Mighty Merapi

The volcano continues to rumble. For several weeks now it has been emitting ash clouds and pryoclastic flows. Some lava has been released, but Merapi typically doesn't emit a lot of lava. It is mostly hot burning clouds of sulphric ash.
About 200 people have lost theirs lives to these eruptions. Many people have had to leave their homes. There about 300,000 people who are living in shelters at this time. However, they are going home during daylight hours to tend to their crops and animals. Groups from our city are heading to these camps to distribute supplies and play with the children. Please pray that their needs will be met as they wait for things to calm down enough to go home. We are not sure when that will happen.
Last weekend (first weekend of November) our ash fall in Salatiga was more significant and we had to wear masks at school when we were out and about because there was a lot of ash in the air. There are only a few rooms at the school that are closed off and have air conditioning. So, this week, there was a lot of cleaning going on to try to get rid of the dust and ash. So far we have not had the wind blow anymore this way.
We do appreciate your prayers for this country which has endured much hardship.

Doing Good

Galatians 6:9-10, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

We just finished up a study on Galatians this last month. Each week we read a chapter and talked about it. This verse from Galatians has really been impacting me. I want to be a person who does good to others. I want to take the oppportunity to give of myself and my resources to help others and to make a difference. I have had some opportunities to do that in the last few weeks, and some situations can be exhausting and some can stretch you financially. But, it has been a blessing to me to help others even though it is tiring and stretching. I like the encouragement in this verse, telling us not to become weary and not to give up. I don't feel like focusing on the harvest, but rather on loving others. But, I'm glad that there is a benefit---in ourselves and in others---for our investment. Doing good...I like it. :)

Soup-sellers

Has giving to someone ever made you cry because you felt so happy?

For quite awhile I’ve passed this couple on the road. They are an older couple and they push a cart from which they sell soup. Just from the times that I have passed them, I know that they travel quite a distance each day. Sometimes I see older people and I am just touched by how “cute” they are. This couple has pulled on my heart strings that way. The old man is a little shorter than me and he wears a hat. His pants are 70-ish…maybe a polyester blend. The clothes are old and have a worn look, but they aren’t dirty. His wife is shorter and wears a blouse, skirt and flip-flop sandals. Together they push the cart up and down hills, dodging traffic along the way.

I’ve seen this couple when I’m out with my kids and I’ve commented on them more than once. I’m sure if I asked my older boys, they would know who I was talking about. Usually we’re on our way home from enjoying an afternoon at the pool and we see them pushing their cart home. I’ve just felt humbled by their effort and dedication to their work. I love seeing them and how they work together. I’ve wanted to talk to them and do something nice for them.

Today I got my chance. I saw them when Chase and I stopped at a little convenience store. They were stopped outside, serving up soup. As I got Chase out, they packed up and started moving down the road. I smiled at them and got a smile in return, but felt so awkward about asking them to stop and talk. I went into the convenience store and got what I needed, and then came back out. As I came out, I decided today was going to be the day I was going to stop and introduce myself to them, no matter what….

I saw them up the road and I went and parked nearby. As they got close, I got out of the car to talk to them. I told them I was a little embarrassed to be stopping them. I told them how I had seen them so many times and was touched by how hard they worked. They laughed, saying the walk was “good exercise”. I asked how far they went and they told me where they started and where they go each day. It’s a distance of about 3-4 miles each way! They asked where I lived and I told them. We live pretty near to one another. We exchanged names and I said that I wanted to give them something and slipped some money into her hand. They thanked me and blessed me. They didn’t see how much I gave them but seemed a little surprised that I stopped and talked to them and did that. They were very nice and friendly.

After my encounter with them, I cried. I just have wanted to do that for so long! I don’t know if I’ll run into them again. I don’t know exactly where they live and I don’t know if I can stop again when I do see them. I hope sometime I can. I just felt like my opportunity was today and that God gave that to me. I felt that pretty strongly when I went into the convenience store….that I knew I shouldn’t ignore this opportunity. Most of all, I just felt so thankful. I don’t know why God put this in my path today of all days, but I pray that they were blessed in some measure.

It was just beautiful……

Driving....me nuts

I wonder, if one day, I actually will not get upset by the traffic here. I doubt that day will ever come. Today I watched a car almost plough into a security guard at school who was trying to help a student cross the street and help me turn out. Last week I had a day when I was at a green light and no one going the other direction was stopping. The very same day I was at a red light and everyone in front of me started going. It just made me shake my head with disbelief. Plus, a motorcyclist drove into our friend's car a few weeks ago and smashed it up pretty good. We're still dealing with that wreck and the money that has to be paid for this, that and the other. Although the bike hit them, they've had to cover medical and the cost of repair for the motorcycle and the very irresponsible drivers get to deal with some pain---but no money lost on their side of the deal. What a mess. It's still not over and has been pretty stressful.

Although I'm used to driving here now for the most part, I stop and consider on these days that I am so thankful for God's protection. I'm thankful for the driving skills that Casey and I have and that God has blessed us with those. I know that He is with us and I don't want to ever take that for granted. I still shake my head---and sometimes driving just drives me nuts.

Speaking of being DRIVEN NUTS....it's raining. Again. It's been raining, and raining and raining. For the record, it's still supposed to be dry season. Ugh.

Happenings

We have been absorbed with work, which has been mostly good. There have been a few "bumps" along the way but that's the way things go I think. I am prayerfully trying not to keep focused on the "bumps" I've run into, hoping that I can let them go and continue to focus on why God has put us here. I have loved the classroom though--it's been fabulous. Ryan is doing well in 3rd grade, but finds school pretty tiring for some reason. Niko jumped from 1st to 2nd a couple weeks ago and that has been good. It's much more challenging and a better match. Chase is growing like a weed and is saying more words--and is just into everything!

I wanted to share about just a few happenings over the last few weeks. A couple of weeks ago Casey went on a "men's night" to Yogyakarta (2.5 hrs away). They went to dinner and went bowling. As they left, I took my three munchkin's downtown to the market to shop for some "pets". We wanted to pick up some hermit crabs. I was carrying Chase in my left arm and had a hold on Niko with my right hand. Ryan was walking in front of us. The road was in pretty bad shape, with lots of potholes and uneven places. Well, with Chase in my arms, I wasn't keeping a close eye on the potholes and into one I went! My ankle/foot twisted pretty horribly and both Chase and I went down. Thankfully I didn't land on him and he didn't get scaped or scratched, but I cried out and he started screaming too of course. Niko grabbed at me yelling, "Mom, a motorcycle is coming!" and tried to help us up. We made it up and I didn't have any blood, although my leg burned from where it scraped against the road. No one came to our aid. No one offered a hand or asked if we were okay. We got up and I hobbled to buy the pets. Then I hobbled back to the car. That night Casey was gone and Ryan went to a friend's house. I had pretty bad pain in my foot that night, but over the next few days it got better and better. It never swelled or turned color at all, but I can tell there's something still funny about it. Just yesterday I tried lifting my left toes to pull off the back of my right shoe and it HURT. But, hopefully any day now I can get back to a slow jog around the track!!

I also finally made it to visit our friend, Ibu Tukiman. If you recall, she is the mother of Ester and the wife of Pak Tukiman who both passed away. Just a month ago Ibu Tukiman finally moved to the house of the oldest daughter, Yanti. Yanti doesn't have a job now just so she can help take care of her mother. They haven't had money for schooling, etc, so I was glad to find out that she is beginning to help a friend with making "bread" (probably snacks) for special orders. That is something she can hopefully do from home and not leave her Mom alone. When I got there, I found my way to the house--which was a little tough. It's on the narrowest little alley. It looked unoccupied and there was a bunch of junk outside. The door was closed. I knocked and I called out. I heard Bu Man's voice. She had been left alone, which made me so sad. The window has no glass and no screen--just a piece of cloth in front ot it. I put my head in the window and grabbed her hand. A neighbor came up and told me that the door was unlocked. The boys and I went ahead and went in. It was SO good to see her. She looks well, except that she has lost one or two more teeth. I thought Chase was amazing. It was sort of like he remembered her! He walked right up to her and shook her hand and hugged her--and touched her leg...without prodding on my part. It was really amazing to watch. Her room is very small and it's in bad shape. I hope that she has what she needs and is comfortable. At least family is around... most of the time... :(

Our helper has been a little shaken this week. Her daughter-in-law, who has a different faith, came over last weekend and was really upset. She was jealous and was suspicious of her husband. She was really angry and attacked a young woman who was at my helper's house. My helper got hurt and the neighbors all got involved. Please remember all of the people involved in this situation, including the precious grandchildren. Their parents need the Lord, and they are experiencing some bad things because of what is going on.

I've also gotten a Bible study started for ladies at school. So far there are 5 Americans coming and 3 Indonesians. We're starting to read through Galatians and have had some good discussions already. I love being in groups like this with different people. They are have been some of the richest moments in my life.

This weekend is Idul Fitri, the end of the Muslim month of fasting. It is raining, raining, raining. I kind of like the rain, because it probably means a little less noise tonight (if it continues), Usually there's a parade, loud mosque music, and MANY firecrackers. There still might be if the rain lets up. Today is their final day of fasting, so its time to celebrate. We are kind of stuck at home too because the traffic is ROTTEN as people travel home to see family and ask for forgiveness for wrongs done this year. The traffic will be rotten for awhile actually. (It's usually rotten...now it's just compounded!!) The only bummer on rain is that the school is having it's high school retreat and the kids are camping out in tents. I've heard the tents leak, so that part doesn't sound too great :(. I am hoping they have figured out how to deal with that or that it hasn't been raining at the retreat center! Over the next couple of weeks we'll make arrangements to go and visit some of our Muslim friends and give them our good wishes. We usually wait until they've returned from seeing family and are not so busy.

Well, that's it for the moment from here.... :)

Senior Retreat

This is my second year teaching 12th grade Contemporary Issues. In this class we talk about who we are, where we are going with our lives, do some college planning and work and plan for life after college. It really is a class that covers a wide variety of things, but hopefully gives seniors some tools to handle some things that they might face after high school. This year I am not the senior class advisor, but I asked if I could help with the senior retreat. This event is early in the year and is a time when the seniors look at their goals for the year. The senior class really impacts the atmosphere of the school year, and we ask them to consider what they want that to be like. Although I am not their advisor, I felt like I wanted to spend time with them since I have them in Contemp. I wanted to learn more about them as individuals and as a class. Casey agreed to go with me and help this weekend, and I am so thankful for that.

We started the weekend with a few games and then we went to dinner at a restaurant in town. We then went back to the school and particpated in a hands-on devotional about "Remembrance". Then we went up the mountain to the guest house. After we got there we watched the seniors light sparklers and take pictures and we laughed. I was so tired (I'm too old to stay up so late :)) that I laughed a lot and some of the antics of the seniors. I think I found it funnier than it probably was because I was so tired :). Around 11pm they started playing Korean slapping games. Stupidly, I joined in. I was too tired to think and react, so I gave up around 12.30 because I kept losing all the time and kept getting slapped. As I fell asleep I heard even louder and more brutal slaps!

The next morning we had a time of talking/planning about the year. This class is so excited about their senior year and is enjoying every moment. They don't want to live for themselves, but they want to encourage growth and unity in the younger classes. They also are so thankful for Mountainview and they want to thank and respect their teachers. I was really blessed by their positive outlook and their thankfulness. They have all had pain and difficulty and are all needing confidence in Christ---as we all are. I just appreciate their honesty so much and think they are beautiful people with incredible hearts. I am glad that I chose to spend those moments with them.

We then went further up the mountain to Treetop which is a ropes course place. It was raining buckets and was freezing. Then it let up and they decided to get started...and then the rain started again. They put on flimsy rain jackets and just went for it, but it was pretty soggy and miserable. Having nice weather would have made it way more enjoyable, but I think many still enjoyed themselves. What I like watching most is they way that senior classes encourage one another and help each other out when they do this activity. It's really neat. Then of course, when we were done, the sun came peeking out!

When we have a weekend like this, it really helps remind me why we gave our lives to this place and this ministry. I am so thankful that God has given us this opportunity to interact with these incredible young men and women from around the world (1 Costa Rican, 5 Americans, and 6 Koreans) who have grown up in another culture. I know that each of them is going to change the world and we get to be a part of that. This is a big responsibility we have, but an awesome one too. Please pray for them this year---that it will be a year of growth and that they will glorify God with their choices and will grow close to Him. Pray for them too as they prepare to go on from here. And, please pray for us as we minister to them.

Suffering

Difficult things happen to people sometimes and you just aren't sure what to say or how to help. We have a family that sends their kids to school who actually lives two hours from here. They had rented a house in town a year ago so that their kids wouldn't have to drive back and forth. Just this week sometime their house was broken into. Everything was taken---the curtains, the iron, everything---the thieves even took the compressor out of the refrigerator. I am reminded of the Grinch and how he took everything and left a crumb too small for a mouse. That's a cartoonish thought that brings a whimsical smile. But, when I talked to this mother tonight who had everything stolen, there was no whimsical smile. There was physical pain as she complained that her stomach hurt. I understood completely, for her family was violated and everything was lost. I am not sure how they will recover but it will take time. I hope our community can help.
It's sad and it's painful...

Never Any Easier

My entire life has been a life of "goodbyes". You'd think that by now that I'd have it down. You'd think that I'd be so used to it and that the impact on my heart wouldn't be so great. But, it doesn't change. The goodbyes still hurt, no matter how many times you have done them. Today I have to say goodbye to my Dad, tomorrow my Mom. It won't be any easier. It never is. Technology does make us closer and for that I am grateful, but it still is painful to say "goodbye". If heaven is a place of no more goodbyes, then I'm ready for that. Sounds like the perfect place to me!

Post Cards

My Dad has a collection of post cards. In the past he enjoyed finding all of the strangest postcards he could find and has quite a collection. Here he's showing Ry and Niko his batch..

Empty

I am sure the days pass with mundane succession for my Mom, a caregiver. Although Dad no longer lives in this home, she helps him at some mealtimes. When he is here, at home with us, she helps him eat, helps him when he is choking, and helps him in the bathroom. I know many times it is just automatic. There are times when it hurts, especially on birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. But, on other days it just business as usual. But as I look at each action that she takes, I see how she is demonstrating her love for him and how she is fulfilling her marriage vow. It's not easy---and if I can be honest--it really sucks...but she does it and it is a testimony. I used to struggle because I felt that in the past my Mom would punish my Dad for his wrongs, but that's gone now. He's helpless and she is giving him all that she can. I really admire her for her faithfulness.

I don't think that Dad knows all that she does and sacrifices for him. I don't think he grasps that anymore. Sometimes there is a bare flicker of engagement. When Dad sees Chase for example, he smiles---mouth open wide--and Chase bursts into giggles. I tell them to kiss and Dad leans in and Chase cringes at the tickly beard but is laughing. The first time I told him to kiss Grandpa he did...before he knew what a tickly face Grandpa had. I took Dad into his home today and communicating with him was hard. I couldn't tell what he wanted to do and when I looked in his eyes, I saw emptiness there. Oh...that makes me grieve for the man that he used to be when I was little. When I touch his frail arm, guiding him to his room or when I hold his gaunt hand, I feel such sadness. When I hugged him and felt the bones in his back and kissed him, he made sad face and sort of whimpered. Dad, my heart was doing the same....

Life is Short----kind of...

When we got to Anderson, I tried to call a few people that I knew we would not have time to see (and shouldn't see with our three kids in tow!). One of the couples I called were Denny & Wiletta. They are in their 90s. Wiletta took care of me sometimes when I was a little girl. When I called, a stranger answered the phone. It was their daughter. She said that her Mom was in the hospital. I had already heard that Denny was not doing very well, but I didn't know that her Mom was also facing serious health challenges. We stopped by yesterday and it seemed that she was in bad shape. She was on a respirator. She recognized me and tried to talk, but I just spoke to her and held her hand. I prayed with her and she squeezed my hand tightly. The doctor said that the options for her would depend on how she did over night. Today I stopped by with Ryan and Niko in tow (after their dental checkup). She had rallied and was up and talking with her husband. He didn't remember me at all, but she sure did. We talked and prayed again. Her breathing was really labored, but she was breathing on her own. I am not sure if they are going to try a heart operation or just try to keep her comfortable. I am hoping that I can get news as we leave Anderson tomorrow.

Wiletta is a beautiful soul who loves Jesus and has served Him her whole live. She has had a wonderful life---a full life. I know that when she joins Jesus, there will be rejoicing. But, it is still sad to watch life ebb away. No matter how peaceful it is or how exciting it seems to be united with Christ, it can't be separated from the sadness. As Denny and Wiletta held hands this morning, I could see their love. I could see the bond that the long years together had formed and I could see that in holding hands, they are trying to grasp and hold this moment now...for as long as they can. That just broke my heart. They've had long lives...and full lives...but, that almost makes it more sad.

There has been more news of the possibility of cancer facing friends who serve with us overseas and it seems like it has really shaken their world. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be, but as I look at all of my friends battling cancer in their own separate journeys, I just feel overcome with sadness. ALL of them know the Lord and all of them love Him dearly...but it doesn't mean that this journey is easy. I am sure though, that they would all say it would be tremendously more difficult without Him.

Though life is intensely sad sometimes, it really is beautiful...and I am praying for my dear friends today.

Favorite Shots

Richness

When I consider my life, I am in awe of how God has brought incredible people across my path. Across the globe I have beautiful friends who have each meant something different to me and who have helped me grow in different ways. I really feel humbled, blessed and thankful. One of these people is Mary. I haven't known Mary all that long, but she has really inspired me and blessed me. My heart is connected to hers and I am in awe about how God is working in her through her challenging journey. I feel so honored to be known as her friend and to have the opportunity to support her in prayer. I ask you, my friends, to lift her up in prayer and then thank the Lord for the people God has brought into your life.

Mixture

Coming back to America causes such a mixture of feelings. On one hand, it is so wonderful to be reunited with family and friends and experience some of the "comforts" of home. On the other hand, one misses friends on the other side of the ocean who have become family. Other things to miss include the routine and having an actual home (and not just living out of suitcases). It's been a fabulous time though and I'm so thankful for the connections that we have made and for the experiences that we have had. We have met amazing people. For example, we met one couple, Clarence and Evelyn, just because they waved at us as we were taking a walk around the block. The boys thought I was a little odd for stopping and introducing ourselves. Others we have known but have just enjoyed soaking up time with, like my friend Mary and her lovely family. Each of the boys have made a few friends and played so well with them. They've also struggled with some kids and have faced some difficult situations, but I have been so proud of them. I've been reminded of our great responsibility to raise them in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and that has been humbling. I hope that they learn great things, even through the challenges. I am thankful for the great new friends they have made and the things that they have been able to see. It's been a mixture of difficult and good, but that's a great thing!

Blog

We have come to the decision that having a blog is a good idea. We've been thankful for Facebook and were glad to have a website before, but it was hard to manage and hard to access. That was intentional, but also restrictive. We still plan to be cautious, but do want to connect with people more and help get the word about where we are and what we are doing. We hope that you will be praying for us as we get ready to head back to where God's called us to!