Cathedral day and Christmas in Brisbane

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Our view from the Eye of Brisbane

We're off to Brisbane on the train. The airbnb is downtown at half the price of a cheap hotel. It's not the cleanest (totally guy-cleaned - my sons would have thought it wonderful?) but it has all the amenities and is near town.

The pool is filled with leaves from the enormous benjamina fig looming overhead; the pool filter is also not working, so my swimsuit stays in the bag.

I don't realize how Christmas-deprived I've felt until we hit the streets - the decorations, cheerful "Merry Christmas" greetings, and lights fill me up.

There's even a full-scale nativity scene in one of the church windows as we walk home.

 And at night, we walk through a street caroling concert - such fun to hear how "walking' in a winter wonderland" is transformed by Australia's 35o (mid 90s) heat into "sweating in the steamy summer land."

The kangaroo skeleton in the Brisbane Museum is the only kangaroo we see.

 The modern art gallery is showing its every-three-years-super-display of Asian art. An aboriginal artist has filled a room with a swoop of feathers tied to 8 traditional tools (rock, arrows, etc.). It's gorgeous.

A Muslim artist has used straight pins to create patterns on cloth hangings. Those have to be heavy!

The light streams onto a wall through the prism created by a bee installation: bees come through the glass tunnel to build their cones and deposit honey in full view (a few hours a day before the warden hides them behind a velvet panel.)

 There are the usual strange and textured offerings that only the artist understands, like this room-sized one. People near us scratch their heads.

 A tangle of textures is woven into an enormous wall hanging (this might be 1/100 of it).

There's also an eye-catching sculpture outside, an elephant tipped on its face. The river walk is lovely though.

Saturday

The day has come! Scott is being ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Church of Australia.

 I love being in spaces dedicated to the glory of God.

Scott spots us as he processions up the aisle.

Overhead, someone waves a fire-styled windsock to represent the presence of the Holy Spirit. (An incense substitute for the fragrance-sensitive? I miss the smell of worship.)

The liturgy for ordination is beautiful. Everyone-who's-anyone participates, from the archbishop to retired priests.

We love the words and the blessings spoken over Scott. We pray along - and ask God to anoint him for life and service.

After, there's a decidedly non-Baptist reception near the entry doors - with a variety of wines to accompany the coffee, tea, sushi, meats, and other delicacies.

From there, our friends invite us to their family home. The children buzz around and dip in the pool with delighted shrieks. We sit on a porch overlooking the yard. Waldemar talks theology with Pa, Scott's grandpa, and the rest of us eat a great meal and chat. I especially enjoy visiting with Sarah's mom -

we hear stories of Scott growing up, of the families' love for God, each other, and his Church. It is a refreshing time for us. Scott and Sarah drive us back into town. We crash into sleep without even eating supper. Ok, so we had some chocolate and tea ...

Sunday
Can it be time to fly home already? We're taking the first flight with a decent connection - but still miss the Children's Program at BIC. Sounds like it was great fun and a blessing, too.

Even the return views from the airplane are indescribable. I hold my breath, looking out the window and worshipping the God who oversees this planet - every corner has its beauty and a way to sustain itself (if humans cooperate).

   The airport transfer on our return is Bali - with its Hindu based culture.

Once we arrive in Bandung, W negotiates a taxi (3X the normal price, but our driver has been given time off). We lug our suitcases, filled with snacks, across the street and through the parking lot to the car. We are happy to drive into the gate, mid-evening.

Read more:

*In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

*Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:32

*When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

*Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:7-10 NIV*Clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24

Moravian Prayer: God, like a seamstress of salvation, sew for us clothing that fits us for your service; create a clean heart within us; redeem us from our ill-fitting vanities; and bless us with righteousness. We pray in Christ. Amen

Sunshine Coast!

I wrote a whole post on our time in Australia. And it has disappeared. So here are some pics -

Saturday, November 24, 2018
Near the end of the day we have a visit with William and Maddie. Love these two. Maddie has set up our Advent angels.

And we take a picture by the tree.

Sunday

After church, we go for lunch at Bumi - Gabi takes our picture.

Monday
After study and team meeting, we leave Bandung, land in Bali for a few hours (an "ok" lounge at the airport), and then catch an overnight flight to Australia and a summery beginning to Advent and Christmas.

We love our time with Scott and Sarah. They pick us up at Brisbane airport and spend the day with us on the Sunshine Coast. I am stunned by the beauty of the beaches

- and the great food!

The signs on this surfing beach are new to us.

Tea at a friend's cafe is wonderful, too.

Tuesday
Scott and Sarah take us for a morning walk in the bush - except W's stomach is not cooperating and I still have foot issues. The wild turkeys make the view even more interesting.

Because I'm not walking far, I have time to be thrilled by the surroundings. In the peeling bark of the paper trees, I see pictures - the glory of the Australian ordinary.

Sarah takes us to breakfast and sees us off to Brisbane.

We take one last look at the beach before we go ...  and snap the glass mountains from the train windows.

Brisbane is a treat as well - more on that in the next post.

Read more:

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:5–6

He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8

Moravian Prayer: God, like a newborn’s mother, you wrap us up in your protecting arms. We adore you forever. Keep us from everything that assails; build us up for our journey and watch over our every step. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Rainy river - on the street

The sun's up, like every morning. And later it will probably rain - with gushers surging down the hills, through town, and into the rivers. Check this out.

Rainy season lures ants into the house - they're everywhere and we're at war. It also means that flowers are bursting with color in every garden corner - these 5" balls of red popped up along the driveway. Gorgeous, no?

Thursday
Thanksgiving Day in the States. Thankful for so many things! We make a few calls to friends and family throughout the day.

I still am not allowed to hike. Instead, we head to the office for a look ahead at the Christmas season. Details. Details. Details to be considered in advance. I hang a few ornaments on the Giving Tree and finish writing Sunday's talk.

We actually go to a shopping center - but not for clothes. I need office supplies. The streets flow with water after an hour of rain. We're caught in a rive that is dangerous enough for most motorcyclists to seek shelter until the blitz river abates.

In the evening, it's clear again. W and I walk to Dr H and Alice's place for a delicious supper and study.

The food tastes even better than it looks! Alice is an amazing chef. And the company is warm.

The grandkids call (thanks, Melissa!) as we are falling asleep - our grandson shows off the letter he got from my dad - Grandpapa. My folks sent a parcel with the socks he left in Grandpapa's workshop and a $5 bill for his birthday; he can't wait to show it to us. So cute. Sorry, not allowed to post pics of the kids but here's his funny letter.

The strangest times when living abroad are those when family gathers without us. We miss them.

Friday
Another trip to the office. Some talks are easier to craft than others. This one, on spiritual gifts and their role in the Church, is a struggle. I taught a class on the topic last summer in the Philippines; that feels like a walk in the park, compared to this.

I also need to visit the foot doctor - the custom orthotic inserts have arrived for my shoes. Ouch - they hurt the feet as the arch is very high. Apparently the weight of the body is supposed to be on the arch. Which is is, with these inserts!

The doc says, "Wear them for 2 weeks. If they're not comfortable, bring them back. Wear them for 6 months and that should take care of your feet."

A few months ago, I took several pieces of lace to the tailor. A friend returned to South Africa after studying fashion design in Jakarta, gifted me with 2 boxes of fabric when she left. I'm finally using some of it. And today's the day to pick it up.

On the way back from the doc, the driver finds the lane to the tailor's house after our first try dead-ends in a construction zone.

This will be a good evening jacket for a special event.

Most clothes are a good fit. I ask for a few changes to one that hangs like a sack. Sack-like tops are popular here with aging ladies; our thickening tummies disappear under the little tents. No thanks.

It's a rare treat to have a new blouse, skirt, and jacket. I don't like shopping for clothes, even though we live in the textile center of Indonesia.

Read more:
*Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 NIV

*Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 NIV

*If you seek the Lord, he will be found by you. 2 Chronicles 15:2

*Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Matthew 7:7

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, you call us. Silence, for a moment, the clamor of this world so that we may hear the whisper of your voice within our souls. Having heard, may we seek you. Having sought, may we find the door of your mercy standing ajar for all who long for home. Amen.