She's here!

Monday, August 12, 2019
Meetings - and office day. Throughout the week, there's lots of positive feedback about the new layout at #BICbandung (Bandung International Church). Anyone is welcome to join - regardless of religion, Sundays at the 9:00 Gathering.

BIC is a welcoming and warm community for any English-speakers, including travelers. For those trying to improve their English, the Community Table afterward provides a great place to snack and chat.

Tuesday
It's a stressful day for us all. Kirsten, who was supposed to arrive in Bandung today, is "lost in transit." Because of protests, the Hong Kong airport is closed. Her plane returns to the terminal and she's stuck in LA - after a 12 hour layover there. In the next few hours, she negotiates a new route through Tokyo, where she'll be in the airport a long time ... and arrive a day late at another location.

After a good meeting with the team, Waldemar and I have lunch at Maxi's up the street. I send Pak G over to Claudia's with 250 sausages to grill for tomorrow's movie night. The helpers peel the potatoes - it hurts my hand to grip them so I can't peel a lot. However, the gals miss a few in the back kitchen and we're expecting a big group (70?) tomorrow. I take my time to peel the rest, popping them into the salt water where they'll stay overnight.

Waldemar heads to Jakarta. There are problems with the shuttle he booked. He catches a later one at 4:30pm. That puts him in the thick of traffic but arrives at the airport late in the day and sleeps in an airport capsule hotel. (It's not the best arranged - the capsule hotel in KL/Malaysia is better and quieter.)

Wednesday
Kirsten makes it to Jakarta at 4:30 am (not to Bandung as with her earlier, more convenient route.) She's a day late - but oh, are we happy to have her here. W and K come in about noon, which makes it a 56 hour trip for her. We head for a restaurant and lunch. After a bit of conversation and unpacking her haul of American goodies, Kirsten goes to sleep.

I've cooked most of the morning. My shoulder is still kinked and my thumb swollen - so I'm careful that the food I make requires no heavy lifting. No big pots of pasta today. Clau arrives at 5:30 with the sausages (with added garlic - a flavor-changer for the curry sauce. We have a lot of garlic today - in the veggies, potatoes, and ... the sausages!) She offers her strong arms and cheerful voice, a big help.

Tonight's menu:

Rice (white and white/red)

Garlic mashed potatoes

Sundanese-creamed-coconut jackfruit

Meatballs in sweet and sour sauce

Spicy chicken wings

Sausages in curry sauce

Stuffed hard-boiled eggs

Garlic bread (fresh-baked)

Brazilian cheese balls

Tossed green salad

---Dessert includes all kinds of treats brought by guests, plus homemade cookies, casava chips, and fresh fruit salad---Oh yes, it's all yummy.

When the crowd starts to arrive at 6:15, I put on the light in the back hall to wake K. She's alert and friendly for a half hour, puts aside some food for when she's hungry, and downs some oregano oil against her sniffles. Then she goes to sleep until morning.

This might be my favorite movie so far: Hidden Figures. We ask how people are held back, how they can overcome challenges and use their gifts, and how they might boost others. It's a lively crowd. Love it. They're gone about 11pm.

Thursday
It's quiet at home. After the robot vacuums have made a few rounds (recharged in-between), the helpers clean up from yesterday's event. There are dishes - we try to recycle as much as possible. There are spills. There's upholstery to be vacuumed. Yup, always a mess after that settles down into "normal". They move the furniture back into place, too.

While Kirsten rests, W and I have a late working breakfast with friends. We sort through some concerns about facilities and agree that it's great to be partners. W and I work with some of the best people in Indonesia - everyone bends over backwards for best practices and harmonious interactions - we appreciate that so much.

I'm at the rehab doc for almost 2 hours. The appointment, icing my shoulder and wrist, laser treatments, new pain patches, and a mechanical massage are $37.

"Wow, that's expensive," sighs W. (Whaaaat! Kidding, right?) My arm feels a lot better after.

K and my big trip of the day is to the grocer, replenishing goods we wiped out for movie night (2 dozen eggs, 6 kg flour, 3 kg sugar, 12 liters of oil, etc.). She picks up a few snacks for herself. I check the rice stocks - we buy 30 kg of rice each month. We have 5 left, which should last us until the next delivery.

Friday
It's an early morning in the office, with a check to see that the hall is set up for Sunday. The view from my desk is relaxing (below). We use things from home to warm up our working spaces - this time it's a quilt across the back of the sofa (thanks to Tanya Jo who left that behind when she repatriated). Add some pillows, a wooden tissue box, and a rug. The rattan set was here - so comfy and "tropical."

I run our Roomba vacuum in the office, as we do every weekend. The driver comes with a "twin" IKEA rug from home. We have to swap out the office rug - it has more than a few drips and spills.

Seeing the marks on the carpet makes me happy in an odd way, because it means a lot of people are enjoying hospitality in our community. The office is often abuzz with visitors. Our helper will scrub the office rug clean and we'll use that one at home until it's time for the next swap.

I'm back home for lunch and a full afternoon. SO good to have Kirsten here. Did I say that already?

Read more:
*He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3

*Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods: His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders: His love endures forever. 
Who by his understanding made the heavens: His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-5

*God says, "I want you to fear and respect me." Zephaniah 3:7

*Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. Matthew 4:17

*Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Moravian Prayer: Triumphant Lord, our instruments and voices are not loud enough to ring sufficient praises in your name! Reveal your greatness to us each day. Take us onward in your service, producing good works through your people. Remind us that all we do is for you. 

Heavenly Guide, although we have come so far over many years, we know there is much yet to be done. Diversity throughout peoples and nations is a testament to your creativity and awesome power. Carry us forward, serving every unique member of your worldwide family. Amen.