Understanding the present through the past

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
We're watching for the pop-up pink car around the loop. It's been parked in at least 3 different places. For a few weeks, one like it (only pinker, if that's possible) sat on the side of the road. It was covered up with plastic for a while, and then it disappeared. Life here is a mystery.

One monthly meeting of international leaders has moved to 5AM. It's not a night with a lot of rest. After waking at 4:10, I decide to snooze. My alarm doesn't go off. I miss the beginning of the conversation. Grrr. After we log off, I send Mom a video hello. Well, I send it to Sandi, who oversees her care and passes it on.

W and I love sitting on the Porch in the morning, praying and eating breakfast together.  I cook apples and pears, and make a nuts-and-seeds porridge. W has put a lot (a lot!) of chia seeds into the juice so it is a thick pudding. We look up whether you can eat "too much" chia. It's possible but unlikely. Every morning, we pull out the overnight juice-and-chia jar from the fridge and have a half-cup with breakfast. Our cardiologist suggested it as a food substitute for blood thinners. Stroke patients should also take meds, he says. W goes for both.

W is improving day by day. He has speech therapy at 9, while I prepare for the Book Group meeting next week. I don't have a copy of the book, but Amy loaned me hers yesterday. I have to finish Theo of Golden, a book recommended by several friends. I read Amy's book today and return it by mid-afternoon so she can take it on her travels tomorrow.

This insider's account of the 1960s military coup in Indonesia explains much of what we observe. We have wondered about the ongoing role of intellectuals: the readers, the well-educated, and the articulate groups who forged the nation after Dutch colonialism. We know Indonesian scientists and teachers but haven't met many authors, poets, and philosophers.

In most societies, there are rulers, their advisors (scholars/philosophers), warriors, and peasants. It is unpopular to admit that most of us are worker bees, but that seems normal in stable kingdoms.

While the sun is high, the air is still. Rain is predicted in a few days, which would be a relief. The clatter of capri shells on the Balinese mobiles at the front entry and the ting-ting of the Porch chimes signal winds brushing across the mountains morning and night. 

I like the memories FB tosses up. Today, there's a photo of a teaching seminar we hosted for local educators (thanks to Korrie Taylor), an inquiry on how we kept from having "helmet head" when biking to work in Seattle (run your fingers through your hair when you get to work - ha), an alumna asking about German high foreheads, another alum exclaiming on the presence of God during suffering, 2 dog pics, and a nanotank saltwater setup. Pretty random bits of personal and professional history, going back 18 years.

W and I are tired but it's too early to turn in. We head outside walk a few thousand steps around and up the hill. Firetrucks pass us, still trying to extinguish the garbage fire on the upper hillside. The big dogs are happy to trot along with us.

The house is still being put in order after last week's guests. IbuSumi has found time to bake a loaf of seed bread so that is supper. 

Thursday
We're still not hiking but have a long neighborhood walk with the creatures. Last week, I was thinking about our two old dogs, who may not live much longer. One walks with us, but only when his arthritis isn't too bad. The labradoodle is 11 but loves walks and long sprawls on the terrace. Should we look for another poodle next year? I ponder whether and when to contact Lizzie, the breeder of the wonderful dogs we rehomed. Maybe one of hers will be ready for retirement. I commit it to prayer. "God, whenever," and forget about it.

Someone offers me 2 free dogs that he purchased from Lizzie as puppies. He lives in Jakarta (3 hours away) and is moving out of the country. He sends me photos of the dogs, their papers, and their vaccination certificates. They're gorgeous and healthy. "They are like my children, not pets." Well, they're pets here, though we love them.

The standard poodle is as big as 2-yr-old Anton. K's dogs are 6 years old so will be more settled. The doodle is the daughter of our labradoodle Juno. I'm interested in the standard, but I was considering next year. What are the chances? Weird.

"I will bring them to Bandung to see if you are a good home." Hmmm. I WhatsApp friends to see if anyone is interested in rehoming the labradoodle. I am often a conduit rather than the final destination for incoming blessings. W rolls his eyes but doesn't say no. Yet. I guess we'll meet up; hopefully I can raise interest from others.

We return our dogs to the yard after the walk and head to #NaraPark for a date breakfast. Beside our table, a 7'/120cm hedge flaunts false-bird-of-paradise blooms.

I order a hotpot with rice noodles. The noodles have steeped too long in the broth and have clumped together. The taste is good after I untangle the mass. Yeah, I prefer my usual mie rica (spicy noodles).

By the time the workers leave, the house and yard are back in order. We are ready for the next crowd. Let's see who God wants to bless at the Project. We've had several inquiries about private retreats since last week's group left.

Most local people aren't readers, but we store our books on the shelves. Sometimes people borrow them, though I seldom get the books back. The 6 sections of the dining room shelves mix function and ornament: vases, cups, plates, and serving pieces are interspersed with books, candles, and art.

Friday
Is this potted plant a coffee tree? It's similar to what we see in the mountains, where entire tea plantations are being ripped out to make room for coffee. 

"Indonesia is the world center for coffee." It's yesterday's bold claim by a local.

Walking to the meeting place for the WHW (women who walk), this elegant petal catches my eye. Dozens of pinks hang on a tall tree beside the street.

Seven of us start down the hill. A block from our gate, I zip back inside home to swap out of my Merrill sandals. The sole is flapping and coming off. A hazard of this climate and walking is that our shoes don't last long. Most often, the sole separates from the footbed. I grab old Nike trainers and off we go. They're neon pink and blue, 10 years old. 

"From behind, you look like a tourist," exclaims one walker who is near the back of the pack. Is it my shoes? The wide-brimmed hat? The long strides? I forget to ask. We cross a few bridges that wouldn't pass a civil engineer's inspection. They hold up just fine so we take photos on it. When bridges break or wash away, they're rebuilt the same way.

We stop at a student food court (OBC) and descend to a friend's Korean restaurant. It isn't open for another half hour, but the server makes the drinks we order.

Around the corner from OBC is a Dutch-style restaurant with an artifact wall for selfies. "Looks Dutch for sure," says my friend in the USA, who immigrated from the Netherlands to the USA 50 years ago.

The servers wear little caps and ruffled aprons, apparently Dutch style. I've never before seen a historical European lace cap pinned on top of a hijab (kerudung). 

Most of the menu isn't ready to serve yet. They order deep-fried bananas and fried tofu as a midway snack. Do you like deep-fried foods? Seems oil is always heating in Indonesian kitchens.

It's a nice pause before the last hill to our starting point.

The ladies relax on the Porch for cookies and coconut water, ordered by Alice for us all. Then we invite Waldemar and Reuben to eat with us at a restaurant across the street.

W and I take one more walk around the neighborhood. People used to argue when I said, "We're getting older," in our 50s and 60s. Not any more. They agree. haha

Today's log is16,000 steps and 14 flights. We are grateful for vigor, the ability to run steps, and sustained energy in the heat. It's 85F/30C and muggy. Helps to maintain the same weight and keep mind and body active, that's for sure. 

For supper, I fill spring roll wrappers with leftover chicken and vegetables, roasting them in the air fryer for 15 minutes. Too long, but tasty.

Saturday

The morning is quiet and normal. I'm reading another book about cultural revolt, equally heartbreaking to Tuesday's memoir about Indonesia in the 1960s. This novel is about Romanians living under the Ceauşescu dictatorship of the 80's and 90's. It's unimaginable what people can endure. It's described as "a historical heart-pounder" (Wall Street Journal). Agreed.

W cleans the very dirty whiteboards used at the Saturday get-togethers. I write a note at the top of each: "Wipe clean after class." When they leave it dirty (barely wiped off) each week, the accumulation turns the boards grey. 

Sayaka comes to work with W on facial function. He makes leaps in clarity of speech after each session with her. I send a banana bread along for her family. An abundance of gifted bananas from Veronica allows us to share. The volunteers today will enjoy a loaf for their post-session snack, too. 

We welcome almost 100 kids plus to the afternoon's English conversations. We smile as we listen to them chatter together. Later, they walk or zoom off, chattering like little birds.

Read more:
* The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9

* Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits. Psalm 103:2

* Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 

 

On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:9-21

* Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress. James 1:27

Moravian Prayer: Mighty God, our refuge in times of trouble, strengthen us to serve those in need with humble hearts. Let our faith be lived through love, caring for the oppressed and vulnerable, and by reflecting your mercy and justice in all we do. Amen.

It's a "people" weekend

Saturday, September 13, 2026
We eat the same boring seed/grain porridge after a walk.

Our guests at the Project say farewell after they pray a blessing over us. Those prayers mean the world to us.

I attend an online women's leadership call. The speaker is a former Miss America, who tells us to listen for God's Voice in every situation. She encourages us to withdraw from distractions, challenges, and busyness to seek God's face. "Then don't just listen when he speaks, but obey completely and quickly." Good counsel.

The neighborhood kids are back! after a long break. Yay! Someone donated pencil bags with a few supplies. The +70 kids are happy with the gift, and delighted to reconnect with the volunteers they love.

I make chili & eggplant noodles for supper and bake an apple cobbler (low sugar) for dessert. Neither is terrible but neither thrills the tongue. Oh well.

Sunday
We walk. Anton the poodle keeps lunging for cats, his kryptonite against good behavior. He's not chill this morning.

Last week's flower arrangement is reconfigured into two smaller bouquets.

They brighten the guest spaces.

Character pruning isn't fun when it's personal; part of you gets cut off and left behind. I'm reminded of that with the heap of fading greens trimmed away this morning. I save some stems and will try to root them. Let's see if they have enough life in them to regrow.

IES Bandung is wonderful as usual. We pass the Lord's Supper to each other with, "His Body broken for us. His Blood shed for us." Amen.

Lunch at Maxis is with a group who loves to serve God and others. My beef skewers are served on an unheated satay grill. Nice presentation, but they cool quickly because they're exposed to air on all sides. The hot peppers are lifted off to one side. I'm not quite back to my heat index since being in the USA.

We pray for each other before leaving. One couple heads to the station to catch a train for Jogjakarta while the rest of us pulang (go home) around Bandung.

We lock up the guest quarters, eat a supper of homemade cold cuts (who knew! = a successful food experiment), and are ready for a relaxing evening. W has installed a screen flap on our bedroom door, which means we can air the room in the morning and before bed. And that's without a mosquito invasion. The view of a thriving palm is relaxing with not a person nor chore in sight.

Monday
Thank God for ordinary mornings with walks, meetings, and meals. I update the calendar for the next week, marveling at how appointments flow naturally from one to the other. The afternoon's "sweet-smelling" delivery (at least my farmer dad said it was sweet - she wrinkles her nose) is 6 bags of horse manure for the gardens.

Tuesday
A friend comes by for tea. She's never tried crepes so asks for them and cookies - done! I cook before she arrives so we can visit. We interrupt our conversation many times as I go in and out of the house fulfilling various requests.

Daniel and friends haul away wood decaying in the yard.

I'm working through a mandatory course from our company. 16 sessions with a workbook and 8 hours of videos? Yikes - that's a lot. I glaze over before lunch with a young friend. We head to the restaurant across the street. I have the capacity to cook one meal a day for company. I love time with Madelyne.

The afternoon passes with the intermittent wail of firetrucks.

Fires are burning about a mile (1.5 km) away. Garbage (littered food wrapping, plastic bags, and household waste), leaves, and plant trimmings are regularly burned streetside and in yards. Fires are often lit at the base of trees or near other flammables. This one got out of control and spread to the neighborhood hillside. Since the area is densely populated, it is burning near homes.

Two cars can squeeze by in the narrow lane to our old neighborhood but one firetruck takes up most of it.

Our old neighborhood has the closest fire hydrant. Trucks line up to be filled with water, while the firemen rest nearby.

W is curious about what is happening so we walk by to see how things are going. Construction of the white palace is closer to being finished. It replaces a plain home.

The 10'/3 meter flowering hedge is backed by a tree flaring in yellow against the evening sky.

We planted an avocado tree at the old house. It had hundreds of tiny avocados on it when we moved away. This tree, completely full of blossoms and little fruits, had nothing edible most years. We got one durian from either this one or one that it's overtaken. What is this?

Supper is leftover crepes with chicken and vegetable filling, plus chickpea wraps with a mud-colored eggplant mixture. Hmmm. Not very appetizing from the look of it. Tastes good. It's a warm humid evening with wind whipping through the valleys. No rain is in sight. Prayers appreciated, that the fire is soon under control. Thanks.

Read more:
* David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. 1 Chronicles 13:8

* What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39

* Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

* But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Moravian Prayer; Joyful God, we lift our voices in praise, rejoicing always in your goodness. Like David, may we worship you with all our might, singing and dancing in your presence. Fill our hearts with unshakable joy as we celebrate your endless love. Amen.

Welcome! Welcome!

Tuesday, September 8, 2026
The women's group in the morning is life-giving. We spend an hour-and-a-half at Dyna's round table, a wonderful setting for conversation and contemplation. Her kids are a cute bonus.

Four of us pile into the car afterwards. We drop J on a corner, D at doc appointments, and H at her home. It's all somewhat "on the way home" for me.

I cook spaghetti with homemade sauce for W and me. IbuS sets up the guest rooms and we check that all is ready for our first conference group. 10 or 15 people plan to spend their days in meetings and rest here at night. The last time we had a full house (+40 people!) was for a wedding.

What a privilege to provide a safe space for others. Our European immigrant grandparents and parents hosted many guests, whether friends or family. My brother and his wife do the same in Switzerland. It must be a clan thing.

One room has a queen fold-out sofa.

Another has two trundles.

One has enough floor space for a Korean mattress.

IbuS and I run up and down the stairs many times, but my unreliable tracker measures 0 flights climbed. The stairs are gradual and don't raise the heart rate? (Or it's tired of keeping track?) We put out flip-flops as house shoes. Those get washed after every guest leaves.

The library at the top of the staircase provides a quiet getaway for guests and visiting students alike.

Online, W found a 3000-watt drop-in water heater for our bathtub. He plugs it in, but we have room-temperature water after an hour. He checks: his meter reads only 1180 watts. Oh well. Any time we remember to plug in the heater two hours ahead of time, we can indulge in a warm bath. Our other option, which we've done until now, is hauling large pails of hot water from an upstairs shower and the serving kitchen. (Both have gas water heaters.) The bath is good anyway, even if it's an hour or two later than planned.

Wednesday
Waking up is easy with a forest outside the windows. Our Seattle house is also the woods. Having tall trees around us soothes our souls in a busy city, there and here.

The wild checkerboard border is striking up close. There are 128 squares - what was I thinking? It took ages to quilt the whole thing.

This time of year, it gets light before 6AM and will be dark by 6PM. Steady 12-13 hours of daylight is easier on the body than the variables of daylight saving time in the West.

After a check-in with my monthly advisor online, I write down what I learned. After lunch, a young entrepreneur friend drops by. We share tea and treats.

Thursday
It's overcast most of the day without precipitation. The pollution index is at 160. Guests arrive in the morning and throughout the afternoon. "Shalom," they say to us. They rest up from their travels before heading out in late afternoon.

For lunch, I put some of the chicken sausages I made yesterday into a tomato-peanut-chili sauce. We eat them on top of glass noodles. Spicy kick! But ok with some yogurt to calm the spices.

We want a big pot moved upstairs to the guest balcony. "Wait until the other men are at the gate and have them help you," we suggest to the yardman and PakG. "And don't water it first. It will be too heavy to move."

Too late - they've wet it. They call over the 2 female staffers. The foursome somehow hauls the pot up and settles it in place. It's about as heavy as a Sundanese adult, sitting atop one of the concrete pillars. I don't want a tree - we have enough of those. It means taking out the tall supports. Maybe tomorrow.

 

The balcony and one side of the driveway are the only all-day sunny spots because towering trees surround the Project. The passion fruit vine should love the sunshine.  Many flower pods appeared but didn't open in the shade where it sat before. Indeed, the flower buds start to open at once.

W's hungry at supper and we walk across the street. I like the corn fritters and kale.

Friday
This pickup is the same height as the woman on a motorcycle. I snap the photo too late to compare them.

W and I remove the bamboo supports from the vines dragged upstairs yesterday. It takes an hour to untangle and string them around the balcony supports. They'll grow quickly to cover the rebar crossbars. We're trying to keep people from leaning on the railings as they're not strong enough to support much weight.

Overhead, the matoa tree is full of fruit clumps. "You'll love the taste," our Papuan friends assure us. "A cross between lychee, logian, and other fruits." Can't wait.

For lunch, we head to HomeGround for a bowl of soup and some Szechuan green beans. The soup, which comes with rice, a salad, and an egg roll is $5.00.

A shared plate of spicy beans is $2.50.

In the HomeGround driveway, we are amazed by the line of yellow. The bees are as happy as we are to see so many flowers, buzzing overhead like an engine.

W braces himself for another therapy session. It's hard work. The staff cleans up after the guests and prepares for the kids coming to practise English skills tomorrow. It's the children's first time back in a few months, due to travels and school breaks.

I clip some lavender tips to replace 2 shoots that haven't rooted. The other 4 shoots are thriving. Some plants, including Hoya vines that broke off in transit, get potted and put on the kitchen windowsill. I'm not too invested in what makes it or dies off; there will regularly be new attempts. (Planning and planting are more interesting than maintenance anyway ... )

Read more:
* I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up. Psalm 30:1

* Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. Psalm 36:5-10

* Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about. Mark 5:41-42

* The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Revelation 22:21

Moravian Prayer: Faithful God, your steadfast love surrounds us, and your grace sustains us each day. We trust in your care and rejoice in your mercy. Bless your saints with your abiding presence, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, we give praise.

Almighty Healer, you lift us up when we are weary, restoring life with your gentle touch. Speak your word of renewal over us today. Strengthen our steps, awaken our hearts, and fill us with praise. We bless your name, O God. Amen.