A whole lot of shakin' going on ...

Thursday, April 25, 2024

I was studying and sorting computer files all afternoon yesterday. My eyes were bleary when I quit after 5:00 p.m. I got to "D" in the files about spiritual formation. I've got a long way to go today.

I find a chapter I wrote for a book long time ago. I don't remember the book and I certainly can't remember sending in the chapter. But there it is, a file in my cleanup. Who knew! I'm always writing so unless I make good money on it, it's sent off and forgotten. "Edit any way you want," I tell the editors. Once it's gone, it no longer has a hold on me.

Shibli's writing arrives via courier. He's written a chapter about his mom in Uganda for a book of stories about mothers. We're delighted when our team and Bandung students get published and otherwise thrive.

My spiritual director Alaine listens to my rambling. She reads a wonderful poem and gives some healthy feedback to set me back in balance.

Friday

W and I walk the dogs and chat. I've got a new idea for the next season. To come to life, it would take a lot of discussion and planning. I run it past a few people who know us well; they instantly cheer for the project. Let's see if or how it unfolds.

As I work, I listen to leadership podcasts on culture and human flourishing. "Anti-culture is hunting down cultural boundaries and destroying them." It's not building up or revising for improvement as sometimes advertised.

The first podcast is an interesting look at how Jesus is good news for everyone. The conversation between Canadian and New York pastors is fascinating; it includes current issues such as sexual re-identification, redefinition of culture, immigration, AI, and other trends.

PakG takes all our spare tables to the hall because the usual round tables will be in use elsewhere this Sunday. It takes a few trips with our SUV. It's one less thing to think about on the weekend.

When a roach runs across your foot, it doesn't matter how good you are at washing dishes. You drop the mug in the sink.

Saturday

The walk is littered with dead creatures. This cicada is pretty, even upside-down.

The orange hedge replaces its flowers with beans when the blooms drop off.

This is a strange way to build: the walls of the new building go up around the old ruins - as the new walls spread, the old house is knocked down, room by room. It's a simultaneous process. The workers sleep in the part that still has a roof and will shift when the new roof is up.

W and I go to the hall to apply a film over the prayer room windows. We're blocking the view of sports equipment storage. I'm easily distracted by clutter so it's as much for me as anyone else.

We spray the windows and apply the reeded film, which easily peels off when no longer needed.

Have you ever seen anything like this, below? These guys are pulling illegal wires for cable or phone and tying them into existing items. They stand their metal ladder in the middle of the street and prop the top against the wires already strung. Two men brace the ladder at the bottom: the other climbs up to string the wire around the branches of the trees.

 

Close to home, the bromeliads are multiplying, bursting with life after all the rain.

Tomorrow we have company for lunch so I spend a few hours cooking. At 11:30pm, we wake with the bed shaking and the windows rattling. Should we go outside? Probably not - this old house has withstood more than this. The earthquake stops after 15 seconds or so, without causing damage at our place. We fall back asleep and hardly feel the aftershocks a half-hour later.

Sunday

It's a full house at IES Bandung's Round Table Sunday. There are visitors from Australia and a few well-known faces from nearby. Here's what we talk about.

Ibu Titik arranges flowers for each table. This week, Clau will use them for an 8th-grade graduation party at her daughter's school. Their budget is small so the bouquets are a treat at the right time.

The main arrangement is a 5' stunner on the platform

The earthquake has shaken molding and a light off the ceiling in a storage closet. The table I wiped down yesterday? It's loaded with dirt from the windows and ceiling. We clean it up again. Otherwise, the hall looks fine. Thank you, God!

After the Gathering, it takes me under an hour to heat and plate the food. W grabs a lime off a garden tree to infuse the drinking water. There's even  time to run a bunch of cooking pots through the sink before we dine with these wonderful Filipino friends. 

Filipinos are hospitable, accustomed to sharing meals. Most of them teach in local school and are nearing the end of the school year. They bring main dishes and dessert. OH OH OH so good. The table groans with food. It's a treat to include some guests we haven't seen in a while, since they've moved to work in Jakarta.

We may have sent home other leftovers, but we keep what's left of their goodies for another meal. Delicious. It's precious to catch up and pray for each other around the table. Then we head to the Porch for a better photo.

Our stomachs are full. Our hearts are happy. It's a quick cleanup since the guests help a lot. A half-hour after they leave, a sink-full of dishes awaits tomorrow's helper. But the rest of the house is tidied and back to rest.

I sigh over the abundance of God's provision: people, resources, and food. Underserved and unearned, it makes me even more grateful for those reasons.

Read more:

*“This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come—yes, let them foretell what will come.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isaiah 44:6-8 

*You say, “I am innocent; surely the Lord’s anger has turned from me.” Now I am bringing you to judgment for saying, “I have not sinned.” Jeremiah 2:35

*Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom. Luke 23:2

Moravian Prayer: Gracious Lord, our hearts need not be fearful or distrustful. We rejoice in knowing that because Jesus died for our sins, conquered death, and ascended into heaven, we will have life everlasting. Thank you, triumphant Lord. Amen.

A week of movement and sitting

Monday, April 22, 2024

After W teaches at the English Center in Jogja, it's midafternoon. It's great meeting the Jogja team.

We head back to the hotel during the break. Supper leftovers and an evening of "Stump the Professor" round out the day. I'm theoretically on call during W's sessions. 

In practice, I sit around all morning (4 hours at the back of his class until 1:30) and spend 2 more hours in the evening at the back of the hall where W's dumped our stuff. I plug in my iPods and listen to books until he's done. Reviewing lectures I've heard before or hanging out with nothing to do exhausts me. 

Tuesday

We have a quiet morning and a pleasant breakfast. The restaurant heats up as the sun shines through the overhead windows.

The 6-hr train ride goes from Jogja to Bandung (12:00-6:30 p.m.) I plug in the iPods again. Outside our window, farmers burn rice husks after harvest.

Many villages are lined by rice paddies. It's a quick and hot commute to work for farmers.

The workers wear triangular sun hats as they cultivate the paddies near their homes.

The rain floods the terraced rice. The government shifted the staple food to rice near the end of C20. Now no meal feels complete without it. Simultaneously, there is every season of rice cultivation, from planting new plugs to harvesting rice stalks.

Bamboo is common scaffolding and structure for new buildings. This one will get a corrugated steel roof before the walls are filled in with brick or woven rattan.

It's stormy much of the day. The rivers are swollen and muddy with the heavy rains.

Sometimes the sun breaks through. These houses and sheds are built on piers to extend buildings over the water, especially in swampy regions with high populations.

Our driver picks us up at the train station. We unpack, check for urgent messages, and fall into bed.

2 years ago today, our beautiful Cocoa (standard poodle) was found in a Dutch irrigation shaft. She disappeared during a hike in the mountains. We were told our reward for finding her was "too much!," but I've never regretted it.

The villagers kept looking during that week before Ramadan, when money is scarce and it is mandatory to give gifts. On the fourth day, an old man found her, took off her collar as requested, and buried her in those beautiful hills. I kept her collar and still miss Cocoa.

I take a sleeping pill (usually only for long flights of 12+ hours). What a mistake. It's a quiet night but I'm dopy all the next day.

Wednesday

I don't get to my main to-do between catching up on the missed weekend, a foggy head, and a trip to town. 

I rearrange Titik's IES flowers from 2 weeks ago - they lasted through Sunday while we were gone. There are a lot of mums left for a new bouquet this morning.

We re-home a white board and finger puppets to a neighborhood English Center.

Then we drive to town. W's looking for some Tek screws. The store below is the closest thing to a "Home Depot" nearby: the door hides a crammed shop of hardware. You have to know what to ask for. No browsing the jam-packed aisles and shelves that stretch to the roof.

Ambrogio is a beautiful lunch setting. The fish swim right up to our table.

I choose a smoothie bowl, which turns out to be an icy blueberry drink sprinkled with granola. Oops, I want a breakfast bowl. I order homemade mushroom soup that's pretty good for $2.50.

Thursday

The hike is cancelled because it's rained all night. Too bad; the rain holds off until late in the day. It thunders all morning. I guess we could have gone, though some hikers were killed by a lightning strike up there a few weeks ago.

Instead, W and I walk up the street for breakfast at #NaraPark. This morning's order includes 3 kinds of crackers and 3 kinds of sambal (hot sauce). Yum. Good thing our stomachs are healthy.

We round out the walk by dropping in at a pharmacy. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs are available if your doctor tells you what to pick up.

Pak G delivers food to a newborn baby's family while W takes apart some tables from home. GG's round tables are being used elsewhere this weekend. PakG makes a few trips to the hall, delivering our tables for Round Table Sunday. Titik is doing flowers for each table. 

What? I have a sermon to write and deliver (with W) but no more? Wow, that's almost a "day off" compared to other last Sundays of the month. Haha and Hurrah.

W is restless at home. He takes an angkot (little city bus) to town. I'm happy to stay in to work on my class syllabus and Sunday's talk. God is good. The cicadas chirp all day long in the tall trees outside the office.

Read more:

*You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words.

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.

The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees. Psalm 119:57-64

*Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed. Isaiah 54:4

*The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised [from the dead].” Matthew 28:5-6

Moravian Prayer: Loving God, you continually whisper to us to not be afraid. Still, our very human selves often give in to fear. Tune our ears to hear your voice of assurance. Embolden us to serve bravely. Open our hearts to receive your peace. Amen.

Those beautiful hills ...

Thursday, April 18, 2024

By 8:00, we've made some calls and completed a few hours of work. Then we drive into the mountains for our weekly hike. W and I missed a month due to a long respiratory flu. It's fantastic to hit the trails with 11 hikers and 5 dogs. (Missing below: Veronica, our leader and photographer.)

It takes a few minutes to gather and get organized. Today we have to pay an admission fee into the area where we walk. Most popular trails have been monetized in the last 6 years. Other areas have been fenced off, so that we can no longer trek through their meadows and forests.

The view is spectacular. In this mountainous regions of Java, we can see for miles on a clear day like today. Most of the walk is in the forest under partial shade. In the 1930s and 40s, the Dutch planted swaths of pines for coffee trees. The plantations were being developed when Indonesia gained its independence. The pines have grown. The coffee mostly disappeared; some coffee groves are now being replanted under the pines.

On the way home, we pass a squad of young soldiers, marching along the street in full jungle gear and carrying machine guns. They look overheated in their long sleeves and trousers, and helmets, carrying weapons. They're getting a glimpse of what woman go through every day: long sleeves and clothing, headscarf (and sometimes carrying heavy loads). Full covering is the regulation wear for "good" religious women and girls.

A few other hikers and we have lunch at a Sundanese restaurant. The tasty food makes me sleepy - so much oil! We bring home a $3/portion of rawon soup for supper, too. The meat is so tough we can't chew it so we feed it to the dogs. The soup flavor is good though.

The wind kicks up at 3:00, clanging the chimes on the Porch. High clouds skud overhead, cooling the air slightly from its top of 30oC (86oF). It's very pleasant, with a stiff breeze coming across the valley. It's back to work after a shower.

We go to bed early as usual but after an hour of sleep, I'm wide awake. At 10:00, I give up and get up. Maybe a second evening routine will put me out. There's a roach on its back in the shower. Ugh. W is the master of disposing roaches but that's a job for when he wakes up.

There are also a dozen little ants roaming my nightstand, though there's no food on it. I squish them and head into the kitchen to grab the poison chalk. I draw a thick line around my nightstand, the adjoining wall, and the phone charging cord. Hopefully that will kill the ants or at least keep them away. 

My bedside cup of peppermint tea always has a tight lid on it but today the ants swarm up around it. If there's tea left for a cooled morning drink, I have to check carefully - sometimes it's riddled with ants that find their way through the smallest crack. Disgusting, if I forget to look.

Friday

We run errands and grab lunch with dear friends and former coworkers.

Saturday

We cross half the island of Java on the train.

There are older cars and engines to admire, too.

Rivers and rice paddies crisscross fields and mountains on either side

We order our usual rendang (beef stewed in coconut milk and spices). Pretty good.

We're in Jogja mid-afternoon, with W negotiating fares from the train station to the hotel ($3.50). All across Indonesia, vehicles are modified to suit the terrain. Someone's put the front of a motorcycle on this passenger taxi.

An interesting mural and oversize peacock duo greet us as we step off the elevator to our room.

Jonville takes us to an Italian restaurant for supper where we feast and chat.

Sunday

After a hearty breakfast, W and I speak together. Lunch with Jamie, Tasha, their kids, and Megan is wonderful. And after an afternoon rest, we head out with the AG team for Mediterranean Kitchen and more good food. There is much more Western food here than in Bandung.

Monday

We're off to the English Center so W can teach. He's going through a series he has taught around the world, on God and our place in the world. I review Indonesian and do some writing. I'm recording these few sessions I hear. If he never writes down what God has taught him, it may fall to me someday.

I'm editing my upcoming book Letters from Cambridge. It's my first-ever public journal. We lived in a flat above the library where W studied for his doctorate in 2004. I sent it to 120 people every week. I've decided to post outtakes from that on FB.

My first 3 books (on early C20th women in global work) got no promo and have languished. They're available free on KindleUnlimited and on a free Audible trial.

Read more:

*You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4

*I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 16:62

*[Jesus told his disciples:] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." John 14:1-7

*So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy. Romans 9:16

Moravian Prayer: Lord, we know you are the light of the world. Because of your covenant with us, we know of your great love for us. You have made it easier for us to see this love because of the guidance and strength you have provided to our ancestors. If we look closely, we can see your unconditional love and mercy everywhere and in everyone. Amen.