Traveling fridges

Sunday, January 8, 2023

The first week of the year is past. We set up at 7 at GG for the second Sunday of January's theme: "Jesus, the Light of the World." W leads with his story of how he got to Indonesia. As he speaks, I think how differently the same events were experienced by him and me. God has gotten us here relatively intact, both as a couple and as individuals. It's a marvel.

Oh my, the top shelves in the office are dusty! The cleaner is short and doesn't see that high so it goes uncleaned until I swipe the grime off.

I dislike today's bouquet enough to yank the grass out of it. It's more balanced without that. The bare "flower" branches from the palms look like miniature trees on either side. I hope no one snags on them so that the whole thing falls apart. (We're safe. Whew)

It's almost Sam's last week at IES. Friends and those who have benefitted from his being here pray for his safe travels and a good landing in the USA. He's done a good job leading the youths, too. He'll be missed.

We share a "Happy New Year" lunch with friends at Ethnic Resto.

Back home, over 30 young adults are hanging out on The Porch. They eat lunch, play games, and make new friends. We love it, esp because Sam and others host while we provide the venue.

Usually the dogs are tied up since Indonesians fear dogs. Today they roam and find willing hands to pet them.

The new round patio table is a hit.

Monday

After a walk, I have 2 hours of language school before it's time for home study. I struggle to lock in vocabulary - the vowel sounds slide around between meng- and per- and other prefixes. Today's lesson on customs includes what to say to someone sick in the hospital if you are menjenguk or menengok (visiting).

"Gimana keadaan kamu sekarang?" (Reply comes, then ...) "Semoga cepat sembuh." Yes. It's that different from everything we know.

The big chore today is cleaning the upstairs kitchen and our fridges. In our back storeroom, there's one for movie night, Hangout items, and the cookie stash. Last Saturday, the back fridge repeatedly blew the whole-house electric system. Early this morning, a repairman swings by. The LED light strip is the culprit. He fixes it for $10, including his trip.

We decide to send that cooler to the office.  Gum's friend borrows a little pickup so they can muscle their way to the office to drop it off, along with 10 boxes of cookies.

"Are you safe?" W asks PakG, who says, "Sure."

W asks a few more times, "Is the fridge safe?" as he looks at the side-to-side straps securing it to the truck sides. PakG grabs the bar behind the cab and leans against the fridge as the truck bounces up the street. They make it there in one piece.

The guys bring home the little office fridge and carry it upstairs. The guest fridge in which W kept "his" snacks near his upstairs office has been a hassle; keeping everyone's food separate is an ongoing discussion. Since he mostly works on the teras on the main floor and we'll have guests all next month, so we settle that fridge into the recently-vacated storeroom, closer at hand for him. It will also cool movie night and Hangout items.

I'm checking how well the grasses from the yard dry: can they be used in arrangements? Some do okay. 

Others droop unless we dry them upside down. Once they're stiff, they're ready for use.

 I drape silk flowers into vases and onto pieces of wood (= experimenting.)

Sam makes an overnight visa run to Malaysia. He asks if we want anything from the KL airport grocer. Yes please = how about the BOH tea we can't find here? Except the shops are closed during the time he's there. Oh well.

Tuesday

With language school a priority, team meetings move from morning to afternoon. After one more meeting on The Porch, house-guests Wolter and Fenelin arrive with their cheery 5-mo-old Falk. I make supper for all of us before we head for rest. 

I move paint chips around on the black canvas and take pictures of every move. What if I want to go backward? The green block on the edge bothers me.

An abstract project can take a few weeks. The changes are subtle on this one though many chips move around. How many can you spot? Once it settles in, I'll fix them in place.

Wednesday

After a good night's sleep, W and I head for our date breakfast. The hedges are full of color. Isn't this a pretty shrub, with white, pink, and red showing off at the same time?

On the porch, the hoyas are balls of fragrance.

We're shedding things in an annual New Year's ritual. I have a last look at the wonderful Indonesia pictures taken by our former neighbor. What a gorgeous country. (What an artist #JezOHare is with a lens.)

We're going through linens - who needs more than 2 sets of bedding per bed? Have we used that bed or table in a while? Everything is fair game.

The dogs challenge the many neighbors coming in and out. There's no sneaking around with them barking a warning. One neighbor leaves the gate open and Juno goes outside. She comes back when I call. Good thing none of our animals is a runner.

W records his weekly video and takes our visitors grocery shopping. I write the weekend talk. As the sun goes down, it feels like a day of movement and satisfaction.

Read more:

*From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

*But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

*May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

Moravian Prayer; Lord, give us a spirit of cooperation and goodwill. Help us to see the pathway within our circumstance where we can journey alongside others for your glory. Amen.