A wedding, a long walk, and poetry

I get to preach today! I love speaking. The subject (King David as Artist and Writer) resonates with me. David wrote music and poems inspired by his relationship with God, his hopes and dreams, and his life experiences. Even today, David calls us to true worship and the integration of life and art.

Saturday, January 7, 2017
We attend the wedding of one of our movie night couples. What a beautiful celebration of their beginning.

Monday
Josue and Claudia arrive with their two 6-year-olds. They move upstairs, from where they'll get their bearings. They'll be improving their Bahasa Indonesia at a local university. J is a professional life coach, so they look forward to engaging people around them.

I take a quick walk around the neighborhood to DrH's house. Her Christmas decor is still up; she's waiting for a film crew to shoot a non-profit film. Her high school friend - who now lives in the Netherlands - is visiting. It's a privilege to meet her.

Tuesday
The family confirms schools for the children and finds a house to rent. For a very reasonable price, it meets their criteria. It is near schools, shops, and in a good neighborhood. Wow - this is like riding a toboggan on an icy hill - things come together so quickly! We have prayed for a long time and God is answering with specific provisions.

Gypsy is happy, having his own boy to play with.

Language school restarts next week. First, I have to prepare to speak on the weekend and finish administrative work. Waldemar gets his American citizenship done and is relieved that the ordeal is over.

Thursday

Before we get all hot and messy

The kids start school. For me, it's another walk in the hills.

The side trail to a "bonus" waterfall is so steep that I'm sore for 2 days after. The view is worth it. Gypsy is in his glories, bounding up and down the paths.

This is the first time we've had to pay for this walk. The fee is under $1US, but still... how annoying. Someone is buying up rights to all the walks, fencing off wild areas and making hikers pay to walk the forest trails.

We may be paying, but the walk has deteriorated: a stream runs across the path

Where the walk is totally washed away,
they put a handrail beside a metal irrigation pipe.
We cross the stream on the pipe.

That someone has built 2 bamboo bridges across the river span of Mariska's Walk (named in honor of our friend's final walk before returning to the Netherlands.) We no longer have to balance across a log at one end or wade the rushing currents under the beautiful waterfall.

"The bridges somehow make this less of an Indiana Jones adventure," says a walker.

It's safer but less fun. I sit on a huge stone, take off my shoes and socks, and cool my feet in the icy pool below the torrent.

And then  we leave a wide track for a tiny path through the forest and back to the cars.

Friday and Saturday
I'm holed up with paperwork and sermon preparations. Conference calls take a few hours.

The family comes and goes, familiarizing themselves with neighborhoods and amenities.

They also grab a ladder and fix the plastic drooping from the skylight upstairs. It's a family affair, this repair!

Sunday
There's a really good band at church. After the service, we head to Bumi S for lunch. What a privilege to celebrate God's goodness with spiritual friends. And to rest up in the afternoon.

Read more:
*You have made the Lord your refuge. Psalm 91:9 ESV

*Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. Isaiah 5:20 ESV

*The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building. Nehemiah 2:20 ESV

*We are God’s fellow workers. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

*For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21-22 ESV

*We who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:18 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Omnipotent God, through your mighty works you created us, your workers. In all that we busily do to prepare for your coming this Advent season, remind us that our work is for your good and perfect will. We are thankful that you are our refuge indeed. Thank you for guidance in this life and for our future home with you. Help us to bring your consolation to others. 

Most gracious Lord, thank you for the example of your life that you have set before us. Help us as we share in your sufferings to remember that we will one day also share in your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.