Tea in a cup and in the field

Sunday, January 7, 2024

We love Sundays, a time to connect with our community of faith. It's a pleasure to see everyone working together, including the beautiful arrangement from Titik. "They're just flowers from my garden," she says.

And utterly exotic where we used to live.

Monday

Lots of meetings so the day flies by. I spend 4 hours organizing revisions for an online course that starts next Wednesday. For weeks, I've been thinking about how I want to do this. The syllabus, sent off in early December. determines what goes where. This current task is the tedium of finding pieces of research and putting class notes together in a fresh way.

Tuesday

While W shops for movie night groceries, I work on the course and prepare for the first team meeting of the year. Half of the team comes to the office at 1:30; the other half is online. I dislike hybrid meetings but they're easier for some to attend, especially with school runs, classes, and other obligations. Most of the team are volunteers so I'm grateful that they take the work seriously. We introduce a new position and two new members. It's exciting, looking ahead.

In the evening, I cook 12 cups of vegetables for a new dish tomorrow. Let's see how it tastes. (Spoiler: good!)

Wednesday

I start cooking at 4:00 a.m. We're trying a new layout that means less work for the guys who move the furniture out and back; let's see if we like it. We leave the dining table where it is.

The picnic table stays outside.

We put the flowers from inside out in the 8' lesung (rice trough).

Usually we clear the entire day of movie night but today is an unexpected meeting on the next hill. We're recruiting volunteers to English village classes.

The group pays close attention as Shibli and his team explain the program. They're planning two new branches, one on our hill and another in a tightly-packed community. That one starts later this week for adults who want to help their kids with schoolwork. English, dropped when many expats went home during the past 30 years, is now required for entry to higher education.

We take our projector home as soon as the presentation is over. W has to set up for movie night. We make a quick stop for lunch at Cafe Halaman (Courtyard Cafe). This pretty space is on the corner of two very busy roads. Next time we'll sit inside, away from traffic. The chicken ravioli is delicious.

Their bakery case looks good but we're not tempted today.

The food is cooked and ready with time to spare. The day's downpours deter many attendees - we have a small group tonight. The movie is Sleepless in Seattle. "How do you know if something is right for you?" is the question of the night.

It's hello and goodbye at each movie night. This is George's last time in a while; he is moving to Switzerland to expand his company's base into Europe.

It's a late night - after a cup of peppermint tea, we fall asleep about 11:30.

Thursday

We're up before 5:00 and leave at 8:00 to hike in Lembang through the forest and tea fields.

It's a nice group today along with 5 dogs who run all over the trails and grasses beside us.

Though there's cloud cover, it doesn't rain until later in the day.

And then we unwind by swimming in the hot springs of Gracia Spa for a few hours.

The flowers along the pools are tropical treasures.

And there's a downpour on our way home.

In the late afternoon, I treat myself to comfort food: one of Keelee's chocolate coffee cookies. Delicious. We are most blessed!

Read more: 

*I have tested you in the furnace of adversity. Isaiah 48:10

*Devote yourselves to prayer. Colossians 4:2

* I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 2 Timothy 2:1-6

Moravian Prayer: You taught us, O Savior, that life is not always easy nor painless. When facing the fire, help us to respect its danger—to avoid it if possible—but if not, let us be comforted in knowing you will help us pass through it. Amen.