Advent Week 1: HOPE. Can you believe it's here?

Friday, November 26, 2021

We have a pretty basic supper: avocados on toast. It hits the spot. W slathers his with mayonnaise as usual. Mine is heaped with vegetables.

I feel like a little something-something would jazz up the kitchen so I hang garlands and small wreaths on two of the old windows. The decades-old teak is beautiful and outlasts most kinds of wood that crumble under termites and other critters over the years.

I picked up some tinsel garlands last week. Today we notice that the bulletin board at BIC is faded and drooping. No one will notice ... unless we leave it. Alice and I pull off the old papers and do a quick revision with stuff on hand.

The groomers show up and make the poodles pretty again after their romp through the woods yesterday. Cocoa (standard) loves being groomed. She's always pleased with herself after her "do."

Bailey (mini) is perky and ready to romp after he's done.

He runs out of steam after circling a few times and lies down at my feet for a snooze.

Saturday

We check the hall one last time. All is ready. W and the media team spend the afternoon getting the new equipment geared up.

With such wide spacing, people can't use the chair next to them for bags and purses. (An Indonesian habit requires twice the number of chairs as persons: no one willingly puts purses or backpacks on the floor or table.) What to do? W orders S-hooks and I tag them using cardboard from an old pizza box.

I hang them on the chair backs in the hall.

The invitations have gone out. Let's see how it goes.

On a completely different topic, mangosteen or manggis is one of my favorite Indonesian fruits. It tastes like a combination of cherry and Asian pear, with a bit of lemon. It's exterior is unappealing, a thick leathery hide.

But when you pull off the stem and squeeze the purple skin, it opens up to the most delicious surprise. The texture of the edible seed pods is like lychee. And the contrast of purple-red and creamy white is gorgeous.

I mix up some breakfast cookies and put them in the freezer until they're cold. Then they sit frozen in a Tupperware square until we can't think of what to eat. Morning or evenings ... they're tasty and nutritious. These have chia, flax seed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and hazelnuts, besides the oats, honey, vanilla, and peanut butter, 

In the kitchen, the framed chocolate box makes me smile. Our youngest son gifted us with Trader Joe's Christmas special one year: a 4-lb bar of Belgian chocolate. We made a lot of chocolate chip cookies with that one before I framed the box. (The painting below it is a quick watercolor from the first time I met "dragon fruit" in Singapore. Another beautiful food.)

Sunday, Advent Week 1

When I wake at 3:00, I listen to YouVersion, a reading of the gospel of John. Jesus talks about himself and his heavenly Father to the disciples. I'm enthralled by the stories of the Good Shepherd (John 10), the Holy Spirit sent to comfort and help (14), Jesus the Vine and we the Branches (15), and the prayer of Jesus over his followers (17). Sometime after that, either the reader times out at one hour or I fall asleep. Maybe both.

In the BIC hall and at home, it's time to light the first candle of Advent, named HOPE. Elsewhere in the house, the Christmas lights go on today. The tree and long shelf have been lit for over a week.

The 3'x5' white metal screen glows on the dining wall.

There's a new lantern, too, a gift from a friend last Christmas.

The tall vase is filled with pinecones and starry lights.

Today is a big day for the international church, the in-person, soft launch of Advent. It's our first gathering since March 2020. If we have planned well, it will seem effortless and go smoothly. 

But is the Presence of God among us? That's what I long for, most of all. I get up about 5:00 to package IbuA's banana bread.

"God, you who do small and great things," I start to pray, "how will you show us you are with us today?" (Do you ever stop to ponder the small miracles of God's answers? Sometimes we just run right by, don't we?)

In the early morning kitchen, the roll of tape is almost empty in my hands. I begin to pack up the baking and send up a prayer: "Would you let this roll last long enough to fasten all 60 bags? I somehow need assurance that you're in this and will oversee the details of the morning."

It feels like a silly prayer, so I whisper, "You don't have to, of course. It's just that it would be reassuring for me to have this little miracle happen this morning."

One bag after another is taped shut. As I seal the last bag, the roll of tape catches. It's done. Habis (finished).

I stop. Say thank you. And my heart is quieted. All is well. All will be well.

And it is. I ponder how many times I have missed these "small" answered prayers, ignoring the Presence among us, or taking for granted the Peace in our homes and hearts. Today I stop in gratitude and worship.

Often when I plan events, I get a number in my head of how many will attend. It's nearly always within 2 or 3 attendees. (Can you imagine how helpful that was when I was planning university reunions as an alumni director?) Today's number is 50. Originally we'd thought maybe 20-30 would come. But I've come to trust that voice. And it says "plan for 50."

And about 50 people show up, including some newcomers.

It's disconcerting to speak from behind a mask and a clear face shield. The worship band says the same: "We had a hard time singing with the mikes." But they persevere. We have a punch list of improvements for next time, of course.

There's a lot added to the regular event planning: handing out masks and shields, filling a few more Advent bags, printing kids activity pages and finding crayons and pastels. My admin Alice is a jewel - she outdoes herself. Especially since the regular Sunday helper who sets up the hall is absent this weekend.

The hard work of many volunteers - decorating and cleaning the hall, setting up sinks and tables, those who greet, and other helpers - makes it feel natural, like "it should be so." Well done, everyone. And special thanks to those who prayed over us this weekend.

Read more:

*Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Psakn 17:7

*May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

*Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Moravian Prayer: Redeeming God, we pray your steadfast love is a refuge amidst a world weighed down by the burden of adversaries and turmoil, making holy the tenderness found in lasting peace. In your blameless name, we pray. Amen.

Variety, one day at a time

Isn't this pretty? These are the last berries on a palm branch that fell off the tree outside our gate. How appropriate for this season. I lay it on a porch bench and snap a picture.

Saturday, November 20, 2020

Alice and Melvi are busy putting things in the Advent bags. the cookies got packed up yesterday and put in the fridge, ready for tucking into the bags before they're delivered next week.

After a morning of cleaning up the debris from yesterday's big volunteer effort, I'm hungry. W meets me at Kalpa Tree. We haven't been there for a long time. "We don't go out as much as we used to," W muses. True.

He orders an iced tea - with sugar on the side. They bring a mug of tea and a cup of liquid sugar for him to add his own amount.

I am a little horrified - is this how much sugar is in sweet tea? He pours in less than half. ... still ... ugh.

Our food is good. We choose Japanese-ish meals: gyosas, teriyaki beef over vegetables, and miso soup. We walk home before the afternoon downpour begins.

The blooming trees are breathtaking. This 10 meter-high tree is bursting with purple blossoms.

We have to watch our feet: in rainy season moss grows on concrete. The neighborhood path between houses is slick. When the family built a house, they promised to replace the new pavement torn up by their building process. We'll all be relieved when they do. We step cautiously in the meantime.

I check out the garden when we get home. Yikes, the dill is blooming in tall spires. When we clip the blossoms, the dill grows into a pretty shrub. I break off the lacy branches and tuck them into a 35cm (15") vase. It may be the easiest arrangement ever. Smells good, too.

Sunday

We walk, feed the little fish in the office, and come home for breakfast. A cup of tea with one or two no-bake breakfast cookies is a satisfying start to the day. 

Easy Breakfast Recipe: Combine 3/4 c each oatmeal and P.butter. Mix in 2 tbsp each honey and chia seeds, and a touch of vanilla. (Optional - add up to 1/3 c dried fruit, nuts, or seeds.) Roll and press into cookie shapes. Chill. Store then in the fridge or freezer.

When the palm branches are bare, they're a lovely shape. I'm tempted to put this one in a shadow box and decorate it for the seasons.

The sun shines through the branches onto the terrace, lighting up the little nativity. The set was "won" at an IES White Elephant exchange years ago. Always makes me smile when I get it out of the box for Advent.

This is the final Sunday that we're fully online. One last time, we dress casually, relax on the porch, and enjoy worship as an online community. Next week we'll have hybrid gatherings - online and in person.

I go fishing in the neighbor's pond, catching unwanted tadpoles among the orange platys. While we were in Canada last month, the beta in the round bowl disappeared. The new little fish fit the 5-gallon tank just fine.

Monday

Everywhere you look, there's something interesting. On the road, we pause to look at the swirly seed pods that drop from the trees. They're about 8" long.

No turkey for us this Thanksgiving week. It's over $165 US for a 14-lb frozen turkey. A local offers us a better price: more like $8/lb. gulp. No thanks.

Tuesday

Dr Hanna arranges volunteers from the Rotary Club and a cleaning group to come to BIC in preparation for in person gatherings.

All the chairs are removed

and wiped down.

And of course, there's food. LOTS of it. 

I assumed that the initial bala bala (fritters) were the meal so I had two. It turns out they were the appetizers. Later came sate and fried meat and rice and chilis, etc. I couldn't even start on the rest, I was so full. The hot red peppers add color and zing to the fried foods.

The fritters are my favorite anyway: flour, shallots, chopped veggies, salt and pepper. Deep fried.

It's a good crew of all ages.

The young people hang out when they've finished doing the chairs.

And the food truck lady cooks and cooks - so much food.

Here's one plate full (not mine.) I take two chilled eggs home, chop them up with a bit of mayo binder, and we eat them on freshly baked bread buns for supper.

The core team of workers is from a cleaning agency that blesses religious organizations as community service. We are so grateful to be the recipients of their hard work.

Here's what they do ...

I straighten up a few things in the hall. W checks the touchless faucets and sinks. Alice orders the sanitizer and soaps - and we're ready to go. 

Wednesday

It's date day. W and I take our morning walk before W heads home to make his weekly Wednesday video. We meet at Nara for breakfast. W orders nasi kuning (yellow rice surrounded by traditional sides) while I have ramen.

There's an egg delivery while we eat: a young man carries 16 tiers of 20 eggs, a heavy load for anyone. He's walking down the sloped path in loose rubber boots. No one even turns to look - except for me. I'm freaked out to think that he's got another tower just like it on his motorcycle, besides this one.

Meanwhile, Christmas preparation continues. The beautiful candleholders supplied by Ruth are delivered with the Advent packages. Each one is unique.

I put pinecones in one since I try not to light fires in the office unless they're inspirations.

Back at the house, IbuA continues baking cookies to replace the ones that went out this week. These are ginger butter cookies dipper in TJ dark chocolate and sprinkled with sugar pearls.

The tree is decked at home. There's everything from hand-stitched teddy bears to ornaments made by our grandkids to wayang puppets gifted us by guests. I tuck the old greeting cards between everything else. (We might get 1-3 cards each year so there's room for them all.)

After we put the tree up, it's fun to see all the memories sitting in the branches.

Thursday

It's American thanksgiving day and I'm glad I'm not in the kitchen. We head up to the mountains for our hike. They're repairing the road from flooding earlier this month. The work is done by hands and strong backs.

The sky is clear, a rare treat in November during rainy season. We're in the trees for most of the hike, which helps keep us cooler.

We take a few pictures, relaxing.

The dogs - all 6 of them to 6 walkers - have a good time. Today not one of them runs off. It's a relief. From smallest to largest, they enjoy their time.

It's not just the tall grasses and straight pine trunks that are beautiful. The view of the mountains on every side is clear.

Some parts are steeper or slipperier than others. All in all, it's an easy walk. Since we don't get lost, we have lots of time. We turn around almost at the parking lot to retrace our steps and make it a longer walk. Great idea, Angie.

On the way home, we stop for small pumpkins, ripe avocados, and mangosteens (which taste to me like a cross between Asian pear and cherry.)

The haze starts to move in as we drive back down into the city. The Maj apartments lie below on the other mountain. There's a deep valley between.

W is teaching tonight. I read and write, checking items off the list one by one. We're getting excited about the "Bless Bandung 2021" Christmas project. Donations will go to the needy in our city. Donate to bless someone else, if you can.

Read more:

*He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

*In you the orphan finds mercy. Hosea 14:3

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Moravian Prayers: Loving God, compel us to love and forgive as radically as you have for each of us. Remind us to free one another from the constraints of harboring bitterness, even when we feel safer bound in those resentments. Let us abound instead in love for you.

Lord of all, countless are the times we have failed to welcome, love, and cherish the diversity of your creation. Unite us in your loving spirit and mend the pain we have caused, so that we may move forward, putting faith into action. Amen.