Did someone say Happy New Years?

My chicken schnitzel costs $4.50. 

So much happens in a week that much is forgotten. I lay low for the first half of the week, worn out from Christmas and New Years. Here's what the pictures remember: the rest is a blur.

After so much cooking, I take a pause. We eat lunch out, while we run errands.

The week is filled with calls, editing W's lectureship (sending his notes off is his week's big chore), and writing thank you notes. My long to-do list shrinks day by day.

We are grateful for online connections as we wish our families a Happy New Years. But they seem very far away.

When we walk the dog in the morning, we greet the neighbors. One is dressed in full (hooded) parka. The air feels cold at 72o. W and I are in trousers and short sleeves.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

We meet a friend and his sister for lunch. We enjoy time together - she is a 40-something mom with a youngster, trying to figure out education and how to raise a child.

Thursday

W stays home, preparing for a trip, while I walk with 5 others. We head for the mountains above the city - and zig-zag our way up to the top. The trip down is just as steep.

Fortunately, the weather is pleasant (75-80o?) and the constant wind wicks the moisture from our skin and clothing. There's no rain ... good when we are on mud paths - and there's no sun, either. It stays behind high clouds so it doesn't get too hot as we climb.

I've brought extra walking sticks along to share. We are all grateful for those sticks as we clamber around rocks and slip on the slick grass and loose mud.

What goes up must come down

Some Indonesians like statues,
like these above the entry to a hotel

Many holes have formed in the sidewalks, paving washed away in floods. These holes are a mere 3' deep. Most of us don't even notice that we're watching our steps. We automatically go around.

A farmer cuts wild grass for his sapi (cow). He bends double, bringing the grass on his back down the trail on a steep bank. (He thinks he might be carrying 25 kilos or 55 lbs.) He'll haul it to his house via motorcycle, but first he has to load it up.

"For one day, one cow."

Motorcycles do heavy lifting.

Cargo-motor with a load of grass

 

We eat lunch together at the Mandarin, a fairly good Chinese place. 

Friday
Around 7am, I stand in the rain for 15 minutes, waiting for the gal who is supposed to walk to exercises with me. It's drizzling so I wait under a tree. She doesn't come so I go home. We've had a lot of rain overnight but the day is pleasant, clouds swirling overhead as they cross the mountains.

I have a conference call that refreshes and informs me. Good counsel is such a blessing!

Read more:
*I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your words. Psalm 119:147 ESV

*Jesus said, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 ESV

*Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. Romans 5:1-9 NLT

Paul wrote: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that we are able to come to you with every concern and need. We place our confidence in you. Thank you for being our rock in all circumstances.

Dearest Lord, please be with us in the darkest hours of our lives when we have strayed from your will. Please forgive us and give us your love to show to those who come to us unloved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.