"Our eyes are on you ..."

Monday, May 19, 2025

Mom calls at 3:50 AM. I always take her call, no matter what time. That early, I'm barely coherent so it's a short conversation. We pray with each other, she catches me up on some news, and I lie in bed, trying to sleep until my alarm goes off at 5:30. No luck.

Mt. St. Helens blew its top 45 years ago on May 18, 1980. That day, our first child was overdue by 2 weeks. To my relief, he was born a day later (15 days 'late'). How grateful we are for Jeremy! Happy Birthday, son!

W and I walk the loops and come home for breakfast. IbuSiti arrives after 8 AM to give Jenn and me massages. W hosts a hybrid morning study: on the Porch and online.

Today my plan is to rest, but I get caught up in reading survey results. I write several respondents who offered comments and stories. What interesting lives people live across the world!

After noon we head to town, grabbing groceries on the way down the hill. We sample some Indonesian chocolate but leave it on the shelf.

 Lunch at Ambrogio is always good. The brisket sandwich is a hit.

I enjoy a $6 lamb shank - and later the dogs love the gristle mixed with their kibble!

The guys drop Jennifer and me at a traditional market on their way to the tech mall. By the time she and I have browsed a few shops, she has found what we came for. The guys text that they're on their way back to pick us up. A perfect coordination of time - 4 people who don't like shopping make it quick and efficient. 

We have a restful evening at home. Thank you, God!

Tuesday

The night is short due to 5 hours of "wide awake" in the middle. In the morning, I call our son to wish him happy birthday on his side of the planet. I take a quick nap before noon to catch up on rest.

It's good to finish another chapter of editing. The publisher checks my progress. Though this is an academic press, I don't get paid. It's a labor of love - and satisfies my curiosity about others' research. I've got a mid-June deadline but the author is getting impatient. I can only work on a chapter at a time before I lose focus. I've got 2 chapters of text left before editing footnotes and other details.

The survey continues to capture my attention. I wade through another 20 responses. Then I listen to a few book summaries and pass along recommendations in response to questions from online coworkers. (I subscribed to Blinkest @90% off for my Christmas present to myself. What a feast of ideas.)

I'm feeling much better, after 3 weeks of being ill. The helpers make lunch and we send food to a friend down the hill. The women set out tea and cookies for the team who gathers at our big dining table. Jennifer does a wonderful job with our team - what a blessing she is. She visits a neighbor's house afterward.

Anton and I always play a few sessions of "fetch" during the day, besides his early walk. This dog is persistent and smart. He roams the entire yard and gardens until he finds the ball, regardless of how long it takes. Then he runs back to give it to me for another round.

Nightfall is 6 PM and I'm ready for sleep within the hour.

Wednesday

Breakfast at NaraPark is a nice walk from home.

Jenn is busy until after lunch with a group of volunteers and staffers. She finds them as interesting and adventurous as W and I do. The rest of the day flies by with this and that.

I unwrap a box of chocolate coffee cookies from Keelee, sent along on my last trip - and arrange them inside the freezer door within easy reach. (Check out Quiet Waters Bakery. YUM.)

After we say goodnight, I light a candle across from my library chair as evening falls, relaxing with a book, pen, and paper.

A lizard hangs on the window, looking inside from the Porch.

Thursday

Instead of hiking the slippery muddy trails, we spend a tourist day with our guests.

These fragrant blooms catch my eye as we leave the Porch.

It's been years since we've taken a whole day exploring nearby attractions. We start with a visit to the main Lembang city market. We drop into a resort restaurant to admire the tables that are boats floating in the water ... it's a stunning surprise along the main highway.

Our goal is to see the big volcano up in the mountains. Unfortunately, the crater is socked in under a cloud. So we bargain for some souvenirs for our friends and imagine what it might look like from the rim of the crater.

We stop beside one of many tea plantations, before the guys buy pastries at one of W's favorite bakeries.

Nearby, a young man carries hugs bags of spicy chili peppers, freshly picked and ready for market.

The Lembang Floating Market is a must-see. Groups of friends take selfies - Jenn and I photobomb a group while their photographer (and Waldemar) snap pictures. They laugh and welcome us in.

Artificial lakes offer various pedal and motor boats to enjoy with friends. 

We walk through the gorgeous landscaping along the lakes' edge, where Adam and Jenn see a rice paddy for the first time. 

Flowers hang from trees and flower vines drape above the paths.

The orange-flowered vines ripen into long (8-10"/20-25cm) pods.

Little yellow flowers peek from the juicy red ends of stems.

We buy a variety of lunch foods from vendors cooking in little boats near shore. We admire animals in the petting zoos and cages. 

From exotic chickens to civits to horses, to .... well, there are a lot of creatures.

We pass two traffic "ghosts" on the main street. They're panhandlers dressed as spirits. Young women in ghoulish makeup park their motorcycle on the side and wind between the cars, begging for money. (Rainy window, sorry.)

Our final stop is a mall where our guests hope to find a Starbucks mug from Bandung. We enjoy the stroll along bright walks under a skylit canopy. They're out of luck with the logo cup. We sip our hot drinks on the way home.

Friday

I walk Anton but take a hard spill over him onto the pavement - he lunges back and forth, tripping me as he tries to catch a cat. I pick myself up with bruised ribs but no other damage. Onward we go. He's a big pup and cats are still his kryptonite, igniting an explosion on a walk. W's nursing a rumbly stomach so stays home.

We sign an agreement that we've waited on for a few years. Official signatures are written across a glued-on strip paper that you buy from the Post Office or similar official outlets (@60c each).

W and I also need groceries. He has keys duplicated and we're home for lunch with our friends. IbuS makes egg sandwiches on fresh bread, just right for a rainy day.

In early afternoon, we join a Zoom meeting of SouthEast Asian leaders. It is both encouraging and challenging. We close in prayer.

While Jenn meets people all day, W and I take a breather while the rain pours down outside. Even the dogs droop, dripping anytime they leave the Porch's overhang. This season has been unrelentingly wet. By now, we should have had a few dry months. At least it's cool outside. (70o is cold enough that I wear a sweater.)

Read more:

*We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12

*The Lord knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath. Psalm 94:11

*The Lord appointed seventy-two others and said, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’” Luke 10:1,5

*Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

*Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:6

Moravian Prayer: Almighty Lord and God, who do we think we are? Let us see ourselves for the fools that we are and return to you, cling to you and your word. We can be fools for you and wise in your ways.

Christ, our conductor, our eyes and ears are open to the music of your world and the needs of our neighbors. We look to you. Direct us, keep us free from error as we speak of your love and peace. Amen.