More excitement than we ordered! Yikes.

Friday, November 4, 2022

Jet-lagged, I'm up at 3:30 a.m. so work starts at 4:30. My first chore is figuring out new regulations for a doctoral project I'm supervising. The documents are stashed in revised "need to know" files. The dean sends them over. Then, I start checking off a long list of to-dos.

After a loop around the neighborhood with the 2 big dogs, I pick up Laurel at 7:00. We walk back to the house for breakfast. She picks up her suitcase, left behind a year and a half ago.

As a diversion all week long, I make progress on my Indonesian Theme Park triptych. Months ago I started with the first marks of paint on canvas.

It acquired layers before we left for the USA.

And now it's almost there (top). If I wait a few weeks, I'll know if it's done or if it needs more work.

It's a busy afternoon of agendas, paperwork, and writing, playing catch-up after time away. Somehow it always falls into place, putting one foot in front of the other. It just takes time.

Eki and Lyong come by for supper and stay overnight. Melvi comes from upstairs to help us eat up: there's too much food. We chat and head for sleep in mid-evening.

Saturday

Up early as usual, there's no time for a walk. If I was good at making rice, breakfast would be a breeze. Instead, I make my grandma's scrambled eggs recipe with toast and sausage. Melvi joins us for breakfast before Ibu Ade arrives at 8:00 to give me a post-trip massage: she has a light touch.

When I emerge, all the breakfast dishes are waiting. Maddie arrives for a visit just before noon and stays for lunch. I can't send along many cookies. Our super-baker IbuA has been sick for 2 weeks and Advent is coming ... we need a few thousand cookies for IESBandung Advent bags. IbuS steps in and bakes 2 perfect batches, storing them up for the Christmas season. PakG takes 8 full boxes to the office fridge.

By the time the Grab taxi comes for Maddie at 2:30, Eki also has left for home, 3 hours away. Lyong, Melvina, and Laurel head out to volunteer together. We pray a blessing over them all.

W and I read through tomorrow's BIC talk together, make revisions, and then I flop down with a book and a bag of popcorn.

Sunday

What about a flower bouquet for the BIC hall? Yesterday the driver left early so there was no rush to get it done. It's been a muggy few days and picking them in the morning ensures the plants are at their freshest.

I take a sharp knife into the garden, where  I find dill, wide taro leaves, helianthus flowers, and weed seed heads. Chop chop and into the vase they go. We toss the trimmings into the compost pail. The arrangement is tall but simple in the bright 12"/30 cm vase. 

By 7, we're at the hall. Laurel explores the stash of children's books, toys, and lessons in the office before we head to the hall. She is introduced to the BIC family.

The leadership team meets after the gathering. Everyone meets in person! for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Between cautions and travelers, the LT is a productive group of leaders.

Afterward, a few of us end up at Miss Bee for lunch.

I've always been curious about the African chicken on the menu. It doesn't need more hot sauce on the side. I may order it again.

The Bee staff knows how much I love their deconstructed hot chocolate. Between that and good conversation, we're full to the brim. W and I walk in the door at home before 4:00.

Monday

I love talking to my "middle" brother. He's a top realtor who also takes care of our mom in our hometown. (Contact Norm Daher @NYDA ReMax realty if you plant to sell or buy in BC and need sound advice. He has experience and a people-personality - as you see in the pic.) Our other brothers live elsewhere: the eldest is in Switzerland and the youngest is an hour away from him in Germany.

Before lunch, the doctoral student comes for the next round of instructions on writing his dissertation. I don't plan to see him again until he's caught up on unedited work from months ago. A dissertation is hard work and research is not intuitive to speakers or leaders. The university has given him a 2-year deadline to finish.

The hoyas on the porch are blooming, perfuming the entry to the house.

I spend the afternoon and evening calling people about a transition in our organization. Their reception is uniformly positive and excited. That makes calling easier.

Tuesday

After some early morning video calls, the team meeting is online. The new neighbors Pak Rio, his wife, and son bring the most delicious rendang (spiced beef) over for lunch. I forget to take pictures - but never will forget the taste!

Rio recounts Indonesian history and their family story. After we show them through the property, they reciprocate. They bring out some traditional hats worn at various ceremonies, too. Indonesia has many cultures. Some manners and traditions are similar but many are very different between people groups.

In preparation for tomorrow's movie night, we tear apart living and dining rooms, stashing furniture in my office and our bedroom.

After a few hours, the greatroom is ready for guests. 

Wednesday

We highly anticipate the monthly dinner-and-a-movie night. I tack the menu to the fridge and check items off as they're finished. I start cooking before 6:00 a.m. and am done with most of it by 10:00. From the first spaghetti noodles (after 3/4 hr to bringing water to a boil) to the last dish, by noon all the sauces, meats, and veggies are ready for reheating later in the day. 

The helpers arrive at 3:00 to make rice, chop salad and fruit, and wash the final dishes.

For whatever reason, most people come late. It's an unusually small but lively group from 11 countries. It makes us HAPPY to see their faces.

We welcome newbies, our "family" and friends, including newlyweds and those starting to date. We've prayed over some for years and it's lovely to see those prayers being answered.

Thursday

Ok, there's way more excitement on this walk than we planned. On the way up to the mountains in busy traffic, we spot someone resting atop hay bales. He's relaxed up there on the flatbed.

When we pile out of our cars, Mariska (Gypsy's first family) calls his name. They haven't seen each other for 6 years, since her last visit from the Netherlands. 

Gypsy bounds out of the car, sniffs her, and bounces around. He remembers - in the most wiggly and excited way, circling Mariska and tapping her hello.

We are all surprised! and delighted by their reunion.

The hike starts as usual, taking photos of the spectacular view across the valley from the pine forests to the tea plantations.

You can see for miles, all the way to the city below.

With camera phones, everyone captures a different perspective. Here are some shots by the walkers. We pose for pictures of the group while everyone's still clean, not muddy or wet.

The hike starts through the pine forests. Up up we go in the mountain air.

And then it's down down to the waterfalls. 

This walk is called "Mariska's Walk" because it was her farewell hike as our guide 7 years ago, before she moved to the Netherlands. We all love it! and the last time we were here was when Cocoa was lost. We keep a close eye on the dogs but all is well, as usual.

A monkey taunts Gypsy by chattering at him, just out of reach. Gypsy's hiking motto may be: "I HATE MONKEYS!" He strains at his leash But Mariska holds tight.

We have to hike through water below the tea plantations. The former rocky trail is covered by 6" of gushing streams that have taken the path of least resistance. Regardless, nature is glorious on every hand.

Some steep detours avoid slippery parts alongside the plantations. We clutch branches of the tea shrubs as we ease down the hard wet mud trail.

Now and again, we emerge into views across the mountains. Crossing one stream, someone breaks through a cracked irrigation pipe. The resulting spray soaks her. The waterfalls are so loud that we don't hear them calling us to wait. 

I keep counting the group. We seem to be missing a few and the hiking rule is "Stay Together!" I don't remember being the last one through the stream.

Then someone phones me at a spot where we have cell reception: "Do we go left, right, or straight at the forks? Where are you guys?" 

Once I figure out where they are, I go back for the three left behind.

Happily reunited, we complete the hike with legs and shoes a muddy mess. We knock off as much dirt as we can from between the cleats on the soles before hopping into the cars.

At lunch, the remnants of a previous event hang on the walls, silk flowers and dry palms, among other things.

But the view from our seats is gorgeous.

A second wave of unexpected (and unwanted) excitement happens as we eat. V slumps forward, loses her lunch, and is unresponsive for about 20 minutes. Andy offers a prayer and sets off on his motorcycle to buy some sport drink (Pocari Sweat.) V gradually revives and walks, supported on both sides, to an eating pavilion by the water. The staff bring pillows so she can lie down until she is able to drink something.

"No use calling an ambulance," she and her husband overrule our Western instincts. They're Indonesians familiar with local resources: "An ambulance will have only oxygen but no other lifesaving equipment." Good to know = don't even bother. Plus, traffic hardly every moves aside for medical vehicles.

After we drop her home, V gets a treatment from IbuAde, one of our go-to masseuses. We are all relieved - she must have had a severe, one-time food allergy. The cause remains a mystery.

After the hike, the dogs are thrilled to close their eyes on their comfy beds or in the doghouse. Good night, everyone.

Let's have no more losses, challenges, or thrills today.

Read more:

*Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence  or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Open my lips, Lord,  and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:10-17

*This is love, that we walk according to his commandments. 2 John 6

*Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 NASB

*Christ said, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16

Moravian Prayer: Remind us today, Lord, that when we earnestly desire to serve, your commands become a delight to live by. Generate within us true love for you, that we may serve you and show your loving care to our neighbor.

Brightest and best Morning Star, through you, the great family of faith shares God’s light with the world. We are your fruit. Help us continue to share the light of your love. Amen.