Endings, a Volcano chicken, and good company

 Friday, June 24, 2022

After breakfast and a walk, W drops me at Green Gate. It's wonderful to work on the BIC balcony again. I record Monday videos through the end of July, talk on the phone, and clear out WAs and emails.

It's Kristi and my last day of language school together. Our assignment is to write about yesterday - in Indonesian. We read it aloud in class and mark our corrections. Kristi's done but I'll pick up again after a few weeks break. I need to review the terms running together in my head. Things need to simmer and settle down.

We take pictures with our teachers Maria and Rani before saying goodbye. I grab an orchid pot from the table that happens to match Kristi's new batik dress perfectly.

After class, Kristi suggests a stop at Volcano Chicken, a rotisserie chicken shop that we pass on the way home. We each bring a bird back. W and I eat outside at the tulip table. How good it feels to be outdoors after midday spent inside. The dogs are thrilled as we toss them scraps of meat.

I can't believe it's 4:00 p.m. when we're done. It's gelap (dark) outside and feels like night is about to fall.

Saturday

W and I do a couple of loops around the neighborhood. I know that it's a climb, but this elevation map surprises me. What would we do without W's gadgets and apps? (Perhaps, live a less informed life?) The lowest point is the start at our house. Looks like each loop is close to a 100' climb with a few ups and downs between. Who knew?

Is that why I was gasping for a few months after Covid last year? This morning I'm gasping at the beautiful multi-colored hedge along the lane.

The hedge is about 10' tall, a mass of yellow, green, and orange.

A masseuse messages that she'd like to come to our house today. Well why not? After a morning of writing and cleaning up, I'm happy to relax. She's been off work with carpel tunnel syndrome for over 2 years and probably needs the $15 (incl tip) for 2 hours of massage. She also gives Kristi a work-over before she heads back down the hill.

W, who has been on his Saturday appointments, brings home Chinese food. The downtown branch of Mandarin is good. It just isn't as good as the branch in Lembang up north. We sometimes stop there after the Thursday walk. Could it be that we just have more of an appetite after our walks?

It's a day of preparation of heart, mind, and spirit. Between chores, I read a book recommended in one of our feeds: The Young Visiters by Daisy Ashford. It's a 9-yr-old's hilarious romanticized view of 1890s society in England. I think I'm ready for tomorrow's challenges.

The new beta (70c) is doing fine  with the other fishes in the cylinder on my desk. He's such a pretty color. All the baby fish have disappeared though.

Sunday

It's Round Table Sunday. Today's discussion topic: suffering as a good person and follower of Jesus. At the end of the Gathering, we baptize several people in water as their confession of faith in Christ. That's always a highlight for a community of faith!

Our friend and former team member JD's back in town. We haven't seen him during the pandemic years. It's a delight to meet his girlfriend for the first time. So we take them and other friends for lunch. Venues are back open - the hill is noisy and the restaurants are full.

The rain pours down for a half-hour. We shift chairs into the non-wet areas of the terrace. Several times! It's like musical chairs with chairs moving around to prevent a soaking.

Yesterday, I chopped some bullrushes and weedy vines taking over a hedge. I lopped the top off a dracaena that was growing into the eaves. Last wee's alliums are still red. That's enough for today's simple 6' (2 meter)-tall bouquet in the new 15" pot.

Except that it's Round Tables  ... and that means 10 little arrangements for the tables. I head for the garden. The spider plants are everywhere - they go with the neighbor's blooming vine.

We come home in early afternoon to over 20 young adults on the porch. Why we live where we do? So it can become "everyone's house" as needed. We love the laughter, games, and community feeling. And we don't have to organize or clean it up! (Bonus).

Read more:

*Know then in your heart that as a parent disciplines a child so the Lord your God disciplines you. Deuteronomy 8:5

*Jesus said, “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15

*His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9

Moravian Prayer: God, we have often strayed from your presence, but in your infinite love and compassion, you gently lead us back to you. At times, your discipline seems harsh, but without such discipline where would we be? We thank you for the interest you have in us. Amen.