Some memories and memorable people

Wednesday, August 12, 2026
W comes back before noon, after an overnight observation in the hospital. Lew treats us to supper at Warung Ethnic. The sun falls as we eat.

W orders chicken and basil sambal (hot sauce).

I have the stewed beef. The rice, cooked in leaves, is one of my favorites.

Alice orders fish, complete with head. She helps me finish my rice.

Thursday
It's good to connect with Will, my brother, as he sits at Mom's bedside in the care home. First, we walk.

W poses by the panel truck, a typical size for Bandung deliveries.

I make our usual: oatmeal porridge.

There's a dead spider in the guest bedroom.

I comfort myself with Keelee's coffee cake and a mug of tea. The tea set was a birthday gift from Kristi and Jojo years ago. Everytime I use it, it brings a smile to my face.

We need groceries and rice for next week's giveaways. The broken pavement at the edge of the parking lot is typical.

A woman rapidly crosses the parking lot as I lean on the wall to wait for the guys. She pulls me away from the wall and the tree above. She points to the clusters of caterpillars that have eaten every leaf off. "They will bite you and sting your skin," she says. I move.

For lunch, I make vegetable soup and dumplings.

JP and Judy left us 3 hanging chairs last year. They've leaned on a bedroom wall for 8 months. I take them to the old "stable". When W comes outside, I show him where they go. He hangs them right away.

At 2pm, five pastors show up - Joel, Esther, Ian, Siti, and Dian. We enjoy chocolate cake and fresh-baked chocolate cookies. The helpers smashed Kopiko candies and added those to the dough - the cookies have just come out of the oven.

On the Project tour, the guests head straight for the hanging chairs (a mere half-hour after they've been put up) and swing, enjoying the view of the yard.

They leave sweet fruit, which W has for a snack after they leave.

Friday
Ps Lew heads back to Jakarta after a week of study. IbuS comes by to give me a massage. In late morning, Amy and Eva drop by with a big basket of fruit. We hang out on the Porch with tea and cookies and tour the yard. Everyone loves those Schultz hanging chairs and has to try them out.

We trot across the street for another go at Ayam Pepes Malarasa, a hit with the gals as well. How we miss the hikes with them! They show us pictures of the last one on Thursday - a beautiful new trail. Can't wait to join.

A second rose is blooming on the kitchen windowsill. The fragrance envelopes the room. Two more buds are getting ready to open.

W has a speech therapy session - and then we feel "done" for the day. I post some of the drying durian logs as a giveaway in the Yard Sale Group on WhatsApp. That app is the global go-to for videos, calls, messages, and groups, though Meta's Messenger seems more popular in N America.

The logs are good for seats or small tables when epoxied and the bark stripped off. They're surprisingly comfortable.

Saturday
17 years ago, we made our first trip to Jakarta, Indonesia. The Bramono family warmly welcomed us, treated us to delicious new foods, and showed us their city. We had no inkling that we would move to Bandung 3 years later. We've loved being here for the past 14 years.

On our morning walk, W clearly says pagi ("Morning!") 13X to passersby who greet us. Wow! Each time we celebrate the miracle of speech.

My friend Martha and I chat online. It's always a blessing to see her face. She's a prayer warrior. We discuss the possible role of prayer among widows in the Early Church. Certainly, they have a vital role and were warned not to gossip. How else would they know the latest news, unless they were privy to prayer requests and/or visited needy believers?

It's muggy and overcast. Seems like it's not a clean-air morning. Oh oh, when I check, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is 191. That would be considered very hazardous in North America or Europe. Here it is just another day. 

I look up the definition of the cause: PM2.5. It means "fine particulate matter with a diameter of -2.5 micrometers. It is a major air pollutant made of tiny solid or liquid pieces from smoke, dust, and car exhaust. Because these particles are very small, they can go deep into your lungs and blood." 

Yes indeed, neighbors are burning garbage and leaves; it hasn't rained in weeks so it's very dusty; and tourist traffic is high for the weekend. Well, that explains that. Is it better not to know?

On another pollutant note: I drop a bowl while getting leftovers out of the fridge to send home with staff for the long weekend. There's glass, sweet water, and corn everywhere. Yuck-y. Although, being a Saturday that kicks off a long weekend, we're happy and thankful.

Read more:
* You are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Psalm 25:5

* Sing aloud, O daughter Zion, shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you. Zephaniah 3:14-15

* Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. Matthew 7:7

* So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:17

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, you once said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Help us see what we can do to make peace in our lives, in our communities, and across divisions. Heal us from our own judgements and make us whole. 

Savior, we trust in your work of redemption. Teach us to wait for you and listen for your guidance. Open our ears, hearts, and eyes to see where and how you are asking us to be your loving presence. Amen.

Memories made and remembered

Saturday, August 8, 2026 
73 years ago, my parents were married in an immigrant church in Winnipeg, Canada. I remember their enduring love and affection. From her teens, Mom was determined to have a marriage of sustained friendship and intimacy, unlike old couples who hardly had anything to say to each other. She and Dad kept their promise to love and cherish. We kids grew up in a loving home. Dad's been gone 5 1/2 years. We miss him like it was yesterday.

W installs a bell at the gate. Most of his purchases are made online: hardware, gear, supplies for volunteers, and even food. Delivery ranges from free to $5 or $10 for big items. Motorcycle taxis and delivery services are the main ways people and goods are transported in the city. Hiring a small pickup costs more: up to $60 for the whole day, including help from 2 strong-backed movers.

When the dogs know they're not coming on a walk, they watch us leave.

Then they scoot to the gate and wait for our return.

We go into the Padma Hotel a few blocks away. It's one of few 5-star accommodations in the city, though not expensive by Western standards. Friends of our have kids and have stayed here before. A staff member gives us a tour of the newly renovated property.

At the bottom of the hill, they're building an adventure park, whatever that is. The tour guide says, "There will be a 1 km (2/3 mile) trail," pointing to where we used to tramp through the forest.

The family pool is full, though the adults-only one has room to spare.

On the way back, we enjoy the new blooms. The leaves may be dusty in dry season but the flowers are fresh.

I do research for an upcoming book, sitting on the beautiful Project Porch. Some students email in their preferred topics for the doctoral class - approved!

I'm grateful each day to steward this space with W. The sun's out. In the cutout between kitchen and porch, the solar fountains bubble to aerate the fishponds (repurposed garden pots.) We don't need aquarium filters or artificial lighting. Rain refreshes the water, while tropical fish keep the mosquito population down.

I write a few book reviews and make chicken and vegetable wraps for lunch.

Sunday

There's a neighborhood futsal (soccer) tournament going on. 

A crowd watches young elementary boys kick the ball on the small triangle that is the park.

The trees tower overhead on the loop.

Breakfast with DrW, a neighbor in our old neighborhood, is a delight. She is an interesting professor and scientist. Plus she's just plain nice and good company. It's her first time at the Indonesian restaurant across the street. We all enjoy the food.

Mom and I trade videos through Will and Lina, who have arrived from Europe. They're sitting with her in the care home for the next 3 weeks.

This morning, our dear friend's younger brother passes away from cancer. There are no words of consolation or comfort beyond, "God's presence is with you right now. We love you."

May God sustain and hold the family in his arms. Pray with us for C and her family, would you? W and I go to the funeral home mid-afternoon, arriving home before dark. We greet family and friends, share condolences, and pass on a heaped plate of the chocolate cookies Carlos loved.

He liked kids and animals, too. He was hoping to visit with our dogs today. Instead, he's gone to be with Jesus. Who knows what delights and health he is enjoying there? Since the Bible speaks of lions and lambs getting along, there may be puppies, too.

Someone gave me a batik jacket. I tear off the tags and wear it. Batik is the formal wear of Indonesia. Afterward, we take a Grab taxi "straight home" through the hills and up our mountain.

Supper is crackers, hummus, and borscht. So good. Papaya cubes soaked in lemon juice are dessert.

Monday
The morning is cool; I need a furry sweater to ward off shivers. The weather guy says it's 74oF/23C in the city but there's no way it is that warm up on our mountain. The entries to village neighborhoods are being decorated for Indonesia's Independence Day on Aug 17.

W and I walk and talk. I know it could have been me - sitting at the funeral home if God had allowed W to have a severe stroke. We are grateful for each blessing. We pray for C's family, thank him for his goodness, and pray over neighbors and friends.

Our meetings are at 7:30 and 9:00am. I hear a scream of delight when W greets the speech therapist with "Pagi!" (good morning). She's surprised and pleased by his progress. Ps and Bs were not possible last week. He's tired when they finish the day's exercises. He mostly communicates by writing.

I spend the morning cooking. I try a new recipe: energy balls. That's a good name for them: each one takes 5 minutes of energy to make = too costly. I season vegetables, potatoes, and tempeh with a packet of green curry spices we bought in Thailand a few years ago. 

It's a HOT HOT HOT lunch - hot-spicy that is. Indonesians have separate words for "heat:" they say panas for hot temperature and pedas for hot-spicy food. They use hot peppers to season many dishes.

We are honored by an overnight visit from C's family, who are not ready to go home after the farewell service. They've brought supper along, and as night falls, we discuss the hope we have in Jesus. Scripture assures us that our salvation is paid in full at the cross and resurrection. There are no further works or obligations owed by the family to ensure God's favor. Carlos is healthy and whole: "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)."

Tuesday - today would have been Dad's 94th bday. And it's Uncle Erich's 95th.
I send a video to my favorite (and only living) uncle, living in a care home in Winnipeg. W and I eat early and walk.

When we get back, I set out a casual breakfast for our guests. I'm always surprised by God's provisions, just when we need them. There's banana bread, various buns from the funeral, and fruit plus a few choices of tea. 

After sitting on the Porch and chatting about heaven and destiny, our guests join us on a loop to get some fresh air. A little tented pickup catches our eyes, the cab barely as tall as I am. (The SUV ahead of it is about nose-height.)

On the way home, we stop for Indonesian food (Ayam Pepes Balarasa). Yum.

I put out sweet and salty snacks at home and withdraw to rest. W pops his head into the room to say he's in AFib again. (Yay for IWatches that measure such things.) He heads to the hospital's emergency room to see what's going on. He leaves me behind to say goodbye to our guests. I send a fresh banana bread along with them.

PakG takes care of the hospital paperwork. He has to leave his ID with the nurses because he uses W's credit card to pay a $250 deposit for care. W stays overnight for observation, but declines my offer to come in. His usual corner on the chaise is empty. No curious professor is reading here tonight.

Wednesday

Juno and I walk a few miles, expanding the loops because I don't know if W will be up to an evening walk. He has the presence of mind to cancel the speech therapist. With no lower-tier room open, W  has been put in a single VIP room with its own bathroom. It's not that exciting but at least it's clean.

The doctor comes by first thing. She orders blood tests and an EKG (which check out normally) before he gets visits from nurses and the pharmacist. Prayers appreciated that this gets taken care of.

Dr Hendy drops by to say hello on his way to some meetings. We pay the additional fees at administration, sign papers, and get a rundown on meds and care. PakG asks for his ID card back at the nurses' station. We are "out of jail" and home by 11AM. 

I make a beet and vegetable stew for lunch on the Porch. We drink in the midweek quiet at the Project. While the staff washes and irons bedding, our other houseguests are hard at work. The dogs bravely patrol the yard against cats and squirrels.

We reward ourselves with a tiny square of nutty homemade chocolate before it's naptime for our weary souls. Feels good after my 4.5 hours of sleep. I doubt W got much more. My dad always napped on the sofa after lunch. I've forgotten what a treat it is, though I took an afternoon nap during all the years that I was raising our kids.

Danny and George drop by the Porch for conversation, tea (with milk, since George is Scottish,) and baking.

Read more:
* Jesus spoke to the disciples and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

* See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:9

* The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world. Matthew 13:37-38

Moravian Prayer: Wise Gardener, thank you for continually sowing good and new seeds in this world. Thank you for never giving up on us, your seedlings. May we follow your example of sowing good and new things to make your world, your harvest, more abundant. We pray this in your name. Amen.

"TIMBER!"

Tuesday, August 4, 2026
For the first time in weeks, it rains. People twirl, hands out, celebrating. We send the yard man home so he doesn't get sick. Most illnesses here are attributed to masuk angin (lit. entry of wind). When there's strong wind and rain, you know the flu is about to strike.

Sadly, it's just a quick shower. Our garden is as dry as ever. We do our evening walk after supper and turn in early. W, the techie, got Ember mugs years ago on Kickstarter. They keep tea warm while we read and relax.

Wednesday
We are up and around the neighborhood before 7:30, the time for W's speech therapy. Agnes is excellent at what she does. I walk by a few times as they're hard at work. W's determined to recover his speaking skills. We know from our own kids that most don't speak until they've done a year or more of vocalizing. There's no rush.

While he's hard at work, I make myself the breakfast that W is supposed to avoid. The dogs are happy with the scrambled egg scraps. The Porch is chilly. It's always colder with a brilliant blue sky in the morning. Clouds keep the warmth in. Lucky Waldemar gets porridge for breakfast again.

A tree removal expert drops in. He'll trim up the huge palm next to the house and remove the durian tree that's been dropping the small unripe fruits on the roof. They make a big bang already, night and day.

"This kind of Durian gets huge," the man tells us. One hit would smash the roof tiles; there are dozens and dozens of durians up there. The fruit falls when it's ripe and is picked off the ground. (For export, it's picked off the tree.) Can you spot the spiky balls on the ground?

Dozens have fallen. What a shame!!! If we could have kept the tree - any way! - we would have. This feels like such a waste of fruit but dozens of 5-8kg (10-20b) "bombs" falling from 10 m (30') above the roof wouldn't have done any good.

Alice comes by to get the meat fat I'm rehoming. Stored in the fridge, it lasts indefinitely. Usually, I fry a whole Costco package of strips at one time, collecting the fat in a jar. The crispy slices can be taken one at a time from the freezer. No more of that for a while for W ...

When a friend leaves you rooting hormone and the internet talks you into the "easy rooting system," what could go wrong? The baggies with cuttings and the tip of a paper towel in water may or may not be filled with roots in a month or two. Let's see.

Lew takes us and Alice for supper at Nara Park.

Thursday

The dogs wait at the back door for their walk and then for treats. They're still spiffy from grooming yesterday. I guess it's too dry for Juno to roll in the mud the way she usually does after she's clipped and clean.

The new-to-us mattress is finally aired in the guest room, so the bedding goes on. These wonderful helpers make it possible to use the Project, whether someone drops in or stays for a day or longer.

Once the tools and leftover projects are removed, this will host guests who cannot manage the stairs to the guest wing. The quilt I dragged from its start in England, to a-work-in-progress in Seattle and Montana, to completion in Bandung? It finally finds a landing spot.

I bought a floral sheet and curtain set off Craigslist when W was finishing his doctorate at Tyndale Library in Cambridge UK. The flat sheet became the backing of the quilt. The fitted sheet and curtains are still at the cabin in Montana.

A few trees have "widow-makers" (as we called the dead limbs in Seattle) and need trimming. The one leaning dangerously over the Project roof needs attention. Four 30' (10m) branches have grown toward the sun and can't be removed in one pass. The spikey pine marks a few feet from the roofline on the other side of the Project.

The trimmer climbs up and cuts long pieces back to the trunk. He explains that if he takes off an entire branch at once, it will swing down and smash the roof. This job is not for the faint of heart or someone afraid of heights!

While the tree crew is here, a 25' (8m) branch falls on the other side of the yard (below). A similar branch broke off last week, ripping a shade cloth. These trees are old!

Luckily, no one was underneath either time to be speared by the 1 m (3') sharp breaks. 

The branches have green leaves but the tree is infested with carpenter ants as well as galls rust fungus.

Scott and Ruth arrive from Jakarta to visit and pray together. They're caring regional directors for the company. We have some Indonesian food together before they go back.

W inspects the process, marveling at the skills needed. The guys cut 3m (9') trunk sections for benches and lay them across small logs to dry. They work a long day before heading home.

They also trim the long stems from the palm tree. It's a gorgeous addition in the garden but it can be tricky to communicate instructions to Indonesian staff. Some months ago, I asked the yardman to remove the spiky stems of already-dead fronds. He cut 5 healthy fronds off the trunk instead.

Friday
It's quieter still since the staff is off to a family funeral today. Lew and I sit down to review the week's research and writing before he heads to the train station. W's Saturday study group drops by to say hi and gift him with a fruit basket.

Lunch is colorful. Most Indonesian-made meals lean toward tan, brown, and beige, unlike the rainbow (sans blue) we prefer on our plates.

The birds are happy with the leftover corn kernels as well as the wormy leaves of the bok choi. I just can't make myself cook them. I wash what I can and feed the birds the rest, along with the ends of carrots and beans.

There's another speech therapy session in midafternoon. What hard work! W's communications on paper are getting faster, too.

Read more:
* Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? Isaiah 63:15

* Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” John 14:18

* But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23

Moravian Prayer: Wonderful Savior, you have promised to never leave nor forsake us. Your love for us has caused you to humble yourself from your heavenly throne to the dust of the earth. You also promise to raise us from the dust of the earth to the foot of your heavenly throne. May we remain ready for this miraculous transformation. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.