Cookies galore

Thursday.
It's usually our walking day. But today I have to skip - there are too many other things to do. The freezers are empty - we ate all the baking on the last movie night. A team who stayed with us last year bought us a little freezer. It has been a godsend. Being able to prep food and baking in advance makes it possible to have people drop in for meals or tea any time. We're always ready for company.

So today was cookie day. Ibua helped me bake at least 12 trays of cookies (20-24 each). It took us from 9am-3pm ... but we filled 3 big old Tupperware boxes with pecan merangues, thumprint cookies, and chocolate chippies. (You'd remember our old-style Tupperware from 40 years ago - some lady in Bellevue was clearing her sales stock 5 years ago: it's come in SOoooo handy, though it was heavy to shlep all the way to Indo.)

IbuA is cubing 7kg (15 lb) of boneless chicken breasts. I'm too tired to face the chickens and we leave for a Bible study in a half hour.

So onto cookie sheets and into the freezer they go. After they're frozen, I'll bag them up. Next week, we'll grab the cubes and make a feast of sesame chicken for movie night.

I remember when our daughter or sons used to help on baking day. The interaction with IbuA is similar: one scoops cookie dough onto the tray. The other takes cookies out of the oven or washes dishes. We've been busy all day ... and now the last dishes are in the sink. Yay.

I'm becoming Ant Woman (anti-ant, that is)

What you can't see: lines and lines of ants

I turn on the kitchen light to get a cup of tea and find marching formations on the sink and counters. We try to keep everything spick and span but still the ants march on.

"There are so many ants! No matter what I try, there seem to be dozens. How do you get rid of them?"

I turn on the kitchen light to get a cup of tea and find marching formations on the sink and counters. We try to keep everything spick and span but still the ants march on.

"Of course," smiles my Indonesian friend. "When the rain comes, the ants come indoors." She can't imagine that we don't share our house with them in Seattle.

I should have caught the pattern. Rain = more ants in the house. But I don't like ants any better for seeking shelter with us!

Right now, a light brown variety has invaded cupboards and counters. We cover everything and refrigerate what we can - but they're still on the move. Ants climb our arms when we reach through it to unlock the gate. They're making their way across the driveway from the garden to the house wall - we spray regularly to prevent them from making it to the laundry roof. More ants. 

An internet picture of what creeps me out in the shower:
ants eating a roach

Pick up a potted plant and ants (carrying white nymphs and egg cases) run from every drain hole. There are sugar ants so small they're only seen when they move. Big ants that come in from the garden. Black ants that carry away crumbs of anything we missed. Ants that eat wood trim and beams. Ants that swarm cockroaches that are unlucky enough to land on their backs. "Eat 'em alive and drag the parts home," seems to be the rallying cry of that species.

One night a few weeks ago, I found a regular line of ants and traced them back to a door frame in the guest bathroom. I took out the toxic bug spray and shot it at the wood. OH OH OH - out pour hundreds and hundreds of black ants. They writhe on the floor, flee a few feet along the wall, and ... dead. We sweep up what is left of them the next day. That line has re-formed yesterday and so I spray again.

I open the kitchen cabinet - and there's another line. They freeze as the light hits them and then they march on. I pour boiling water over as many as I can, wipe it all up, and toss the mess in the garbage.

However, they're not all nuisance. Ants fertilize our trees, dispose of insect waste (eat it), and apparently are good for other things. 

Remember the proverb about learning from their diligence and persistence: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" (Proverbs 6:6)? We see that every day.

Sweeter every time we return

When we walk in the front door of our Bandung home, my whole body relaxes. The dog has jumped all over us in glee. He's a big beast - he can hardly let us get in the gate because he's so happy to see us. I toss the ball a few times, give him a treat and some extended pats, and unlock the door to the house. What a gift to have a clean orderly home - (which is often full of people).

It is utterly quiet when we get home. The orange fish I scooped out of the neighbor's pond are still circling their bowl. We unpack until the suitcases are empty, putting everything away so we don't have to look at it in the morning. My stomach is disagreeing mildly with the "Korean noodle" dish eaten on the airplane. I'm not used to digestive upsets: I seem to have a cast-iron stomach ... very useful here.

Manila contrasts of rich and poor, like in every global city

Friday-Saturday, February 3-4, 2017
Our trip from the Philippines is relatively painless. We start off about 10 pm with a 4 or 5-hr van ride from the mountains of Baguio (elevation about a mile) to the Manilla airport. The first hour or two is one U-turn after another. The driver mitigates with stops and starts as we descend through gravel and gouges in the mountain road. W and I snooze through most of that, feeling the bumps through the seats. The driver drops us off in the wee hours and heads back uphill. The van will make a similar trip in a few hours with another lecturer and his wife.

In the airport, people sprawl on the floors, slump against the edges of the walls or hunch over their luggage. When the final boarding calls come, dozens of people run for their gates.

A lot of shops stay open though it's the middle of the night, especially for meals. In my walk around the upper floor, I spot a spa. What's that? An offer for 1 hour of leg massage (usually painful) and a foot bath? Hmmm. Sanitation. Pain. Perhaps relief from too much sitting, hiking, and standing?

Ok - for $8 I'm in. The water is cool so the gal hurries off to heat a kettle. She pours boiling water into the soapy soup as I lift my feet to one side. Ouch. Bit hot - but by the time my 15 minutes is up, it's back to warm-ish. And my travel trousers are resistant to being pulled up the knees (tight cuff) but we do our best. The masseuse provides relief from a week of classroom and hills. Relaxing muscles and unclogging veins is strategic before 2 flights.

Bandung carvings in wood

We have 5 hours in KL but relax with lunch and a few books. (How else would university profs relax?) Then we board the final flight. We feel like we're going home, too. How we love this city!

As we descend, we can sense the spiritual forces that surround the area. The lights below twinkle as we pray. So many people live around us - and each one of us is loved by God and under his watchful eye.

Read more:
*I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18 ESV

 *Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:5 ESV

 *The eunuch went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:39 ESV

*Paul wrote: I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 2 Timothy 1:12 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Holy Lord and God, thank you that you alone are trustworthy, and will guard us until that day. Let us be ever mindful of the magnitude of your love for us. Our joy is in you.

We rejoice in you dear Father. You loved us so much that you did not withhold your only Son, but gave him for our justification. Help us to love you with our whole hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Teachers teach ... and learn with others

One of the things we love to do is teach - that is, W gets high energy from teaching. I like hearing and absorbing the stories around me. We both have a great week.

Friday, January 27, 2017
W and I pack, wrap up chores and writing, and set off to the airport in the afternoon. We hand over our suitcase to some guy with a turntable, who wraps it up in pink plastic. It's one way to ensure that nothing is stolen along the way. Sure enough, the suitcase arrives intact and unopened.

We're on the first leg of 27 hours of travel. There are only 2 flights - and not long ones at that. But we stay overnight in a cheap hotel near the airport in Malaysia and then get a 6-hour van ride from the airport to the university.

It's evening by the time we unpack. We make the apartment as homey as possible. A welcome basket with a greeting card, fruit, and banana bread is waiting on the kitchen table. The staff is hospitable and thoughtful, no doubt about it.

Dr. Kay, Debbie, and Dave

Sunday
The first faculty members to greet us are a surprise. 30 years ago, Debbie and her family attended the same church we did. Since we've seen her, she's married and become a faculty member, but she still has the warm smile and mild voice we remember from her and her mother.

Debbie and Dave take us to church in the morning. Dr. Kay is the lead pastor. We eat lunch together at a delicious Chinese restaurant. It's wonderful to hear what they've been doing and where they've been. This life of faith is an adventure, for sure.

They wait while we buy mangos (the sweetest in the world must be here!), a notebook and pen (I forgot mine - what was I thinking ... it fills up page by page this week), and a few groceries.

My breakfasts are PB whole-wheat toast, a mango and another fruit, along with my big cup of tea. W always walks up a flight of stairs and down the hall to the dining room, where he has a full breakfast.

W is presenting a lectureship this week. He rereads his material in the evening and adjusts it a bit. I am working on a few chapter proposals (for books) and browse a few books I'm reviewing.

I'm enjoying hot water at the kitchen and bathroom sinks. That's a luxury we don't have at home. You hear the hiss of the gas heater starting up when the hot water tap is turned on.

The only quirk is the shower. The heater flips off every 2 minutes, so you have to listen carefully. As soon as that gas hiss stops, you quickly turn the tap off and back on, restarting the gas heater before cold water hits you. Such small inconveniences are minor adjustments in this region of the world.

"These aren't the real tropics," W notes. "There are no ants or roaches in our room. And none in the kitchen either!"

Inside an almost-empty Jeepney - lots of room for passengers,
who climb in and out of the open back door

We almost feel like we're back in America, except for the smokey cars, and the road repairs (who left that pile of dirt and a pylon near the gaping hole?), and the gorgeous Filipinas, and the street vendors, and the smells of pork baked, barbecued, and steamed. It seems like every dish has pork in it.

Monday
We have the morning off so we head to town, walking from where the Jeepney drops us. It's not that far but the elevation thins the air (1600 meters or about a mile high, similar to Denver, CO). Combined with hills and the pollution of unfiltered cars, it's a challenging walk.

We stop at an antique and craft shop. This is a Catholic country so there are religious statues everywhere, including this one of (I presume) Jesus. It is full height and wears a real-hair crimped wig that falls to its waist. A local version of "God in our image," I guess.

A Jesus statue, compete with human waist-length hair

We decide to go to the same restaurant as yesterday, where the food is excellent. Our meal is cheap, delicious, and safe. There's filtered city water - whaaaat? Everything is so modern and well-maintained.

Meanwhile, we completely miss our lunch with Dr Kay, who is also the school's academic dean. The week's schedule was a bit wonky (columns mixed up) and I wrote down our appointments wrong. So there are arrows here and there - and we've completely zoned out about our date. Kay is very gracious and makes plans for later in the week. Our friends Weldyn and Barb get to eat the "death by chocolate" cake Kay prepared, in our stead.

W's first obligation is a short introductory lecture at the dinner banquet. The food in the dining hall is good, the company warm, and we say hi to the international students and faculty we haven't seen since we last taught here.

Tuesday
It's a steep walk from our room to the academic building - about 100 steps from our room, plus a steep driveway. We don't have too much trouble getting up the hill if we pause now and again.

W sure enjoys teaching. He settles into his week's routines: a morning lecture, listening to an afternoon paper read a grad or post-grad student, and sitting on an evening Q&A panel with other faculty. I go to most meetings, but my priority is to finish and submit my chapter proposals. Of course, I have to catch up with people, too.

In the late afternoon, we meet with our regional director Bill. He encourages us, renews our tenure for another 3 years, gives permission for our house lease, and asks about our work. I felt a little stab in my heart this week, thinking about those 3 years. It's a big commitment at our stage of life. God's posted us in a place we love (yay for the people, surroundings, and food of B!) But still. It feels like a long time while our parents are aging and our grandkids are growing up without us.

Careful!!!! that's a long way down

Student workers have roped metal pipes (scaffolding) to the concrete pillars inside the dining hall. The poles extend outside through the windows. It looks pretty normal from our lunch seats. But when we look from our apartment window, we see that the young men are suspended 5 storeys above the ground to wash windows. Anyone afraid of heights need not participate ...

Wednesday

After the morning lecture, W and I eat with Dr Teresa, one of the lecturers. Her house overlooks the valleys below. The food is tasty, and the company - friends Barb and Weldyn also at the table - is wonderful.

The students have questions for W throughout the day and ask about working with me on doctoral projects. We set up appointments.

Dickie takes me and two others to Philippine Treasures, a workshop and wholesale showroom for jewelry and decorations. The creative artist and founder of PT is devoted to Christ. She sells to high fashion shops and decor outlets in the States and around the world and attributes her success to God's favor.

Oh my ... there's a lot to look at, and the "50% off" warehouse at the back... I try to resist but don't escape entirely unscathed. I buy a ring, a few Christmas ornaments, and a shell sculpture (about $30). Not bad.

Supper is a wonderful feast with Galen and Dickie, who treat us to a meal at a Greek restaurant. My, the food choices here! We've forgotten what it's like to have food options from "all the nations" in a city. And then it's back to work in the evening.

Outside our window, a 12' high gazebo and endless mountains

Dr Kay treats us to Starbucks after the evening session. It's the first time I've been at Starbucks in ages. We share a mango cake and hear about the wonderful provisions of home, work, and travels. I resist buying a Baguio mug for our family Starbucks fans. (They've said they have enough clutter.)

Thursday
While the Bandung walking group swells to 16 without us, we have a full academic day. I look at the walker's pictures and sigh at the beautiful scenery.

Our view isn't that bad, either.

The first student taps on the door at 10:30. She's brought her project for review. I edit, advise, and wrap up 5 consultations by supper. What great projects! I think of the hard work ahead and send up prayers for the students. Doctorates are hard work.

An inspiring "almost-doctor," eager to finish

W returns to our room after the afternoon session with a slight fever,  headache, and queasy stomach. Oh oh. I've already eaten in the dining hall. He's not up to that, so I make PB toast and cut up a banana for him.

He naps and heads out again for the evening Q&A panel. Hopefully he'll be better tomorrow - we have a long trip ahead of us, heading home after the day's work.

Read more:
*The Lord said to Gideon, “Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it, The Lord is peace. Judges 6:23-24 ESV

*I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities. Psalm 31:7 ESV

*Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66:16-20 NIV

*Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

*Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” John 16:24 ESV

*It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV

Moravian Prayer: Loving God, thank you for the gifts of your holy peace and eternal life. May we live lives that are worthy of such amazing love, and may we bring glory to your name.

Ever loving God, you are with us always. We see you in times of joy, and we acknowledge your love and care in times of distress, when it may not be as easy to know your presence. We rejoice at your great love and caring, and say, Amen.

Endings and middles

Funeral flowers line the street

Sunday, January 15, 2017

A well-known person who lived nearby has died. Huge memorial placards filled with flowers line the streets.

When we walk, the streets are filled with men leaving the memorial at his house.

Leaving the neighborhood memorial

Monday plus
Josue, Claudia and their kids have found a great house. Today they move into it, painting and getting it ready for company. Our house feels quiet with Waldemar in the States. He completes his citizenship process and returns by week's end.

Once he's back, we connect with the landlord to begin negotiating the lease on our place - little by little things fall into place. We have the Bible studies, the gatherings, and other routines between.

Thursday...
What a glorious walk in the hills. I have grown to love the group - and the scenery refreshes, even as our bodies are challenged. Each week, I'm grateful for the health that allows me to hike up and down without a problem.

Japanese-style cakes

Friday

David and Paula are with us for the weekend. They arrive Friday night and stay through Monday morning. What a treat to have faithful friends who understand what it's like to transition across culture. And they speak English. My heart unclenches a little with each conversation.

Waldemar and I have to shoot a video for partners back home. I write a simple script, but the paper flaps in the wind, the camera bobs, and we look like deer in headlights. We do it and redo it a few times before saying, "Enough is enough." Our helper also does a short clip in Indonesian. We send it off. Chop chop - glad it's done.

Saturday
Pak Entang has agreed to drive us today. He has to head home to visit with his family at 5, so we get an early start, driving up winding roads to a floating market. 

 The koi swarm the docks where the kids feed them.

Colorful little boats are tied to docks in this lake above the city. They're filled with food. The shops along the pathways are lined with souvenirs. Families stroll, paddle canoes, and play on the edges of the water. The kids' amusement area is crammed with little ones. There's even a swimming pool - two pools actually, one a separate "ladies only" area that boasts a few naked tots playing while their moms swim in full Muslim bathing suits (covered arms, chest, and legs).

The floating market - colorful little boats with a cook in each one

 Many walkways and docks line the lake - this one is a photo studio. People dress in Japanese costumes and get their pictures taken.

flower petals in a floating pot

Wayang (puppet figures) are traditionally used to share stories and folk tales

Beautiful wood carvings in the roofs of the traditional eating houses

Sunday (January 22)

W teaches the first session of Christian Thought at Green Gate. It is well-attended and he is in his element ... teaching.

We have lunch at Bumi and relax in the afternoon. Paula and I snap pictures galore - but forget to shoot our group. Oh well.

colorful bicycles waiting for riders

Tuesday
It's our first IESBandung team meeting. What a pleasure to pray, talk, and plan with Josue and Claudia. Their kids are in school, happily getting to know the kids in their classrooms.

Afterward, Claudia and I head to the Pasar Baru (New Market) in the middle of town - 7 storeys of fabrics, clothing, food, and crafts. It's actually a massive warren, aisle after aisle of shops, frequented by tourists and locals - with very few people who look like us. (Actually, I don't see any.) Claudia is fluent in Indonesian and bargains for fabric to redo the pillows in her new place.

In the evening, I make a quick supper and think about preparations for movie night, coming up tomorrow.

Wednesday

Oh my! We have 60+ RSVPs for the evening. I start cooking and baking at 7 in the morning and call it done when the helpers show up in late afternoon. (Naptime for me.) They cut fruit, make rice, and clean the kitchen. Good thing I have baked goods in the freezer: 3 cakes we didn't eat at Christmas. 

W fills a 5 gallon water dispenser. IbuA pops in slices of pineapple and lemon and lets it infuse for an hour. The table is set. The furniture is moved and the pictures taken off the ledge: the wall is our screen. W hangs the projector from the ceiling with his custom-rigged stand.

People start arriving early for 6:30 dinner. They chat with Waldemar and the porch and the living room fill up. 

About 80 people get in line when the doors open. I say hi as they shuffle into the kitchen, grab a plate, and leave with a full meal. Some we've seen before, but about 20 are new tonight. The house is buzzing!

What a lot of beautiful faces! They've brought family and friends, too.

"God, please multiply the food like Jesus did the loaves and the fishes." I stand in the middle of the kitchen as hungry students stream by.

And he does. We have enough food and - during intermission - enough dessert for everyone. There's food left over for the helpers to take home. Not quite 12 baskets, but still ...

I ring a bell when it's time to start the movie: we're watching Ant Man (based on a Marvel Comics character). The question of the night rests on this premise: "God has created each of us as unique persons, to do his work in the world."

W asks them, "What is your superpower? How could you use it to serve God and others?"

And everyone gets in small groups. The volume of noise rises as they talk about what they're good at. They're bubbling, happy to get to know other people and share their "superpower." I listen in on a few groups.

The last person says goodbye around 11pm. The helpers leave behind a clean kitchen before hopping on their husbands' motorcycles with their bags.

Thursday
I skip the walk. I have to write some book chapter proposals and we're packing to work in the Philippines - W will deliver a few lectures and participate on Q&A panels. I'll help students with doctoral projects. We look forward to visiting with all those we've met ... and meeting new friends.

Read more:
*God, you remain the same, and your years will never end. Psalm 102:27 NIV

*“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Everlasting Lord, how superior you are to us in character and strength. Yet you love us with an unfailing love. Thank you that you are the same always, and we can rely on you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A wedding, a long walk, and poetry

I get to preach today! I love speaking. The subject (King David as Artist and Writer) resonates with me. David wrote music and poems inspired by his relationship with God, his hopes and dreams, and his life experiences. Even today, David calls us to true worship and the integration of life and art.

Saturday, January 7, 2017
We attend the wedding of one of our movie night couples. What a beautiful celebration of their beginning.

Monday
Josue and Claudia arrive with their two 6-year-olds. They move upstairs, from where they'll get their bearings. They'll be improving their Bahasa Indonesia at a local university. J is a professional life coach, so they look forward to engaging people around them.

I take a quick walk around the neighborhood to DrH's house. Her Christmas decor is still up; she's waiting for a film crew to shoot a non-profit film. Her high school friend - who now lives in the Netherlands - is visiting. It's a privilege to meet her.

Tuesday
The family confirms schools for the children and finds a house to rent. For a very reasonable price, it meets their criteria. It is near schools, shops, and in a good neighborhood. Wow - this is like riding a toboggan on an icy hill - things come together so quickly! We have prayed for a long time and God is answering with specific provisions.

Gypsy is happy, having his own boy to play with.

Language school restarts next week. First, I have to prepare to speak on the weekend and finish administrative work. Waldemar gets his American citizenship done and is relieved that the ordeal is over.

Thursday

Before we get all hot and messy

The kids start school. For me, it's another walk in the hills.

The side trail to a "bonus" waterfall is so steep that I'm sore for 2 days after. The view is worth it. Gypsy is in his glories, bounding up and down the paths.

This is the first time we've had to pay for this walk. The fee is under $1US, but still... how annoying. Someone is buying up rights to all the walks, fencing off wild areas and making hikers pay to walk the forest trails.

We may be paying, but the walk has deteriorated: a stream runs across the path

Where the walk is totally washed away,
they put a handrail beside a metal irrigation pipe.
We cross the stream on the pipe.

That someone has built 2 bamboo bridges across the river span of Mariska's Walk (named in honor of our friend's final walk before returning to the Netherlands.) We no longer have to balance across a log at one end or wade the rushing currents under the beautiful waterfall.

"The bridges somehow make this less of an Indiana Jones adventure," says a walker.

It's safer but less fun. I sit on a huge stone, take off my shoes and socks, and cool my feet in the icy pool below the torrent.

And then  we leave a wide track for a tiny path through the forest and back to the cars.

Friday and Saturday
I'm holed up with paperwork and sermon preparations. Conference calls take a few hours.

The family comes and goes, familiarizing themselves with neighborhoods and amenities.

They also grab a ladder and fix the plastic drooping from the skylight upstairs. It's a family affair, this repair!

Sunday
There's a really good band at church. After the service, we head to Bumi S for lunch. What a privilege to celebrate God's goodness with spiritual friends. And to rest up in the afternoon.

Read more:
*You have made the Lord your refuge. Psalm 91:9 ESV

*Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. Isaiah 5:20 ESV

*The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building. Nehemiah 2:20 ESV

*We are God’s fellow workers. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

*For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21-22 ESV

*We who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:18 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Omnipotent God, through your mighty works you created us, your workers. In all that we busily do to prepare for your coming this Advent season, remind us that our work is for your good and perfect will. We are thankful that you are our refuge indeed. Thank you for guidance in this life and for our future home with you. Help us to bring your consolation to others. 

Most gracious Lord, thank you for the example of your life that you have set before us. Help us as we share in your sufferings to remember that we will one day also share in your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.