Almost nesting - almost

Monday, February 9, 2026

Yay for a new week. Last week started with the deaths of two friends. It ended with a wedding at the Project. That's a lot to process. To wake up early, to work with energy, to be healthy? W and I don't take that for granted. We feel utterly blessed.

This week, we must shift the remainder of the garden over, prepare for the handover of the old lease, and do some traveling. That's on top of our regular obligations. Some weeks feel fuller than others.

W and I walk through the old yard to decide what will be left behind.

We're not happy with the wedding food garbage and recycling left on the Project porches and in the carport. That has to be cleaned away as well.

It's a relief when the yardmen show up at 8AM.

I walk through the old yard again, this time with PakG and the guys, to make sure they'll bring the pots, plant supports, ginger, and other plants. After a month, the weeds have taken over - it's overgrown and will be cleaned up at our expense before we hand off the lease.

Meanwhile, IbuS starts on the laundry and cleans the conference room, corner to corner. Then the tables left outside after the wedding come in to be washed down and packed away. We eat leftovers from the wedding for lunch.

I clip off dill stems that are getting lanky: we dry and freeze them. The plants will get bushy if they are regularly pruned. Walking outside to clip a stem for garnish or flavour is a year-round privilege.

Inside, the bouquet of roses has matured to perfection. No petals have dropped but each rose is fully open to 10cm/4". Breathtaking, isn't it?

A few of the dogs move to our place today. They're tied up out of the way here until all the garden transfers are done. We don't want anyone stumbling over a dog as he carries in a clump of plants! The dogs rest - it's familiar ground since each has slept over at least once. They're alert and curious, watching the goings-on. They got a 2-loop walk with us at daybreak and will get 2 more before the day is done.

I take them around the property. I chase them off the grass and 2 porches that are designated dog-free for the sake of our Indonesian guests. They have plenty of room to roam. Anton cruises around the yard many times. I'm sure he maxed out # of steps on his tracker (if he had one.) Some dogs are returned to the old place to guard the property at night.

Tuesday

Sympathy cards are hard to write. There's no way to express heartfelt condolences, the wish to be present, and our love for those who have lost someone. I brought some cards along but they seem so inadequate for the depth of sympathy we want to express.

W orders a truck to move the last things from the old house and yard. The men make 2 trips, filling the carport with plants, trellises, and pots. Where did all those birdcages come from? Seems like we've shifted multiple households on this move. 

We restored a broken hydroponic unit that was falling apart along the street. We haven't done much with it. "Can we give it back?" we ask. 

The answer is no. If the neighborhood council let us fix it, they don't want it back. The men tear off the plastic roof and unscrew the top braces. They squeeze it through a passageway to the back of the Project.

The dirty kitchen is set up, the plants are shoved into the ground (yay for a light rain afterwards), and the dogs are chased off the porch multiple times. They're getting the hang of the yard. However, Anton is smart and stubborn. He's intent on finding out which boundaries will be enforced and which are mere suggestions. When I go inside, I come back out to his muddy pawprints everywhere.

I'm on a morning call. We've just paused for prayer when I look up. Anton is staring at me. He has led all the dogs onto the porch while my eyes were closed. The dogs look unblinkingly at me. I turn off my video and audio and walk sternly toward them. "OFF!" and they trot away ("She means it, we think.")

They love having doggie neighbors who bark a lot. The dogs run to the fence on both sides to talk to each other. Anton jumps on the heaped compost, stands on hind legs, wags his tail, and looks over. Then a cacophony of barking erupts. Can you spot him?

I work on the side porch where the dogs can sprawl at my feet.

The biggest chore - and the hardest - has been deemed "impossible!" by Waldemar. In my head, it is already long done. We are repurposing discarded pots in a new space. These were found at the back of the garden and the now-deceased landlord gave us permission to claim them. It took 6 men to move the biggest one the last time it was moved.

It's been repaired many times before us and by us. The last time, the crack ran most of the way down a side and spilled water everywhere.

Today, 6 guys figure out how to lift the massive clump to their shoulders and drag it around the house and through the garden. I throw rugs on the waist-high concrete wall; neither the pot nor the wall gets damaged.

It's a beast. "You don't realize how heavy the thing is!" W exclaims. The men have to put it down a few times on the way over.

They need a break before lifting it over to its resting place.

Then they must level it on a new concrete pad to keep it from tipping over. The pot has been cemented into place many times in its history. Now its base is pointy, making leveling a challenge. Fortunately, I have a long bubble level in my office. That helps set it straight.

It's a long exhausting day for everyone. 

Wednesday

Some IKEA key hooks were mounted yesterday and should be ready-and-stuck. Up go the necklaces that have been stored away for a few months. I give away a dozen more.

I get to talk to Mom this morning! At midweek, it's the first time we've connected since last week. She's tired and somewhat confused with caregivers coming and going in her home.

The difficult thing is that she's a people person; having them in her home is a bit like having guests, only they're strangers rotating in and out. Sandi has each helper post their name with the time of their shift when they arrive. It's hung where Mom can see it; then she knows who is there and when they will be leaving.

The sun's up today. The solar fountains start to bubble. We filled the 2 smaller pots with water yesterday; another discarded pot was placed at the end of the side yard. Fish will go into those three today. The big pot has to settle on its pad for at least one more day.

We don't have much money to renovate the Project. Our imagination and education are the result of enjoying the beautiful rooms and gardens of others. Many secondhand discards came our way in the past few years. With those, a home and community space emerge. The goal is to create character in the rooms and focal points around the yard.

I won't tire of this view. I gather seeds on our hikes and walks. We'll keep planting until the flowerbeds are full and overflowing. 

A women's group meets on the new Porch from 10 to noon. 

W goes downtown to cancel the old phone/internet service - it takes him away for 3 hours. This is a major telephone provider. Wow. Processes can be glacially slow. 

Someone at the first address (where he signed up for service) sends him to another one. "They've moved." When he gets there, he's told they've moved again. At the third place, he can cancel - but only the internet. The phone is still registered in the name of the original owner, who died decades ago. (W asks the family to do that when we meet Thursday.)

At the old house, Melvina - who came for a month and has been our boarder for 6 years - writes a final message on the upstairs guest wall.

For supper, W explains how to order pizza online. I write down each step. I'm not intuitive so missing a step means I'm lost.

We indulge in the TJ hot chocolate sticks the grandkids sent along a few years ago, in mugs we got from a friend the same year.

The "dirty kitchen" is set up; now it just needs a pantry shelf.

Thursday

No hikers today; everyone is busy with other things. W finishes moving - now to clean! the old house next week. What a blessing Ibu Wigar's house was to us over the past 11 years.

We meet there with the family that owns the old place. They have been wonderful to us. They express appreciation for our upgrading systems (including water and power) and for maintaining their home. We are grateful to pray together for God's goodness and health before we hug goodbye. They promise to visit our new place "just around the corner from here."

The guard makes some outdoor brooms from bamboo and sharp grasses. wow. Instead of rakes, these long brooms sweep leaves from driveways, lawns, and public streets. There's no such thing as an automated street sweeper.

W hangs a curtain across the 7'/2.3m shelf at our apartment entry. The first thing people have remarked when entering the room is, "Oh you still have lots to put away."

Um no, that's how sewing and craft supplies look when organized on a huge shelf. About a dozen pictures are not yet hung up. I don't mind propping them atop bookshelves. We'll swap them out later.

Friday

Looking out the apartment window feels as fresh as always. God knows how I crave green spaces and warm weather. I don't take this for granted - ever.

We had a mini auction for 24 demitasse sets yesterday in the WA group: Yard Sale. We're satisfied with the final bid and the person who got them is happy with a LOT of cups and saucers. We bought dishes from an Indonesian china factory during our first month in Indonesia. I don't regret getting so many sets; we regularly use most of them. 

"Are you running a small hotel, by any chance?" asked the cashier back then. Nope, but we were hoping to have a lot of people eat with us. That's certainly come true.

Read more:
* The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Psalm 126:3

* They broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. Acts 2:46-47

* For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

Moravian Prayer: Comforting Jesus, as your star guided the wisemen to the toddler king, may we, too, pass our gifts of time, talent, and treasure to the church we serve locally, and then rejoice with thanksgiving. Amen.

Wedding welcome

Friday, February 6, 2026 - wedding day

I write book reviews for some excellent books coming out in the next few months.

It's the second wedding we're hosting at the Project. The last one was a dozen people. This one is closer to 200. No Indonesian wears outdoor shoes inside but today everyone is trampling through the house in their street shoes. The floors get really dirty. Who will mop them before the rugs go back down? Hmmm.

"No smoking," W tells the work gang a few times. "You have to go outside to smoke." Still, we smell the burn a few times during the day. (And later, when the items are packed up again, smoke drifts in through cracks in the windows.)

Windows are not sealed. Spaces between casings and window frames can be 1 cm /1/2" wide or more. Lizards easily squeeze through, along with roaches and other undesirables. You get used to it, no matter how civilized your home looks or how careful your cleaning is. We scrape cicak (small lizard) poop off the walls almost every day.

Reggie sends over pink roses. I miss seeing the women of the book group but have sent spaghetti over to their potluck.

"I didn't realize you had so much stuff," says the groom as he watches the set-up crew at work. Our rugs, chairs, glass coffee tables, lamps, and accessories get crammed into my office. Metal frames for ceiling-high curtains go over the art and any furniture that is too large to be moved away.

Construction goes on until late evening. The carport is full of wooden frames, rented furniture, and scaffolding, while our living room is stripped back to empty.

"What a big house," someone exclaims at the empty rooms. They've been here when it's a home and hospitality center, which feels manageable.

"I hope they're putting it all back in place afterward," W says. So do I!

Some young men stretch a canvas cover over the entire lawn. As they perch on the rickety scaffolding, the wind kicks up. Lightning and thunder drives them down. They get drenched with the first downpour that we've had this week. I go back and forth to watch what's going on and answer questions.

The wedding crew works inside the house until 2:30 AM; W sets his alarm and gets up each hour until they are done inside; then he locks up. After that, they are busy outside until 3:30 or 4.:00. zzzz

Saturday - congratulations to Markus and Eunike (their family names: Anthony and Lina). 

The couple has good planners and their invited guests show up.

They're married in a beautiful wedding that starts at 10:00. W does the ceremony; I offer a short sermon. Martin does a great job translating into Indonesian.

The unity candle is lit, communion is served, and the papers are signed. "I pronounce you husband and wife," is followed by a relieved kiss.

Family members dress in the same color: navy blue, though they can choose their style.

Families take their turn at the photo stations.

Everyone poses for pics, including the musicians.

It's time to make memories.

Groups gather and regroup.

The house and yard are sufficient for the almost-200 guests who show up for the 1:00 reception. Between the ceremony and the reception, the moms and the bride have their makeup professionally retouched in the dining area. That room has been draped off for the family. I quickly change into more comfortable clothes myself.

The caterers are good, the master of ceremonies is loud and funny, and the music is well-done. The bride and groom are happy - and suitably tired out - when they leave about 4:00.

I take over 100 candid photos and send them to the couple after everyone leaves. Markus' mom gives us generous portions of food to share with IES Bandung. Into the fridge they go overnight.

The bedroom bedding will need to be laundered after a half-night's stay. At least 20 family members slept upstairs after their arrival early this morning. The rest slept in the conference room. That means at least 10 loads of laundry.

The Project has been broken in and survived. The teardown crew starts inside. It's faster and easier to strip out the arrangements and the draperies than to put them up. W and I clean the floors so the crew can help us put the furniture back.

I rework the fading arrangement from last Sunday while the house hums with the breakdown of scaffolding and the plucking apart of silk flower arrangements.

By nightfall, it feels like there's peace coming back to the Project. It's turning back into a home. Except that the crew works all night disassembling things. Our sleep is fitful.

Sunday
We start in the prayer room. Someone greets me with, "Wow, you look tired this morning."

The color combination in Titik's bouquet is as beautiful as it is unusual. So much texture, so many shapes.

After the service, we enjoy the annual congregational update by the board. It's a healthy and content body, with no challenges or queries. The board has overseen all in good order. The leftovers from yesterday are happily eaten by the crowd at the Community Table, our regular snack-and-chat post-service ritual. There's nothing left to pack away. (Yay!)

We go to Homeground for lunch with board members. Yum. Most of us live nearby and walk home. W's brought the full bouquet home, where it rests on the kitchen island. Isn't it stunning?

The roses continue to unfold in Reggie's bouquet, too.

I snooze and hear Hendy and Waldemar on the porch when I wake. We share banana bread and a sweet dessert from yesterday. Then he tours the house. 

I predict a busy week ahead for the helpers. There's food left in the bedrooms. The bathrooms are typically wet. Considering that the teardown workers were here most of the night, it's a shock to see piles of garbage left in the yard and house. Dirt has been tracked inside and out, upstairs and down.

The dogs - who would ravage the half-eaten boxes of food - must stay at the old house one more night. Hopefully, no rats find their way to the meal scraps, although the cats who cruise the yard may take care of them.

We affirm our focus: we are not an event venue. The Project is a private home that can accommodate learning, occasional guests, and small groups. It's been great fun to host a wedding, but W and I agree: one and done for big gatherings. Now to bed for a good night's sleep :-) after 2 noisy nights.

Read more:

* Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace. Isaiah 9:7

* For he is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Moravian Prayer: Comforting Jesus, we think we are in charge of our own lives. Holy Spirit, we control far less than we imagine. Let our wills bow before your authority and experience your truth and peace. Amen.

Love and loss - farewell to Azka and Mel

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - rest in peace, Aska

A day we won't forget as Azka, our young friend, is laid to rest. Prayers appreciated for his mother, family, and friends. His memorial service is attended by friends from as far back as grade school. He was beloved by many.

We snap new photos to update some partners, arrange appointments, and write. W keeps moving things over from his office. "We're almost done," we assure each other.

The team meets online in the late afternoon. Meanwhile, the smell of baking banana bread fills the house. We're using up the bananas gifted by Veronica last week; the tops of some burn as the helpers learn how to use the top burner in the oven. With that char cut off, it's ok. We've sent some with friends and our guests have already enjoyed a few loaves. The rest are in the freezer.

Amy sends over a beautiful housewarming gift: a matching table runner and tissue box. Here, every table is set with tissues - no one uses napkins ('serviettes' to Canadians). Items come and go - motorcycle delivery is cheap.

I hardly cook because it's nearly always cheaper to buy fewer groceries. When I look in the fridge today, there are vegetables that will spoil if they're not used. How about soup? We have lots of spices and it might be fun to make something. After a bit of blooming in hot oil, into the pot it all goes! The birds get some ubi (sweet potato) leaves. They're happily chirping in their new location.

The groomers sort out the dogs, who are gleeful about treats when they're finished.

Wednesday - farewell to Dr. Mel Ming

Our dear friend is admitted to hospital with heart failure and slips away from earth into the presence of God. He's one of Waldemar's best friends.

His widow Martha is one of my dear friends. We share children. Our kids married, which makes it doubly difficult to process this loss. We grieve, though not as though without hope. We will see him again. Now he is experiencing the hope and beauty of resurrection power in Christ. Soon our time will come to do the same.

Another round of clearing out and pickups. After we walk, W tackles the men's bathroom with a pressure washer. If kids come to learn English, it's important to have clean bathrooms - and they'll probably prefer a traditional squatty one.

W comes in for a mask, grabs a steel brush, and wears shorts. He says it's disgusting. I refrain from taking a "before" photo of the green floor. Mold. Algae. Everywhere. 

This one was used but not cleaned by the construction crew; ugh. And yesterday the helpers "didn't get to it." The surfaces of the tiles are already gone so even when clean, it looks black and dirty.

The room is also used as a shower for outdoor workers. A traditional Indonesian shower room (bak mandi) has a deep tiled basin or pail full of water beside the hole-in-the-floor toilet. With no toilet paper, water is scooped out for toilet or shower purposes. Coooold water showers! Not for me. But a luxury for some.

I meet with an advisor for an hour. Then I sink into AI research and books about women serving in Pentecostal or Charismatic missions. What a widespread influence these women wield. They used to be primarily from the West but increasingly come from the Global South. They are powerhouses in peacekeeping and social services, besides their confident presentation of Good News.

We toss the lunch leftovers into a pot with broth and add noodles for a delicious supper. We pray together for the families whose tears are falling tonight.

Thursday

Veronika, Kiki, and I put 10,000 steps (over 4 miles) on our shoes. We walk along the river between our hill and the next. The Treetop Walk at the university is still under construction but we explore a few back areas and talk to some artists about their work. This trunk catches my eye. Rubbish is heaped around it. 

Someone carved intricate patterns into it.

Riverside property is a liability, not a privilege here. Rubbish, sewage, and erosion fill the water. But locals bathe in it.

A little slug risks its life on the trail.

Workers straddle a board across bamboo scaffolding. They're building another mosque. This one will block the river and forest views of the apartments behind them.

Someone loves orchids - these bloom in front of their house.

Kiki, Veronica and I have brunch at Dalaroas, a Sundanese buffet. We're not really hungry yet but this tides everyone over until suppertime.

We field pastoral calls during the day. After a quick shower, W and I hang pictures on the walls in the upstairs bedrooms. With overnight guests, we need to get those frames off the floor. We're both worn out when we're done. I've tracked 17,000 steps and 20 flights. That's plenty.

The wedding venue crew drop off all kinds of stuff in late afternoon. "No smoking on the property," W tells them as they light up. They can smoke outside the gate if they must. We want to steward the Project well - we don't want 1) cigarette butts everywhere, nor 2) fires in the compost under the tall trees.

I write the sermon for this weekend's wedding. Life is beautiful and terrible, love and loss. We celebrate life in milestones and mourn when it has run its course.

There's a leak by the tub and another by the toilet. That can't be good. The construction crew is busy at another site; this must be fixed.

Friday

There's no room in my heart for birthday parties, between emotions and wedding preparations. I reluctantly decline going to the Book Group. Besides discussing a book, they're celebrating birthdays. I cook the pasta I promised and send over books for Marjie.

We must complete our move before W's upcoming obligations take over his time. He stops by the locksmith to rekey more locks and does some shopping on the way back, while I work at home.

The wedding planners are here off and on all day, unmaking our living spaces for tomorrow's wedding . Once again, my office looks like the aftermath of a hurricane.

I take photos of the storage shelves - hopefully everything is still there when the wedding is over. 

The upstairs bedrooms are ready for guests. There will be some tweaks after this weekend's wedding visitors leave.

Each room has curtains, a hanging rack, a suitcase table, a rug, and a small desk. We started accumulating furniture for the Project while living at the old place. "Preparation for the mother of all garage sales," W used to grumble. 

Some rooms have more beds than others - but the family expects to sleep almost 40 overnight. Neither W nor I have slept well this week - but we are looking forward to tomorrow's celebration.

We'll see. The family bought a rug to spread in the catering area so the overflow will sleep there. Nights are cold. We bought 10 extra fleece blankets the last time we were at IKEA; those are in a basket in the hall, in case they're needed. Thanks to our generous friends who make such hospitality possible.

The clanging of pipes to erect arches and build a yard-sized tent fills the backyard.

Read more:

* Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. In the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7,8

* I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit. John 15:5

Moravian Prayer: Divine God, come and guide us this day. Help us see the needs of others and give us the willingness to meet those needs with an unjudging spirit of love. Amen.