Ever been to a Dutch war fort?

 Thursday, July 17, 2025

Our best hike in a long time? The path is rock-free and wet but not muddy.

There are four of us and four dogs, the perfect size to explore new trails. We finally rediscover the track we used to take by going backwards to the old Dutch forts in the mountains, and returning the same way. We've missed the turnoff so many times and ended up on a cliffside. Now we know which fork to take.

It's a short distance, just over 4 miles (7 km), but the first half is uphill. That means a descent to the pickup point. Hurrah.

We try Kilogram, a new concept cafe: picnic tables inside tents. You pay $8 to get in, which is applied to whatever you choose from the menu. That keeps kids from lounging for free wifi without purchases. The setting is nice - forest and 4-sided open tents, but the food is not great. The soup bowl comes half empty. I send the tea back because it's barely warm ... and the small cup is 2/3 full. Disappointing.

On the way home, the one-lane road has shoulders wide enough that passing traffic only has to take one set of tires off the paving.

W drops me off at home while he does a pick-up from the Yard Sale group. When the contractor calls, we walk over to the project to discuss next steps. You need imagination to think of it as livable.

We sit outside on our Porch until the mosquitoes chase us indoors. The garden's beautiful bromeliads collect water and mosquito larvae. The adult mosquitoes "bug" us before sundown.

Friday

We walk - only Juno the labradoodle comes along. Gypsy the mutt refuses the leash. Anton the poodle is a mess of high energy and brings me a ball to toss. We're limiting his exercise until next week but he has the poodle zoomies.

I start grading papers before a pause: those leftover crepes are a breakfast reward. After a monthly check-in with an advisor, I fill another mug of tea and get back to grading. I'm done for this round by 1 PM. It's time for lunch!

Saturday

We walk all 3 big dogs on a single leash after Anton threatens to pull my arm off on his own leash. He's quite happy to trot in the middle of the pack. 

It's nice to talk to Mom after trying for 3 days; she gets so tired she doesn't pick up the phone. On our end, IbuS comes to massage out the travel kinks. Afterward, W and I sit on the Porch and read through tomorrow's talk.

The birds are chirping, the dogs are resting, and the fish are swimming in their bowls. The hum of neighbors and motorcycles on the next hill completes the background music. All is at peace.

We have a late lunch at Saka Bistro. Even after living here for 11 years, I marvel that it's possible to eat outside all year. We're under cover in case of rain or hot sun. The pesto gnocchi is good.

Their Vietnamese-style Pho is as tasty as any in town.

The kids' English class is going well on the next hill. We hope to offer the same for our neighbors next year.

Sunday

Our first grandchild is 14 today! We call her to find out what's new and to wish her a Happy Birthday. She gets a trail ride on a horse as part of her celebrations. Her siblings chime in with their own updates about a stay at our Montana cabin and their other fun activities.

We go to the hall and set up for the Gathering as usual. Today we speak about being citizens of heaven who are strangers and foreigners to the worldly systems (1 Peter 1). We share a wonderful lunch and conversation at Maxis.

There are things to wrap up, dogs jumping around happy to see us, and a quiet time-out in late afternoon as we prepare for the week ahead.

Read more:

*This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

*Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved. Jeremiah 17:14

“So that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—Jesus said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.” Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Luke 5:24-25

Moravian Prayer: Healing God, often we are gripped by feelings of unworthiness; too often, we are paralyzed by fear. In these moments, there is nothing left to do but ask for your healing strength. Heal us, O God, and make us whole. Amen.

Cheering on our volunteers

Saturday, February 22, 2025

The dogs run through the garden and knock over a tall red flower. I bring it in for the dining table. Little black seeds drop all weekend. It's fun to scoop them up and toss them into the flower border.

We're back to walking. We're also back to sunshine between warm rains. The inauguration of the assistant governor is over. The fete is held nearby over three days with many guests.

We pass dozens of flower boards sent from big businesses and important people, wishing him well and making a statement of support. Those names are recorded so they may bring favors another day.

The flowers blooming along our driveway are simpler but just as pretty.

After reading tomorrow's talk together, W and I wrap up morning chores. Our first meeting is at Tanikota, where a group is hosting a free dental clinic. Art activities keep children and moms busy while Dr Gati does the checkups. Sayaka iss the dental hygienist and event organizer. John and Joy are supporting the efforts. Feibe and other volunteers pitch in.

They give instructions about gum and tooth care. DrG teaches me something new: teeth are rotting because kids (and parents) are eating for hours at a time as they watch videos or play games on their cellphones. Having food in their mouths for so long is not healthy =>> gum rot and tooth decay. Many children have black teeth.

Clau and Leo tack up coloring pages from the group. Shoes are lined up outside the "island" of carpet and tarps where families sit together.

Robin sends over lavender plants, which PakG pots up. I take Gypsy on a second loop around the block in the afternoon. The other dogs howl to go along but I just need one easy mile to keep me awake until sundown at 6:00. I don't have energy to take them all. Besides, they've had 3 walks already!

Sunday

We've been up for hours by 7:00 AM. W drives to the hall but I hop out to shut the gate. Hmmm, why not walk? Our neighbor appear and we chat for a half-hour before I set off. It feels good to stretch my legs. Chika makes sure we snap a picture of volunteers in the prayer room before the Gathering.

Titik has done her usual "marvelous" with flowers for each table on Round Table Sunday.

Afterward, the Leadership Team hosts the annual congregational business meeting. They give financial and missions reports, encourage volunteers to participate, and pray over the congregation in closing. We announce that we will lead IES Bandung for a maximum of one more year. With that, the public search can commence for the next pastors.

Pak Tota knows a good noodle house in the city and invites a group to eat together in honor of Sam's visit from the USA and our return from abroad. Oh the taste and texture is GOOD: thick chewy noodles in spicy broth. We try a sour fruit drink (ambarella) that pairs nicely with the salt and spice of the main dish.

This old-style, 3-wheeled taxi sits across the street as we climb into Tota's car for a ride to the north end of Bandung.

We step onto the sidewalk where they turn in another direction to home, intending to call a Grab. But who gets to take such a beautiful walk on a Sunday? The weather is ideal: not too hot (74oF/23oC) and not too humid (80%). We're wearing comfy shoes, too.

We stroll a half-mile to our hill and then climb while upward, looking for a passing angkot (public passenger van). Within a mile, five chartered angkots go by, full of women and balloons (for what?!). There's no public transport in sight, which is unusual - there should have been 5 or 10 vans by now. At least that many descend the hill on the opposite side of the thoroughfare.

After 25 minutes, we leave the main street with its noise and pollution for a quieter road behind the university. We meet a movie night friend on the way.

He hails us: he'd planned to eat at a food court that isn't open. Since he's going to visit someone in our neighborhood, he follows through the lanes (jalan tikus or mouse street). My watch records 2 1/2 miles (3.5 km) to home. What a pleasant way to work off lunch without much effort.

W and I preview the film for the upcoming Movie Night.

Monday

The dogs are happy to do a loop walk first thing in the morning. Some meetings are cancelled. Some are added. Between meetings and getting over jet lag, we'll buy food, cook it, and host a dinner-and-a-movie on this final Wednesday before Ramadan = Muslim daytime fasting.

I water the Sunday bouquet by #titikbadudu and put it in the living room. It's a visual thrill of color and texture.

The baking attempt today is dinner rolls. It looks simple enough and we have a liter of mayonnaise in the fridge that has nothing to do. IbuS tackles it.

The study on the porch and online takes most of the morning.

Read more:

*Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live. Deuteronomy 16:20

*Shepherd your people with your staff. Micah 7:14

**Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

*Christ himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12

Moravian Prayer: Righteous and forgiving Savior, lead us daily on a path toward justice for all our brothers and sisters everywhere. Help us to always remember your commandment to love one another as you have loved us. 

Shepherd of souls, call us out of the sheepfold, the comfortable places of safety in our lives, that we might go out into the world with curiosity to discover the ways your love shows up. You don’t just call us to follow, you invite us to lead others to discover you in unexpected places. Amen.