Saturday We had Friends Over / Around the House!

 Some very special people ~ Albert & Jessica were two of our "Welcoming Committee" when we first came to Salatiga and attended the International Church!  Jessica (center) is a student at the University and is doing her thesis now - soon she will be in Jakarta to do her 2 years internship as an English teacher!  Jessica is from Kalimantan (Borneo) Her desire to go back to Kalimantan and serve there to her own people!  Albert has been here since September from Holland - and Lucie a sweet gal from Germany...all precious friends we have come to adore! 

Lucie plans to return after a year back to Germany and enter university herself!  She is but a young one still - gosh what a blessing these young people are to come to Indonesia! 

 So we had a good ole' American spaghetti (or actually Italian huh?) dinner - 2 other friends could not make it - regretfully!

We had a great evening..and it was fun to hear all the plans they have! 

 In our backyard we have 2 fruit trees - look here a Papaya tree...yes just growing in our yard like the most natural thing!

Well it is of course - being here in the tropics that is!

 Just look at those beauties! Wow! Abundant & very tasty!  We already ate our first one of the season! Hope to share them with our neighbors soon! 

On our back porch we have this "wonderful" washing machine!  Yes we feel so very blessed to have been able to borrow it from the MAF group!  Every time I do my wash - it agitates on the left.  Then you have to manually drain it, then you switch the switch again and bring in more water to rinse, then drain again...then put the wet clothes into the spinner....and spin it for 5 minutes...TADA!  It is done and you can hang it out to dry!  I remember my Mom doing this - and now I am fortunate to be able to do it myself!  Yes fortunate!  Because being able to borrow it all these months was a REAL blessing and I am ever so thankful for that! 

 A good old fashion clothes line!  It is really fun to go out there - and then when it is done (the hot weather drys it FAST!)  Oh it smells so' good...!

Clean and crispy fresh!  

 Here is the brand - yes Sharp - they are the cutest things ~ very practical and efficient!

We will be able to use it till we leave next month - or if a family arrives - we know it will be needed for them....BUT...so far so good!!!! ha!

 I was walking around the house today - and decided to take some pictures of it again~  It has been a sweet home for us ~ And as you see - we have lived simple!  We have a friend who will take our frig...and some of the pieces we hope to sell...but we have been comfortable these months ~

 I have been thankful for my 2 pit propane cook top....I like cooking with gas anyway - so with a wok and our veggie's we have been quite content all these months! 

We purchased the first propane tank and then when it is empty we exchange it for a full one for a small charge! 

The propane goes for quite a while.

 We purchased this coffee table - and it has been a good thing to have in the living area!  Our friend Andreaz did the batik on this cute table rug - oh it will look good in our home of the future ....or will it be a motor-home? ha!?

 This is how we have been teaching ourselves bahasa Indonesian!  Just putting the words on the wall so when we look up...well there it is!

 Thought you might get a kick out of this ...I know our Indo family back home will enjoy recognizing these words....right?

 Are you asking us if we know all these words and their meaning?????

 No not all .....but many!  Now to put it all in sentences....that is the hard part.... still for Nick & I!

 Well enough of the Indonesian lesson for you....!  
                     But just wanted to show you the language a bit~ 

 Like I told some of you - we have been living out of a suitcase for almost a year now!  No closets in the houses here...so either buy a cabinet & dresser OR keep it in the suitcase - and why do you ask?

Because of the bugs!!!!!!!!  Yes lots of buggies here!  We prefer to keep the suitcases closed!

No like buggies - and they are so tiny...that sometimes you feel something on you and don't even see it...but it is there alright...with my glasses on - you can see those critters!    Gosh I am already itching just thinking about it...ha!  Oh it really isn't that bad - but there are lots of critters around in the tropics!   You might not notice but our new suitcases are smaller now!  So it will be better when we leave!  Getting a little smarter! 

 Nick has a picture of his mother on the wall simply with tape as you can see!  But he loves to share his mother with our friends...letting them know she is INDO...you see!!!!!!!!

 Nick's Mom is the one standing in the back on the left...sweet huh? Most likely taken in Banjumas and the date....1916!  17 years old!  I wish I had a picture of my Oma but I don't!  She too looks like Nico's Mom! 

Today we went to a shop we have visited before ~ This is the shop that we have told you about - the store that has the Laga bags that are sent to the US...and also these purses have been on the Oprah Winfrey show...would you believe it????!!!! This is the purse our friend in OR was carrying when they came to visit us in Bend - never thought that I would find them here in Salatiga and that there is a connection with our friends in Oregon and these friends here ~ They have a shop in Aceh Sumatra where the tsunami was remember?   Amazing huh???!!!!!

 It is a beautiful work - all hand made see
Laga Handbags - Aceh Sumatra (here's the link!)

 

The shop is so cute...and there is many different kinds of quilt work offered!  

 The girls from the villages are working to make a b3autiful pattern!  They are comfortable doing the work on the floor~ Sitting together chatting and doing their work! 

 These girls are learning a trade - and each piece is handmade with tender care! 

 Bungong Jeumpa Creations ~ Handcrafts Quilts and needle work~ nice! 

It was time for lunch - and we were hungry!  

Nick shall we have dinner early?  OK...good idea!

So we ordered Gado-Gado with peanut sauce (my favorite!)

 Nick had Nasi Rames - looked really good too!  A plate with a variety of foods surrounded by white rice! 

And I had my normal - nasi goreng ayam with mata-sapi! (mata-sapi means "the eye of a cow")  Fried rice mixed with chicken and a fried egg -

We were a beautiful facility close by!

A delicious meal and beautiful grounds !

A good Monday here in Salatiga - great weather, did some  errands, did the wash, some chores around the house,  - and a little outing too!

We are thankful for the Day!