On the last leg back from a week away, we pick up bubur ayam (chicken rice porridge) from Botor, our friend's shop down the hill. We take it home. It's DELICIOUS and soothing after a day of travel.
Unpacking is a chore but not an unpleasant one. As things are put away, we thank God for a good conference and safe travels back to home.
Sunday, March 19, 2022
We walk the neighborhood just after 6:00. I forgot to task anyone with topping up the paludarium at the office. When we stop in to check, there's a bare inch of water left, along with 2 hardy fish who attack their fish food. Sorry, creatures!
I drain the last of the filtered drinking water into the tank and make a note to bring fresh bottles along tomorrow - for the fish and my tea.
My spiritual discipline and art project for the coming week is reflecting on a historical prayer: St Patrick's Breastplate. I write it across the pages of a little watercolor journal. There are colors and shapes to come.
PakG picks up a few final purchases from a restaurant-closing sale while we're away. The last unfinished space in the yard is an open shed. Broken plastic pots and tools, a sofa-swing, and a barbecue take up one half of the concrete pad while a decaying woodpile takes up the other half.
The yard man hauled the termite-riddled branches away last time he showed up. This morning it goes from bare and spare to useful. One final sweep of the cement and it's ready for a 10-minute rebirth.
W hangs up two new-to-us rattan chairs and carries down an old table. I unroll a worn rug. We move the swinging loveseat to one side. Done.
On the porch, a few others friends enjoy tea and pumpkin pie with us - along with the last pieces of Sam's chicken. We're all grateful for IbuA's baking skills. The cookie tins are happily depleted by both groups.
The sun sets before we hear the last click of the gate. When everyone's gone, W heats milk for a special treat. Two Trader Joes hot chocolate packs were a gift from our kids last October on our annual trip to the USA. It feels cooler outside (72o F/22 C?) today so it seems the right time to indulge.
QUESTION: What makes you feel grateful and content? Why not share that with someone.
2. Pray for those who suffer. You never know when you will be the one in need of prayer.
This week we are consumed with the misery of refugees in Indonesia, around Asia, Africa, Europe, and elsewhere. What must they be experiencing, torn from their homes, neighborhoods, and countries by famine, drought, fading hopes ... and war?
God invites us to care for others, to bear their burdens with generosity and intercession. A school class led by Teacher Bernadette sends a donation for BIC's distribution. We gratefully receive their their kindness and concern and will pass that along.
QUESTION: Who are you praying for this week? Do you have resources to share? How might God be calling you to share his lovingkindness with those around you?
3. Things worth doing may still be difficult. This week I start language school again. It's my third "start." The greatest disappointment and stress of living abroad hasn't been what I expected. It's not the food, the people, or the culture. It's not speaking the language. As the child of immigrants, growing up in an immigrant community, I know in my heart of hearts how vital language is. Not speaking Indonesian has been crushing.
The first time W and I went to language school was a 3-month semester. We spent 4 hours, 4X a week and ran errands until evening. I was exhausted from not sleeping (termite frass dripping on my face and the sheets is not relaxing). We had vocabulary, phrases, and exceptions poured over us. Some days I wrote down over 100 new words.
In class, we asked a lot of questions, read from the workbook, and never spoke beyond a brief Q&A. Our accents seemed ok since German vowels are similar (and we know some German) - so the instructors assumed we knew what we were reading about. Nope. Needless to say, I learned almost nothing and could barely remember how to say "Good morning" by the end of 3 months. The school closed their language program within a year.
The second time, I loved the school and my instructor. I learned a lot of words in 1 hour/week for 2 months. That vocabulary became the foundation of my bahasa Indonesia. Then travel and teaching intervened, we came back to a tight schedule, and the instructor's calendar had filled up in the only spots I could attend.
Now it's Start #3. I'm learning with a beginner, right from the beginning, 10 hours a week ... as long as it takes. Prayers appreciated.
QUESTION: What is a hard thing you are considering, praying about, or tackling? I'd love to pray with you about that.
One more thing: take one day at a time. Last week, our view looked like this between meetings.
For you to think about ... Is there anything you are resisting or avoiding with
- "I wish ... , so I could ..."
- "If only ... , then ..." or
- "If this happens, then I'll ..."?
Read more:
*Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Psalm 10:1
*By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. Psalm 33:6
*Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”Mark 4:38
*God is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:25
Moravian Prayer: Gentle Persuader, fanning to flame our little faith, we do not doubt your power to rescue and redeem, only ours to walk together and work the Father’s will in your name. Help us see and trust in the good you see in us.
Spirit of God, loving and holy, let our prayer today be for others: for their needs, their struggles, for your merciful intercession. Help us see how we may be used by you as instruments of care and grace. Amen.
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