One million views - thanks to all who read this blog and comment!

Sunday, January 18, 2026  - the blog passes 1 million views. Thanks to everyone who reads and comments.

I miss the window of sprinkling rain and am poured on. First, I stand around until someone unlocks the gate. I wait again when I can't get into the room with the dog food. There's no response to my WA query on what's wrong with the lock so I walk back home, mission not accomplished. (Turns out the key is faulty.)

Happily, Melvi takes care of the dogs. When I get home, I shake out my raincoat and hat. Done is done.

The entry glows in the morning light. Every area of Indonesia has its own beautiful fabrics. This woven piece sits easily under an arrangement of dried flowers. No houseplants are allowed inside: the ants quickly colonize in the soil.

We speak about the Son today at IES Bandung. I get very emotional while speaking about what Jesus accomplished for us. He was blasphemed, spit upon, beaten ... and then he endured the cross with its social shame and physical harm - even before the weight of sinful humanity was heaped on him.

After a board meeting, we're happy to celebrate Reuben's birthday at his house. His mom and her staff are wonderful cooks. It helps that family members are foodies = they know what is merely good and what is delicious, like the food they serve today.

The food on my plate is colourful and tasty. Some of the sauces and spices are from other islands or locations in Indonesia. What a feast.

God bless you, Reuben, and give you a wonderful year ahead. When W and I head home, we're completely full of food and good company.

Titik's flower-work is always a pleasant surprise. Today she's combined mums, leaves, snapdragons, goldenrod, and more.

I feel like the whole house starts to sing when her arrangements sits on the kitchen island. With lots of company passing through, we all get to enjoy her creations. Thank you, #TitikBadudu.

In prayer this morning, I was meditating on these words, pinned on the prayer room wall. The faithfulness of God amazes me. Over and over.

We're clearing out the office at Green Gate. There are extra giveaways for English learners. We'll gift those after a few months, to faithful attendees of the new English program at the Project.

W assembles new lights for the living room ($15, thanks to ACE Hardware). We've had the shades for a year and needed bases.

Monday
Morning meetings, a video to Mom, and a long walk start the day. Breakfast is noodles from Tetty's buffet yesterday. So yummy.

An occasional worker starts moving the 3'/1m deep bank of compost that has accumulated along the wall. The yard is large but the sloping heap has begun to take over usable space. W advises the man to drag a whole (10'/3m) palm frond to the new location, rather than chopping it into pieces and placing the pieces in a garden basket for removal. Hmmm.

This morning and afternoon, I'm editing a new book by a well-known writer. "It's only 4 chapters - but they're dense theology and the chapters are long. There's no pay check for such edicts, "I'd do it for free" is true. The payout is the satisfaction of my curiosity about what others are thinking and learning. Lucky me.

And lucky them because I have a resident theologian in the house: W. When observations feel tilted, I ply him him questions. When ideas seem repetitious or an author doesn't cite previous work, I ask W who's already written on the subject. Then I can send appropriate cautions to the editor for the author.

My head is buzzing after 6 hours of reading and revising. I highlight significant alterations with the question: [does this still convey the author's intent?] The worst thing is having an editor change the meaning of something you've deeply thought through.

While one appointment is postponed, another group - family and wedding planners - gathers on the Porch. I excuse myself until they reach their decisions and smear more pastel across an abstract background.

Tuesday

After our walk with the dogs, my mom and I exchange videos since she's not up to calling.

Arms full of picture frames, I make trip after trip to the upper guest rooms. The art has been wedged into a shelf in my office. Every frame is viewed in the first room to be dropped off if it matches the bedroom. The remainder are carried to the next bedroom. After about 10 trips, most art has found its mood or color home.

Some damaged frames get repairs; collages that have been damaged are reglued. I glue the description of a plaque from Bhutan on the back of the resin sculpture and put it on the shelf upstairs.

Next will be mounting art on the walls. In the main living areas and the hall, W affixed IKEA Mosslanda picture shelves. The art is easily put in place, secure from falling, and can be adjusted whenever. We've probably had more comments on those shelves than any other feature at the Project.

W takes down the last shelf which was over the mural in the nook. He brings racks and shelves for his new office as well.

We hang solar lanterns around the yard before lunch. There's one last gasp left from the bouquet 2 weeks ago (after I jettison the fading flowers).

At team meeting, things get real. As W and I prepare for the next season, other leaders will step up to speak and lead. Makes me happy to know we have a good team. Aaron sends potential speakers as well. I start to work through the list as the day comes to an end.

Read more:
* Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Zechariah 8:23

* For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

Moravian Prayer: Creator of all that is, ever has been, and all that is yet to come—unite us in our best efforts to be your Gospel in this day. Thus, may our best selves be inspired by your Spirit to embrace the wonderful tapestry of your creation, not only our siblings in faith, but also those feeling marginalized, homeless in body and faith, or cast out from the care of community. Amen.

Feeling full - of love and work

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Though we miss our walk, we get in plenty of steps. Between dogs and company at the Project, we run the stairs and go back and forth. Sundanese religion combines Islam and animism. Nature is considered a residence for spirits so cutting down a tree - or even trimming it - is a big deal. There's a flock of men working to reshape the leaning trees along the street. They've blocked it off for the procedure.

PakG tells us where to find simple and cheap handmade furniture. We're ready to leave the house when IbuA points out a flat tire on the car. PakG fixes it before we zip down the hill to bargain for wooden beds. We end up with two for $60. "They'll be ready in 5 days," says the seller. "Come back Tuesday."

The walkers come over for lunch. It's been a rainy muddy slog but they and the animals had fun. They tie up their dogs in the driveway and carport. Each time a hiking dog barks, the dogs next door respond with a chorus.

Each person orders food from Nanny's Pavilon across the street. Nanny's servers kindly bring the food over. It's delicious: pasta, salad, and bread. Everyone seems happy with their choices.

Afterward, W and PakG go to buy a replacement for the one that wore out (or was slashed, we can't tell.) They also find reinforcing slats for a single bed that a friend found for us last week. We haven't quite figured out the mattress supports for the antique teak 4-poster but are getting closer. And there's no IKEA loft hardware to be found in Bandung to replace what was lost in the move. That will have to wait for W's next trip to the USA.

All in all, we're getting closer to furniture completion. We're almost ready for a full house of people. The helpers match linens with mattresses and clean the floors upstairs. W and I complete some writing before it's time to pick up our watchdog. She sounded very fierce last night; whether a person or cat was in the yard, we don't know.

Friday

We're starting the next round of Indonesian public holidays so the house is blissfully quiet without helpers. I make a slow cooker stew and W hangs a lovely batik from DrH near the tea station.

The flowers from Sunday are almost gone but I rework what's left into 2 bouquets. With the help of the top of a shrub, one is 2'/60cm tall. Meanwhile the roses barely peek over the edges of their bowl.

Which side of this looks better? This?

Or the other side of it?

The bowl of deep pink mums and roses is pretty, too.

The day flies by. While W brings over more of his things, I catch up on work and writing. The stew bubbles away all day and makes a wonderful supper. W hangs more shelves in bathrooms. 

Somehow it feels like Saturday, a bonus weekend day, which we don't mind at all. We're hungry for Ethnic's rice oncom and sambal and it hits the spot.

Saturday

We start with a walk and W's study. Today's a big morning at the Project for a young couple. Alice prepares the marriage certificate and makes sure the documents are in order. G and K are married in the company of a dozen friends. It's the first wedding held here, a nice setting inside or out.

Their guests sign our guestbook; we take a photo for the happy couple. These are the verses we choose for them.

They do a quick tour of the Project. One gal volunteers to do marketing and booking if we want to use it as a rental. I can't imagine bringing in more people; it's filling up quite nicely on its own.

W logs 25,000 steps, walking to town. While he's away, another young couple comes for premarital counseling. Their wedding is in a few weeks and they're almost ready. W and I walk another thousand steps with the dogs before night falls.

Read more:
* O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1

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

Moriavian Prayer: At the dawn of each new day, gracious Savior, may we rise with praise on our lips and gladness in our hearts. May such praise become hope for those who hear it, and may our gladness bring courage to those who walk silently and with heavy hearts. Amen.

A cold week in a warm city

Monday, January 12, 2026

It's COLD in Bandung. By early afternoon it's only 72oF/22oC. Brrrr to 66o/18o at night. With the wind blowing up the valley, I put on a thick sweater. It's been mostly grey and drizzly for a few days, which we're not used to. The tree trunks are shedding bark again.

A friend comes over to discuss his possibilities for work after graduation. It's wonderful how God directs a person's path, especially after diligent studies at university or seminary. That's not to say that it isn't stressful for those waiting for new doors to open.

The yardman is cleaning the garden, which has eruptied into a weed patch again. It's startling how quickly plants grow. The last patch of lawn is hand-weeded but a thick 5" /12cm carpet of weeds blankets flowerbeds within 2 weeks. There are orchids to replant that Juno (a labradoodle who got bored) dug up, plus more pots of plants to bring from the old place.

W hangs curtains in the guest room. In his new office, he re-oils his adjustable standing desk. The top is a beautiful live edge slab of wood.

There's time to edit the journal article that's been sitting on my desk for a month. "Is it done yet?" I got two reminders about it.

"No, I'm in the middle of moving households. It will have to wait" ... until today. Fortunately, doctoral candidate Flint is a good writer with something to say. That makes my job easier. I send it off, checking one more thing off the to-do list. 

An editor sends an email: will I edit a book for a well-known author? "It's short - only 4 chapters of theology." Sure - while I begin to outline an entry I'm writing for a new encyclopedia. Sometimes there's not much writing or editing going on; other times it rains pages of words.

Just before sunset, we walk over to get Juno, a night watchdog. The short trip clears our minds after too many decisions. Juno's happy to walk anytime and ecstatic to get treats when she arrives. At night she chases the ginger cat who owned the place before the dog/s took over.

Tuesday

Today is W's big day to set up his office. He moves furniture and bins into place. I offer a choice of art for the back of the lemari (cabinet) that divides the room. He chooses one but art's not his priority.

Della stops by with the media person for an upcoming wedding. Upstairs, the mattresses have been aired. Helpers try to locate the bedding they packed away. We'll have more overnight guests next week. Little by little, we're normalizing the household in a new location.

W drags boxes, tools, and black bags full of linens out of a guest room. He assembles the teak four-poster bed that friends left behind when they repatriated last year. (They purchased the beautiful carved antique for their daughter 30 years ago.) W puzzles together the slats holding up the mattress. So now we'll need a mattress for it ... 

The yardman finds out that there's a wedding ceremony outdoors in 3 weeks: he's instructed to make the yard beautiful as possible for that day. At the event, guests likely will demolish his hard work. Then he'll kickstart the yard again. "Hire a helper if you need one," we offer.

Someone remarks, "This yard is like a tropical version of a British garden." Ah, I love the borders of British gardens! The spider plants are growing taller along the path and the backbone shrubs are settling in.

We hear the weed-wacker mowing excess growth from the cobbled driveway. Because the windows are open, mud and bitty sticks fly in. I click the window shut while W gets his trusty dustpan and hand broom to sweep the sills and floor. Teamwork!

PakD plants a dozen or so poinsettias that Titik and Chandra gave us after Christmas Eve. "Ke mana?" (Where do you want them?) Right where we put the pots: they'll make a nice green - and occasionally red - hedge along the driveway.

      

Wednesday - Happy birthday, young M!
It's our granddaughter's 8th birthday. She's having a fine day with her siblings as we call.

The helpers left the house quiet and clean yesterday. It's a restful space, even as people come and go.

I fiddle with a painting. A good thing about digital phone cameras is the ability to test the direction of a painting before committing. An overpainting of a faded print on pressboard seems to be headed toward this

from this. (The color shift really is that dramatic.)

The women's group meets for a few hours. Indonesian friends teach me about domestic workers, money, and culture. "Be careful," they caution us. They strongly warn how foreigners unknowingly ruin the local economy with excess generosity. There will be no future jobs for our helpers with local employers if we overpay. Locals "will never match the working conditions or salaries at foreigner's homes, especially if those expats are Christians."

Juno comes with us for the night. She loves to be on a leash and even runs for it from the freedom of a hike. In the evening, her tail wiggles her whole body as W clips the leash onto her collar. The others stand guard where they are.

Thursday

Another missed hike. It's drizzling and cool out. W's pulled muscle is not cooperating yet so we both opt out of the mountain walk. At least we get in a one-loop stroll with the dogs. They don't care one whit about the rain or the parades of chickens at the garbage dump. (Cats are another matter, at least for Anton the poodle.)

There's new termite frass under a door frame inside. W shoots a photo for the contractor.

There's a monstrous tub in a side bathroom; W gives it its first go to see if that relaxes his muscles.

The helpers sort bedding today, besides doing other chores. "Every bed needs a sheet, pillows and pillowcases, and a blanket in a duvet cover." There are a few piles here and there, some drawers with sheets and covers, and one or two large black garbage bags containing linens. Good luck matching everything.

Bedding was tossed in here and there for the move. I packed 2 bedrooms downstairs and mostly found out where that got stored at the Project. But they stripped and washed the bedrooms upstairs. I don't even know what we have - and ask for an audit. Do we need anything else?

I'm still finding art for the guest rooms. Until they're hung up, the frames lean on each other or are stacked into an office shelf.

I spot some beautiful prints from a shop selling student art in Penang (Malaysia). Goodie, there are the empty frames. There's no time for match-ups now but that's on the horizon, too.

W and I read through Sunday's talk after I write it. This week's topic is "God the Son." What love. What sacrifice.What triumph over hell and the grave. Read about it here.

Read more:

* O LORD, there is no difference for you between helping the mighty and the weak. 2 Chronicles 14:11

* But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. [Read the story here Luke 9:42.]

Moravian Prayer: Almighty Physician, we pray for healing in our lives and in the lives of others. Our bodies and minds are frail, yet your gentle touch lifts us up. We pray that you grant courage and strength to all those who do the work of healing in our communities every day. Grant unto them your peace. Amen.

A blooming best

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Between the walk, calls, and making appointments, +7000 steps track on the watch long before noon. Papers, waiting on my desk for a week, get sorted, put away, or tossed, hurrah! On the Porch, the orchids are blooming.

   

Our two wayang puppets finally come out of storage. 

We bought them the first year we were in Indonesia. 

Last time they were put away, someone roughly crammed them into their original boxes. Some jewelry is missing and damaged because the brooches and metalwork are frail. Sigh. W thinks he can glue the platemetal pieces back together. I hope so.

A neighbor's vines are glowing with red blossoms 4m/12' above the ground.

Another neighbor is setting up for a wedding today. The grounds are immaculate and the style is typical from the Dutch and post-Dutch era. Tall ceilings draw the heat up, while white plaster walls, and a red clay roof complete the architecture. Flying into Bandung, you see a sea of such red roofs.

Breakfast is a sweet potato, baked for hours yesterday. So good.

We get a few dozen star fruits off the tree; the worker roughly shakes the branches and a few fall into the picker basket while others hurtle onto the ground (is that good for them?!) It's surprising to see what is already growing here, besides the garden we transplanted from the old place.

In early afternoon, the kids' team comes over. They're planning the coming semester of teaching English to village children. English improves their chances for good jobs and a better income for their families. Usually moms and kids come, learning in separate classes. The progress is incredible for serious students; for others it's a fun social time.

Sunday

We cherish every week with this community of faith. Della brings spices: nutmeg and cloves. How kind of God to create us with senses that can appreciate beauty. Titik makes a creative surprise of flowers.

"You can eat the top ones," she offers. It's bitter ginger.

We feel so blessed to have these flowers shared each week. The wayang puppets keep watch from their tall perch.

Dina sends along 10 plastic mats for the upcoming kids' English days, very pretty!

Whether I work in the kitchen or other rooms, I'm surrounded by green. The 10'/3m hedge outside separates us from the busy traffic lane into our old neigbourhood. It not only refreshes the eye but dampens the sound of motorcycles and cars.

W transfers some of his old office into the new. I make soup with old (5 years?) turkey broth and vegetables. I cut in homemade spaetzle noodles, just like I saw a lady make in Austria 51 years ago. Some things you don't forget - especially if they're delicious. It's so good - we've almost forgotten the taste of turkey since it's prohibitively expensive here ($70-100US for a mid-size one).

Monday

W meets his study group and I attend meetings after we walk the dogs. But first, a stunning sunrise on our way to get the dogs.

A bulb reaches for the sky beside the street.

These little berries are bright against the dark green hedge.

And the night-showoff, the beach spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis) is doing its thing.

I go to the grocer for vegetables and dog bones - at 20c/knuckle, bones are a weeklong bargain that keep those teeth busy. Juno's dug almost to China, flinging soil out of the planter, putting orchids on the pavement ... she's bored.

This guy didn't make it across the street. He's about 2'/70cm long, including his tail.

Some days are better than others, right?

Read more:

* Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away this day. Joshua 22:29

* Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16

Moravian Prayer: Our ultimate Teacher, we thank you for giving us the words to speak when we struggle to express ourselves. Thank you for walking with us when we are tempted to walk away. Thank you for always being near us. We pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.