent trip to Asia.

I arrived in Singapore at 1:30am Monday morning after flying for 2 straight days. Dead tired, I pulled myself out of the plane and walked out of the jet way. Sitting right outside of the gate was Dr. Suparno, a long time friend and soon to be new boss. We cleared immigration then made our way to his mother’s home, finally getting to bed at 3am.

A short four hours later we were up and ready for the “road show” – a series of meetings where we showcase the company to fund managers from a variety of different fund management companies.

We were going from one high rise skyscraper to …

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="aligncenter" width="563" caption="----Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands----"][/caption]

So that’s it.

I’ve accepted the offer from Indonesia and starting in August I will be the Vice President of Sustainability and Stakeholder Relationships for my friend’s Indonesian company. We will be there for at least two years.

I can’t mention too much more about the organization until they finish the IPO process (I described it a little in my last post), but Rocio and I are thrilled to be embarking on this adventure together. And we are expecting many visitors. The island of Bali is right next door after all.

Last week Rocio and I were there, checking out housing and looking at potential jobs for her. We both feel like we have had special direction and insight from above, and we are excited to have to depend on each other in a new culture/country/continent/climate.

Change anyone?

Some pictures from Indonesia:

[caption id="attachment_1255" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="----A couple of the islands----"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1256" align="aligncenter" width="416" caption="----We saw a ton of these hats while we were on the rivers----"][/caption]…

[caption id="attachment_1238" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="----Oil palm trees are different than regular palm trees----"][/caption]
As you may have read in my latest blog post (http://mattelsberry.com/its-time-to-part-ways-with-crown/), I am no longer with Crown Financial Ministries. And while my time there has been most memorable, it’s time to move on to what’s next.
I have been talking with a good friend of mine who owns a oil palm plantation in Indonesia. He has been incredibly successful in business, and is getting ready to take his private company public next month.

This may sound blase at best, but wait until you hear…the rest of the story.

Many oil palm plantations are destructive to the environment as well as to the employees they use to make a profit.

Not this one.

My friend’s company operates under a “triple bottom line”.

People. Planet. Profit.

People

When the company employs people they go well beyond the established minimums most companies are required to pay people. In fact, they build villages, complete with houses, education, health care, sanitation, clean water and a ton of other …

He now has 2.1 million palm trees. Wow.

Dr. Suparno Adijanto has been steadily growing his palm oil business for years. With hard work and discipline he’s made quite the contribution to society in his nation of Indonesia. Through his business hundreds upon hundreds are employed and biodiesel is produced as an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline. Dr. Suparno long ago made the journey from consumption to contribution, but recently he’s taken it to a whole new level.

He’s found time to captain the work of Leadership Development for the continent of Asia. On this recent trip, Alex and I had the privilege of traveling and teaching with him. His wisdom and experience were greatly appreciated by the leaders we trained together.

Dr. Suparno is helping others find their path to being contributors. He recently helped start The Crown Financial Clinic in his home nation of Indonesia. People who are financially sick stop by his “hospital” for triage, diagnosis and treatment.

He has formed a whole team of Leading Stewards Course graduates. They are treating those trying to move from their unhealthy spending patterns towards a “whole-life stewardship” model.

Way to go, doc! I cheer you on as you continue to turn the tide in …

24 days.

I leave the United States today for a 24 day jaunt through Asia. Alex and I will be holding 6 Leading Steward’s Courses over the next 3.5 weeks.

Singapore.

Malaysia.

Indonesia.

Three cities in China. Stay tuned for more updates on how we are raising up leaders to turn consumers into contributors in their nations.

Right now I’m in Colorado Springs, short flight to Denver, longer flight to Portland, much longer flight to Tokyo, medium flight to Singapore.

Here we go.