On the move

As we walk the neighborhoods, we are constantly surprised by beauty. The trees flower in a never-ending parade of color, texture, and shapes.

Tomorrow is movie night - and within a few hours of sending the invitation, 70 people sign up (our max, now building the waiting list). Jerry Beebe and his group sent us home with a second projector, so we'll be trying that out on the porch. 

Saturday, Ibu A and I baked 20+ dozen cookies in anticipation. 

Monday, April 17.2017
As usual, after our walk and grading / writing, we have a study at 9:30. It's a smaller group this week but the questions center around Jesus as God-with-us (Luke 7:11+). We are heartened that participants ask questions and explore scriptures. This bring deep dialogues and exchanges that continue to teach each of us.

Then it's off to town. W has to find some cables. I need a riser for a standing desk in my office, for speaking, and for working in bed. We never seem to get the work done in a day. My cut-off time is pretty early (before 8pm).

I've hardly shopped for groceries since we've been home. I've cooked what's already in the freezer and cabinets. But it's time to stock up for movie night.

"Pak E, can you come and help me?" I call him.

The driver comes in to push the first full cart so I can fill a second. The grocery carts are small but people look at us in surprise. "Who buys enough to fill more than one?"

Exotic chicken stroll along the streets

We haul everything into the house, put things away ... and then I start cooking. The chicken wings brine in salt and drinking water before being drained and refrigerated. I mix up two egg-based casseroles and put those in the fridge as well.

We break our Monday fast with supper. I'm hungry. We are asking God to bless Bandung in every way it is needed - in families, in neighborhoods, and in organizations.

Tuesday
Ibu A heads to the market. She's going to cook tofu, tempe, and a Sundanese vegetable dish tomorrow. She brings tea and cookies upstairs when she returns.

Hurrah! It's our first IESBandung team meeting since we got back. J and C have great ideas - we talk about our Sunday brunch. J suggests that we plan another one in 2 months. Everyone hops on board.

W and I walk past a huge building going up nearby. Rumor has it that it's another restaurant. It's close to the Padma, the only 5-star hotel in the city. It's amazing how cheap labor, combined with handtools like pickaxes, trowels, and welders, bring a structure to life.

Even though the workmen are swarming the building, they've wedged 10 meter (30') trees into place. I wonder how many will survive.

People already stream up the hill on weekends to eat at Miss Bee, Wild Grass, Ethnic, and Bumi Sangkurian - all eateries within walking distance of our house. Meals average from $2-7 so we regularly meet people there. W has breakfast with a friend every Friday morning, too.

Read more:
*When people fall, do they not get up again? If they go astray, do they not turn back? Jeremiah 8:4 ESV

*On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with
you in Galilee:  'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "
 Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-8 NIV

*Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Lord, another Holy Week has passed, yet we long for you each and every day in our lives. In the days ahead, show us the hunger and give us courage to offer the Bread of Life to them. Show us those who are thirsty and allow us to share the Living Water with them as well. Give us strength to lift up the cup of your love to those around us. Amen.