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What’s new in your neighborhood?

In the neighborhood where I live, there is a quite different atmosphere this year than last year. Last year, there weren’t any celebrations, not even too many flags flew in front of the houses.

This year is vastly different. August was greeted with great enthusiasm. Since the beginning of August there have been parades (decorated bicycles and “anabul”) and children’s competitions, as well as blood donation campaign. The following weekend is filled with games/sports. And of course, the peak is on the 17th with an even more lively competition and closed with slippery pole climbing (“panjat pinang”) for security officers with attractive prizes. And in collaboration with certain health facilities, on the 17th there will also be several health checks and actions.

What makes this year different from last year?

Apart from the increase in the number of residents, a significant difference is this: within last year, an official RT/RW unit (a neighborhood regulation in Indonesia) has been formed in this residential area. This housing cluster is united in one RW (Rukun Warga) with 7 RTs (Rukun Tetangga) and is complete with RT heads and RW head. They are young people, great and enthusiastic people. Residents enthusiastically welcomed their program.

It takes leadership to make things happen. New leadership will make something new happen. Praise the Lord. Alhamdulillah. Be united, be kind.

Jess (our daughter in law) just landed at SYD airport a few minutes ago, a day and a night late (about 24 hours more) than originally scheduled…

Flight SFO-SYD Saturday night (local time) -scheduled to arrive Monday morning- was canceled due to a technical problem (problem with the infotainment system), even though the passengers had been on board for quiet long hour. When leaving the plane, you have to queue at the counter to book a replacement flight and get information: there are no replacement flights direct to SYD, because everything is fully booked. Get a replacement flight, no later than 24 hours later, and the destination is MEL (must transit in Melbourne and then take a connecting plane to Sydney).

On Sunday evening, Jess was finally able to leave, and it was also about 1.5 hours late again, with the scheduled arrival this morning at around 6am WIB (9am MEL).

I woke up at 05.35 WIB looking at the flightradar, I wondered why the plane’s route line was going around and around (apparently turning 2x) then turned right (backwards to Melb) and stopped there. Oh, just nervous. (It’s a risk if you like to look at flightradar.)

About 20 minutes later, Jess sent information that the plane had diverted to SYD because Melb was too foggy.

<quote> … Then the pilot gave an announcement, “You may have noticed that the destination is not Melbourne anymore. You’re correct, Melbourne airport has become too foggy and not safe for landing. So we changed our destination to Sydney for a safe landing.”</end>

Wow, I laughed out loud this morning… I don’t think I’ve ever laughed like this when I woke up in the morning… The uniqueness of the experience is fun for us (but for the others supposed to be going to Melbourne directly is an added hassle).

Landed 9.26 … <quote> I think this is the landing experience with the biggest smile in my life</end>

Praise the Lord. Relieved, happy and grateful. May this experience be a goodness for all of us… 

Going back and forth from Semanggi to Gambir, Batu-Malang, we took taxies. On these three occasions, one thing was the same: the taxi driver -by only starting with one question- was triggered to tell a long story about their life journey… until the time was up (aka arrived at the destination). Wow, what an amazing story of their life. Lots of drama and lessons.

People have many life stories… People really need to tell them and be heard, … We listen by repeatedly giving small responses that make them more enthusiastic… while occasionally we reinforce the values of life that they/we hold.

“Here’s another way to put it: …. Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 MSG

Life is about generosity, sharing money, heart, time to others.

Thanks to the kindness and initiative of our friends in Phnom Penh. Monday-Tuesday 10-11 July 2023, because of them, we enjoyed a trip to Kampong Som (Sihanoukville), a province in ​​the Southwestern Cambodia which has beaches.

There is one Indonesian friend, a mother from Medan, who works at Kp Som. We are happy, because she is very friendly, lively and really enjoys hanging out with us. It so happened that the next day she was off work, so -she said- that day she could be with/accompany us until late.

Monday night, ending a long day, we drank and chatted on the rooftop of the hotel where we were staying. Maybe because we were (my wife and I) both guests from far away who rarely saw each other, they asked us to start sharing stories. One mother asked us to share a story about how we first met. Wow, is our story relevant for kids today (coincidentally there are some teenagers)? We are from an earlier era. Secondly, I think of the mother from Medan who may need other kinds of stories. So, let’s mix up the stories so that as far as possible the lessons can be taught to as many people as possible.

The following we didn’t realize, about one situation on that rooftop. We were notified the next day. They said that a young couple, who took the table next to us, shifted their seats so they were facing our table. They seemed interested in hearing the chatter at our table. As usual, my voice is too loud (because I have a hearing loss hehe). That’s why they can hear us.

And, another blessing, regarding our chat that night, the mother who suggested the topic said that her daughter enjoyed hearing stories and chatting last night. Oops, looks like something is related to.

Well, okay, we have to draw a lesson. Our chats can be so much fun. Try to keep the conversation fun. I can’t give tips now (even if I have any ). And, our chat can attract the attention of people around us. Maybe many people miss chatting with us. Even bigger, our lives can attract.

We… and you… are precious. Our life is unique and beautiful. It may be bad, but it’s beautiful. hehe… Don’t miss the opportunity to be a blessing to others, who often find it rare to have pleasant chats.

Create community or join one… and develop it healthy and fresh.

• Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 

• Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.