A Whoosh here and there - and 25 good years

Saturday, November 2, 2024

At 6:45 a.m., PakG takes us to the station to catch a feed train to the next city. It's our first time riding the much-promoted Whoosh high speed train to Jakarta. It doesn't stop in Bandung proper where most people live. There's a station almost an hour west of the city and one on the far east side of Bandung. Hence, Bandung people take a 20-minute "train to the train."

Most expats now live in that place, which feels like an old-fashioned American city. It has an IKEA, Western-taste restaurants, a good international school, and curbs on the street. Plus now, Whoosh can take workers into Jakarta in a half hour - without the dangers and stop-and-go of the toll road.

We can't fault those who crave orderliness for choosing to live in that city. In contrast, Bandung is messy, winding, and exciting. We love being here and don't have children who need that level of education.

The ride is smooth and comfortable, whizzing past rice fields, factories, and villages. The train hits 347km/hr (215mph) and deposits us in Jakarta in a half hour. However, the total travel time is almost as long as driving a car. It takes 3 hours between taxis, stations, transfers, and wait times. We go to the wrong Jakarta venue first and walk in the hot sun to catch another Grab to the right place. 

I usually don't mind walks and waits, but my body is starting to go under. After the third long wait and walking to thoroughfares so Grab drivers can find us, I've had enough. "I don't care about saving $2-3 per ride across the city. Can we just hop into a taxi that's waiting at the curb?" W agrees.

We don't want to miss the 25th anniversary of IES Jakarta. They're a role model for putting living faith into practice. The internationals and locals of IES work together to meet spiritual needs and serve the poor in their city and beyond.

Pastors Dave and Gigi and their team are among our heroes in the faith. The IES planners and volunteers ensure a smooth morning of door prizes, fun, and community-building. Everyone has a great time.

One of the values of IES is FOOD!!! There's an amazing spread, with abundance left over when it's said and done.

We know many of the team from past visits or from when we first arrived in Indonesia - they made us feel welcome 10 years ago.

In the evening, we gather at the hall for a time of reflection and remembrance. Then we eat at the Lord's Table together (also called Communion among Protestants, or mass for Catholics). I like the little verses on each wafer, representing the body of Christ that was broken for the sins of the world.

Dave and Gigi pray over us and thank everyone for working together to love God and love the world.

We do the trip in reverse and fall into our own beds at 10:00 pm. My cold erupts into full-blown misery at night, accompanied by sneezing, a sore throat, and a dripping nose.

Sunday

We wake after a few hours. My head is pounding so hard that I sit up. I warn W off - "Stay away! You don't want it." He agrees.

We stay home instead of passing germs to our friends at IES Bandung. Pak Chandra and the team have things well in hand. He shares his story of cancer recovery and how God accompanies us as we endure suffering. His guiding scripture during cancer treatment was Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."

Indonesians love noise and chaos. Once in a while, there's an event across the street from the hall. Today is one of those days, with ear-blasting singing followed by various men shouting through their microphones. There are competitions of some kind - it escalates into guys screaming over loudspeakers (not joking) to ramp up the crowd!

Thankfully, Chandra is not bothered by the din and continues to speak. It is a blessing and encouragement to join the service online. Sunday Gatherings are woven into our DNA and staying home feels odd.

Titik drops the hall flowers on the Porch - oh wow! It's a welcome home surprise.

The living room is prettier with her work.

I'm craving soup mid-morning and for a late lunch. Did you know that leftover lettuce is a good soup vegetable? I heat broth (frozen after a movie night), leftover curried veggies, and mini gnocchi that we brought from Seattle. It's a 5-minute meal: immediate, hearty, and sustaining.

I sort old emails and clear digital files. I find some letters from my dad, encouraging me to work and not let anyone's fears or personal rules stop me. It's like hearing his voice again. I often hear his voice in my head, though marriage to a very different kind of adviser has severely tempered how I live out his advice. One time, Dad wrote me:

... Most organizations consist of people whose number one goal is to assure they make the right impressions on their cohorts.

So, cheer up, this will probably be the pattern you have to contend with no matter what you do. Don't even bother with these people -- get rid of  them immediately. Tell them they do not fit. Go out and get those that will do the job. You'll find there are still people around that are happy to get something done. Of course people will then say you are hard to work for, get along with -- they said the same about Christ. Remember in Maslowe's theory only those people that have the confidence in their God-given abilities have the freedom to get things done.

God has a plan/work for you and W. The problems are just part of this -- not to worry or get frustrated, but to resolve or just leave in His hands. Remember the song:  "why worry when you can sing".

Love you,
dad

I am cheered, reading his counsel. He'd say: "Don't let anyone squeeze you into their box. Live as who God made you, not to satisfy others' expectations." Oh Pop, I miss you!

I love the old photos, too. This grandchild is now 13 ...

Some of these women have moved on, but several continue to be mentors and friends even after 12 years. I delete emails with personal content after forwarding them back to their writers, 7-15 years after they were written. (No need for anyone to read them in the future.)

I used to post hand-written letters back to their writers after a decade or two. Why? We forget so much in the journey of life and faith. Our own words can remind us of God's faithful love and care. He is utterly trustworthy.

Monday

I call my mom early. We pray for each other and I read her one of Dad's emails about my struggles at work. We agree - he was a gifted and visionary leader.

Sleep has been short the past nights (thanks, jet lag.) I have a blazing headache again. Flu symptoms flare during morning calls. One conversation is particularly useful for planning the months ahead. I write down what I learn. I have many notebooks of notes that I peruse when I need sound advice.

I keep refilling tea in the tallest Contigo thermos to hydrate. Three 16oz (500ml) infusions later, let's have breakfast.

I baked apple oatmeal bars and made date syrup yesterday. Yum.

By 10:00, calls are done, emails are sent, and a dozen tissues land in the garbage. I write instructions for the helpers and cancel my appointments for the next 2 days. Rest is the best solution toward a speedy recovery.

Read more:

*My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast;

    I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre!

    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

    I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:7-11

*The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. Deuteronomy 28:12

*Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Moravian Prayer: Giver of all, your grace abounds. We serve you in faith and hope, sharing with others the love for which we are filled. We give you thanks. Amen.

There's no place like "home sweet home"

Tuesday - Wednesday (and Thursday-ish), October 29-31, 2024

Today is travel day. We've taken our funny family photo and prayed for each other. Timo and his sons are awake when we say goodbye.

Kim picks us up after 6:00 a.m. and drives us and our 4 suitcases to the airport. It gives us one more chance to see each other face to face, which we treasure. The luggage holds a year of Canadian and American goodies that will be strictly rationed for when we miss our families.

Yesterday, I rammed a full-sized down pillow into my carryon bag. Once we're on the plane, I pull it out to pad the seat on the 16.5 hour non-stop flight to Singapore. It pushes me forward so my knees touch the seat ahead. BUT wow, what comfort. We have a down underlay on our sleeper sofas in Seattle (who needs artificial memory foam!) and this works the same way. My back does just fine on the long ride.

Wednesday-ish ... We have a 5-hour layover in Singapore Airport, which is an interesting, clean, and efficient space. There are marvels everywhere: orchid and waterlily gardens, aquariums (like the one below), waterfalls, and lots of shopping. We cruise by it all on our way to the lounge.

Then we climb aboard a 1.5 hour flight to Jakarta.

The airport shuttle takes 3 hours to reach Bandung, thanks to the skillful driver. When we disembark at the shuttle terminal, W spots a taxi SUV across the street. It's big enough to stuff in everything we're carrying. W wanders over to find the taxi driver, who cheerfully takes us up the hill to home.

Thursday-ish

The clock bumps forward 14 time zones so we lose half a day. We are at our place before 4:00 a.m. Thursday (2 p.m. Wednesday, Vancouver time). It's one of our fastest itineraries: 32 hours, door to door. The dogs give us a tail-wagging welcome.

I unpack a frozen coffee cake and cookies (thanks Keelee!) plus sausage (thanks Norm and Shane) and stash them in our freezer. While I'm at it, why not? I unpack everything. I dread facing luggage and laundry that first morning after we get home. It only takes a half-hour to empty household items, books, and my personal things.

Oh yippee. Look who's waiting for us in bedroom and bathroom ... roaches. At least they're dead. W plucks them off the floor and flushes them away.

I write a note to the helpers: "Please don't talk too loudly when you come; W and I are sleeping in." When we wake, they've started laundry and washed the dishes. They show me an outbreak of black beetles in the kitchen.

"Toss every package with bugs in it!" I say. There are swarms in the dry noodles. Meanwhile, PakG washes and fluffs up Bailey the small poodle. So cute.

I weigh in - yikes! the last time I was this heavy, I was pregnant. "Time for restraint," she reminds herself as she refrigerates the Aldi chocolate bars.

The American lifestyle of driving everywhere and eating rich food is hard on a body. We can't wait to restore our health with walks and better eating. I decide on a vegan-ish food plan to reset my taste buds and gut.

The trees are blooming as we stroll through the neighborhood.

These 1' (30 cm) clumps of blossoms dangle overhead.

W unpacks his gear and clothing and then asks, "Want to walk to #NaraPark for breakfast?" We're both feeling the exhaustion of not sleeping and of sitting too long. A walk sounds good though the day is heating up. W brought along a replacement battery for the "dead" robot vacuum; it hums around the bedroom while we're gone.

I'm not hungry, but why not go? There's a halloween party for little kids at Nara.

Every preschooler is accompanied by a nanny. In 2-child families, there are 2 nannies. This is a well-to-do group.

The little kids run around, blow bubbles, look at each other's costumes, and admire the tortoises, hedgehogs, and owls.

The restaurant brings a soup we haven't ordered. We taste it and get charged on our bill. Ah, lesson learned: we'll turn it away next time. It's beef and peanuts in broth. I order my regular noodles but can't even finish those. We take leftovers home.

On the way, we spot a dozen guys moving a huge display case out of a restaurant. Things are still done by hand. When something doesn't succeed, it's shifted away and a new idea replaces it.

Baby Dutch was great at first, tasty and reasonably priced. After the soft launch ended, prices kept going up while the food quality went down. The pancakes were overcooked to hard. The toppings became less appetizing, too. Now they're out of business.

We hit two grocer to check off the helper's list. We're restocking the basics: vegetables, rice, eggs, milk, etc. I have no appetite at lunch but W tries to eat. We finish cleanup and rest in early afternoon.

The collection of interesting dried leaves and moss is growing. I stack it on a slab of tree trunk we rescued from the neighborhood junk pile.

Four stumps have been filled and sealed with polyurethane. They sit on the Porch under cover until we need them for bigger events.

Our monthly email updates are due tomorrow. Oh oh! I usually have more margin to write them. Off to work! The benefit of our annual "quick trip" back to the USA/Canada is that we're back to work on the day we return. Both e-new updates are soon written and scheduled to drop tomorrow morning,

Friday

We walk at 6:00 a.m. in the cool morning air. The trees bloom over our heads.

I love the way these 4"(9cm) flowers hang from bare vines.

It storms much of the day. I call Mom to catch up on the guests who have gone home. She's resting after the exertion of company. It would even be a lot for a healthy person. She's our socialite and the heart center of the family.

My main chore is to clean the aquariums on the Porch. The tanks are green from overfeeding = algae. The number of fish has declined but they're prolific breeders. The population goes up with balanced food and clean water.

I empty the fish bowls one at a time and then IbuS scrubs the Bali glass. Bali glassblowers form glass vases, bowls, and other containers on wooden roots. The wood smokes but doesn't catch on fire as they work. The glass drapes tightly on the wood.  Each piece is as unique as the wood under it. This one is over 2' (70cm) tall.

I've always done the fish cleanup after we've been away but I've come to my senses. Will the helpers feed less after dealing with the green? Maybe. By the time the fish and plants return to their habitat, the glass glows blue again.

I take a tour of the yard. Oh my, the garden is a mess: weeds are popping up everywhere. A rash of beetles drift across the Porch into the house from the garden. Must be their season. I nudge them outside with my flip-flops.

Tiny avocados hang from the tree in the backyard. We'll have fruit in a few months.

Amaryllis and red fruit on a P. macrocarpa shrub create a pop of color in one corner.

The lemon tree is heavy with dozens of lemons. The rose branches have gone wild. A few are blooming but they need pruning.

We join an online meeting with leaders of Asian international churches. Most need more staff. Some have just moved to new countries, which is a cultural challenge. We pray together before hanging up. W and I are dozing in place: it's 11:00pm, Seattle time ... so we're sleepy.

The red rice is delicious at lunchtime. Oops. "There are bugs everywhere in the rice," notes IbuS. I tossed the bag into an airtight container yesterday, just in case. I'd spotted a dusty layer on the bottom of all the natural rice and wondered. See the black flecks? Yup - extra protein. That expensive package is going back to the store ASAP. When W gets there, there's no rice on the receipt. They gave it to us for free?

They've spread through the entire kitchen. It takes me until evening to take out the bins, sort, toss, and wash. Not the way one would choose to spend Friday but hey, we're home!

Read more:

*Some take pride in chariots and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

*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

*There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Moravian Prayer: God our cornerstone, your power brings salvation to the world. It is your will by which we live, and your name that we praise. Amen.

A difficult goodbye

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Autumn is stunning in the Pacific Northwest. Walking 5 meters out the back door, I snap photos of the forest. The trees and moist ground absorb the smells and sounds of city life.

It's a treat to refresh our eyes and lungs with the acres of green behind our neighborhood. A creek runs through the dip between our street and the next one. Sometimes coyotes, deer, rabbits, and raccoons visit, though we live in the city.

A beautiful parcel arrives via post. Our friend has filled the box with 25 home-baked espresso-chocolate cookies. They go into the freezer until we pack for home. All year long, I'll ration them for times of discouragement or stress = her instant touch of love and friendship. THANK YOU, Keelee.

We meet Andy for breakfast. His group partners with us for teaching and humanitarian projects. 

The pancakes and omelet hit the spot.

Today we start to pack our suitcases for home. Then we throw a few things into a duffel for the weekend trip to Canada.

Friday

We're on our way to see our moms by 7:00 a.m. W doesn't want to get stuck at the border. My mom lives in one city, but he has a lunch date with his mother about an hour away.

The blueberry fields offer a splash of color in front of "Old Indian" mountain. That's politically insensitive now but that's what we called it as kids. (I don't know its actual name.) W drops me off at Mom's before he drives to his mother's.

My brother from Germany and his daughter are already at our family home. From the back, he looks like his oldest brother and like Dad did. Same posture, same desk.

Sandy, who masterfully manages Norm's work and Mom's care, has set up a digital screen for Mom. We can all send current photos to her via an app. It's her reminder of family around the world. We post for pictures with Mom. Our youngest sibling is internet tracker averse, so I blank out his face.

My niece and I walk along the dike beside the Hope Slough. It was Mom's favorite walk for decades.

The maples are glorious, shedding their leaves in the drizzle. How did we survive, living under this grey sky?

Saturday

I hang out with Mom most of the day. She's very frail. We have this time - precious and too short - to talk, eat, and sit together.

Many of our family memories were served on Mom's dishes and shaped by her hospitality. My niece and I go through the china cabinet and drawers. "This is your chance to find things that remind you of Grandma." She fills a box with dishes, trays, and other items she likes. She'll take them to her place in Germany next week.

I set the table with the best china, crystal goblets, and Mom's "good" cutlery. It brings back memories of doing this since I was 16 years old and we moved into this house (in 1972). My brother Norm brings Chinese food from The Capital. 

"This may be the last time we sit around the table like this," Norm notes. Unfortunately our youngest sibling has the stomach flu and misses supper. 

W and a guest buss the dishes into the kitchen. I quickly wash them by hand like Mom taught me. My niece plays a mini-concert on the piano and helps in the kitchen as we're wrapping up. Soon everything is packed away. Who knows if we get to do this again.

Sunday

We speak 3X in a local congregation. Mom's care-pack of four amazing! women get Mom there at 10:00. It's the first time she and Norm have heard us speak in person. Her friend Donna comes, too. Donna's hydrangeas caught my eye on our walk the other day. What magnificent pinks.

My younger brother and his kids stay home to visit. "We see each other only every two years." My nephew lives in Vancouver.

By the time W and I get to Mom's after the third service, it's 1:30. I hug her neck many times and record her memories and things she wants me to remember. We talk about Dad and how much she thinks of him in our interactions: he shaped most of my young thinking and values. And our personalities were similar.

There will be times I need her counsel and encouragement, even when she's gone. We remind each other of God's goodness in giving us this family. We also say aloud how much we love each other. Mom prays a blessing of peace over me, W, and our work.

Our youngest son drops in for a few hours. He lives in Seattle and hasn't been here for years. He and Grandma have some special time together, too. It's a double-blessing; he sees his cousins and his uncle lookalike. My brother takes his son back to Vancouver late in the afternoon. 

It's been a moving puzzle of family, these last weeks. Mom personally assures each child and grandchild that they are special to her and known by God. "He knows your name. Your future is in His hands."

W and I visit W's mother on the way back to Seattle. Can you spot the trackhoe (yellow machine, halfway up) cutting the face of the mountain along the freeway? Looks precipitous. 

The blaze of blueberries stands out against the mountain range.

W poses with his mom before we say goodbye and exchange hugs. She shoos us out the door with concern for our safety; it's rainy and getting dark outside.

We cross the border without a hassle. The border guard is crabby and holds up a long line of cars with detailed questions. When he gets to us, we have a question. He answers and waves us through. As the sun goes down, the roads light up, slick with rain.

Through the mountain passes, the clouds billow above us.

Monday

This morning, our middle son and his family drive through those passes to see Grandma. Meanwhile, W packs so we know which extra items fit into his luggage. I stock up on household things to last the year in Indonesia, so my suitcases fill up quickly. We head home tomorrow.

Our daughter Kirsten recommends Fang's Noodle House (Totem Lake) for lunch. OOOOOh. Is this the perfect chewy hand-pulled noodle? The taste and texture are outstanding. Highly recommended.

W's running errands. He drops off sacks of books at Half Price Books and picks up some final computer gear. That gives me a few hours to do laundry, clean house, and refresh the bedding. Our daughter arrives in 2 weeks to visit Grandma. During her trip, she will stay in our flat and connect with family and friends in Seattle.

There's time to set the table for supper, too. The grand/kids come over (downstairs from their house) one more time. I make Mandarin Chicken, while W picks up noodles and green beans.

Read more: the prayer of Jesus

*[Jesus told his disciples,] "This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [Amen.]

 

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."