Enjoying friends from abroad

The two Advent weeks of FAITH and JOY are past - and the final week of PEACE is coming this weekend. We've enjoyed so many friends dropping by, endless pots of tea and plates of cookies, crackers and dip, and other goodies. Here's how things unfolded the first week:

Sunday, December 9, 2018
W and I are happily back from Australia, and spoke at BIC about FAITH. Teti found some sheep hats for the nativity presentations (from past years) and after a goofy picture, we tucked them into the Christmas tree at the front of the hall. We'll have the kids look for them next Sunday.

After a good lunch, we drove across town with friends to cheer on a BIC family whose kids were marrying. The pool, the creative fashions, and the fabulous food made this an event to remember. Plus, there was no rain, an answer to prayer during rainy season.

Tuesday

Among other things, we get to see Suzan from the USA - she works for our alma mater and is doing teacher training workshops here. During an evening meeting, she has supper with Dr Hanna, who lives a few blocks away. After we're done, W and I stroll over to retrieve her and have tea together.

Wednesday

Suzan comes again - and we have lunch together with Wujin - a Chinese language teacher - and Paul, a high school teacher from town. 

In the afternoon, when we go shopping for supplies, it's hard to figure out how to get our buggy through the aisles. Boxes, carts, and supplies are stacked hither and yon - without space to get by. So we move what we can and squeeze past.

Thursday
I join the walk for the first time in a long time. Today it's a tour of the Chinese parts of the city. We start from home shortly after 7am.

I'll post separately on what we saw. It's a large group - which means people wander off, dawdle while the rest wait, and generally there's a lot of standing ... between looking. Wonderful company though.

We have lunch together from 2-4:30.

In the evening, Waldemar picks up our Malaysian guest from the airport. It's wonderful to see Tabitha. We met a few times while W and I were teaching, and our kids love her. (She always makes tie for us and she knows pretty awesome food places in Kuala Lumpur!)

Saturday

Baby Patricia bring her mom and dad and big brother Desmond over in the morning, along with another faculty family from a nearby university. What a precious gift this young one is!

We make sure to take a picture before they leave at 2.

One of our neighbors is flying to visit her family in Malaysia soon, so she wants to drop by to say hello. We're always missing each other, since she and we travel frequently. "It will take 5 minutes."

"Sure, how about 3 o'clock?" I respond.

And when she comes, we;ve grown to a group of seven. I thought I'd be catching up on paperwork, but a few others have gathered. We bring out a fresh teapot and a plate of baking. What an enjoyable visit.

 Much more happens, but I can't remember it all, a week later ... 

Read more:

*[God says,] "I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people." Isaiah 43:20

*This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21 NIV

*Jesus cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.” John 7:37

Moravian Prayer: Endless Spring, pour the cool water of your being into us—refresh our bodies, restore our spirits, revive our love and deliver us from everything dry and lifeless on our way—for you are the one we need; you are the one we adore forever. Amen.