7.6 Earthquake !

The mad dash for higher ground right after a 2-and-a-half minute earthquake.












On Wednesday I was at the camp taking a shower in the outdoor stalls when my stall began to sway. I braced myself, thinking huh, we’re having a tremor. But then it didn’t stop, and it quickly gained strength. After about a minute I finally decided to get out. As I stood in my towel in the middle of the yard with conditioner in my hair, Colleen came out from her tent and grabbed me. We stood watching the camp, the ground all around us fluid, rolling like a boat on a wave. Our team leader yelled for everyone to head to the truck. “But I don’t have any clothes on!” I protested. I ran into my tent, dressed myself in the first thing I found as quickly as I could (flannel pj’s), and 5 of us piled into the truck, heading for the foot of the mountain.

The whole village had emptied out of their homes already. The road was littered with women carrying children, gas, and sacks of uncooked rice on their head. We got out of the truck and joined the procession up the steep, narrow, muddy mountain trail. People were keeping an eye out to the ocean for any signs of receding water—the predecessor to a tsunami. After about an hour on the mountain with no signs of receding waters, we decided to head back to camp. The local people were not going anywhere, though. After the horror of the 2004 tsunami, they were fearful and planned to remain in the mountains for a few days. Those who returned to their homes were going to sleep outdoors that night.

Once returned, we discovered that in addition to my shower escapade, all 3 guys at the camp had been vulnerably indisposed on the toilet when the earthquake struck (one fell off and scraped his knee). What are the chances??? :)

Improvements

New furniture--a counter so we don't have to squat/sit on the floor to prepare meals, and just last week a new corner table for our little stove top, so we can stand to cook! And a divider for our bathing area. It was so great to get rid of the blue tarp.

Our newest mode of transportation. Now we can zip around like everyone else.

The old look, even before the blue tarp. Didn't get any pictures of that awful thing...

New Year's

Returned to my supply town for New Year's and met up with good friends from my days in language school. Was a great time!

Christmas in Jakarta

In the beginning of December, a malignant tumor was discovered in my mom's uterus. Fortunately she and my dad were in Singapore at the time, where medical facilities and staff are top-rate in the world. After an emergency hysterectomy, she was found to be cancer-free. Praise the Lord!!! However, this altered my parents' plans to visit me for Christmas, so instead I went to see them in Jakarta. Their "basement" (Taman Anggrek Mall) was decorated lik a winter wonderland, complete with carols and "snow" falling from the top floor. Fun! This is the only picture I have of us all from Christmas day. Dad had the flu bad, and we had one shot at a picture. Bad angle. Sorry!

Preparing for Christmas

Our team in our leader's house at camp

For Women Only

My mom stuck a book in my bag entitled, "For Women Only--What you need to know about the inner lives of men," by Shaunti Feldhahn. Although it is focused on married women, it solidified a few things in my mind as as a single woman. One example: I've always known I wouldn't want to marry a man I didn't respect, but now it's clear: If I get married I had better have LOADS of respect for my man. If being respected is so fundamental to his needs, it will be an uphill battle for me if I don't bein with an abudance of it.

An interesting read! I would recommend a look at it to any woman, especially if you're married. Shaunti claims it is for women only because "the other half of the people on the planet already know what you're going to read in this book." Apparently the men who have read the book are incredibly grateful she wrote it.

The end of the book had an excerpt from her previous book, The Lights of Tenth Street. I want to read it. An eye-opener to issues on which I am far too innocent. Check out http://www.4-womenonly.com. You can check out her other books (For Younger Women Only--What a great resource for teens!!! I want to read it, too!), read "ask Eric" entries, and more.

New Home (Dec 4, 2007)

Moving in day

Preparing to Move

We found a home in a village we fondly named "Ocean Park" for it's beautiful view. It needed some fixing up and expansion first, so the village set right to work on that project.
The enthusiasm of the Ocean Park kids never wears down. :)

It's a Jungle out there!

Animals, animals! It's crazy what makes it into the camp. Monkeys, mongoose, sickly kittens, snakes, water buffalo, goats, chickens, rats, and plenty of leeches to go around. On the road we've also seen an eagle, monitor lizards, and wild boar. That's about all I can think of at the moment. :)

Everybody has a water buffaloooooooooooooh! :)

Life at Camp (Nov 4 - Dec 4)

From my tent to the outhouses takes about 150 steps up a rocky path towards the mountain. Next time you need the bathroom, go outside and count out 150 steps. On your way back to the house, pray for good health for me--particularly my intestines. :) So far I have been blessed with good health.

Finally (Nov 4, 2007)

Ready to head out to my allocation! Flight leaves at a bright and early 6:30 am for the island. Preparing to land...

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is an amazing city to visit. Lots of records achieved... Tallest flagpole in the world, tallest twin towers in the world, used to be the tallest building in the world... Huge rock caves that have been converted into a series of Hindu temples. It's one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India (read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Caves). There are 272 steps to get up there (pant, pant) and monkeys EVERYWHERE! I got too close to one, and he swatted me! Broke the skin on my arm. Let that be a lesson to you. :)

Amazing food varieties in KL... Below is Nepalese food. MMMM!!!!

Fraser's Hill, Malaysia

Day Out

A couple weeks before leaving Bandung, Colleen and I got to spend the day with 4 girls from the kost who were good friends from the first month to the last. We hiked around some caves that weren't too far from the dorm, and enjoyed the mountain beauty. A day to remember. I miss my buddies!!! :(

Catch up

I'm trying to play catch-up here. There have been so many things that have happened in the past few months that are worth sharing. Be sure to check past months as well, because I had a few drafts that were started and never finished (Independence Day and Farewell from the dorm).

Star Wars (1977)

So I am watching Star Wars for the first time (yes, finally). #4 on Sunday, #5 last night, and will watch #6 today. Generally not the movie genre I pick out for myself, but since I had the time and it was here, and Colleen wanted me to watch it, thought I would at least give it a try. #5 was much better than #4, and the characters and story are growing on me, although I'm far from hooked at this point. Most interesting to me are the spiritual parallels.

Yesterday I read about how King Saul spared the best of the sheep and cattle when he was supposed to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything belonging to them. He was going to use them for a sacrifice to God. But God wasn't happy and said, "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

This morning I read about Samuel looking for the next king, and God says He doesn't look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

When I read that, it made me think of Star Wars when Luke leaves to rescue Leia and Han, against the wishes of Yoda and Obi, telling him he is not ready to go yet. Then later we discover more information that Yoda and Obi already knew when Luke ran off recklessly to do a "good" thing (save his friends and fight the dark side), a thing he felt absolutely necessary, more so than heeding the words of his trainers.

I haven't seen the last film yet, but it just reminded me of how God does not think the way I think, and He knows infinitely more than I do, and it's better to obey than go off on my bright ideas of things I think are good that differ from what He's said. I only can see the outward situation, but He sees all the intricate workings, much larger and much smaller than I ever will.

Anyway, that's my musings thus far on Star Wars. Found it interesting that my viewings coincided with my readings.

Janda Baik, Malaysia

The "chalet" in Janda Baik was our first stop in Malaysia after leaving Bandung. It was a bit more rustic than we anticipated (see me in our chalet below, with mattresses propped up against the wall of the empty, square wood hut). However, the cold, power-pipe shower blaster was refreshing! There was no door on the outhouse bathroom/shower that hovered over the stream, but as we were quite alone, a sarong worked for privacy. Feeling a bit too isolated in a brand new country, we decided it was time to split after the first night. Also, Colleen was attacked by a leech. If you click on the picture of me outside, you can see our chalet in the background.

Farewell from the dorm

Our dorm mom surprised us a week before we left, with 2 lovely cakes she made for us. Everyone came down to partake that night, and it was a great time. She said, "I don't have anything I can give you, so this is my gift to you." It was very special.

Then a couple nights before we left, they went all out and had a "barbeque" for us, and pulled out the stops. On our last night, we were up past 1 am, and the girls kept stopping by, one by one, at 15-30 minute intervals, with gifts and notes for us. We felt so loved!