2 weddings and a lunch

Where does the week go?

This week, we got lovely guests from the USA. They volunteered at an orphanage in the Philippines last month. Now they'll be exploring Bandung, speaking English with students interested in learning the language, and getting to know Indonesia, too.

Thursday, October 11, 2018
We walk from the tea plantations,

through the overgrown trails of the jungle, which tear up the skin on my shins.

We hike all the way up to the volcano.

From one of the vendors, we buy a few eggs so we can boil them in the steaming water for 12 minutes. They taste yummy.

We have gone straight uphill for a few kilometers - so tired! We have a mud massage before we go up up up to the parking lot - about 8km total - my legs are aching so the massage feels good! W and I have other work to do so we leave the rest to go to their next attraction and head back home.

The evening study is good: Scott leads. Great stuff.

Saturday
Christian and Eva are getting married. W does the service - and they have a nice reception after.

By the time we get home, our guests are awake, get a massage from Ibu Siti, and feel relaxed after their long night on the bus from the airport to our house.

Later in the evening, I watch parts of the British royal wedding - what a pageant. 

Sunday
We host a farewell lunch for Scott and Sarah, who are heading back to Australia soon. Before we leave in the morning, W and I walk the dogs around the neighborhood While he prepares a PPT, I make a big pot of spaghetti, boil eggs, and prep for lunch.

We're speaking this morning, but have to dash home right after the service.

Over 50 people show up. Though Scott and Sarah have only been here 6 months, everyone tries to tell them how much they mean to us. 

One student from the language school is celebrating a birthday. Scott finds a few candles and puts them into some sweets. We all sing Happy Birthday for Lydia.

The Youth Alpha group will especially miss their leaders!

Dr Hanna loans us Ibu Lili, who hangs out in the kitchen with Ibu Apong and makes sure everything is taken care of. 

Before we eat, we pray a blessing over the food, Scott and Sarah. 

Josh - our Brazilian Grillmaster - grills  up chicken wings, kababs and beef.  Daniel from Austria helps him out.

Guests have brought potato salad, noodles, fruit, lonton (rice steamed in leaves), pastries, drinks, and enough goodies to make two tables groan with food.

Last week, someone gave us some warehouse leftovers - rattan sofas. We put them around the yard and the house and teras absorb the rest.

Friends hang around until 4:30. The next meeting is at 5. We love to see these friends; we have tea and cookies. Then new recipe is called "blondies" - its caramelized taste is a hit.

Our guests feel hungry by about 7, so we head out the door to Miss Bee. It's a warm evening under the stars. By 9:30, we're ready for bed. We fall in and are asleep about 10:30.

Monday
W is running a program on his computer; it blinks into bright light mode after 1am. I'm wide awake. He covers the screen with a cloth - I fall back asleep. When the cloth slips off the screen before 2am, it wakes me again. I can't sleep again until after 5. Sigh. Light is so distracting, even to sleepers.

I'm exhausted when we get up at 6 to walk the dogs. My first call is at 7, then we have a meeting at 9:30, and another at 11:30. After, W heads into Jakarta on the 2:30 shuttle. He's still on the road - with an ETA of 8pm when he calls. He'll stay there overnight.

Read more:

*Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 NIV

*Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them! Numbers 11:29

*Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God. Psalm 95:2-3

*Jesus said to the disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  John 20:22

*May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

*Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. Hebrews 4:14

Moravian Prayer: Gracious Leader, you tell us that we may dream dreams and see visions, yet we often fail to pursue the leading of the Spirit. Help us to discern your vision for us. 

Reconciling Father, our society is a rich tapestry that is seldom reflected in our fellowship. Guide us in loving you and also in loving our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.