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.

 

A blend of books and a blur of chores

Monday, April 8, 2024

A room with full bookshelves makes me happy. My eyes are tired from reading yesterday evening. The Kindle "dyslexic" font makes reading easier and faster for me.

I'm plunging through two fiction series by Karen Kingsbury. She writes about common challenges in a family (marriage, friendship, rebellious children, substance abuse, unwed pregnancy, cancer, etc.) and the responses of Christian adults to those.

[For those unfamiliar with a conservative American-Christian worldview, her writing offers a peek behind the scenes into Christian families. I recommend any of Kingsbury's books for neighbors of Christians, politicians, and those who are curious about American Christians. Plus they're good stories.]

I meet online with a friend and partner before a walk around the neighborhood with W. We pray God's favor and blessings on our neighbors going in the last week of Ramadan. 

I've only seen one of the turtles we picked up on fish street last week. But this morning, two little splashes show that they've stayed in the bathtub pond and seem to be thriving.

We head out the door before lunch, buying some mums to replace expired flowers and an orange tree where the dead-and-gone papaya tree used to grow.

Ocha (rice tea) and lunch at Sushi Teh is fresh and delicious. Despite the Muslim fast, the place is full.

We make two more stops: a department store and a grocer. No matter where you live in the world, chores don't do themselves. We're home by mid-afternoon. We set the plants aside for the yardman tomorrow and put the groceries away. I set up future meetings, discuss the direction of next week's talk with W (he's writing it), and confirm our travel arrangements for the next months. What a relief that W takes care of the details.

There's enough time for another blurt of book review before I call it a day. I like one book in particular and may use it in the classroom. It's a self-coaching manual called The Clarity Advantage by Tobin and Peterson. The premise is if people are yawning with boredom, turned off, or falling asleep when you talk, you need help with your communication style and presentation. (Click the link for this and other reviews.)

Best coffee table book? Book Nooks by Dina and Gilhuly. 

It takes longer to read stories than to skim potential textbooks. I feel privileged to pick up a diversity of books from publishers. Saves us thousands of dollars each year at the bookstore, too! A few are already available; many are getting ready for publication. 

Tuesday

Typically, in tropical houses there are gaps around doors and windows like this one. Bugs, lizards, and other creatures take full advantage of the spaces to come and go, night and day. You can hear the lizards chirping when it gets dark. An empty yogurt container with its lid on in the sink swarms with hundred of ants by morning.

The house is cleaned thoroughly before helpers take a Ramadan break.

After a few final errands, W and I have lunch at #2HandsFull. There's nothing I'm really hungry for there, but the tortilla is pretty good.

In the afternoon, I go to an exercise class down the hill with some of the walking group. Fitness trainer Angie keeps us engaged. I may be sore tomorrow though it was a well-paced session.

Wednesday

It's quiet and relaxing around the place after a noisy night of chanting and fireworks. The standard greeting is Maaf, lahir batin or "Forgive me, body and soul." 

The neighbors and helpers are preparing food and travel for Eid-al-Fitr, closing out the month of Ramadan. We pray for God's lovingkindness over each one who will seek him in this season. And we are utterly grateful to know our sins have been forgiven by God, whose justice was satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus the Son.

The Indonesian constitution guarantees rights to practice 6 religions: 1. Islam, 2. Christianity (Protestant), 3. Catholicism, 4. Buddhism, 5. Hinduism, and most recently 6. animism. Religions are not equal in access or acceptance but these are permitted, which is unique among world governments. Muslims get many days off. Around Eid-al-Fitr, they have a week plus travel days. The helpers take Buddhist and Hindu holidays off, too. Interestingly, Christians get two days off for Christmas, one for Good Friday  and two days for Ascension Day (Jesus' return to the Father in heaven.) 

Easter is not a public holiday since the resurrection of Jesus is considered suspect by Muslims. The Roman soldiers at the empty tomb of Jesus did as they were told, bribed by religious leaders 2 millennia ago. Here's what Jesus' disciple Matthew records:

[In the morning after Jesus' resurrection,] some of the guards went into the city. They reported to the chief priests all that had happened. When the chief priests met with the elders, they came up with a plan. They gave the soldier a large amount of money. 

They told the soldiers, "We want you to say, 'His disciples came during the night. They stole his body while we were sleeping.' [Such negligence would have earned the soldiers death!] And if the governor hears this report, we will pay him off. That will keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. This story has spread all around among the Jews to this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)  Read the eyewitness account for yourself here.

It takes a lot of people to maintain a home and yard in the tropics. Think about this: ants, termites, roaches, mice, civits, sloths, monkeys, etc. are competing for indoor and outdoor spaces. (The weight of insects on the planet is about 70X that of humans. Wow!) This week, the robot vacuum runs around the rooms and sucks up ants that make it though the porous walls. I swipe with a rag at surfaces which get dusty every day and lay low for the most part.

Each day we circle the yard to feed the fish in the ponds and the birds in the cages. The solar fountains bubble in the morning sunshine. It's cicada time at the beginning and end of every rainy season and they're noisy today. The new little orange tree is in the ground, thanks to PakAD's good work yesterday. How many oranges do you see?

 A cup of tea on the porch hits the spot. I have some academic documents to read, W's Sunday talk to revise, and more. We write until a lunch appointment at #MissBeeProvidore. Thony makes our time together fun and interesting - he's a traveler and an international Indonesian.

We walk home as the thunder begins to rumble. We get a warm welcome from Juno as we come in the gate. The other dogs are more interested in finding a quiet dark space - they dislike the storms. All of them are on "guard alert" with a steady parade of guests arriving at our neighbors' homes. The dogs are not letting anyone into the yard without our permission.

Read more:

*The Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you, but deliver us this day!” Judges 10:15

*But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Luke 18:13

*If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

O loving God, we thank you for your mercy. Although we are all sinners, we are the benefactors of your tenderhearted care, grace, and forgiveness. Because of the offering of your beloved son, we are blessed to have been pardoned and to have received eternal salvation. Thanks be to God! Amen.