Happy independence day, Indonesia (and a language-learning resource)

Friday, August 16, 2019
August is zooming by! The bulletin board at BIC is full.

I spend a half-day in the office before a therapeutic massage from our small but mighty Sundanese masseuse. Kirsten goes first, while I'm working. She's ready for post-flight therapy.

By the time Ibu Siti finishes with me, my frozen shoulder has a wide range of motion and my thumb is back "in place." The huge shin bump from the fall 2.5 weeks ago, is almost gone. What can I say? She's amazing - and it didn't even hurt (much).

Kirsten and I meet an Indian friend at Cafe Oz in the afternoon. It can be a bit hair-raising, leaving the car's gas tank level to W. He and the driver are always waiting to fill with a certain kind of gas. It has limited distribution and Pak G doesn't find it today either.

"Please just pull in and just put in some gas," I say. He does - with "1km range" showing on the dashboard.

W texts back, "No problem. You probably have 50 km left." Fine if he's in the car. With K and me in the car, we just want to tank up. I shudder to think what will happen in an evacuation or medical emergency. (We are probably going to be walking.)

The cafe where K and I meet Manju has been renamed "Back to Earth" #b2e #back2earth. It has undergone a beautiful remodel. The grand opening is next weekend. Love the tea set, including the funky milk pitcher.

Tonight, it's early to bed - I'm asleep by 8pm.

Saturday - Indonesian Independence Day
Today we celebrate an emerging giant - Indonesia. With the largest Muslim population in the world, it is not officially Islamic. Indonesia recognizes freedom of worship for 6 religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Animism. That's lived out and governed in various ways across the country.

Today will be full of traditional celebrations at every public park. The broadcasts of activities have been going strong since early morning. Our helpers are celebrating with their families so we don't have to worry about unlocking the house early in the morning.

Of course, I only "sleep in" until after 4am - more than 8 hours, though. That's what I'd call a good night's sleep. W leaves for morning meetings, K's still asleep. The house is quiet except for the lovebirds and the canary singing on the porch. (Only one canary - the other keeled over last week from unknown causes.) The yard dogs nap outside my office door.

My breakfast is warmed-up wonton and vegetables soup. Tasty. Along with BOH passionfruit tea in a Starbucks Christmas 2018 mug (thanks, Melissa), it's practically perfect.

**Here's a great resource for friends learning a new language. You can get a free Word-A-Day (with sentences and explanations) email from IndonesianPod101. 

In my case, I want help learning Indonesian. But type in the language you want to learn. (GermanPod101, RussianPod101, MandarinPod101, etc.) See if it's not one of the best apps out there.**

Read more:

*The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9 

*Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

*God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Christ, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20

Moravian Prayer: Loving God, many years ago you sent your son for us. You sent him to pay the ultimate price so that we may live with you forever. Thank you for loving us even when we are not deserving. Amen.