Movement and movie night

 Thursday, July 4, 2025

We decompress after movie night with a hike in the mountains. Last night, the house was full of fun and young people. Once they get dinner from the kitchen, they head onto the Porch or into the living room to eat.

We've gotten to know some of them over the years.

This lovely gal is moving to Jakarta to join her identical twin, who has found work in the big city of 30 million.

It was a late night with the last guests leaving at 11 PM. We woke early to go hiking in the forest. The mushrooms are out in abundance.

It rains overnight but we decide to go up into the mountains anyway. It clears up - before the clouds roll across the tea plantations.

We have a very pleasant walk - 

There are new grass heads along the trail, wildflowers, and branches to duck under in the forest.

It starts to rain as soon as we're in the car. Thank you, God, for wonderful weather on the trails.

For lunch we return to a restaurant with a good Chinese-Indonesian menu. We haven't been there for over a year. I step back to look at the beautiful setting. So many of these places are destinations for weekend tourists but we pass them each Thursday on the way to and from the mountains.

Our friends know people in common from 35 years ago. It's amazing how small the expat community is.

It's faddish to have animals in a restaurant, and this one is no exception. There are bunnies, lizards, and a small crocodile.

This creature is about 6' long (including tail) and roams around his cage before climbing back in.

After, we take friends to the project. A little booth and drop ceiling have been removed from a corner.

The pillar remains for support.

A flimsy wooden wall is being replaced by bricks. The window and frame are repurposed from the little booth. 

It's satisfying to remove barriers, like the wall between these areas.

Having the cooking area and laundry open to each other will be useful.

W takes Anton to the vet for a kidney and liver checkup after his many meds! The dogs need worming, which is routine here both for people and creatures.

Friday

We're on an old-style (for us) date: to the building center to look at taps, tubs, and tools.

I spot a few new styles of lights.

We have lunch at Mom's Bakery, where the best sandwiches are made.

Saturday

We pack and prepare for the next trip to a conference. "It's gorgeous there," says everyone about our destination. But we meet only one person who's actually been where we're going.

Meanwhile, our loop walk isn't that shabby either. A tree is putting out its new leaves.

I enjoy the colors of nature as we walk.

Sunday

We serve with a fine group of volunteers. It's first Sunday of the month, so we celebrate with Happy Birthdays to July-born friends and guests and pray for a blessing over them.

Read more:

*Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12

11 years ago, we arrived in Indonesia.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

I love Sundays. It's not our "day of rest" since we lead IES Bandung, but it's time for contemplation of scripture and meeting friends old and new. Today is Round Table Sunday with a twist: there is no worship band. We sing along with 4 worship videos and discuss John 14-16 around the tables. 

Today's topic is how Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to be God-With-Us day by day. What difference does it make to have God's presence constantly with us?

The flowers are simple stems. I plan to root them since they are from a tall shrub and we'll need plants at the new place.

We go for lunch with friends and give the dogs marrow bones when we come home. Anton chases it around the Porch until he's tired. Then he lies down and chews it in lying on his side.

Monday

After a dog-free walk, it's time to hit the books - well, at least get to research. There are huge beetles on the street, having flown their last flight.

We're figuring out how to do newsletters in a new program. Takes until nightfall before we are done. Our kids are enjoying Family Camp in Montana. Today I miss our cabin and time with the fine people there. I write a thank you note to Carrie Fell, the painter of the print that pulls together the gathering room.

We drive to pick up a few items from expats who are clearing house to repatriate. Someone throws in a room fan and an "almost free" air fryer. We need two trips to move the dressers with our little SUV. In city traffic, that takes most of the afternoon. I have some evening calls before W helps with the newsletter and we head for bed. zzzz

Tuesday, July 1 - CANADA DAY

We left Canada for Indonesia 11 years ago. The journey and adventure doesn't compare to our expectations - we love it here more than we thought possible. When we arrived, Dave and Gigi offered us an apartment in Jakarta. We stayed there the first month-and-a-half while we acclimated to the weather and shopped for our Bandung household. It doesn't seem that long ago.

We start the day with a walk. After a few calls and plowing through emails, we begin preparing for movie night tomorrow. What sauces do we need? What meats and vegetables? First, what's in the cabinet - and then the new list is readied. W goes shopping downtown.

It's time to write some book reviews. For the privilege of browsing new and upcoming titles, a short review is required. It's a good deal for the publishers and for me.

When we scheduled movie night, our calendar was blank; except it's not. We get a reminder that dear friends have a farewell. OH no - it didn't transfer to the main page. We'll miss the last hugs and celebrations of who they are. Our fallible tech is showing: we don't always plan perfectly between travels and being sick.

For someone who dislikes tofu, I sure like the sesame version Ibu Apong makes for lunch. W gets his hair cut for $1.50 and I drink another mug of tea, waiting for him to show up.

The contractor goes over a few things with us. In the yard, star fruits lie under a tree. Nice to have some fruit to look forward to.

Wednesday 

I wake at 3:00 but start cooking at 5:00 AM. There are a few glitches: the ovens overload the transformer and blow out its fuse. Putting one oven on another circuit means running back and forth between the back kitchen and the main one. The smooth flow of making sauces, boiling spaghetti, and baking meats? Not today.

And where is the cord for the slow cooker?

"We always store it in the pot," I'm told. But it's not there or in the cabinets. After a long search, I find it tossed in a corner of the counter. Plugged in, the potatoes start to cook in milk, butter, and spices.

 I heap towels on the cooked food to keep it warm. (And yeah, see the little nook where the plug was hiding?)

Which timer is going off and what's cooking on which burner? We use 3 stovetops to cook for 70 people. When cooking is done, I splurge on a breakfast of Keelee's coffee cake and a tall mug of tea, before falling into bed for a nap.

W and I drop by the project to measure a small space that hasn't come into focus. It's too small for the cabinet someone is offering.

We walk down the hill for lunch at a student food court. The yakisoba noodles I remember from Bellevue Crossroads re interpreted as a spicy ramen. Nothing Japanese about them. I eat half. The 60c avocado juice is good though.

The dog groomers come to wash Anton, who strongly smells of pee due to steroids and meds. I ask them to clip him short, but they won't do it. He still has a poodle cut without short leg hairs or tail. Sigh. Clean and comfy is our priority as he recovers from an almost-fatal tick bite.

The more people we interact with, the more quiet preparation I need. I rest in the afternoon, reading, snoozing, getting ready for the friends who show up at 6:30 PM for a big dinner and the movie. W has chosen a repeat showing of Secondhand Lions.

Read more:

*The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. 1 Samuel 2:6

*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 57:8-11

*If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8

Moravian Prayer: Unchanging Anchor, you are Lord over all our lives. We pray that you grant us the strength to surrender to your will. May we always be yours and proclaim you as the risen Lord! Amen.

Wild and wet

Thursday, June 26, 2025

I skip the hike. First, let's try out my lungs on a neighborhood walk: a double-loop (3.5 km, 2.5 miles) is the first decent walk since I came back sick from Bhutan. In a "first" for the upper hill, a commercial crane has appeared to assist in renovations at the 5-star #PadmaBandung hotel.

Anton the standard poodle stays home with me - he's put on meds and strict rest by the vet. Anton's version of rest is running to the gate to bark when someone comes and gnawing on a big ball. His gums are not as pale and his bloodwork and energy are improving. Thank you, God.

There's a bit of back-and-forth with last week's students before I hear from the hiking group. They kindly choose a restaurant nearby so I can join for lunch at #WaroengEthnic.

We drop by the hall, where a faucet has burst and soaked boxes and rugs in a children's classroom. We ask them to lift the wood furniture off the floor and replace the boxes with dry ones.

We spread the rugs open on the court and then fold and drape them over the railings to dry. Most of the rugs are old and frail. Keep or toss?

By the end of the day, I've logged +9000 steps. I am ready to hike...  as long as there aren't too many steep ascents.

Friday

We walk to the project, confirm electrical and lighting placement with the mechanic, and make a neighborhood loop with the dogs.

How about rice porridge for breakfast? Sounds good until I see eggs in the fridge door and change my mind. After 15 minutes of whisking and tipping batter around two little saucepans, there's a heaping plate of steaming crepes for W and me. How about leftovers for tomorrow? Yes!

Today's task is wrapping up Sunday preparation and planning the rest of the year's topics and speakers. Usually I schedule the year by January 1. Since it's our last year as pastors here, I left the year open to allow for shifting. Maybe someone will step in before year's end? We're willing to do whatever God brings our way.

What a lot of work, having to schedule every few months! Lesson learned. Better to build big and course-correct midstream than to continually pull up on shore to build another boat.

It's the Islamic new year. Last night there were torch parades around neighborhoods, like this one up our hill.

The book group meets at #GoodLifeCafe to discuss the current selection: The Year of Living Biblically by NY reporter A. J. Jacobs. It's a hilarious view of trying to live out ancient laws in a modern culture. 

I find myself shaking my head and chuckling at the predicaments and places Jacobs gets himself into, researching what it meant to live in Jewish and early Christian cultures of the Bible. I have been asked to offer a biblical/Christian viewpoint as an introduction.

W has heard about this cafe so he comes along and sits in the courtyard with a $2 tortilla "pizza" and a cup of coffee.

The book group meets in the lower room, where various things hang on the walls. This beetle collection is interesting.

The biggest rugs are still drying at the hall. We leave them draped over the railings. We bring one home, and there's so much dust that W vacuums the car after the driver goes home.

Saturday

I'm up at night. My brain won't let go of details in 3 or 4 directions, so why not churn through them and get back to sleep with the work finished? Except that it's time to rise and shine when I'm done. I guess today is the day for a nap.

The avocados from our tree are ripe. I have to toss about half with bruises or bugs, but what's left is delicious on IbuS's home-baked bread. We have mango yogurt and a few chocolate-covered coffee beans on the side.

We get a rain storm in the morning but the birds chirp and sing after their shower. 

W uses the air fryer to make Chicken Tikka with the chicken I marinaded overnight. I make veggies to suit.

While W goes shopping, I write the next month's newsletter. At least I try. I'm learning a new mail system.

MailChimp (formerly free) monetized to a high amount = "Sorry and goodbye." So annoying to switch after getting the MC process figured out. I'm a computer dummy and it takes a while since nothing "tech" is intuitive for me. Our kids and W are tech-whizzes - but I'm the writer. Sigh. Guess I'm stuck with it.

Read more:

*Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. Zechariah 6:15

*All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed. Revelation 15:4

*[Jesus says] “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 

"Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!”

Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 22:12-21

Moravian Prayer: God of all nations, we lament that we often create and worship our own kingdoms and temples here on earth. Grant that we may turn our talents and energies to your service until all have heard your name! Amen.

Circulation resumes

 Sunday, June 22, 2025

When I arrive home at 4:30 AM, the dogs give us a loud and happy greeting. It takes an hour-and-a-half to fall sleep. The sun's up but we have blackout-ish curtains so I sleep 4 hours until after 10 AM. W leads the Gathering without me and I don't hear him leave.

The full-blown cold is a misery so W also goes to our friend Tota's birthday lunch without me. No one needs this crud! and it's kinder to share wishes than illness. W brings home good food from the birthday buffet. I like this rice combo, even though it has fish inside.

Paulina sends cookies and tea over, too. Her pandan (green leaf) checkerboard cookies are very cute!

I sit on the Porch, wiping my nose, drinking tall mugs of tea, and reflecting on last week's class in Bhutan.

We walk over to the house renovation in the afternoon, talking about what's needed next. Work is progressing at a quick pace. The checklist is going ahead, with items added and removed each week. We spot a 6" frog (or toad?) with red and brown bumps, making his way across a pool and take a video for our grandkids.

While I was away, PakG finished repairing the ancient pot-pond. It was a cast-off from next door - they were going to haul it away when we brought it to our yard, via 6 men straining and puffing. It was so heavy that it broke our trolley.

W says its fish have died off in the backyard bathtubs. Too bad - there were fish of all sizes swimming in about 200 gallons of water. They were in a balanced ecosystem before the pot sprang a leak.

In the meantime, the pot has been repaired 3X and painted over several times. It was so old that it kept leaking from different places, even after repair. The solar fountains circulate the water and air. Here's hoping it's back to health soon.

Monday

After a good night's sleep, I take a short walk but my lungs are too congested to be of much use. I chat with Mom and a friend online and unpack. That's already what I call a good morning. As a bonus for my weary body, Ibu Siti comes to massage the kinks out of my muscles and the lumps out of my neck.

Clau has sent over a bookshelf, which is quickly styled with items on hand. It creates an entry space in the big room by blocking the sofa area.

We go out for groceries - I'm running low on nuts and seeds. We try a new Vietnamese lunch. The hot bowl of pho (soup) hits the spot - so soothing. Can you spot the tangle of electrical and phone cables ... there's always a mashup of wires overhead.

I mix together hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflowers, blueberries, and black currents, thinking it will be my snack for the rest of the week. Except that I put the little ziplock bag beside the breadmaker without instructions to use 1/2 cup of it. When I come back, the bag is empty. The mixture has been baked into the most delicious bread. Oh well - healthy and delicious bread for sure. It has just the right amount of flavor and crunch.

Before we know it, it's early evening. Time to feed the dogs and pull back our energy.

Tuesday

I wake in time to take my cold overnight rosemary tea (thanks, Paulina! great flavor) to the Porch for an online meeting. W and I walk to an in-person meeting with the contractor. We have one more meeting after lunch before it's time to rest. I have no energy for grading or other work yet.

We get sad news: our friend's father has died. W joins other friends at the wake while I cough myself to sleep at home.

Wednesday

Feels like I'm getting back in circulation, thank God. I can't yet breathe deeply as we walk to our "weekly date" breakfast at #NaraPark up the street, but it's nice not to be sneezing. We're eating outdoors so hopefully others are safe. Our server has just recovered from the flu as well. These young people are precious to us - they take amazing care of us at each meal.

How W and I have missed this time together - it's been over a month. Anton pokes his nose through the gate to confirm that we've actually left without him. Sorry, puppy.

The huge tree near our table is "raining" tiny flowers.

God cares about the smallest things, and what detail these little florets demonstrate. I'm reminded that we and our concerns - are significant to God. "He knows your name," my mom often says. W puts down a key to show how tiny it is and takes a picture.

Back home, it's time to go review budgets, analyze options, and make a strong cup of tea so I can grade papers with some clarity. Tea on the Porch is cancelled by a weary friend and the unexpected time doesn't go to waste. I send off the last graded paper - until the final round for this class drops in a month.

We empty the 2.5 meter (7 1/2') lesung rice trough and haul it into the sunshine to dry. We found this cultural treasure beside the road and bought it off the owner a few years ago. Water for the plants has been spilled outside/beside the tarp that lines the trough. The lesung will rot if water sits in it, so no more plants!

Read more:

*The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light. Exodus 13:21

*For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. Psalm 22:28

*The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9

*Jesus said, “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that testify on my behalf.” John 5:39

*The creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:21

*John, (writing) to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

"Look, he is coming with the clouds", and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Moravian Prayer: Holy God, may your presence go before us like a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, leading us along the way. Lord, we pray that your compassion and goodness continue to be evident in all that you have made. May we be set free from the sins of this world and experience the freedom of your glory.

May we search the scriptures with hearts open to the testimony of your son, Jesus Christ, who offers us eternal life. Amen.