Growing things

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

A drum and vocal solo from our birthday boy!

 It's our third grandchild's third birthday. Isaac's mom invites us to call him the night before (it's his birthday already over here). The grandkids are bouncing around and having fun together before bedtime.

"Why did you call the day before?" asks the almost-7-year-old. Her mom briefly explains the time zone difference. The kids are back to playing in a heartbeat.

In the early morning, we host a meeting to move forward our partnership with a new community center. Afterward, I sort my notes. We send the minutes to attendees just after noon.

For relaxation, I put my hands into the soil along the house and plant three hot pink geraniums. That's a rare color; usually the flowers are red or pastel. We don't have newer hybrids in Indonesia yet. I spotted the pinks at a roadside nursery earlier this week.

The main street of Lembang, the "Garden City" north of Bandung, is lined with fields and greenhouses of plants - flowers, shrubs, vines, orchids, trees, ferns, etc.

The Vanda orchid reblooming on the porch with a heavenly fragrance

Upstairs, the flower boxes are growing like crazy with plants left behind by the previous owner. I can take no credit for abundant maidenhair ferns, Boston ferns, orchids, impatiens ... and who knows what else? I break off a few orchids and fasten them onto the branch we saved from pruning a guava tree.

Cut a few inches shy of the porch ceiling - so that ants don't climb up the trunks and into the roof

We expected to be in Jakarta today. However, our visa appointment was postponed: yesterday was one of Indonesia's 143 annual "red-letter" days (holidays for various reasons). The visa office needed 3 working days after we left our information there last weekend. (The office was closed yesterday.)

Coconut monkey "art"

This afternoon, we get news that we're expected at the visa office in Jakarta early tomorrow. Last weekend, we took the train in so we had to leave our place for the station at 4am. Zzzz. This time, we'll drive from home at 5am = we get an extra hour's sleep. Hurrah. Since we usually wake with the light at 5:45 (this time of year,) it's not that much earlier than usual.

But we have to cancel tomorrow's morning study. Fortunately, a study member is leading the evening group; we tell her we'll be away. I'll have to conduct two online interviews in the car ... traffic is expected to be terrible because this Friday is also a national holiday. That means Jakarta will be headed our way for the weekend.

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*The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. Psalm 19:1-4 NIV

*Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:22

*Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves. Ephesians 5:18-19

Moravian Prayer: All glory, honor, and power to you, Lord God Almighty, for you have created all things and by your will they have their being. Our spirits rejoice in your steadfast love and faithfulness. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for your depthless mercy and grace. Grant that our lives may be lived in praise and adoration of you. Amen.