Selamat siang and more

Turn around twice and 2 weeks of language school have flown by. Kristi and I pass our first test and make it through into the rough beginning of the next phase: so many new words. It's more fun learning this time around. A few highlights of the past weeks:

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The crates of glass purchased in Bali arrive, a week late. Before the delivery man leaves, Pak G pries the wood frame open to see how the glass and wood supports have fared. Inspector Caninen Gypsy gives his 2c. Everything looks fine until we take the bowls out.

The other people's purchases are fine. A bowl that I hand-picked has smashed in transit. The handblown glass may have been too thin. There's no possible rescue.

I toss the glass and prop the leftover wood support on a shelf in the nook. The nook is an interesting corner, even if the quilt on the table isn't going as quickly as hoped. There's been little time to sit and stitch.

Thursday

Last Thursday we walked through forest and tea fields. The stoney roads are killers of shoes and foot soles. Our feet were sore the next day from the constant adjustments to uneven rocky surfaces.

One highlight was this massive root system - we scrambled up toward the tree trunk for a photo.

This week we're on different terrain entirely in the mountains. First we have to balance our way through the rice fields for a couple of kilometers. In some places, the trail is barely a foot wide.

In other places, the balancing act is about gripping the oddly-shaped rocks of the trail with our shoes so we don't fall into the mud of the rice paddies. The fields are newly planted with seedlings.

Our destination is a waterfall.

There and back, we negotiate bridges. Most are bamboo - some even have a one-stalk railing for a light grip. It won't do anything to keep you from falling into the river if you tip over, though.

Friday

The flowers from last week at BIC are fading but still ok. After class, I update them for the weekend ahead.

20 long-stemmed roses ($5) come every few weeks from Ruth's farmer friends. Today, after we poke a dozen or more roses into the oasis to refresh the bouquet, it refreshed. We won't order a new arrangement for Sunday.

Saturday

Everything grows here, even the moss on the brick supporting the washing machine on the rooftop terrace.

Beside the entry, there's a selection of leaves for flower arranging.

And the trees are decked in glorious blooms again. Seems like every time we have a few days of rain, there's a new burst of color.

The cicadas strum their chests in a continual racket as rainy season draws to a close.  This 4" one, lying on his back in the road, tipped himself back upright and toddled off into the grass.

It's a dual holiday - Ramadan month for Muslims and the Easter season for followers of Jesus. Traffic is picking up, whether it's motorcycles (driven equally by men and women of all ages), motorcycle "pickup trucks," or regular vehicles.

W makes pizza dough while I chop the toppings. We enjoy a pizza night with houseguests who arrive from the train station in mid-afternoon.

Sunday

Sam speaks at BIC for Palm Sunday. Afterward, we eat a good lunch at Ethnic with teammates. The young adults hung out at our place last Sunday, so this is their week off.

Later in the day, we're have dinner at Nara Park with new friends.

Kristi is amused by her chocolate milkshake, which has a cone tipped on top.

Monday

On the morning walk, W and I notice the beauty - a double-hibiscus bloom

and a frogger who didn't make it. He's elegant in death.

The mushrooms are out in fields and forest.

I cancel some early meetings to send off our weekend guests. Messages and agendas are arranged between conversations. The connections and appointments for the week ahead begin to fall into place.

Once our friends head out to a clothing outlet on the way to the train station, Kristi and I hop onto Zoom for our third week of language school.

I take a few minutes during a tea break to swap the Bali sarongs on the LR pillows. I'm ready for a  lighter palette - it's mindless relaxation to move a space around.

The doctoral student whose dissertation I'm supervising comes over in the afternoon. He leaves with direction for the next steps and renewed enthusiasm for his worthy project. I'm glad.

Kristi and I study into the evening. There's so much to absorb.

Read more:

*Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. Psalm 31:24

*Through Jesus Christ we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:2

Moravian Prayer: O God, infuse a measure of patience in us, a confident expectation of your promises. Strengthen us—body, mind, and spirit—and bring us comfort, Lord, with your unending love. Amen.

A birthday and an evolving habitat

Monday, March 28, 2022

Our youngest son was my early 33rd birthday gift, years ago. He and I celebrate our birthdays this week. He's turned into a good man, which of course makes his parents happy.

"We are the richest people in the world because our children love and serve Jesus," my dad used to say. I echo him today. True wealth is about contentment and peace, not money.

I write short daily Lenten daily meditations. (You can subscribe or just check in once in a while; find them here.) Each year in the 40 days before Easter, followers of Jesus reflect on what he has done for us. It's been an amazing season already, and this is Day 24.

W and I walk the dogs and run into a class of young students. The girls squeal and shriek and pet the poodles, who tolerate the stroking with grace. Lizzy, who sent the two dogs our way, says, "That's what poodles do." They are so good with people, even though our dogs rarely are around kids.

Meanwhile, Gypsy growls and barks at a girl who lunges at him. I stroke his head and he calms. It's a lot of movement and a lot of noise. The girls are delighted to pose for a selfie.

My first online call in the office starts at 7:00. I call Mom between meetings and wrap up online before 2:00 pm. I missed breakfast but find some nuts and seeds in the office fridge for lunch. There are all kinds of things to finish at work, so time flies.

I walk past the LIPI neighborhood sentry and call out, "Selamat siang!" (Have a blessed midday.)

He corrects me, "No, Mrs. It's 'Selamat sore' already" (late afternoon). What? The clock in his sentry post says it's almost 4:00.

Supper is a special treat. Friends Dr Hanna and Alice send over Chinese noodles and other dishes from Queen Restaurant.

There's SO much food that we call Melvi and Kristi down to help us make a dent in it. Delicious.

I've forgotten to send the Lenten links to the various venues so I send those after supper. What else is undone? I haven't sent W videos for Mondays in April. I prefer to record in advance (and do other tasks ahead) so that emergencies don't derail us. I'm in a(tired but grateful mood so I shoot 4 of those before sundown, too. A working birthday, that's for sure.

When the gate buzzes after dark, it's a gift of beauty and abundance from Ruth. I unwrap 60 long-stemmed roses and put them into the sink basin to soak.

There are enough for 3 big bouquets - one in the principal bedroom,

one on the dining table, and 

one in the living room. Oh my. They are gorgeous. Thank you, friend! The house is full of red velvet.

Tuesday

W walks me to the office early to record Sunday's talk for BIC Online. Every week, we get to study scripture, present the talk twice, and reflect on God's goodness. It's work of the best sort, fulfilling and transforming for us. This coming Sunday we'll discuss 2X people saw God in person - and lived to tell others about it.

One wall of the gang (lane) that borders our area is crumbling back to its original brickwork.

The wall on the opposite side of the lane backs two houses under construction. Those are taking over the empty lots at the entry to our neighborhood. Since maintenance is not a high value, the walls on both sides of the little lane may look similar soon.

Our area was once shunned by adult children who sold off their parent's old homes. In the last four years, it has become popular again. Wealthy families are moving in and building their dream homes. We watch with bemusement as restaurants open, weekend parking becomes impossible, and the neighborhood rejuvenates.

Birthday wishes arrive yesterday and today due to the time offset with friends in Canada and the USA. It's fun to read the names attached to greetings - we've made memories with people across the planet. One of my favorite parts of the day is Mom's prayer over me this morning.

The team meeting and language school are online. I snag a protein bar and fortify myself with tea. Home in the afternoon, we meet new friends on the porch for a couple of hours.

The final meeting of the day starts at 6:30. I click out afterward with good counsel and many decisions ahead.

Wednesday

W and I go for our Wednesday breakfast date. Then I head for the office while he goes home - he has errands to run in town. At work, JP and I sign the next year's contract for meetings in the conference center. He and Judy are good hosts and managers. Various training events take place on the grounds, for children through adults.

In the office to store the document in the files, I tap on a drawer. Swarms of hundreds of ants explode from the file cabinet. I spray them down, watching them twitch and fall to the floor. Ugh. That will fill a pungki (dustbin) in a hurry.

The office is quiet for now. When we start back on site, it will be livelier.

When I get home, I find a spot for the table that's been in a corner for weeks. A few minutes of movement take all the tension out of my head.

Suddenly it's 10:30 and time to head out for our school day. Kristi and I travel to class on site but return before 3:00, brains exhausted.

Ruth's roses have opened up overnight in glorious fashion. She tells me she can order 20 long-stemmed roses @$5US. What!? I arrange to have her deliver them every 2 weeks. "I don't care what color! Whatever they have." Aren't they gorgeous?

Josh and Clau are back from a trip with goodies to share. A fun thing about travel is bringing back treats for each other.

The yard man cuts the tall grass next door today, clearing away the haven for snakes. It's nice to have things neat again. The helper sprays the corners in the work-shed where ants and termites are busily chewing wood; they leave piles of compost behind. Today is already better than yesterday.

I'll have one more meeting tonight. Then tomorrow, we will clear our heads with a walk in the mountains.

Read more:

*The Lord will send his angel before you. Genesis 24:7

*The angel said to Peter, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real. Acts 12:8-9

*God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19

Moravian Prayer: God of wonders, whose holy message is carried on arms of wind and flame, whose marvelous works surround us even when unseen, let us sing aloud the praise of your help and ever-watchful care.

Blessed Jesus, we pray for change—real change and true transformation of our hearts and of the world we work to build every day. May your loving purposes and your holy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth and in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Happy birthday, Jono - and a walk in the park

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

March is an intermediate month. Even its journal page looks "between times." Every month I slather paint, markers, inks, or other art supplies across a double spread. Then I record the highlights of the month.

It's nice to sit outside with the breeze blowing across the balcony. But there's not much time. Mornings and early afternoons are spent at language school. Kristi and I learned about 100 words this week, but unlike the last time words were dumped on me, I actually know them.

IEP is a different kind of school. We haven't spoken this week in class. Instead, we've listened and pointed as the nurturer (their name for instructor) has spoken. And we've reviewed there and at home. We're pretty sure of what we've learned. Amazing. This is about a third of the words ...

Thursday

It's our youngest son's birthday today. We have to wait until evening to call but he's on our minds. It's hard to be far away on milestone days.

Today, the workers are cleaning the sheds next door. The ants have chewed through the doorframes. Various critters have made themselves at home so there are drifts of animal poop, dirt, and wood chips. A wasp's nest is forming outside one windowsill. I knock it off.

You can't leave a place alone for long in the tropics. The jungle and the wild things quickly take over. The rooms have stood empty for over a half-year so maintenance is a chore.

It takes the women all day to remove dust from the high shelves and wash grit off floors and walls. The windows need another pass - they're barely see-through, even with the first scrub.

Meanwhile the garden is bursting with color.

After 3 days in class, Kristi and I are happy to head into the mountain forests with W and the rest of the Thursday Walkers. I'm out of shape, puffing uphill and skittering down. Half of us fall on the trail, which is slippery with layers of leaves and compost. No one is hurt and because it's damp not wet, we're not that dirty either. The dogs have a ball.

It's our friend Monique's birthday. She's younger than ever!

The local sap-collectors are busy around the pine trees. Their little plastic cups hang from cuts in the bark, catching the sticky sap that is used for glue, paint, and other goods.

At the beginning of the walk, we're clean and rested. That doesn't last long.

Afterward, we eat lunch at Sindang Reret. The tables inside the boats are full. Other tables are available. Australia, France, Canada, USA, and Pakistan are represented in our group.

On the way home, we pass a pet store. W stops to buy a replacement LED light for a fishbowl @$4.75. At that price I might just get another for Zoom calls. (There are bright warm whites plus a blue LED.)

The shop sells fish and supplies inside and birds in cages along the street, including chickens and a crowing rooster. The hens cackle in a competitive racket. SOOO loud!

I spot an unusually-colored lovebird. W asks the seller how much: $9. "Want it for your birthday?" (coming soon.) Sure. The seller grabs the bird and sticks him in a paper sack with a few holes in it. 

S/He joins our other two, who've been with us for 3 years. They pick on him and chase him around the cage.  I would have put them side by side in cages to acclimate but the seller told W:  "No problem. Just stick him in with the others." Hmmm. We'll see how that goes.

Friday

We call Jonathan, who's still celebrating his birthday in N America. W and I gift him with the worst rendition of Happy Birthday, started too high with sleep-voices that haven't spoken many words yet. We're all cracking up. J is gracious about it. We pray over him and wish him the best of the day and the coming year.

Picking up Indonesian, W's enjoying the Duolingo app. Today is this week's last day of language school for Kristi and me. When we return home in mid-afternoon, the helper has washed some decrepit furniture from the other yard  and moved it into the sheds. The landlord says we can use the empty rooms until the place is rented out.

In exchange, our yard guy keeps the high grass cut and prunes the branches. Good for us and the landlord - it's harder for jungle creatures and snakes to feel at home in house and yard when things are trimmed. 

The landlord's nephew stops by to check the condition of the place, just as things are tidied. Our big dogs run around both yards. They make a ruckus when someone come near. At night, they might even take a chunk out of an unannounced visitor ...

Mom sent along a beautiful tablecloth a while back, which has new food spots on it. I take a picture so that it will be ironed back into a flat shape.

"We need your Mom to come do the tablecloth, don't you think?" W jokes. She's always found laundry and ironing satisfying work. Her linens are clean and perfectly pressed, including this one.

Hard to believe it's the weekend again. We have a watch party coming up on Sunday. Can't wait.

Saturday

The groomers make beauties of our two shaggy poodles. They loved their Thursday romp in the woods but it's time to clean up. Gypsy barks his head off at the two men and then lies down close to me. He hates being groomed and has the day off. Lucky dog.

After an afternoon walk in the drizzle, the dogs chill out on the steps. The poodle hair is already starting to curl.

At the end of the month, I write newsletters, which is my main work for today. First, IbuAde arrives to unknot the kinks in my back; she's a kind and competent masseuse. I could have a massage 2X a week here for what one massage costs me in Seattle. (But ...nope! There's too much to do and too little time already - hehe)

I pick flowers for the little umbrella stand in the bathroom. It's the perfect size for counter storage.

Sunday

W kneads pizza dough while I prepare toppings. He par-bakes the crusts before we eat. Everyone  chooses their own toppings - so good.

A group of 14 attends the watch party on the porch. We talk about our takeaways and pray together. before our pizza lunch.

Pak Danny brings organic and aquaculture greens from Tanikota Farm to share with everyone.

We tidy up, everyone pitching in and Rafael and Kirsten helping out. We're thankful for the helper who will do the final cleanup tomorrow. Then it's time for a Sabbath rest.

Read more:

*The Lord said, “When they call to me, I will answer them.” Psalm 91:15

*Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150

*The same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. Romans 10:12

Moravian Prayer; Sending Savior, bless our feet with good news, and send us to preach by faithful word and loving service. May all who hear, believe—and all who believe, call on you, that they may share life in your name and perfect will. Amen.