Wedding welcome

Friday, February 6, 2026 - wedding day

I write book reviews for some excellent books coming out in the next few months.

It's the second wedding we're hosting at the Project. The last one was a dozen people. This one is closer to 200. No Indonesian wears outdoor shoes inside but today everyone is trampling through the house in their street shoes. The floors get really dirty. Who will mop them before the rugs go back down? Hmmm.

"No smoking," W tells the work gang a few times. "You have to go outside to smoke." Still, we smell the burn a few times during the day. (And later, when the items are packed up again, smoke drifts in through cracks in the windows.)

Windows are not sealed. Spaces between casings and window frames can be 1 cm /1/2" wide or more. Lizards easily squeeze through, along with roaches and other undesirables. You get used to it, no matter how civilized your home looks or how careful your cleaning is. We scrape cicak (small lizard) poop off the walls almost every day.

Reggie sends over pink roses. I miss seeing the women of the book group but have sent spaghetti over to their potluck.

"I didn't realize you had so much stuff," says the groom as he watches the set-up crew at work. Our rugs, chairs, glass coffee tables, lamps, and accessories get crammed into my office. Metal frames for ceiling-high curtains go over the art and any furniture that is too large to be moved away.

Construction goes on until late evening. The carport is full of wooden frames, rented furniture, and scaffolding, while our living room is stripped back to empty.

"What a big house," someone exclaims at the empty rooms. They've been here when it's a home and hospitality center, which feels manageable.

"I hope they're putting it all back in place afterward," W says. So do I!

Some young men stretch a canvas cover over the entire lawn. As they perch on the rickety scaffolding, the wind kicks up. Lightning and thunder drives them down. They get drenched with the first downpour that we've had this week. I go back and forth to watch what's going on and answer questions.

The wedding crew works inside the house until 2:30 AM; W sets his alarm and gets up each hour until they are done inside; then he locks up. After that, they are busy outside until 3:30 or 4.:00. zzzz

Saturday - congratulations to Markus and Eunike (their family names: Anthony and Lina). 

The couple has good planners and their invited guests show up.

They're married in a beautiful wedding that starts at 10:00. W does the ceremony; I offer a short sermon. Martin does a great job translating into Indonesian.

The unity candle is lit, communion is served, and the papers are signed. "I pronounce you husband and wife," is followed by a relieved kiss.

Family members dress in the same color: navy blue, though they can choose their style.

Families take their turn at the photo stations.

Everyone poses for pics, including the musicians.

It's time to make memories.

Groups gather and regroup.

The house and yard are sufficient for the almost-200 guests who show up for the 1:00 reception. Between the ceremony and the reception, the moms and the bride have their makeup professionally retouched in the dining area. That room has been draped off for the family. I quickly change into more comfortable clothes myself.

The caterers are good, the master of ceremonies is loud and funny, and the music is well-done. The bride and groom are happy - and suitably tired out - when they leave about 4:00.

I take over 100 candid photos and send them to the couple after everyone leaves. Markus' mom gives us generous portions of food to share with IES Bandung. Into the fridge they go overnight.

The bedroom bedding will need to be laundered after a half-night's stay. At least 20 family members slept upstairs after their arrival early this morning. The rest slept in the conference room. That means at least 10 loads of laundry.

The Project has been broken in and survived. The teardown crew starts inside. It's faster and easier to strip out the arrangements and the draperies than to put them up. W and I clean the floors so the crew can help us put the furniture back.

I rework the fading arrangement from last Sunday while the house hums with the breakdown of scaffolding and the plucking apart of silk flower arrangements.

By nightfall, it feels like there's peace coming back to the Project. It's turning back into a home. Except that the crew works all night disassembling things. Our sleep is fitful.

Sunday
We start in the prayer room. Someone greets me with, "Wow, you look tired this morning."

The color combination in Titik's bouquet is as beautiful as it is unusual. So much texture, so many shapes.

After the service, we enjoy the annual congregational update by the board. It's a healthy and content body, with no challenges or queries. The board has overseen all in good order. The leftovers from yesterday are happily eaten by the crowd at the Community Table, our regular snack-and-chat post-service ritual. There's nothing left to pack away. (Yay!)

We go to Homeground for lunch with board members. Yum. Most of us live nearby and walk home. W's brought the full bouquet home, where it rests on the kitchen island. Isn't it stunning?

The roses continue to unfold in Reggie's bouquet, too.

I snooze and hear Hendy and Waldemar on the porch when I wake. We share banana bread and a sweet dessert from yesterday. Then he tours the house. 

I predict a busy week ahead for the helpers. There's food left in the bedrooms. The bathrooms are typically wet. Considering that the teardown workers were here most of the night, it's a shock to see piles of garbage left in the yard and house. Dirt has been tracked inside and out, upstairs and down.

The dogs - who would ravage the half-eaten boxes of food - must stay at the old house one more night. Hopefully, no rats find their way to the meal scraps, although the cats who cruise the yard may take care of them.

We affirm our focus: we are not an event venue. The Project is a private home that can accommodate learning, occasional guests, and small groups. It's been great fun to host a wedding, but W and I agree: one and done for big gatherings. Now to bed for a good night's sleep :-) after 2 noisy nights.

Read more:

* Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace. Isaiah 9:7

* For he is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Moravian Prayer: Comforting Jesus, we think we are in charge of our own lives. Holy Spirit, we control far less than we imagine. Let our wills bow before your authority and experience your truth and peace. Amen.