Tonight, when we get home after supper, I see a roach running across the floor of the shower.
"Oh sweetheart," I coo. And W smiles - and goes over to catch it.
What! "There's more than one," he says. He's fast - and kills at least 14 roaches, dumping them in the toilet when he's caught them.
Where did those come from?! They're all sizes, from small to large. What on earth! I haven't seen even one in the last few weeks. It's a sneak attack. (I'm glad I saw them early, rather than in the middle of the night or early morning.)
Oh well - enough about bugs.
Sunday
First, we walk the dogs. Then I have to get snacks in the bag W is hauling to the service, prepare a meal (we're having lunch with our leadership team), and make sure the notes for my presentation are in the bag.
I'm at the meeting hall by 8:30. In spite of a few last-minutes changes - which is usual when there are multiple participants, we're good to go. The talk goes well enough.
After the meeting ends, people mill around the tables to talk and enjoy the community. I love it. "My husband used to leave right away," one lady says. "But with a few snacks in hand, he's happy to stay and socialize for a bit."
I respect and like the working team who comes over for lunch. Ibu A has made rice and clears the table. The leadership retreat lasts until 4pm - and then W and I walk from saying goodbye at the gate and into the house. We're alone and ready to relax. Except that I have agendas to write, a few things left to tidy up, and meetings to confirm for the coming week. It's good to finally get to bed when we're done.
Tuesday - starts with a breakfast meeting and goes from there ...
It's our monthly Bandung Book Club day. It's my first turn to bring a book to discuss. I choose a Seattle author, Therese Huston: How Women Decide. It's too technical - though the discussion is really good and Mary's homemade pie is tasty.
Thursday
We get to walk in the hills. It's hot and dry - the dogs and 5-yr old Marceau stir up huge clouds of dust, running ahead of us.
Our destination is a metal star set high on a hill. But first, there's a long and sometimes steep walk to the top.
Want to see how roads are laid in the hills? Pickup trucks, loaded and unloaded by hand, bring rocks and dirt. Workers set the rocks, gravel, and dirt in place on a cleared stretch of dirt before the road will be paved. It's very hot today and the work is back-breaking.
We walk between the emerging road sections. While the foundation is settling, workers leave a curvy path for walkers and motorcycles.
We have lunch at Ethnic and a study in the evening. It's a good day.
Saturday
It's grading day - I'm working through someone's dissertation until the afternoon. Then we head out for a new event for us - Community Dinners. Clau and Josh have done a ton of planning and prep. We set tables, assemble craft supplies, and wait for the food.
The caterer can't find us - but when she does, we have a potential mini-catastrophe. (When she called last week, she was asked to put food in boxes. We were thinking of individual boxes.) The big food boxes she brings are heaped with 50 portions. Chicken, veggies, rice, sambal, spicy potatoes. It all smells delicious ... as Josh runs across the street to buy plates and forks.
The evening is a work in progress. It feels like family - no one gets too upset at latecomers (though we have a 3-hr window for the room) - and the table talk is warm and lively. The theme is Unity and Diversity - how we are the same and different - and how God intends to use that for good.
We have so much fun that, when we have to clean up, part of the crowd goes across the street to hang out for a few more hours with Scott and Josh. We'll do it again in 2 weeks.
Sunday
Another prep of snacks, walk with the dogs, and then we're off to church at 8:30. Today I don't have to speak: it's Sarah's turn. Though it's her first time speaking in this way, she knocks it out of the part - she has an amazing gift of communication.
It's also Family Sunday. Claudia starts us off by having everyone do sign language with a kids' chorus. Nicole calls the kids to the front and talks about the God who can always hear us. We have a few bazaar tables set up, raising money for charities. Below: great partners, friends, and hosts for the meeting site.
Here's what's left of the snack table. The 6 IKEA trays we picked up last year are a great way of corralling food. These Korean popped corns were supplied by Hanna. Yum.
People hang out for a long time - and Ibu N volunteers to bring food next Sunday. Two gals volunteer to do the Old and New Testament readings next week, too. Cool.
Near noon, W and I head across the street for lunch and are home by 2pm. We have no guests tonight - it's peaceful and quiet. I finish writing three agendas for the coming week, and grab a book. Time to relax.
Monday
Meetings - we love this day, because so many interesting people come by and so much moves forward on a Monday. 7, 9, 11am ... and then 6:30pm. Each one has its charm. The third of five is a special treat:
Tuesday
We walk, then I write and grade papers before the 10:30 Arisan (women's) meeting at Bumi S. The view from my chair is of a resort-sized pool, with palm trees and sun-umbrella all around. The ladies are so kind - Ibu Wigar even teaches me a few new phrases. I try them out, but write them down so I won't forget. (And so I can practice them!)
I'm home in time for a half-day date with W. First, we had to a furniture clear-out at a friend's warehouse. We need some tables for studies - and find them there. Robin, a designer and artist, is hard at work with an enormous rattan sculpture.
W snaps a floorboard in the upper story. We were warned to be careful; the boards are rotting. His body catches on the opening so he doesn't fall through - but he's sore and dusty.
Next, we drop by the picture framers's. We leave a huge Trader Joes chocolate box with him. (Will be $15 for a custom frame.) The box held the 2 kg Belgian chocolate bar which our youngest gave me as a Christmas gift last year. I've decided to frame the box and hang it in the kitchen. (Ibu A smashes portions off nearly every week, for baking chocolate chunk cookies; we're down to our last half-pound.) I've never seen anything like it. Good chocolate, too. Thanks, Jono.
We cruise around town and have supper together. The place we want to eat is not yet open a half-hour after opening hours (Indonesian time is flexible.) We share a "mango bowl" of pure deliciousness while we're waiting.
The empty lot has been transformed into a picnic center with little food vendors around the edges. Such fun!
Wednesday
Staff meeting - writing - walking the dogs - sometimes life is routine. I dust off a few boxes of books in the office closet and sort them for the book exchange next weekend. A few great community memories are stashed in some of the boxes. Of course we keep those.
Read more:
*Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
*The Lord is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8
*By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. Hebrews 11:27
Moravian Prayer: Protector God, in these times of unrest and uncertainty, we unduly worry about fears that we need only bring to you in prayer. Make us aware that our concept of you is often “too small.” Amen.
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