Pretty Penang

Sunday, July 21, 2024

We are privileged to have Ps Yoel of New Life Bandung speaking for us this morning. He encourages and challenges us from scripture and experiences of the early Church.

We pray together over Herbert (Tanzania) and Lionel (Rwanda) who are finishing their masters defense this week and will fly home shortly after. What a blessing they have been. Herbert has been part of our team for the last years and will be missed! Lionel joined the worship team and his departure is hard as well.

Right after the Gathering, PakG drives us to the shuttle station so we can head off to Jakarta. The flight to Kuala Lumpur is uneventful - and the airline food indifferent.

We sleep overnight in a hotel close to the airport.

Monday

We're up at 3:30, on the flight on time, and get to the conference hotel in Penang, Malaysia by late morning. The road twists and turns on the Waze app as our taxi maneuvers north up the central mountainous spine of the island. Women have much more freedom in this Chinese-majority setting and our driver is female.

The outside of the hotel is uninteresting in Brutalist fashion: concrete, metal, some wood. But the foyer welcomes the weary traveler with a huge tree sculpted out of recycled metals behind the welcome desk.

The walls are covered with the most beautiful rugs, which deaden the sound of conversations and heels against the marble floors and glass walls.

We catch up with friends at a coffee reception  ... and then go for lunch.

The site is beautiful - it takes a certain kind of property to host a big group. We usually end up at spectacular places, though planners negotiate for "very special" rates. This may be one of the best venues so far: the Angsana.

The setting is ocean-side and has a few pools. I've left my swimsuit at home because I've schlepped it everywhere without using it for three years. Happily, the room has a bathtub, which I enjoy. (Why? 1. our house has no tub, and 2. Bandung city water is so dirty that you don't want to bathe in it, even with a filter on the tap. A quick shower is enough.)

I love the color combinations, very different reds and purples than are used in Indonesia.

In the evening, we watch the sun go down between our supper and the evening meeting.

The artwork throughout the hotel is made of recycled materials.

There are beautiful views inside and out.

Our regional dinner involves some shouting over music videos. "At lunch this place is quiet and family-friendly," explains the planner. Regardless of the supper atmosphere, the motto behind the bar is one we would happily adopt. (The alcohol? Not so much. haha We are assigned a page number on the menu to avoid alcoholic drinks.)

Tuesday

Between morning and evening sessions, the women's afternoon tea is hosted at the hotel. Our planner wisely cut the 1+ hour bus trip to the original tea venue: that lets us relax together where we are. None of us are very hungry since meals are included; we eat and eat - but there is always a lot left over.

The evening session is prayer-focused, a time to intercede collectively for each other and those we serve.

Wednesday

We finally stretch our legs onto the chaises by the pool restaurant after breakfast. By noon, we're check out and on our way to the city.

We shop for some basics after checking in. There are strict prohibitions posted.

In a country with a Muslim government, the pork and alcohol is in a separate room at the back of the grocer. With a large Chinese population, neither is forbidden.

Our room is basic and clean, the perfect place to work.

Thursday

We are on the streets in the early morning, following foodie reviews to the best biryani (rice). The spicy rice has good flavor, but the piece of lamb is bone and gristle. Not going back.

Thursday

We're off to hunt down the best roti parata (fry bread) and it doesn't disappoint. The server brings us curried chicken in sauce. It disappears before I think of taking a photo.

Here, chefs and servers at street stalls are usually men. The combination of Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors is unique to Malaysia.

We wander a few miles, pausing to admire the linens and food stalls in the market.

The tropics are hard on surfaces. Look at these "peeling" posts. Down the street, the mouldings are being reworked with fresh plaster.

Not even the police station fence is immune from the sun and rain.

We find the tea we are looking for: it used to be everywhere but is hard to find. We track it down in a mall grocer. Look at the reds on this mural in the mall.

Then we go for lunch, at the "best" laksa place. We loved it last time but today it disappoints with soggy noodles, the taste of overripe shellfish, and a listless spicy broth. We'll have to try another place tomorrow.

Remnants of British occupation are everywhere - these graceful buildings could be set in London except for some south-Asian motives.

We walk through covered passageways that double as up-and-down sidewalks. Unique tile patterns mark each shop. I wish someone would make a book of the tiles here. It's fascinating pattern-making and mortar-work.

Back at the hotel, I have a few hours of work on my upcoming class (next week). The challenge is to pare down the information from a 40-hour cohort to a 10-hour conference class.

Read more:

*Your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. Psalm 119:24

*Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

*Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Moravian Prayer: Forever-building God, still etching your word into our souls, enable us, we ask, to bear evidence to your mercy, patience, grace, and peace among all with whom we come in contact. Help us bear a good witness for racial equality and justice. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

Oh Canada, land of the free (and our moms)

Thursday, July 11, 2024

We pass the beautiful Everett station and arrive in Edmonds mid-afternoon. Terry picks us up and discusses the theological nature of sin with W on the way to the house.

Melissa has cooked a turkey dinner ("an early Thanksgiving"). Turkeys cost $100/bird in Bandung so it's a special treat. The kids play a few songs for us afterwards.

We give the gleaned flowers a snip of scissors at the table.

Friday

At 7:00-ish, Kim and I visit at Third Place Commons. After, I whisk off to pick up W, who wants to go shopping. He deposits me in Woodinville to meet with the WPPRS. We four friends used to meet every 3 weeks. Now we live across the western USA and the world so we haven't met in person for at least 7 years.

Levi loves to bake. He's baked a breakfast loaf of bread, sending along a slice for me and two for my mother. We enjoy them as toast the next day.

After my meetings, W and I are off to Canada to see our moms. At the Abbotsford airport, we pass a jet perched near the street.

W drops me off in my hometown. My brother comes by to say hello while W drives to see his mother in a neighboring town. She sends along some family rings: I choose one with pink gold and quartz. I'll pray for her each time this family treasure is worn. Thanks!

I meet Mom's homecare-r Tracy. What a nice person. She prepares Mom's lunch of turkey (sent along by Melissa), fresh-cooked (and mashed) potatoes, and vegetables. She puts a second portion and an extra sandwich in the fridge for tomorrow. Mom and I spend the day together. 

W comes back at night to sleep at Mom's: there's nowhere to sleep with his family.

Saturday

W and I start the day by walking along the Hope Slough.

We run into a friend from 50 years ago, also strolling beside the river. Nice to see you, Ingrid! She drops in on Mom sometimes with a pot of soup and takes time to pray together.

All is calm after the winter runoff is over.

The trees are enormous and green.

W asks if he can stand by one for scale. Why not?

There are not many flowering trees at this time of summer but there are fruits and berries aplenty.

A new weeping willow has been planted in the park as well. That will grow as wide as high (at least 10-20 m) within a decade.

W drives off again while Mom and I visit. Tracy has organized Mom's meds and food so Mom's job is to fill in a checklist as she finishes each item. W returns in mid-afternoon. His sister is in the middle of moving house; they call each other but can't meet. He brings a burger for supper, while Mom eats her sandwich. Neither of us ate lunch but a half burger is enough. We wrap them up for another time.

We hug Mom, pray together, and say goodbye at 6:30 pm. We can't remember when there was no other car at the border crossing, coming or going. That happens this weekend. With the hot summer season, apparently everyone has fled to the lake or gone camping. We stop at a nearly-empty Bellingham outlet store to stock up on shoes and trail bars. We arrive in Seattle before 10 pm.

Sunday

M and Kinsey are on the worship team at church so they leave after a breakfast of Levi's home-baked bread and other goodies. I adjust McK's bow as I used to do for our daughter. 

It brings back fond memories. Within the hour, the rest of us are off to church as well.

The friendly congregation (Freedom Church, Woodinville) hears a solid message: the topic is God's plans for healthy marriage. T and M lead the children's church, exploring what it means to be a trustworthy servant of God.

The guys lunch elsewhere while Melissa, the kids, and I enjoy lunch in the church-yard after the Gathering. The feast of chicken, salad, chips, and pies is shared around shaded tables. Oh, we miss this food.

By 2:00, we're home again and ready for a nap. When the guys return, W wakes me at 4:00 pm. I get to hug Jonathan (our youngest) and chat for a few hours. After Jono leaves, T and W carry down the Chinese carved horse that was a feature in our old living room upstairs. Guests would be sitting and chatting when they'd suddenly spot the statue and exclaim, "Is that a horse?!" Every room needs one of those surprises.

Monday

I get up late, color my hair, and eat breakfast with the family. McK is creating sand art at the table. K reads and the boys play with magnetic triangles. They build all kinds of interesting structures.

Downstairs, we clear off the coffee table, setting aside the bronze lizard, mossy branch, and coco pods on the table chandelier. W lifts the suitcases onto the table so we can fill them. Time to pack. My suitcases aren't full before they're at weight capacity. 

We eat the second half of our Saturday burgers for lunch before W heads to coffee with a former faculty colleague and friend. We lay out our travel clothes, make calls, and send the e-mails we need to finish before we arrive home in Indonesia ... and the day flies by.

We have one last supper with the kids and grands before we finish packing. What a sweet trip it has been: work combined with connections with family, partners, and friends. And it's over. In a few hours, we fly home.

Read more:

*Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? Psalm 71:17-19

*We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.

To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’” No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. Psalm 75: 1-7

*In the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God.” Hosea 1:10

*So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God. Galatians 4:7

Moravian Prayer: O holy God, whose arms are wide open to all your children, we offer praise and thanksgiving. Lead us to extend equally open arms to those from whom we are separated by the barriers of prejudice, mistrust, resentment, and fear. In Jesus’ reconciling name, we pray. Amen.