Support LIA - she's finished 30 Ironman competitions in a row (scroll down). WHAT? Yeah, I can hardly believe it either.

Monday, October 8, 2024

We're in class Monday to Thursday. All the plans we had for meeting people in Eastern Washington fall though. All but one person is sick over there. Is it good stewardship of time and money to drive 600 miles and rent a hotel room for one or two meetings? 

Then another person calls in ill. W says, "That's it. We probably should stay here." So we do.

Kevin Geer and Kathy Cannon present an amazing master class on spiritual and organizational management. There are aha moments that answer what crushed our team momentum or presented an unsolvable puzzle. There is new information. And there are funny stories and a way of speaking that are life lessons. I'm glad we got it all.

Friday

We have our first afternoon and sleepover with the grandchildren. Every October, we try to catch up with the kids and grandkids between business meetings. 

First we walk a long block/s (2 miles/3km) to get some air and drain some energy.

The autumn is in full blaze.

  

I take a closer look at the native shrubs and their seed patterns. We've brought water-whistle toys from Turkey. What a warbling! which makes all the construction guys along the way look up at the electric wires ... until they see the pack of kids whistling at full volume.

Our teen arranges a few chocolate muffins and scones - she has a good eye.

Tea of course is its own treat. The kids have creamer jugs into which we pour tea from the Fitz&Floyd Reigning Cats and Dogs pot gifted to W's mom (and returned to us when she downsized.) The kids love it.

Then the kids race their Indonesian ladder toys: penguins vs Spiderman-s. So noisy! (The toys, not the kids who dance and shout along.)

Saturday

The morning starts with girlfriend's coffee. How I love these women, who speak life into me.

I zip home to get W for the drive to Bellingham. I do an experiment: if I drive in the "slow lane" (the right), how far behind do I get in plugged up freeway traffic? Turns out we pace the left two lanes without the zig-zagging in and out to get ahead. Ha. I suspected but who knew: the cars in the fast lanes pass, fall behind, pass ... there's no difference except that there are fewer cars in the right lane. W, who drives more aggressively, feels the pressure of my relaxed chug-along and tries for a nap. We're happy when we get closer to Bellingham and easy traffic.

My brother and sis-in-law from Switzerland meet us at Red Robin. I am boggled by the big portions of food and the steep food prices. We could feed 15 Indonesians a generous meal with our basic American menu for 4.

It's great to catch up on their recent big band trip to Cuba. My brother is a conductor and arranger, working with his band on an annual trip abroad. This year, his core crew is top musicians from Europe and the USA. They raise funds for their own airfare and the trip - plus a little extra for local musicians who play along. This year's locals can read anything put in front of them. That makes it a lot of fun.

Sunday

We leave the apartment in good order and turn off the lights at 8:00 a.m. "We'll be back!" as we leave for a week in Austin and Springfield, MO. 

First, we're at the Mountain View Gathering this morning. I forgot to take a picture of my brother but this guy is as close as it gets. I do a double-take as we arrive in the hall. We speak about our love for Indonesia and the work we do.

I find a spiritual sister in Keril. t's been good to get to know the congregation in the mountains of Washington. They're partnered with us since we left for Indonesia. The leaders treat us to lunch before a dash to the airport.

We get amazing news. You know how you cheered when someone did their first 5K race? And now cool it is when someone does a marathon. Never mind an Ironman (swimming, biking, and then a running marathon.)

We're staggered when our 50-something friend #LiaDreghiciu FINISHES 30 IRONMANS in 42 days. What?! She's a grandma - but one of the fittest extreme athletes we've met.

Lia wins 2nd place in the Triple DECA Ultra Triathlon Continuous, women’s race, in Italy! Her husband #BenSterciuc has kept us up to date since the beginning of September. Today he posts:

"Today, on October 13, my amazing, petite yet mighty lady (#13), makes history by becoming the 1st American to ever complete this race!

Help me congratulate Lia for completing the following distances in this race:

Swim 114 km ( 71 miles) in 94 hrs

Bike 5400 km (3,375 ml) in 497 hrs

Run 1,266 km (792 ml) in 408 hrs

How could she race for 42 days? For 1,003 hours?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13."

Oh Lia, Lia!! We pray that you rest well as your body heals; we pray for renewal and invigoration after this feat. 

She's astonishing. What she's accomplished is unbelievable. Would you PLEASE support her charity of choice (Vital Solutions) so her efforts pay off? Be generous ... she has chosen a charity that cares for the poorest as well as disaster victims around the world.

Titik sends a picture from Bandung of her marvel-worthy bouquet for the morning Gathering. She constructs beautiful structures with unusual combinations of greens and blooms.

Read more:

*Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Psalm 119:73

Paul wrote: So then, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Moravian Prayer: Teacher, open our hearts to your teachings so that we may be your disciples. Your lessons bring us comfort and hope; for this, we are grateful. Give us the courage to share your lessons with the world. Amen.