Christmas week: pure joy to end 2025 well!

Saturday, December 27, 2025

We take the dog on the loop walk and notice the new paddleball court going up. It's the third one within walking distance. I'm not sure they aren't late to the party, though "padel" is a current trend and one way young people meet each other.

Time to put more things away. It's windy today - the curtains flutter near the open doorways. A cup of tea braces me for the morning's work. W's office is almost cleared of the dump of boxes with living room and serving thing. The kitchen makes no sense as far as use and how things are stored. Why are cooking things beside the sink instead of by the stove? And washing up things under the stove? Hmmm.

I assemble some shelf risers, wax sticky drawer glides, and make breakfast = fresh-baked bread, peanut butter, jams, and honey. That's been the default all week. Everyone helps themselves when they get up.

The flowers from Christmas Eve are combined, clipped, and recombined a few times. Some of the white bouquets are still stunning.

W needs hardware screws and handles so he takes the angkot (little bus) to town to look around for those. I'm not interested in catching a post-holiday cold from the tight squeeze of bodies on the local transport so I work at the Project. W usually gets sick but he prefers to save a dollar or two over the $2-3 taxis. This time he's ok. Whew.

Siblings Eki and Lyong leave today after staying over. It's been a joy watching them grow up during and after university. Lyong has found a good post after studying child psychology. Eki is a musician, artist, and teacher.

A one-bedroom/bath apartment wedged on one end of the Project suits us fine, but it's a work in progress. We have evening tea at the little table. It feels cozy and just right.

Sunday

I find matching shoes, no small feat after a week of unpacking. I've given away footwear that I no longer wear. These are comfy.

"You have a lot of shoes," W remarks. That's because every year when we went to the USA, I'd pick up several pairs and add them to the rack. Now many are wearing out - but no need for replacements yet.

We walk over to the hall because we're not carrying anything that requires a car. In the prayer room, termites are making their way down a few walls. They are persistent!

Titik makes a sunny bouquet for the hall and afterward sends it along to the Project. How I love her eye and skill with flowers. It's a weekly joy and this arrangement lasts through New Years Day.

It's Round Table Sunday, so each table also gets its own spot of sunshine.

After the Gathering, contributions are almost at the We Care goal to fund local village kids and help North Sumatra flood victims. A kind donor tops up to the full amount.

We take our team for lunch; it's the first meal at #HomeGround for most of them. (Thanks, Alice, for introducing us to the place.)

The group enjoys the food and ambience. The servers are attentive and stand nearby, which is not taken for granted here. Often restaurant staff stands in a far corner, scrolling on their phones or chatting together. You practically have to flag them down.

And then a bath. Those who like bathing can imagine what it's been like not to have a tub at home for 13 years. The existing shower was a mess at the beginning of the Project renovation: shower doors had been stolen, tiles ruined, floors stained, and plumbing broken. And two "thrones," no thank you. They removed one toilet.

I requested a tub, which costs the same or less to install. What luxury to test it out today. Of course, the hot water flow isn't sufficient from the shower heater (warm at best) so W hauls a few pails of steaming water from the kitchen to bring it up to temp. To make it complete? I bring a piece of Marzipan stollen (thanks to friend Anna who owns #MomsBakery), a tall mug of tea, and a candle.

A bath makes me feel truly rested after the Christmas rush. We're expecting a full week ahead with the ongoing move.

Outside the window, water pours off the roof as the rains start. W checks if we've been flooded again. No, thank God. Apparently the last berm built between the street and the driveway has done the trick. The yard and house are wet but not under water from the street.

Monday

Morning calls take 3.5 hours. I don't get through to Mom. W and I walk the dogs and begin the chore list. One of the electrical outlets has already been torn out of the wall in the back so W repairs it. He mounts a mirror in the bathroom and hangs office shelves above the (soon-to-be-installed) desk.

That means I can stash away most of the heap that's been on the floor for a week. I ramble around the house, cleaning and putting things away. Things gradually find their place. The kitchen looks orderly though not all the shelves are used and a few containers are still full. Every box needs sorting and shelving. With people coming and going, it's vital to find linens, trays, lamps, and tools that are most-used. Happily, the tea corner has been set up.

On the side porch, a beautiful palm keeps guard over the wild side of the yard. I live near palm trees that grow in December? Sometimes I can hardly believe it. I never dreamed of living in the tropics but it turns out that this climate makes my heart sing day after day. W is equally appreciative. Thank you, God! for giving us what we never knew we craved.

We head to #Ethnic for lunch, then get back to work. The dogs are happy to see us when we come in the old gate - Anton wants to play fetch of course. One dog comes with us overnight, roaming the yard as a sentry, in addition to the older man who spends the night.

The Project is starting to feel more and more like home. Our apartment feels more organized. We draw the curtains, eat supper at our little round table, shower in lukewarm water, and end the day with relief at all that's been accomplished. I consider some before-and-after photos. What my imagination saw 4 years ago is almost live.

Tuesday

We're up early (4-ish?) and the calls begin. I have a checklist of postponed tasks to accomplish - writing a newsletter to partners, listing chores for helpers (I don't get to this one), and a new assignment: writing an entry for an upcoming dictionary/encyclopedia.

"Can you let us know by January 5?" What? A little more lead time would be nice. Actually, it's due in March. Ok. Doable.

JonathanM drops in to say hello at 7AM. Good thing we're early risers :-) and back from our walk. He's on the way from Jakarta to visit friends and family. We offer a cup of coffee and share the last of the marzipan stollen with him, talking about God at work in the world.

W goes down the hill for a $1.50 haircut while I put away linens and start to sort the bathroom. By day's end, I'm ready to indulge in another bath. The extra pail of hot water gets a silt on the bottom in the hour before I'm ready to use it. That's what's coming out of the well and the taps. "Maybe a whole-house filter?" W muses.

Wednesday NEW YEARS EVE

So how would you spend the last day of the year? I reflect on the changes this past year and think about the big changes coming in 2026. God is in control of it all. His faithful love sees us through.

The contractors drop by to do a few last repairs. It takes 5 men to move the 7'/230cm lesung (rice trough) from the entry porch to the front of the kids' space.

We send a dozen potatoes from the 50 Kg acquired in mid-December with each worker. The yardman, who is weeding the grass-ish he planted a few weeks ago, gets his own portion. Many plants have sprung up between and need to be rooted out. He fills bags with weeds.

It rains off and on. We walk and once home get a lot done. By day's end the bathroom is mostly organized and my office is finished. Hurrah.

W climbs a tall ladder to hang a beautiful painting that is on loan from a friend. The women have been sitting, frame facing the wall, for over a week. Time to say turn around and face the world.

One of the things I do at lunch is heap salad greens on the plate. I put the rest of the food on top. My stomach feels full after a moderate amount of "real food." W and I have each lost 3 kg in the last 2 weeks with the exertions of moving.

We have mused how an apartment would suit us just fine at our age. Instead, we have been gifted with a big property and an expansive Project for the next years. Good thing we have maintained homes before - moving from a little space to this would be overwhelming.

A firebrand of an organizer and community activist calls us: would we be interested in hosting a senior daycare once or twice a week? The center has been priced out of their old place. "We started with a little fee and then it's been added to over and over. Now we cannot afford to stay." They have several options and someone mentioned the Project as a possibility.

Often elderly Indonesian are left alone during the day while their families work to make ends meet. Lili says they have created a successful and interesting program: seniors are dropped off by their families on the way to work and picked up later in the day. Games, exercises, cognitive play ... they've got it going already. 

Didn't we ask God to fill the Project? Here we go. The organizers plan to drop by this weekend to see if the space is suitable. I have no interest in participating: my part is to make room for the gifts and service of others.

It rains as we go to get a dog to guard the Project at night. W carries his trusty umbrella while I have donned a raincoat as usual. Gypsy, who hates lightning and thunder, is hiding under the Porch. Several dogs guard the old place as weak. We wish Melvi a Happy New Year as messages begin to come in, first from New Zealand and then from across the globe.

Read more:

* Take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you. Haggai 2:4

* Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required [circumcision], Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:25-32

* The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Moravian Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to see that when we sow seeds of faith, hope, and love around us, we can see your reflection in all our labors of love. Amen.

Christmas in Bandung 2025

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025

We've committed to having guests tomorrow. It's an Open House so there's no knowing how many will come. The details start to fall into place. The rack over the outdoor table gets a few pine garlands. The tablecloth stays in place with weights on the end as the wind kicks up.

We roll out an old school carpet and set up tables. W tapes down the corner to prevent tripping.

He assembles the last few items we need to get things out of the living areas.

Gradually the last dozen boxes are banished and everything put on shelves. I push a 45' light string between items so the display appears intentional: more festive and less cluttered.

The dining kitchen awaits our guests. Titik sends Chandra over with flower bouquets for the tables. They give us a dozen poinsettias for the entries, too.

Danny delivers art for the entry. W hangs up Indonesian fabric and the batik quilt Kim made for my last birthday. I thread a long red garland through a wonky tree that someone dropped off last year. "Do you think that looks like anything?" asks W. Ah, a garland and red and gold balls and it is something.

Two more little trees emerge from bags. They're sorta decorated, a bit smashed from storage, and the lights are uneven. I don't care at this point and push them into an entry corner. Christmas is coming.

At 4PM, I'm off to the hall to rehearse 12 carols with the worship team. We sing them between scripture readers, telling the Story once again. What a marvel and mystery: Immanuel, God with us. We light the candles and pronounce a blessing on the day and the coming year.

Christmas Day

There's feasting! I start cooking before 5AM and the sun rises as I work. Half the challenge is finding the utensils, pots, and trays.

The food is in the pantry freezers. There are extra sauces from last movie night so I don't have to make those.

It's a potluck with lots of food. Long lines to the buffet stretch out the door. Our dear friend DrW sends over her helper IbuEmi as an extra hand for IbuA and IbuS.

We love the mix of cultures and backgrounds who becme acquainted over the course of the day. After the event, some groups of new friends head off to do the next thing together. "I met a wonderful woman, who has so much in common with me," says one guest.

Inside and outside, the tables fill up. People rotate through the rooms, chatting with old friends and new.

Then we read the Story of Jesus' birth from scripture. There are 11 parts, read by people from all over the world. We ask for volunteers: they're Indonesians, Japanese, African, and Westerners, a typical mix. W prays a blessing over everyone - 

Finally it's time for raucous fun, the White Elephant gift exchange. Our elves this year are Indonesian and African. They initiate a countdown from 10 to speed things along.

Watching how people flow around the public spaces shows us how the place functions. The marvel of the gift exchange is that it slows everyone down. Young adults are mostly off their phones for hours watching gifts being opened, having conversations, and cheering each other on.

W calls out the numbers and people rush up for their gift or to steal a previously opened gift.

We gather on the Porch for a photo with those who stayed until the end.

Of course selfies are the order of the day.

And then all is calm after we clean up.

The night lights go on and we're off to bed. Merry Christmas everyone.

Friday, BOXING DAY

We start with an early morning call to the kids on their Christmas Day. It's wonderful to connect to those in Spokane, Texas, Germany. We miss a call from the others and are missed when we try to return the call. Later. I'm thrilled to talk to Mom and Norm.

The masseuse must have had a long day yesterday. She keeps falling asleep so I can't relax. A Norah Jones playlist is going so I put in earplugs; the melodies about failed romances aren't restful either. Oh well. A massage will help blood circulation at the very least.

The helpers do laundry and tidy up from yesterday's marathon. The workers come to finish the gas installation for water heaters and Robby and W get internet to our office. It's a day of this and that, putting things in place, finding where stuff has landed, and thanking God for the peace of Christ between it all. 

Eki and Lyong join us for a dog walking loop before supper. A few days ago, Chandra and Titik dropped by with a chicken pot pie. It has excellent rendang flavor and we finish that off tonight. (This is before the last crumbs were consumed.)

Anna sends over a marzipan stollen from #MomsBakery, her exceptional restaurant. It's a taste of Germany and our childhoods. Yum, so satisfying.

We remember to take a photo in front of the tree with Eki and Lyong before everyone heads off to sleep. We hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season.

Today the chichucks (cicuk) lizards move in. I hear them chirping from our bed for the first time. Ugh. "Be useful and eat lots of bugs."

Read more:

* The commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:8

* Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old. Lamentations 5:21

To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

* The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

* And all who sat in the council looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15

Moravian Prayer: Dear Jesus, open the eyes of our hearts to share your compassion, mercy, and unconditional love with the world. 

Christ Child, help us to see you as the greatest gift that has ever been given to the world. May we rejoice in the glory of God’s greatest gift. Amen.

The chaos of Christmas week

Monday, December 15, 2025

The week is in full swing, though I cancel 2 morning meetings. A schedule full of people and tasks lies ahead. W is determined to get some things done today despite a head cold. Resting is not his strong suit.

My dear Uncle Erich sends a video message through a caregiver - ah, it's been months since I've seen his face. This beloved man was a mainstay of my childhood. He has remained close in my heart all these years. He and Mom are the last of their generation in our family, faithful in prayer and love for all of us. We pray for them each day, too.

It's a busy morning. At breakfast, I think about how much I'll miss this guava tree just off the Porch. I won't miss the fence blocking the view of the garden, though. We painted it black a few years ago which made it more fashionable but no less obstructive.

The counters are cluttered with fresh baking: lots of Christmas cookies around here. And in the fridges at work and at home. And in the freezers ...

W has always been into science. He replaces broken light sockets in a former science lab cabinet but maybe that wouldn't be high on his chosen scientific list of to-dos! The shelves will store plates, bowls, and the like in its new chapter.

I map out bathroom lighting and furniture placement between calls and appointments. One mirror is transported between aged sheepskin rugs.

The kitchen fans go full strength to clear out toxic paint fumes. We finally run a dehumidifier full-time and that begins to dry the cabinets inside and out. We didn't want them repainted - it happened along the way before we were watching.

PakG picks up a load, walks the dogs, and returns packing material to the house for the next round.

Chandra hauls our sofa into his truck and brings it over from the office. It fits in the crook of the stair. Thank you!

Danny drops by to share a cool project of his own. He delivers some art and recognizes some pieces I purchased from their gallery when we first came to Bandung.

"I wondered where that went," he says of a multicoloured sand painting he picked up in China. It's goes well with an orange kilim rug, both favourites of mine.

Supper is dumplings, but the dough wrapper takes 20 minutes on boil to soften. What on earth? Giveaway or toss?

DrW drops off some celery - I love the smell.

At the Project, one of my favorite palm tree soars overhead. The sharp leftovers from cut fronds need pruning or the trunk will rot. The yardman misunderstands what I ask. When I look a few hours later, all the lower fronds have been cut off (same long chop) and tossed against the fence in the compost heap. Oh oh.

As I walk back and forth between properties, I notice flaming-red flowers, thriving in the neglected yard of a neighbour. "Leave it alone and it will grow!" seems to be the plant motto of Indonesia.

Tuesday

Mom's caregivers decide it's time for palliative care.  Each day that we can talk to Mom is a blessing for us but hard on her. She is looking forward to seeing Jesus with all her declining might. Each time we pray together we ask God for a merciful Home-going. What a strange season this is. We cannot stop living so we keep wrapping up the last years, waiting for the call.

To keep my mind steady, I do what women in our family have always done when pressured: we work with our hands. Before the helpers arrive at 8, I empty the freezers and put blankets on the things we won't take. After a load of laundry, I write instructions for movers and helpers.

Usually the women would be doing Christmas baking but they baked like the furies for a few weeks. They wash the freezers and ovens, sort through heaps of frozen food for their families, and clean under appliances that haven't been moved for a few months. In the tropics, you can only imagine what's under there.

PakG snags his own helper to shift things. Later in the week, he comes down with typhus and is out of commission through Christmas. He sends someone else to sweep porches and leaves off the driveway on Christmas Day.

We pack and unpack, pack and unpack. The boxes disappear as they are emptied onto shelves and into cabinets. The way the kitchen has landed, there's no telling what's where. 

I think the plan is to store things however they fit. We'll put things in order later, though it looks better as we go.

Rest of the week

W sends a note to the owner that we will move in on the weekend. There is no bedding left to sleep at the other place. Others still live there, along with our satpams, the dogs. 

Mom's getting weaker and weaker but we try to talk and pray together daily. Norm's doing double duty since the lead caregiver is very ill. We're praying for her recovery, day by day.

Alice and the helpers pack cookies and send some to the staff of #Nara, our "home-away-from-home" kitchen.

W and I speak on Sunday, kicking off the final week of Advent: PEACE as foretold by the angels. 

One hiccup is when 5 ants crawl onto my my foot and start biting me. I swipe them off and crush their fellows. Peace again.

Another more painful interruption to focus is the increasing pinch of initially very comfy shoes. By the end of the talk, they have contracted into a vice. I can hardly stand because my toes are in such agony. I go home right after and take off the shoes. They may be new but I give them away.

The kids sing for the congregation. What joy to watch them.

Titik has done wonders with flowers on the stage and around the Advent candles.

Our company has made other lunch plans. In comfier shoes from home, W and I walk up to Homeground. It hits the spot with spicy Szechwanese food. We're so tired we hardly know what's up or down so it's mostly a day of rest after the Gathering.

Monday and Tuesday

The house fills with dump after dump of boxes and bags. Oh look, is that the Christmas tree box?

I decorate as a break from unpacking other things. I only have energy to put half the ornaments on the tree, which is still plenty. We hoist it up onto a table and wrap the base with a kids' carpet we found years ago. I cut a slit to the middle and voila, it's a tree skirt. I drag silver garlands across the front of the art we've popped on the picture rails.

Empty full empty full. But Christmas Day is coming. Each day we sort and stash.

The furniture gradually shifts into place - from this

to this.

W redoes the wiring for lights in the science cabinet = where the dishes will go. Oops, half the moulding holding the glass panels in place is missing. So far the glass hasn't fallen out ... that trim will need replacement.

Read more:

* Why do you contend against God, saying, “He will answer none of my words?” For God speaks in one way and in two, though people do not perceive it. Job 33:13-14

* Even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Isaiah 46:4

* Show respect for widows who really are all alone. 1 Timothy 5:3

* Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Revelation 2:7

Moravian Prayer: Abba, Father, sometimes it is in the stillness that we can hear you best. Sometimes when we pray, we are so busy saying our words and distracted by our thoughts, that we’re not listening. Open our eyes, ears, mind, and heart to discern your will.

Great Comforter, help us to remember that, when trials and tribulations come in life, you are not a God that runs away, but you find ways to pull us closer to your love. For that tenderness, we give thanks. Amen.