Sunday, January 18, 2026 - the blog passes 1 million views. Thanks to everyone who reads and comments.
I miss the window of sprinkling rain and am poured on. First, I stand around until someone unlocks the gate. I wait again when I can't get into the room with the dog food. There's no response to my WA query on what's wrong with the lock so I walk back home, mission not accomplished. (Turns out the key is faulty.)
Happily, Melvi takes care of the dogs. When I get home, I shake out my raincoat and hat. Done is done.
The entry glows in the morning light. Every area of Indonesia has its own beautiful fabrics. This woven piece sits easily under an arrangement of dried flowers. No houseplants are allowed inside: the ants quickly colonize in the soil.
We speak about the Son today at IES Bandung. I get very emotional while speaking about what Jesus accomplished for us. He was blasphemed, spit upon, beaten ... and then he endured the cross with its social shame and physical harm - even before the weight of sinful humanity was heaped on him.
After a board meeting, we're happy to celebrate Reuben's birthday at his house. His mom and her staff are wonderful cooks. It helps that family members are foodies = they know what is merely good and what is delicious, like the food they serve today.
The food on my plate is colourful and tasty. Some of the sauces and spices are from other islands or locations in Indonesia. What a feast.
God bless you, Reuben, and give you a wonderful year ahead. When W and I head home, we're completely full of food and good company.
Titik's flower-work is always a pleasant surprise. Today she's combined mums, leaves, snapdragons, goldenrod, and more.
I feel like the whole house starts to sing when her arrangements sits on the kitchen island. With lots of company passing through, we all get to enjoy her creations. Thank you, #TitikBadudu.
In prayer this morning, I was meditating on these words, pinned on the prayer room wall. The faithfulness of God amazes me. Over and over.
We're clearing out the office at Green Gate. There are extra giveaways for English learners. We'll gift those after a few months, to faithful attendees of the new English program at the Project.
W assembles new lights for the living room ($15, thanks to ACE Hardware). We've had the shades for a year and needed bases.
Monday
Morning meetings, a video to Mom, and a long walk start the day. Breakfast is noodles from Tetty's buffet yesterday. So yummy.
An occasional worker starts moving the 3'/1m deep bank of compost that has accumulated along the wall. The yard is large but the sloping heap has begun to take over usable space. W advises the man to drag a whole (10'/3m) palm frond to the new location, rather than chopping it into pieces and placing the pieces in a garden basket for removal. Hmmm.
This morning and afternoon, I'm editing a new book by a well-known writer. "It's only 4 chapters - but they're dense theology and the chapters are long. There's no pay check for such edicts, "I'd do it for free" is true. The payout is the satisfaction of my curiosity about what others are thinking and learning. Lucky me.
And lucky them because I have a resident theologian in the house: W. When observations feel tilted, I ply him him questions. When ideas seem repetitious or an author doesn't cite previous work, I ask W who's already written on the subject. Then I can send appropriate cautions to the editor for the author.
My head is buzzing after 6 hours of reading and revising. I highlight significant alterations with the question: [does this still convey the author's intent?] The worst thing is having an editor change the meaning of something you've deeply thought through.
While one appointment is postponed, another group - family and wedding planners - gathers on the Porch. I excuse myself until they reach their decisions and smear more pastel across an abstract background.
Tuesday
After our walk with the dogs, my mom and I exchange videos since she's not up to calling.
Arms full of picture frames, I make trip after trip to the upper guest rooms. The art has been wedged into a shelf in my office. Every frame is viewed in the first room to be dropped off if it matches the bedroom. The remainder are carried to the next bedroom. After about 10 trips, most art has found its mood or color home.
Some damaged frames get repairs; collages that have been damaged are reglued. I glue the description of a plaque from Bhutan on the back of the resin sculpture and put it on the shelf upstairs.
Next will be mounting art on the walls. In the main living areas and the hall, W affixed IKEA Mosslanda picture shelves. The art is easily put in place, secure from falling, and can be adjusted whenever. We've probably had more comments on those shelves than any other feature at the Project.
W takes down the last shelf which was over the mural in the nook. He brings racks and shelves for his new office as well.
We hang solar lanterns around the yard before lunch. There's one last gasp left from the bouquet 2 weeks ago (after I jettison the fading flowers).
At team meeting, things get real. As W and I prepare for the next season, other leaders will step up to speak and lead. Makes me happy to know we have a good team. Aaron sends potential speakers as well. I start to work through the list as the day comes to an end.
* Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Zechariah 8:23* For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
Moravian Prayer: Creator of all that is, ever has been, and all that is yet to come—unite us in our best efforts to be your Gospel in this day. Thus, may our best selves be inspired by your Spirit to embrace the wonderful tapestry of your creation, not only our siblings in faith, but also those feeling marginalized, homeless in body and faith, or cast out from the care of community. Amen.
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