Skip the dog walk. Before I know it, it's 7:20 - time to head to the international service with a full tote containing cookies, a colander (more on that later), and other odds and ends.
On the way, I pause at Miss Bee's parking shack - the guys choose a cookie from one of the boxes and I walk on in my high heels. The sandals are sturdy but keep my long trousers off the ground. Probably a bad idea to walk 600 meters in them, but the steep hill up to Green Gate is a bit easier in heels. (Though it's going to be toe-and-footpad-torture going down.)Josh does a great job of introductions and announcements before I speak. The topic today is the power of Christ's resurrection. But what does that mean for us today? Let's get practical. Three people tell their stories about the power of God at work in protection, reconciliation, and forgiveness.
Instead of formal communion, we pass out a quarter-slice of bread and a grape to each person. Everyone shares their bread with those around them, along with a prayer or a few lines about what God is doing in their lives. Some people need extra slices so they can listen and talk more. That's a loving community.
As we bite into our grape (the colander schlepped along earlier was for washing them), we consider what it means to be crushed or broken to release God's fragrance into the world. That's what Jesus did for us - he was bruised for our sins. Crushed, he reconciled us to God. (Thanks for the idea, Kim.)
People stay to visit; the chairs are still full half an hour after the closing blessing. We only consume half the snacks - even the yummy bugis (sweet rice in banana leaves) that Hela has brought. We've already had our social time, I think. I pack away the leftover bugis and almost-empty cookie containers for tomorrow's study.
Tota takes his family, Tembi, and me to a special noodle house for lunch in town. Tembi and I choose half sweet, half salty noodles. Oh yum. The dragon fruit drink is delicious because of added lemon and sugar. Mmmmmm. Good recommendation, Ibu T!
Going back, we get seriously snarled in traffic. It takes over an hour to get to the drop-off for Tembi, who is meeting a few other young adults. And we're only 2/3 of the way home.
There's some kind of anime or costume party on the sidewalk. The characters sit under awnings out of the rain.
His folks and I continue up the hill. There's a wedding and an alumni reunion at Bumi Sangkuriang. Traffic is utterly jammed on the 1½-width side streets. Usually cars have to swerve to the side to pass each other. Today, the drivers have decided on the middle of the road. So they're all going one-way.
We are waved onward; we can't even turn into our neighborhood. Every cross-street is the same; getting to our house is impossible with the car. (Good thing we dropped off the snacks before heading to town or I would have had a big IKEA tote bag with me.)
Three streets further up the hill, with Tota's car grid-locked, I hop out, heels and all. If they have to make a U-turn and take me home - before coming back through the lanes and up the hill, it could be evening before they get home.I run into two friends who have left their long-suffering driver and are also walking home. It's just faster to walk. Tota takes the zig-saggy road across the top of the hills. They make it home about the time I reach my next meeting.
M is waiting for me at Wild Grass, just outside our neighborhood. She's a gifted media artist. We enjoy tea and conversation, flipping through the new menu.
At 5, I finally head for home ... still in heels. It's been a good day, a full day, and my feet thank me when I slip on flat house shoes at the door. The dogs are ecstatic and growl and bounce around.
It's an evening of writing. Among the things I'm working on - a universities on another island asked me to be their keynote speaker at a seminar for their doctoral faculty. I can't make it since we have other commitments. I enjoyed working with them last time, so am open to another day.
However, the department dean and I WhatsApp back and forth, trying to find a speaker among our connections in Bandung. We have no luck.Monday
I have no early online meeting this week. The last grades come in so I can add up the scores - AND send them off to the university. Done!Done!Done. Happy dance. Oh wait, I'm not that coordinated.
After a walk with the dogs, the study starts at 9:30. It feels like we're halfway through the day, in this land where morning starts at 5:30.
The team meeting is small - but helpful for me. The driver, who was having a motorcycle repaired calls in late afternoon. He's sick to his stomach and has the flu. Dr Hanna explains what's going on.
"Stay home tomorrow," I tell him. I don't need to get sick.It's rainy season. There's a downpour every afternoon, soaking the ground.
The dogs share a crate. I've never seen such a thing - usually dogs are very protective of their "cave" and won't let even their best buddies in.
Gypsy, terrified of the afternoon thunder, retreats into the crate and Cocoa hops in beside him. They snuggle together without a protest, sleeping until the skies clear. Cocoa's not at all afraid - she just likes company. Good doggy.
Tuesday
There's a Lion Air plane crash into the sea and all are lost. We pray throughout the day for the families left behind.
"When will you have the edits done?" I get an email from the point person of an academic journal. Oops, I thought I politely refused because I don't have time. Guess that didn't come across in my reply last month.
I spend 4 hours on the 29-page article, take a photo of each page, and send them to the editor. They will have to put my chicken scratch into the next version.Without a driver, we're at the mercy of what's in the fridge. I bought 20 eggs last week but they're almost gone. (That's how much baking we do.)
So - let's try something new. How about a couple of egg substitutions? First, we try (per egg) 1 tsp oil, 2 tsp baking powder, and 2 Tbsp water. Then we try the same recipe with 1 Tbsp ground flax seed and 3 Tbsp water. The blender flings the dry seeds around without breaking them. Sorry, IbuA - she grinds the seeds and water with her old-fashioned stone mortar and pestle. (I don't want to muck up W's coffee grinder.)
The helper admits she likes the combo of crunch and flavor enough to try it sometimes at home, though her family thinks it's crazy. "Rice on salad? What's wrong with you?" Working for foreigners does that to you.
Tembi's off the the English Studio Center to help out with an afternoon class and have supper with the students. (Lucky gal - the center's boss Dony is an amazing cook.) Tembi is the Native English Speaker for pronunciation and vocabulary. She's smart, funny, and fun - the group loved having her and Hazel drop by last week.
Then she'll be hanging out with a group of young adults who have a great time every Tuesday night. They have food and discuss life at Josh and Clau's.
Meanwhile, the dogs are happy when the rain stops but Gypsy rolls his eyes when he hears thunder on the next hill. They run around and bark at anyone who tries to come into the yard.
Read more:
*The Lord said to Abram, “I will bless you and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2
*Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Jeremiah 1:17
*Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:9-15
*Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:14-15
*Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9
Almighty God, help us to live lives that set an example so others will see Christ in our actions. Bring us the opportunities to tell the Story, and the conviction to carry out the task set before us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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