Sweet spots

Saturday, November 17, 2018
It's Community Dinner! How we look forward to it. Tonight, we're talking about being thankful again. Last time, it was about thankfulness for relationships. This time, it's about other things we're thankful to God for - life, health, education, etc.

The activity tonight is a challenge to each table: make a video about what they're thankful for.

They come up with wonderful clips - creative and fun. The person who inspired the favorite video wins a night in a top Airbnb, Rabin House (prize donated.)

Everyone cheers when the prize goes to an Argentinian programmer who is traveling the world for 2 years - he's landed at CDB and will enjoy this stay at a local house with a fabulous chef.

The tech doesn't work - but everyone watches the videos on their phones because we're missing a cable.

We are seriously goofy and have a great time - the food (thanks to Della) is outstanding and the company great as always.

Sunday
This BIC community warms our hearts. W and I have been acting pastors for almost 3 months. Today we are speaking about outstanding characteristics that emerge in people who love God:

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control

These qualities are called "the fruit of the Spirit," each a result of being full of God's Spirit and presence (Galatians 5:22-23). Small groups discuss one of the qualities and report back to the assembly. As always, we learn more from each other than from someone at the front of the room.

The flower bouquet from the front of the hall goes to a couple who has been married just a month. After, everyone gathers around the table, eating, talking, visiting. We pray for each other, too. This beautiful mom and daughters trio warms the heart.

We have lunch at Bumi Sangkuriang - delicious. The chef is in the groove today.

Monday

We're headed to another part of our island on an early flight - we leave the house before 6am. For a change, the airplane is pretty much on time. We're in Semarang, a coastal city in NE Java, before noon. 

After a quick walk in high heat and humidity to a nearby mall, W heads off by himself to see the city. I rest my sore heels at Hotel Chanti. The bed is comfy, the rooms are spotless - and on top of it all, it's about $32 for our stay. A 5-star experience, anticipated by this beautiful waiting area.

 W finds some indifferent Chinese food for supper but after the snacks we've eaten I'm not hungry. I just need enough to swallow the NASID pill for the inflammation in heels and knees.

Tuesday

We drive to Salatiga in a shuttle van; W has meetings in the afternoon. A bunch of American friends celebrate Thanksgiving, American style, in the evening. We're from various places in Indonesia, which makes the gathering even better.

 The surroundings are - shall we say, tropical paradise? Tall palms, a steady wind before the afternoon rains, green green plants everywhere. I still can't get used to so much beauty - and it's warm out! in November. What more could we ask for?

A red sky as the sun falls

What fun. And the food. Oh my the food.

Besides tons of side dishes, Doris and MaryAnne have baked all kinds of pies in MA's countertop oven. Wow.

Tim has smoked turkey and hams - and everyone has brought something to share.

MaryAnn gifts each of us with a package of home-baked cookies. Feeling totally spoiled.

Wednesday

The country leadership team, including W, meet again in the morning while a few of us head to the batik factory to hunt for fabrics. The wax molds for the figures are so detailed.

I find some beautiful cloth - and a few scarves.

The landscape is mountainous - and I'm amused by goat families along the toll road.

 Dave and Gigi take us along to "the best Semarang lumpia" - and that's saying something: Semarang is famous for their egg rolls (lumpia). Soon we're headed back to Semarang Airport - Dave and Gigi are on an earlier flight to Jakarta. The historical Chinese influence is everywhere.

After noon and sampling the lumpia, we're hardly hungry! It was delicious. We're waiting an a hour for the airline counter to open, so we enjoy ice cream cones at the A&W. After we check in, we head for the airport lounge. The food is pretty good - and my veggie fritter looks like a flying bunny, don't you think?

Our flight home is delayed 2 hours. It's after 6pm when we board. The sky turns crimson as we wait.

It's a relief to leave the Bandung airport once we arrive in our city. We toss our things in our car at 7:30pm. "We've had rain and floods every day," the driver says. The streets are washed clean of garbage - which will be plugging the rivers on its way to the sea.

We make it home to shower and unpack at 8. Feeling so blessed to be part of a good team - and to be sleeping in our own beds tonight.

Read more:

*Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

*The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. Proverbs 9:10-12 NIV

*Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice. Proverbs 16:8

*No one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins.  1 Thessalonians 4:6

Moravian Prayer: Lord, our righteousness, help us to remember that the sincerity of our confession of faith in you is measured by how we treat others both individually and collectively. May all who bear your name resist the temptation to enrich themselves at the expense of others or partake of the fruits of economic injustice. Amen.