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.... :)