Easter weekend is here!

Thursday, April 17, 2025

After cleaning mud from the hike off our bodies and clothes, we feel almost human again. Shibli and Tanikota intern SanSan drop by for over an hour. She has done a wonderful job teaching children during this university semester. Now she's moving elsewhere for work. We send a small gift and thank you card with her.

GOOD FRIDAY 2025

It pours down rain. Oh what lousy sleep. I manage 6 hours with a long break in the middle. I start the breadmaker at 2:30 AM so a loaf will be ready when I wake. We bake a second bread in prep for lunch guests.

It's a meditative morning, with reflections and a blog post on the great gift of Jesus. It's unfathomable how much we are loved and what He has accomplished for us.

As I cook and clean, I note the silicone pan liners are in terrible shape.

It takes a half hour of scrubbing to remove the baked-on gunk. Every once in a while my inner "German-Hausfrau" goes on a rampage to give something a deep clean. Today's the day for the liners.

I make gnocchi, egg sandwiches (on fresh bread), salad, and sausages for lunch. Dessert is cookies, of course! Having friends over is a pleasure around the big round table. Everyone spins the central lazy-Susan until the food they want reaches them.

J and N bring gifts of homemade jam and some tea. Perfect! We talk about the spiritual treasure we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The conversation nourishes our souls as we feed our bodies.

Great flashes of lightning strike in the early evening. Thunder rolls across the sky. The power of God is on display tonight.

Saturday

Lots of people are walking the Loop before 7 AM. Indonesia officially celebrates Good Friday but not Easter. Families get together on days off and extend days on either side if they can. This is a long weekend for many.

Alice orders lily stems at the last minute; I didn't mention it earlier in the week because she was ill. She's amazing at finding what we need! Ding-dong, the gate bell rings and there they are. Thanks (x100 for all you do), Alice.

A trip to the yard yields bromeliads and maidenhead ferns. Most of the lilies are closed. Hopefully they open by tomorrow. I add pretty white-flowered weeds from the morning walk to make a 4' X 2.5' (130 X 80cm) arrangement. That's big enough. We drop it off at the hall.

W's in the mood to go to the mall. The last time I went to PVJ, I was wearing a mask. That means it's been years. The empty storefronts are full again, the mall has been upgraded, and the aisles swarm with shoppers. However, the fashions? Look at these polyester knit patterns, straight from the 1970s. Retro is in, I guess.

Lunch is spicy noodles, which live up to their name. The taste is worth the heat. I pick out as many hot red peppers as I can find, but my lips tingle for hours afterward. Thank God for a healthy stomach. 

W enjoys his wagyu croquette, a mass of egg, meat, and cheese, on croissant-like bun. He finds a new batik shirt and I buy small gifts for next year's Christmas White-Elephant gift exchange. (Yes, I dislike pressure-shopping enough to gather barang barang or hal hal = stuff = far in advance. Best case scenario: I never have to shop for a "need.")

Inside the mall, a play area is full of kids and bunnies. I don't see if they're selling the bunnies but 2 banks of cages have dozens of rabbits in them. Whether they end up as saté or pets is up in the air.

We drop by Veronica's to check on Kiki and hand over her humorous book about growing up in 1950s-'60s Australia. So much is relatable to Canadians of that era. Remember Massey Ferguson tractors (no John Deere in Canada)? Remember when school discipline was a smack on the palm with a chalkboard pointer, and every classroom had a British flag and a picture of the Queen?

How about family chores? Back in the day, no kid expected payment for doing chores; it was every family member's duty to contribute. I laugh while reading parts aloud to W on the drive to the mall.

W helps me figure out what's missing for the survey I need to write my next book. Apparently I've been stalled for a month by a simple instruction to "make and send the shortened link" for returns. Sigh. Should have asked him sooner!

What a spiritual journey this Lenton season has been for me, reading through the book of John. John was the beloved friend of Jesus and an eyewitness to what Jesus said and did. I finish the final (Lent Day 40) blog post in late afternoon. Read it (and catch up on the others) here.

Read more:

*For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16

*He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

*In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 2 Corinthians 5:19

Moravian Prayer: Prince of peace, we confess our faith this day as we remember your last breaths, your cries of anguish, and the blood spilling from your side. Bless and comfort us, gracious God. Remember us as you go into your kingdom. Amen.

Dinner-and-a-Movie weeks are the best

Monday, April 14, 2025

Oh a new week! I miss our walk because meetings start at 5:30 AM and run through mid-morning. The Sunday bouquet, standing on the Porch overnight, comes inside as soon as I clear last week's grasses from the entry table.

I'm on my third 16 oz (470 ml) mug of tea by the time I start editing. Three projects came in last week; I only got halfway through them on the weekend. I wait all morning for W to finish his study so we can run errands. But he wraps up late, and then he can't come along. Why?

There's no water available in the house when I want to use the kitchen washbasin. W calls the plumber while PakG and I fill pails and pails from an outside faucet. We have guests coming and going all week. What if we have no water for days? Better to be safe than sorry.

W pauses the invitation to this week's movie night until the plumber comes and tells us what's happening. He diagnoses what's wrong, gets the replacement part, and has the water flowing again for about $20. Whew. The movie invitation goes out and the list fills up quickly.

I have to make a pickup near IKEA. W and I talked about buying a half-dozen stools (@$3) and some IKEA tote bags (@60c). We schlep all kinds of things to events and people borrow items - those sturdy totes are just right. But it's not worth an extra trip.

Since I'm a block away, I pop in, eat a quick lunch, and check out the "As Is" section.

It's worth a cruise through the "rooms" for new ideas. I like how they spray-painted white paper lamps to look like planets in a kids' room.

One more stop on the way home at the grocers nets us vegetables, eggs, fruits, and salads for movie night. Unpacked and put away = a tidy kitchen. Good.

Dinner is quiet. I make creamy pasta but we have to pick out the papaya flowers. Whew - that's too bitter even for me. The dogs enjoy our leftovers though. A music store employee shows up at the gate and takes the bass amp in for repair. The rest of the evening is peaceful. Thanks be to God.

Tuesday

It's a 5:30 AM start again. After some meetings, we enjoy breakfast with W's study group at Ethnic. On the walk down the lane, a lady is climbing onto a motorcycle. She's probably taking her kids to school. From grandpas and grandmas to infants, that's the usual mode of transport.

The study group meets weekly and started in person. As the lecturers' families grew and COVID hit, they moved to online meetings. Thus in-person meetings are a special treat and a priority for each person. I leave after breakfast - I have work to do ...

In the garden, the daylilies bloom bright yellow against the hedges.

Wednesday - April Movie Night.

Who knew that our wedding gift from Uncle Erich would be used for so many years? "This the best cookware I could find. Be careful with them," said my Auntie M.

they gave the same set to a cousin who married 2 years earlier. Aunti M cautioned us to keep them from burning or getting ruined - and demonstrated how to clean the stainless steel. I followed her advice and they're in good shape. (We've replaced one pot knob since I got them.)

I smile every time I think of Uncle Erich and Auntie Molly. He's frail in health, and she's been gone for 20 years, but I've used those pots almost daily ever since W and I married on a September day, over 47 years ago.

"Don't take your good stuff along overseas; leave it here," Mom urged me. "You never know if you have to leave it behind."

But we live in Indonesia. Every hard-working or beautiful item we enjoyed in Seattle is also a blessing here. This morning I thank God for all the people who have invested their love, prayers, and other resources in us. [If that's you ... THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.]

I brought the set of heavy-bottomed cooking pots with us six years ago. Today, as every month, the biggest is used to make spaghetti sauce. The smaller ones heat up sweet and sour sauce or other goodies.

We couldn't find spinach anywhere, and creamed spinach is a favorite. (And a way for this mom to get veggies into the young adults.) Otherwise, it's the regular menu of sausage, chicken, meatballs, eggs, spaghetti, rice, potatoes, salad, cheese balls (Thanks, Claudia and Ibu Sumi!) - and desserts at intermission. 

The whole house smells of cooking. (Below, the last of five sets of chicken trays). I'm ready to be done.

W and I leave the house for lunch. There's a new pasta place at the end of the lane. W likes his "drenched in sauce" lasagne. 

I order oil-saturated chicken and mushroom fettuccini. There's one mushroom in it, cut into pieces. It would be easier to eat if they didn't cut the noodles so short. Oh well. On movie day, I am not hungry for anything in our kitchen and don't have much of an appetite.

A young girl sitting nearby is delighted when the servers sing "Happy Birthday!" and hand her a chocolate pancake and a balloon flower.

Mid-afternoon, the clouds roll over and the sky darkens. The projectors and screens are up; tech is in place and running smoothly. The furniture is rearranged. W and I walk to the hall to pick up cookies from the office fridge. Oh oh, the varieties are gone and only chocolate is left. (Hope our guests like chocolate!) We end up with a wide variety of desserts because guests bring treats to share.

It's a wonderful time together - the rain holds off, the house and Porch fill up (+70 people), and the mood is warm.

The crowd devours the food.

"The line stretches out the door!" exclaims one participant. Yes it does, both for supper and for dessert at intermission.

We love the mix of young and old. Tonight we represent 15 nations. Everyone is gone before 11:00 PM and we fall into bed at 11:30.

Thursday

Our backpacks are packed with a raincoat, small change, and drinking water. Sunglass and a wide-brimmed hat is ready. We're out the door at 7:15 AM. What a good hike, up and down wet rocks, slippery trails, and wading a few shallow creeks. We're soaked, muddy, and content. After last night's heavy rains, the water churns through mountain canyons and cascades over 4 waterfalls.

The scale and beauty of nature's power is stunning.

We're missing our fearless leader Veronica, who attends to family matters. The six dogs run back and forth. They don't splash in the water because the current is too strong, but they steal a sip along the trail now and then.

Most bamboo bridges have been repaired and a few have new handrails. YAY! Some bridges are still iffy - our old dogs have done this many times so they're confident. The younger dogs are getting the hang of crossing. Sometimes on narrow ledges or cracked bridges, they are leashed and pulled across to safety.

The old Dutch irrigation systems still work.

The last part of the walk is a challenge. In places, we balance on narrow or medium width metal or plastic irrigation pipes. Many have leaks that spray water on the trail or us. We make a few stops where the pipes are broken and spurting gallons of water. We're wet already but it's nice to clean the clumps of mud off our shoes and socks.

When we reach the cars, we pull off drenched trail shoes, rubbing the gunk off our calves with the back of a wet sock. W and I bring flip flops as post-hike footwear.

Today the food at Saka Bistro is excellent. It's Ernesto's last hike in Indonesia - he's off to France next week so we all treat him. I order basil gnocchi. Yum.

W has fried chicken and rice.

At home, the helpers have restored the living room, washed and put away the dishes, and ironed clothes. WOW - thank you, Ibu A and Ibu S. For us, a hot shower is first on the agenda. Then it's back to work with our feet propped up.

Read more:

*Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 118:4

*You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God. Leviticus 25:17

*Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

Moravian Prayer: Blessed Jesus, majestic and humble, you stir our hearts with divine love. Your sacrifice is immeasurable. Your triumphs ring pure. Grant us the courage to enter Jerusalem with you and bear our crosses each day. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Privileged, in a most appreciative way

Thursday, April 10, 2025

We're off to the mountains first thing in the morning. Melvi joins us because some of her students are not yet back from holidays. She spots every mushroom that the rainy season leaves on wooden surfaces.

It's a fairly easy trail (3.5 miles/5 km) through rice paddies and forests. The rise is 175 meters or about 50 flights of stairs to the waterfall.

It's a lovely destination with wading pools under the falls. From thence the water is carried to the rice paddies below.

You get an idea of the waterfall's grandeur by looking at the hikers on one of 13 bamboo bridges. Can you spot them?

Some bridges are long pieces of bamboo held together by rope, stretched from bank to bank across the creeks. Others are woven, like the one below.

Farmers harness the power of the water, directing it into hand-cut terraces for the hand-planted rice.

The views are breathtaking.

We decide on a touristy restaurant with good Sundanese food.

We're muddy; the dogs splashed through the rice fields and then ran past. I'm splattered with mud to my waist. No matter - it's dried and the dogs had good fun.

The meal is delicious. We order enough for supper but end up passing it to someone else.

When you're muddy and have spent a few hours in the hot sun, there's nothing as refreshing as a hot shower. After living here for years, we have hot water in the shower and the kitchen. What luxury - W hooked up secondhand point-of-use water heaters with the help of a local plumber.

Friday

The day is a scramble as the morning meeting is rearranged, not once but twice. The second time it's postponed to tomorrow. We pop into an open house but it's too small for what we need. It's been beautifully updated and its Dutch tropical architecture makes this one a classic.

We drive downtown to pick up our repaired breadmaker. The mountains have disappeared behind the clouds.

On the way home, we wait at a red light, one of several dozen traffic lights in the city. (Traffic moves by flow and most busy intersections with have a man or boy waving and tooting a whistle to facilitate turns.)

From my window, I spot Sushi Hiro, a place we've never tried. Before the light turns greens, we pull to the other side, park in the lot, and enter the calm space for lunch.

I like the petals dangling between ceiling lights. This kind of innovative Japanese decor makes a space special.

The food is good enough that we order to-go California Rolls when we're done = a $3 supper.

Saturday

W's study is taking the week off so we get in a walk and extra morning work. I break big branches off some hedges by the fence - bamboo, papaya, and Brazilian Red Cloak - for tomorrow's arrangement. It's going to be bulky (4.5' /150 cm) so it will be easier to assemble in the hall.

After the branches hydrate, PakG helps me haul the parts to GG. It's monstrous but I look at the gaps. We need even more stems tomorrow. Luckily, the tree has plenty of 1' (30cm) flowers from which to choose.

3 edits wait on my desk this morning: a 200-page book, a 30-page training, manual, and the final chapter of W's book. I edit W's work and continue on the manual later in the day.

Before lunch, we get to visit a friend in hospital. We've been praying all week, so seeing this dear person lucid and getting stronger is a relief.

In early evening, a project contractor drops by with a final bid. Before we launch, we have one more meeting to "pitch" the proposal, along with getting an organizational go-ahead.

Sunday

I break off 6 more stems of Brazilian Red Cloak to complete the "Messy Garden" bouquet.

Dina picks up a kit of Gingerbread houses for her students. Inside are baked cookies, frosting, and candies, ready for assembly and decoration.

Next week, her advanced students will learn "house" words in English. What tastier way to enjoy a lesson? (And for us, what fun to pass stuff along! Found in Seattle post-Christmas @90% off $29 ... we knew it would come in handy.)

Hanny delivers her second sermon at IES Bandung = her first ever in English! Young leaders are expanding their skills and calling and we get to cheer them on and pray them through.

We come home to a Hangout on the Porch. Sam took it over from founder Kristi. Both have returned to the USA. When we announce that Sam is briefly back, about 20 show up for a reunion.

After lunch, games and conversations pick up steam. Participants are glad to see each other and catch up. It's been half a year since the last Hangout. W and I agree: how we've missed it.

It's noisy and cheerful, full of laughter and occasional singing. A person on the swing describes the mood perfectly: relaxed and fun. No one wants to leave but they gradually trickle out the gate as the afternoon wanes.

"Privileged" has recently been defamed, describing those who feel superior to others or who accumulate abundant resources without sharing them. What a shame to ruin a word that was used to express deep appreciation and gratitude for undeserved blessings.

But how else can we describe our calling? We truly feel it is a great privilege to be here, to be allowed alongside young adults, IES Bandung, and the beauty of Indonesia's people and landscapes.

Read more:

*Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, “What do you command your servant, my lord?” Joshua 5:14

*Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5 NIV

*Jesus said, “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15

*Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.” Acts 26:15-16

Moravian Prayer: Blessed Teacher, you set the example of love and sacrifice that we must follow. Shine through us as we endeavor to meet people where they are, whether in broken-heartedness, loneliness, poverty, or homelessness. May we bring them your loving and life-sustaining compassion. 

Bread of life, fill us anew with purpose and courage. Feed us, your people in the wilderness. Work with us and within us, your servants on bended knee, as we testify to your glory and love. Alleluia. Amen.