Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Lew's here from Jakarta overnight to work on his dissertation. We have supper together with Alice, who was in his congregation in Jakarta.
I'm trying to fix this sad tree on the porch. The tree itself is a good one but its feet are broken off. W cobbles together a stand. It's been years since someone has pulled it into shape. I unwind two strings of lights - how did anyone wind them up and around that way? I've never seen (or unwound) anything like it. I'm grateful it is short rather than full-sized!
Wednesday
W and I clean the aquariums on the porch every few weeks. Today's the day. Remove plants. Siphon out water. Scrub glass. Add drinking water. Toss in the plants. Done. There are no filters, heaters, or lights needed for the porch bowls. The fish population self-regulates. Sometimes there are more, sometimes less. This Bali handblown glass is 2' (70 cm) tall and sits on wooden tree roots.
Everyone gets a day off from the house. It's another national holiday. Today, regional elections gather votes for governors, mayors, and other local officials. As per law, all posters and promo have been removed 3 days ahead of the vote. What a good idea.
PakG is a proctor in his village; his team must ensure a rain-proof cover (which collapsed yesterday and had to be rebuilt) and fair voting conditions. They will also count the votes. They've had four days of training to do that.
Lew leaves for home before the great thunderstorm in the afternoon. The rain keeps the gardens green and the wind strengthens the tree trunks. Inside, all is cozy and warm. I put a cup of tea on the wide seat of the chair and curl up to work.
Thursday - American Thanksgiving and Levi's birthday
It's our grandson's eleventh birthday. Wow - don't kids grow quickly? We have no Thanksgiving plans so it's a quiet day. First, I edit W's version of Sunday's talk. Whoever writes it, the other revises it. Then we present it together.
We enjoy the walk in the forest with hiking friends. Veronica is driving while PakG catches up on sleep. Being a voting supervisor is a grueling 24-hours-on-call process.
Above, you can hear the 60'/20m pine branches scraping each other as the wind passes through. Several trees have fallen in the recent storms. We hop over.
Each time we reach the "Dutch forts" in the mountains, I think of young soldier boys holed up against the enemy in such shelters - whether the opposition was the Japanese, Indonesians, or Dutch. The ceilings were scraped out of the mountain rocks. Now their cool concrete walls are covered in graffiti.
Looking out the windows to the tall stone walls, you can almost smell the terror of war.
We're glad it doesn't rain. The weather is perfect: 80oF/27oC, with a slight breeze and 60% humidity. There are almost as many dogs as humans.
After we knock the mud off our shoes, we eat traditional Sundanese food at Balibu. The eatery is decorated with various shapes of bamboo.
The food is spicy and flavorful. We have lamb kabobs, tofu, and various vegetables.
Coming home, we drive down steep and narrow mountain roads. The city stretches out below. Thunder rumbles as we reach home.
We bring some spicy foods home for the helpers, who are back after their day off. Their chore today is baking Christmas cookies for giveaways and events. They box up dozens of peanut butter cookies and several batches of ginger.
I lounge with a cup of tea beside the Christmas tree as I write newsletters and make lists for tomorrow.
Friday
After a walk, W heads to town for errands. I tackle my work but don't finish editing a dissertation into a book. I'm due at the hall at 11:00. A good group of volunteers is decorating for this first weekend of Advent. Tetty, Titik, and I redo the old Christmas tree with help from Reuben, Lela, and Alice. Daniel and Della are creating beauty on the old stage.
"How old is this thing?" asks a helper as we strip the tree. (Over 20 years old, purchased 4 pastors ago.) Last year, Daniel wired it together and the top half leans only slightly. We turn that part to the wall. Straight-on, it looks ok.
"Why don't we toss it and get a new one?" somebody else asks as we pull off strands of lights, ancient ornaments, and ribbon. It's so dusty that we have to wash the lacquered balls and shake the gold mesh garlands outside. We check the lights. I'd rather spend money on people and worthy projects than a tree ... but it's getting close to being sampah (garbage.) One more year. Please.
I've looked for a tree during post-Christmas discounts for the past 6 years. The price we're willing to pay hasn't shown up yet. When it does, we'll purchase a new tree. Until then, I only buy lights and ornaments on sales.
Our little red stepladder gives us the boost we need to dress the top. We put it on a table for height, hoping it lasts another season.
PakG has knocked the ripe jackfruit out of the tree by the time I come home in late afternoon, dusty and ready for a shower. After noodles and vegetables, W and I relax with a K-drama. So funny.
Read more:
*O Lord, may you ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us. Isaiah 24:12
*Paul wrote: Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Moravian Prayer: Lord, you have restored us and given us your peace through your son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice that your love and peace dwell within us, and we pray that we will be united by having the mind of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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