Birthdays and sensory awareness

I'm a sensory person. I like the mild growl of the aquarium pump, the sound of someone's feet in the hall, and the hiss-hiss of the rain that starts today at suppertime. The dogs have eaten so they run for their crates and curl up.

Senses? I can't sleep with lights on. I cook by smell. I naturally surround myself with beauty - nature, art, kind people, and animals. W and I like to try new foods, too.

The exception is that, though I grew up as a musician in a musical household from age 4, I never play music unless it's techno-buzz or heavy metal for work focus. Music messes up the tunes and rhythms always running through my head.

A picture ledge lets you move art around. If you're a restless occupant like I am, it saves the house from becoming a pincushion of nail-holes. The new Bail birds look best with other bright paintings. That means moving every other painting. I like the new views in the end.

Fortunately, W is a gadget genius and general handyman. We agree that I dream things up and he builds them. After I assemble an IKEA chandelier,  I want to hang it in 3 places around the porch. He screws in the hooks. (I paint the hooks to blend into the ceiling first. Why else have a can of auto-paint in every color, if not for such emergencies? hehehe)

The chandelier has 4 candles and a central bulb. My goal is to light it without an extension cord. I want to rip out the electrical components inside. And I'm looking for an emergency bulb like those used for sconces and other "inconvenient" lamps. (The bulb charges in a regular lamp.)

"What's that?" W asks. "Never heard of it." But he finds the bulb, figures out where to buy it, and researches how to turn it on. He strips out the electrical components and rigs a tiny on-off switch (below) that short-circuits a remaining stub of wire. It works great!

We eat supper outside without the usual attack of mosquitoes. Between the four candles, the bugs stay away.

For supper, W orders an $8 (incl delivery) sample pack from down the hill. There are 3 kinds noodles, 3 appetizers, and a whole lot of fried wontons. We put a little of every kind on our plates and close the boxes. = Way too much food. 

The noodles, ordered at levels 1, 2, and 3 from a spice index of #1-9, meet our tongues as "Normal," "Hot Enough to Create Steam," and "Face on Fire!" I like spicy food but I can't imagine a #4 or #5, never mind a #9. We put the fire out with mango juice.

The whole house smells marvelous as evening falls. Last Sunday, Hela gave me a 2' (70cm) stem that unleashes its fragrance as soon as it starts to get dark. "One of my favorites to share with you," she says. I think it's called "Queen of the Night." Yummy.

Today Leo and Doris have birthdays. The team sings "Happy Birthday" to Leo on his 12th. (No leaking Doris' age, though.)

Since she lives in Europe, we wait for the day to send greetings. "It's considered unlucky in Germany to wish someone a happy birthday before the day," my brother informed me a few years ago. What!? We were traveling that year and anticipated his birthday. Not a good thing apparently.

Wednesday

Cultural question: do you harvest the fruit on your side of the fence when the tree is on the other side? "Yes, certainly," says a neighbor. But you have to clean up the tree once it's harvested. Ok. We can do that. There's a small clump of bananas ripening in the side yard. The helpers will share it with us.

The walk is beautiful today. The flowers I thought were white spires on the hedge are actually veined with green. 

And the neighbor's lilies are in bloom again. They put out flower heads a few times a year.

Less attractive but more useful are the dozens of chickens picking at the garbage along the street. The little chicks have grown up into busy hens and territorial roosters.

It's date morning so we go out for breakfast . We make unusually boring choices: pancakes and waffles to counter the spicy food of yesterday. After that, we call dear friends and family members.
I find a book that might interest our book group.

 "It's controversial," cautions one member. "Do you want to lead it next month?" Sure, why not.

The prolific orchid on the porch has 4 new blooms.

W and I walk out of the neighborhood to Baby Dutch for lunch. Sometimes it's cheaper to eat out than cook at home. Their specialty is Dutch Baby pancakes.

At the gelato place across the street, this multi-colored flower catches my eye.

So does this "Christmas tree" bloom - at 1' tall, it's one of the prettiest things around.

Vilo Gelato has a lot of places to sit: little houses and booths.

You can even climb up to the treehouse to eat. W and I split one scoop of Almond-Brittle flavor and skip the circular staircase.

The neighbor's wall is bright yellow at the bottom and dripping with flowers above.

Thursday

Our eldest grandchild turns 11 today. Happy Birthday, Miss K! One of the costs of living abroad is missing family milestones. We caught the first two birthdays and then flew away from Seattle July 1, 2014. We haven't been at her birthday since, one of our regrets.

11 is the most vivid childhood birthday for me. I got a pair of nylon stockings, a binder to write in, and a 5-year diary, among other things. I started writing seriously then, without thinking about it. I sometimes wonder - if I'd been handed paints and an art pad ...

Read more:

*The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10

*You are my hiding-place and my shield; I hope in your word. Psalm 119:114

*The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8

Moravian Prayer: Lord, we turn our hearts to you in praise for the safety of your shield. We know we are safe in your presence and we are thankful for your protection. Our lives are dedicated to you in all that we do: sharing your love for us with the world, knowing that we are not worthy of such great love. May our words speak your truth to all who can hear. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Living in the pipeline of God's supply

Are you aware that God knows your name? That his eye is on you and those you love? That he offers you the resources you will need at the right time? Today I want to encourage you to flow in God's pipeline of supply rather than in your own efforts.

I've watched with delight as people with the gift of giving receive resources from God and pass it on. What fun that is for giver and recipient. Unexpected generosity happens twice to us at the beginning of this week.

"He owns the cattle on a thousand hills," said the song-writer in Mazmur (Psalm) 50, "the wealth in every mine." It takes faith and trust to wait and to be confident that God wants to bless you, no matter if you're in a poor or rich season. W and I have been in both.

Some of us have more than others. We set the table for others to eat. Some of us are praying for God to provide for great needs. We eat at those tables with great relief.

Some of us are asking God's direction for the future. Life is not always easy. It's not one success after another. Living under God's hand doesn't mean you can be lazy! You still have to work hard.

But as we give - and take - what God puts into our hands, life becomes abundant and full. You'll look back with wonder and thanksgiving when you live this way.

One morning, I check empty frames to see if one fits the acrylic painting from Bali. Nope, everything we have is too small. Then I remember an abandoned frame. No one wants it though I've tried to give it away many times.

I wander over and am happily surprised. It's the perfect size. Its matte UV-blocking glass won't obscure the bright colors. The mid-brown color of the matting is just right, too. I would never have chosen that shade. This art match shows up together. W helps assemble the frame and lifts it onto the picture ledge.

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Pak Chandra speaks in the morning Gathering at BIC. BIC serves English speakers and people with an international outlook. Most continents are represented this morning.

A group of English students visits. Many have never been in an international church so they are hesitant. They say afterward that they're pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome. Most of us internationals - Indonesian or otherwise - have been strangers in one setting or another. We know how lonely a crowd can feel. So we want everyone to feel at home with us.

Afterward, it's off to lunch at Maxi's for whoever wants to come. We're home before 2:00.

Monday

We're up early enough to walk at 6am. The streets are cool, overcast, and empty. All 3 dogs, including our little visitor Casey, make 2 loops with us. At 2 miles, it's a short walk but the hills and the altitude of Bandung take as much effort as a 6-mile stroll on the flat streets of Bali.

The neighbor's hedge is still flaming. W stands nearby for scale.

Because I am yawning during calls, I lie down briefly and fall fast asleep. I wake 2 hours later in time for lunch. Well, that was unexpected. I joke with friends that we had a walking holiday last week - and now I need a vacation.

The porch is ready for such an indulgence. We eat lunch and drink tea outside. The dry season hasn't come this year so skies are cloudy and it rains every day. Temperatures are a comfortable 70sF (mid-20sC). Of course, I'm in long sleeves and long trousers. It's way too cold for short sleeves and capris.

I brew my third cup of tea (this one peppermint) and start language study. This week's to-do list is full. Write a 30-Days of Believing series for use at Advent or Lent in the coming year. Write next Sunday's talk. 2 newsletters are also due soon.

I grab a scrap of paper and plan the menu for next week's movie night. It's our first movie night in 2 1/2 years. W's off to the wholesaler for supplies.

We do another short (2 mile) walk mid-afternoon, W poses in the lane under bamboo scaffolding with a narrow ledge for plasterers. They're covering up the loose-brick wall overhead.

These layers (starting from W's head-height to the bamboo scaffolding) don't give us much confidence in the strength of the wall. Concrete brick. Stone. Clay brick. Going 3 storeys high.

While we were away last week, Pak G scraped the peeling paint off our neighborhood gate and gave it a whole new look. The tropics are hard on finishes.

Tuesday

We skip our walk to record Sunday's talk. The theme is "better together." We can never reach our true potential without people to help us and people we are helping. That's one reason we love our team so much. 

Most of us meet online this morning but some of us are on the porch. Sam lets Casey snuggle with him during the team meeting. Now that's a happy dog!

Sam's downsizing a restaurant so if anyone needs appliances and other supplies, I'll connect you. We'll rehome one of his commercial fridges for movie night supplies. I've been praying about when and where that fridge would appear - and just like the picture frame, it shows up at the right time.

The yard man points out trees that have seeded and are growing on our clay-tile roof. "You'll get rain inside if you let those roots grow. I can chop them down," he volunteers. He clambers over the balcony planter onto the roof to do that. Yikes. 

How grateful we are for a home, for a venue like the porch, and especially for the helpers who maintain house and yard for the blessing of others. 

"How did you find this place?" someone asks me this week. Well, God chose it for us. It was next door but we didn't know it was here until the owner sought us out and asked us to move in. We also didn't know it would be this full of people week after week.

Let me ask you 3 questions: 

• In what ways does God want to care for you?
• Are you asking for his provision and protection?
• Are you willing to obey him and be generous with what he puts in your hands?

Read more:

*The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.

"I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50: 1, 9-15

*He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? Psalm 94:9

*Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves. Zephaniah 3:16-17 NIV

*Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

*The disciples got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach. John 21:3-4

Moravian Prayer: Sustaining God, you know each heart before the prayer is fully formed. Before the words leave our lips, you have turned an ear to listen. We thank you this day for the blessing of your lasting presence and steadfast care.

Ever-present Lord, we pray for the comfort of your closeness and the boldness to move past our fears. We know we hesitate and carry feelings of inadequacy, but we are ready to move forward with the assurance of you at our side. Amen.

Foreign food and lots of walking in Bali - and then we're home again.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

We're halfway through our holiday in Bali. It's incredible that we live in such a beautiful and diverse country, with this tourist destination a quick flight from home.

We walk 18,000 steps - to the bus terminal and back, to a German restaurant for lunch, through the traditional market in Denpassar, and to supper at an artisan pizza place. We finish with a deep tissue massage ($17) that almost tears my muscles off the bones. It's just what I need. And the walk home is short. The day in pictures:

Temples and beaches. Everywhere.

The waves roll in with clouds overhead. Surfers ride the waves and splash into the sea.

Streetside, a pig's head reminds us that pork is available everywhere. In Bandung, the Muslim majority means you have to search hard for daging sapi (pig meat). Want some suclin pig? Bali is where you'll find it.

There's a duck or two hanging in the windows.

The rivers drain the daily rain.

People sit here and there, waiting. Many are out of work until the tourists return.

Exotic flowers are everywhere.

In all shapes.

And all sizes. These are as small as buttons.

There are gas stations - and portable gas stations like the one below.

Many craftsmen depend on wholesalers like this one to move their good locally and abroad.

You can find all kinds of foods, catering to Indonesians and tourists.

Totals are rounded up or down on the bill: the .025 at the end of your number is only worth 2c, so why bother?

Thursday

We're both sore from the deep tissue massages last night. I dust nutmeg and other spices off my PJs and the towel I slept on. A hot shower loosens up muscles and washes away the herbal potion on my back.

On the porch, we eat mango yogurt and a breakfast cookie. The handyman who will fix the doorknob shows up to see what's needed. W heads out to have the lockset he bought revised by the lockshop. It lets him walk an extra 6000 steps. But it's no-go. it can't be reversed.

I choose to stay in until the 50-minute walk to lunch. The eatery is the last thing on this week's checklist. W, who says he has no agenda, likes to explore from morning to night. I need the exercise but things are starting to look the same on every corner and in every window. And I need rest - though our Bandung porch is more relaxing than anywhere else.

I'm amazed at how much more fun it is to be able to chit-chat with Indonesians in bahasa Indonesia. Even my limited words make a difference.

Over 14,000 steps ... 7 miles. I'm walked out for the day, which I'd planned as a rest day. We do enjoy walking, esp with the brisk wind at this time of year.

On every hand, there's skill and craftsmanship with local materials. Some arts are passed down through families. Look at this rattan creation around  coffee shop entry!

The glass-blowers do amazing work. Buy either the 15" vase or the triple-decker on wood for $17.

There are button stores.

And shell crafts.

It's fun to spot things that have disappeared from American streets, like this VW "Thing."

We indulge in Gusto's Gelato to cool us down.

A new Hindu temple is being built along the main road. Sexuality is a big part of Hindu worship. Naked statues, wooden and stone penises, and other body parts are sold in every souvenir shop.

Down the street, we spot this sign on another temple.

Phonetic spellings on signs are part of the fun of reading English in other places.

Friday

My phone keeps ringing. I'm on someone's spam list. One day I get 20 calls. Usually I get 5-10 in a day. I'm considering inviting them to love God and follow Jesus. That will probably take my number off their list. Perhaps an offer to pray for the caller as well? Can't hurt.

We have a wonderful breakfast  W has Eggs Benedict with lots of sauce. I order avocado toast. The eggs are perfectly poached, the avocado is not too squishy, and the whole-wheat toast is crisp. The tomato and edamame are tasty additions.

W hurries back for a Zoom work call while I finish my tea. We can't skip this annual meeting even on vacation. It takes 2 hours to get through the business. Nice to see everyone's faces, even online. Afterward, I catch up on my journal, make a few strokes with watercolors, and rest.

"Want to walk to lunch?" It's just a few miles away so we do. There are statues everywhere.

The Italian place is highly rated but the food is ok, not stellar. I have ravioli.

We order a $5 pizza for supper. that's delicious.

There are shops on both sides of the street.

Saturday

Our early morning walk on the beach is stunning. Water flowing in an out on the shore creates these patterns of light and dark. I keep thinking how I'd love the shapes on wallpaper or a backsplash.

The textures and layers of the view are spectacular. Sand, foam, waves, and a sky billowing with clouds. God unveils his creativity every morning, whether or not someone notices.

It's dark though the sun's come up. Winter in Bali is cloudy most of the day, which means it's cooler.

A tractor's tires make amazing patterns on the beach. It will be gone in 10 minutes: the tide's coming in.

We find the hotel, pack the last few things, and say goodbye to the beautiful setting.

The airport is full and the lines long. The young couple in front of us intrigues me. She's in full black garb. He's in a T-shirt and shorts. Hmmm. I suspect one is more comfortably dressed for the tropics than the other.

It takes less than 2 hours to fly to Bandung. We stop at the grocer to stock up for the week ahead. When we get home, we unpack laundry and gifts. This beaded placemat is destined for Texas.

Once everything is put away, I unroll the canvas from the art market. The intersection of lines in the middle and the disappearing neck of the upper bird confuse the eye. Can you spot the changes between the first and second photo?

I add yellow, green, brown, and a few white lines to sort out beaks, necks, and branches. 10 minutes of small changes make it more coherent. There's more to do but I'll have to think about it.

Our late lunch is simple: bread, a beef patty, and mango juice. We are feasted out.

Read more:

*Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever. Isaiah 55:6-13

*Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:7-10

Prayer: Dear God, you who love us and call us to yourself, we admit that we cannot save ourselves. We believe in the provision you made in your Son Jesus, confessing our sins and accepting your forgiveness. And we commit to living for you, today and in the future. Amen.