Life: upside-down

March 2017

I just saw a post by Australian Vogue: How to Prepare Your Home for Autumn. I blink. What?

Oh, that's right. We live 6 degrees south of the equator. The South - including parts of Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand and a host of islands are emerging from summer and moving towards winter - which crests in July and August. It's an upside-down world for us. (Christmas was tropical, too.)

We will have changed time zones 5 times (besides travel) when we get back home. From hour 0 in Bandung:

• 15 hours backward to Seattle
• 2 hours ahead to Missouri
• 2 hours back to Seattle
• 1 hour forward for daylight savings
• 14 hours forward to Bandung.

I expect jetlag.

March 2014, with adventures and farewells to come

In those hours, we've had meals and conversations with friends. We've spoken and taught and listened in large and small public venues. I'm stashing memories for the hours ahead.

In our new setting, there are people all around us. But at times, we won't understand the words, intonation, or customs. We won't have a clue what is going on. Then we remember that there are places in the world where people think and speak like we're used to. It's comforting.

Have you ever been in a situation where everyone else seems to know what to do - but you're in the dark? It takes a long time to understand a new culture.

But luckily, it only takes a moment to fall in love with a country, the way we have with Indonesia.

Read more:

*The Lord declares, ‘Those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be treated with contempt.’ 1 Samuel 2:30

*Jesus says, “You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.” John 13:13

Moravian Prayer: As we return to our daily routines, may we not forget that you call us to follow you every day. May this day be made holy as we seek for ways to reflect your grace. Amen.