Mas Miko's Wedding

This past week was crammed with activity. Not only are we busy getting ready for 2 new families (who JUST arrived yesterday and today), but we attended 2 weddings. Sunday was Puput's wedding (I did a blog about her fiance changing religions.) and her cousin, Mas Miko who was our house guard when we needed to be away, payed some bills and was a regular visitor unlike most of our neighbors. Puput's was right behind our old house, but Mas Miko's was up in Pekalongan. Pekalongan is a town North-West along the coast of Java. It is known for its bright colorful batik. (no... I didn't get to go shopping) :(

We have become good friends of the family and felt privileged to be invited to this wedding especially.

The family rented a huge AC'd touring bus (no bathroom, just seats) for the 4 hour ride up and back. We all were decked out for the ride, ready to attend the ceremony when we arrived.

The picture of me holding a small piece of paper was my 'lucky draw' to a door prize. To get the door prize (which turned out to be a hot pink napkin holder - very Indonesianish) :) I had to sing a song for the whole bus!! THAT was interesting. :) Good memories non-the-less.

White folks are rarely seen, so I think we were also along for the prestige of it all, but it was still neat. :) We were givine the honor of escorting the groom to the house of the bride. Sorry... no picture. I couldn't get one! :)

After 3 1/2 hours we were back on the bus and heading home. We were gone from 8AM to 8PM. We were tired! :)

Settlers with Friends

Ariel and Dea came for Settlers the other night. It was fun. :) About 3 of us were about to win, (ternyata) in the end I think Dea won. :)

Indonesian University Graduation

So, we didn't really get to where we needed to go, but we did end up on the campus of one of the largest Christian universities in Indonesia - here in Salatiga - UKSW

Melissa and I stood, getting pictures and a few video clips before we mozzied on to where we thought we needed to be.... in the end we never made it. :( Oh well. Next time.

Batik.... :)

Don't want to leave you hanging! Batik returned that night about 7, limping a bit. She has cuts on her left shoulder and side. We aren't sure if she got hit by a motorbike or something. She continues to limp around, 4 days later.

It is good to have my cat back!!!

Our New Home - March 2009

This is our new home! We live about 5 minutes by motorbike from our old house. It is smaller, but with a closed in back yard. IT is cozy!!! :)

Our cat, Batik, moved fine, but has been gone since last night.... remains to be seen if we still have a cat.

Berpisahan - Farewell Party

In Indonesian culture, you have your own farewell party - or separation from one neighborhood to another. Two Sundays ago, I hosted just that for our neighborhood ladies.

I had 47 ladies attend with about 7 children. Six ladies were not able to come, but food boxes were set aside and their names written on them. Other ladies were assigned the job of delivering them.

The order of the even was just like any other neighborhood ladies meeting - individual prayer time, standing to sing the meeting song, reading of the 10 goes for neighborhood ladies and then another reading... You give your money for different things and the neighborhood lady leader goes through the announcements for items of discussion passed down to her from the larger neighborhood area. Before this ended, I gave my speach to the ladies, thanking them for their friendship and help as we learned language along with the times that we were asked to take more of an active part. I had to appoligize for any thing that we did or said that offended any of them and invited them all to come and visit us at our new house. :) The neighborhood lady leader then responded to me and then I helped pass out my food boxes. :)

It was a good time and a good closing for me and the ladies. I will miss them, but plan to visit. :)

Package from Bev

We recieved a package lately that was sent, packed with love! :)














THIS amazes me! Bev's own homemade strawberry jam, IN a GLASS jam jar that made it ALL the way here unbroken!! A package cradled in God's hands for sure! :)

Thanks so much, Bev! BIG hugs!!!!

Whatley-Sitting

These past two weeks, Shane and I have been Whatley-kid-sitting for Tim and Kathy. :) Here are a FEW pics of our time together. :)

Cup Of Java

Hundreds of Javanese died while the Dutch reaped the rewards of the new coffee craze out of Java, Indonesia. Rice was a forbidden crop, resulting in the lack of food. You can still find coffee plantations on Java which supply the locally sold coffee - green, roasted, or already made in to kopi bubuk (coffee powder).

CanonPowershot A630

This is our new camera, thanks to our church family in Ontario!

....remember ours that got lifted off our gate as we headed for a weekend of camping on the south coast? We weren't sure when we would be getting a new one, however, we did and want to say a big THANK YOU to those who gave from Clifford Community Church!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :)

We were VERY thankful for our friend, Lisa Richardson, who lent us her old camera while we waited to get a new one. THANK YOU, Lisa!!!

I love having a camera again!