Rainy season's here

Wednesday, October 31, 2018
PakR and I meet for staff meeting in the morning with a full slate of business. We're sending off the first monthly newsletter tomorrow.

There's no Halloween here. Thank God. We're called to be light in the world, so I dislike celebrations of horror and darkness.

We finish our business over lunch at Miss Bee, which always has seasonal displays. The rain holds off until we make it home. Rainy season is here: we get several downpours each day and are happy not to be outside when they come.

Tembi's feeling tired and still fighting the flu. She's still been helpful as we sort through options for social media that send the right message from our various endeavors.

The driver calls to say that he has typhoid with stomach aches and a fever. He's gone to the hospital clinic. "But I can come tomorrow, maybe."

No, thank you. Don't want it. We pray for his health and ask him to stay home to rest until the weekend. W can drive if needed. (I don't even know where my drivers' license is.)

The Bandung Book Group meets this afternoon - Alice, Tembi, Petra (new to the group), and I catch a GoCar from our neighborhood to ride over to the next hill.

Marji's house is full of puppets, art, and masks from all over Indonesia. What treasures she's hung on the walls, displayed in cabinets, and placed on tables. Beautiful. She's made pumpkin cake, chocolate loaf, veggies and dip, and a few other treats. And Ilsa brings mulberry jam to share (homemade from her garden tree) and plum cake. Yes, we eat too much.

The discussion is vigorous but cordial. We've read Fascism by Madeline Albright. She doesn't clearly define the term fascism. After a strong start, the book gets a bit fuzzy as it goes on. Maybe she was rushed by her publisher? Anyway, we're not sure she's clearly made her argument against current governments. Albright has read a lot of history, that's for sure. (I'm always fascinated at how academics come to diverse findings from the same facts.) It's great to hear the group interact - we come from so many places that we have many ideas.

I take leftover copies with me for the Little Free Library in our neighborhood.

Thursday
Some walking friends come by for the dogs. They're skipping the walk this morning but want to take the dogs to their neighborhood. They aim to make some dog-deprived Australian kids happy. That's one pretty smile from this youngster. After tummy rubs for the dogs, they all lie down on their floor and relax.

I skip our usual walk, guarding my sore knees. With Tembi feeling sick, she's not going either. I have lots of paperwork but mostly I'm waiting. W is coming back this afternoon after a trip of more than 2 weeks. I don't envy him his long journey back: 30 hours? Can't wait to see him though.

There's a beautiful (hot) pepper growing in the flower bed. "Oh, we already used up 2 of those for our sambal (hot sauce)." They grind the peppers and put them on food - 1/8 tsp makes my soup so hot at lunchtime today that my eyes water ... and I like hot food.

"You might as well take the other one home," I tell her. By Tuesday when she returns, it will have fallen off the plant.

Ibu also finds a 4" mushroom on a tree in the yard. "Is it safe?" she asks me. "Can we eat it?"

I shoot a WA message to our friends, who say, "Don't try it. We don't know if it's safe either."

Read more:
*Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people.” Exodus 32:11-12

*Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Jeremiah 25:6

*Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Romans 8:34

*Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:16-21

*Let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

*Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11

Moravian Prayer: Everlasting God, there are so many temptations and distractions in our world; we tend to lose focus on what is truly important. Help us to clearly see the path set before us, to set aside worldly things, and concentrate instead on building a right relationship with you.

Merciful God, you love us unconditionally. Lead us in your path, that we may follow your example and be more ready to forgive. Make us more sensitive to the sorrows of others, more compassionate to the less fortunate, that we may understand their trials and show them mercy. Amen.