Creating Our Own Fun

August 6, 2016

Not surprisingly, we were ready for the weekend! Our first outing on Saturday was to the free garage sale--that's right, FREE! Families who had moved away, and even a few who had stayed, donated a bunch of stuff, and it was all free for new families! We grabbed home decor, a chair, dishes, books, movies, shoes, extra school uniforms, hangers, storage shelves, a bike, and a grill! Grills are expensive and hard to come by, so we were thrilled with it! It needs a little TLC and then we'll be grillin' up some good food! We appreciated the thoughtfulness and the people behind this event; we found so many items that helped our house feel like a home.

Feasting with friends.

Our plan for the afternoon was to enjoy the new Ice Age Collision Course movie with friends at the local movie theater. Unfortunately, when we arrived to purchase the tickets 90 minutes before the show, it was sold out! We had some bummed out kids on our hands. Plan B: race to the grocery store and pick up tons of yummy snacks, race to the basement of the mall and buy Ice Age 3, and race home to try it out on our new TV and DVD player. Plan B for the win! The kids' excitement restored, we settled in to giggle together and stuff ourselves silly with snacks.

It took us a while to find it in the store,
but we had popcorn with our movie!

 To round out the weekend, we ate at Pizza Hut. I've never seen Tandoori chicken on the menu in the states though!

Tandoori chicken at Pizza Hut!

Tysen stuck with traditional pizza.

Prayers for us:
-We are thankful for the friends we've made here!
-Thankfulness for the generosity of others!
-For a better grasp of understanding on the curriculum and assessments the school uses.

The First Week of School

August 5, 2016




We survived. The past week has been a whirlwind of new students, new classes, new expectations, new, new, new. The kids seem to be adjusting well which we are extremely thankful for. That certainly is an answer to prayer!





In all the newness, I'm still struggling to find balance--balancing the work of understanding this unique curriculum and being a good teacher with the privilege of being a supportive, loving, involved mother and wife to my family. I've realized over the course of this week that I'm not very good at asking for help. I feel like I should be able to do everything flawlessly, but deep down I know I simply can't be everything to everyone. I quite certain I'm not the only one who feels this way, but it's a difficult thing to recognize and share; often I feel alone in this struggle. Please pray over me for peace and acceptance of my limitations.

And if you didn't notice, I'm focusing on myself quite a bit, It's easy to become self-absorbed when you're in survival mode. Another prayer is for the Holy Spirit to work in my heart to share more compassion and offer more help to others.

We wear uniforms to school each day, as seen in the photos above, but Fridays are Batik days. If you aren't familiar with Batik, you should know it's an art form. Batik involves wax-resistant dying of cloth, often in layers to achieve different colors and patterns. Stunning! And dressy! A long sleeve men's shirt is equivalent to a suit on the fashion scene. We wear shorts and jeans with our Batik to school, but if we would wear it out anywhere else we'd need to step up the formality.

Batik day at school!

One miracle for the week: It's typical in Indonesia, expected really, to hire a home helper--someone who helps clean, cook, and care for the kids. We have been praying over a home helper ever since we decided to move to Indonesia, specifically that she be someone who is good with the kids. As of the Friday before school starting, we didn't have anyone lined up and we were getting a bit worried. That night we had a knock on the door. A man we didn't know but who worked in our sister-school, University Pelita Harapan, introduced himself and said he had a woman with him who was looking for a home helper position, a woman his home helper recommended. He had heard we were looking for someone, specifically someone who spoke English. We were stunned. We interviewed her with the help of the man who brought her to our home and offered her and the job on the spot! Many home helpers don't speak English, but Ibu Susi speaks English quite well which makes communication simple for us and for the kids who will spend time with her everyday after school. We are so thankful for her!!! She made this week so much easier as we adjusted to a new school year. We pray she continues to fit in with our family!

Prayers for us:
-Thanks that the kids settled into the school year easily.
-Pray for Seth and Valerie figuring out balancing a new curriculum with being good parents.
-Thank you for the arrival of Ibu Susi! She's been a life-saver!

Finding Joy in Every Moment

July 29

I believe there is power in prayer! Even though we've had struggles since moving here as I shared in the prior post, we would not be at this point without everyone's prayer support! For me, today was a bit better as far as attitude and joy go.

Joy. It's been a part of every moment of this journey, but sometimes I'm not actively looking for it. I'm trying to change that. Sometimes those joy-moments are large and impossible to ignore, but other joy-moments settle into the crevices of anxiety, sadness, overwhelming feelings. These joy-moments can be difficult to identify, but they are there! God gives us joy, and I refuse to let the devil steal my joy-moments.

Since posting about my struggles, I've heard from three people who sent me perspective and encouragement. One encourager was my mom who shared this from Ann Voskamp:

God hasn't given up on me; I won't give up on His will for my life.

I still have a l-o-n-g way to go in the preparation department! School starts at 7am Monday, and this teacher is not feeling very prepared! A dear friend reminded me, though, that it's not about what is (or isn't!) on my walls, it's not my amazing (or not so) lesson plans; it's about being available to these students as someone who trusts them, believes in them, and wants the best for them. I can do that.

SPH hosted an orientation session this afternoon for new students. We took Koen, Tysen, and Brielle on a campus tour, found their classes, met their teachers, and ate a poolside buffet with other new families. The kids were excited to find out about about some sporting opportunities through local clubs: basketball, badminton, Tae Kwon Do, swimming, soccer, and more!

We raced home from the school picnic to avoid the oncoming storm. We've witnessed the torrential rains a few times since moving here, and they aren't something we want to be caught up in. It's incredibly convenient to walk to school, but we may be driving more during rainy season!

Prayers for us:
-Look for joy in each day!
-We have an overly ambitious weekend planned between continuing making our house a home and preparing for the school year to start on Monday.
-The school is on a beautiful but large campus. The kids are concerned with knowing where to go to find their classes.
-Pray for our students and classmates.

Struggles

July 28

This is hard. Really, really, overwhelmingly hard. Don't get me wrong--the school and the people here are top-notch! It's not that I regret coming here.

I'm struggling with weariness after moving across the world. I'm struggling with the daunting task of teaching a completely new-to-me curriculum. I'm struggling with not having my classroom set up in anyway, shape, or form. I'm struggling with being strong and encouraging for our kids when they're tired and overwhelmed. I'm struggling with mommy-guilt now that I'm not able to be the same mom to our kids that I've been able to be for the last 11 years.  I'm struggling. I still believe God led us here, despite my struggles. I'm relying on Him to shine through my struggles--soon.

I almost didn't post this. I tend to be a private person, and being vulnerable with others is not something I do regularly. But I need prayer for myself and for my family. Thankfully, the kids and Seth seem to be adjusting better than I. I just need to catch up to them in this regard. We're here by God's design, for His purpose even when it's hard to see that.

On a more positive note, I attended chapel for the first time in my professional career. Tears. Fortunately, I was able to contain them for the most part. Seth may have been the only one who noticed. I stood next to my husband and sang worship songs with members of His international church. Powerful praise. I'm looking forward to more of those moments.

Prayers for us:
-Thanks that the kids are doing so well as they get shuffled around to different places while Seth and I have school meetings.
-Thanks to those who cared for our children: Carli, Raema, John, and Cindy.
-Peace and reduced stress regarding the upcoming school year.
-Pray for the students who will be in our classes.
-Pray that our family finds a comfortable "new normal" soon.

First Weekend Fun

We finally opened the five boxes that had traveled around the world. Our giddy kids reconstructed Lego sets and sorted out favorite toys. In unpacking our boxes, I realized that half our luggage weight must have come from the books our kids packed!!! Oh my goodness!!! We could have brought half the house if we'd left their books home! Really, though, I am thrilled that my kids are such avid readers!

We spent a lot of time shopping again over the weekend. The local go-to store is Hypermart which is a bit like Walmart back home. This was our second visit to the store, but we still left with two shopping carts full, feeling like we'd purchased one of everything yet still missing so much. It's been a while since I've set up a house and it takes a bit of time, energy, and money!

Our favorite new bookcase!
These are only a portion of the
books that came to Indo
with us!

We also made it to the local IKEA which is about 25 minutes away from Lippo Village. We picked out a blue bookshelf, something I probably wouldn't have picked back home because I tend to choose more practical/neutral colors, but this new home needs a bit of whimsy and color! I love it! I might just need a bit more whimsy in my life.

We also enjoyed the taste of Swedish meatballs in the cafeteria. Well, the kids picked hot dogs and pasta, but Seth enjoyed the typical IKEA dish.

I could have bought the store out, but I'm thrilled with the blue bookcase and few other housewares for now. We'll be back to pick up more when we have the vehicle space to get it home!



As I said goodnight to Koen tonight, he pointed out the one picture hanging in his room. It's one Seth's mom painted for the boys. He remarked, "Isn't that a great verse for our life right now?" Yes, buddy. Yes it is.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with
you wherever you go! Joshua 1:9

Prayers for us:

-That Koen's poison ivy heals quickly.

-That the coming week is productive and smooth as we prepare for the new school year.

-Praise for the other newbies here at SPH with us. We've made many new friends already!

-That we don't get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to take time out for each other and God.

Home

July 22

Friday was another day of family meetings at school. The school leaders introduced a few cultural differences to be aware of, for instance:
-Don't touch people on the top of the head
-Don't show the bottoms of your feet to people
-Don't burp
-Don't pass things with your left hand

I'm sure we'll learn many more cultural differences in the days to come. I hope we don't learn the hard way by offending someone, but we've been told Indonesians are quite forgiving.

The kids spent some time in the school pool during some of our meetings, but they were quickly ushered out of the pool and into the gym as a large storm rose up this afternoon. The rain crashed down, its power overwhelming. Before long, the storm passed, and the kids were back in the pool by dinner as we dined poolside at the school.

The food has been phenomenal so far! So many choices and flavors! We keep encouraging the kids to try something new at each meal, but they're quite content with the white rice.

Home sweet home

I haven't included much about our house yet. We love the convenience of living in the neighborhood right next to school--walking to school is quicker than driving! It's certainly handy! Koen and Tysen enjoy the independence of having their own room after sharing for the last 6 years. My boys are growing up.

The home isn't quite as move-in ready as they home we'd left, but we're hoping a few fix ups and some personal touches will make it home soon. I believe Seth is the current leader in cockroach sightings--seven! Fortunately, the ones I've seen have all been dead!

Our neighbors have welcomed us with open arms! We've enjoyed getting to know a few of the families and look forward to meeting others! I believe we're the only American family in our neighborhood; many families hail from Australia, China, and, of course, Indonesia. It's a wonderful and diverse community.

Prayers for us:
-Adjusting to the time difference is proving tricky!
-Pray we feel at home in our new house sooner rather than later.
-It seems small, but pray for food to be a non-issue. The food here is very different from what we're used to, and it'll take some flexibility on the kids' part to learn to like new things.

Settling into SPH and Lippo Village

July 21, 2016

Outside our new home, waiting for our ride to school...
an hour early.

We set our phone alarms to rouse us in the morning, but since we hadn't accessed wifi since arriving in Indonesia our phones were still set to Singapore time--an hour earlier than here. Neither Seth nor I realized this, though, until all five of us were ready and waiting outside our home for 20 minutes wondering why our ride was so late. After asking a neighbor what time it really was, we headed back inside for a half hour. At least we were ready on time!

We arrived at school at the correct time and enjoyed breakfast and devotions with the other new families. Our devotions focused on 1 Corinthians 13: faith, hope, and love. Each of these traits seem more important that ever at this moment of our lives.

We spent the morning touring the school, setting up bank accounts, and getting to know the other new teachers.

The afternoon found us shopping at the local mall--nothing like we have in Michigan. The mall is three stories (four if you count the basement) and includes grocery stores, an amusement park/arcade,  and pharmacies in addition to the traditional salons, clothing stores, restaurants, and kiosks. Setting up house again is extremely expensive, especially when you shop with rupiah, the local currency! We spent over 4.5 million rupiah on our first shopping trip, and we still don't have everything we need! We were relieved to have our host family, Bruce and Judy, with us, guiding us through the crowds and stores and offering ideas for what we'll need in our new home.

Hypermart!

I've NEVER spent this much money before!
Thankfully, this is rupiah, not US dollars! 

The five of us were exhausted after shopping all afternoon. Bruce and Judy provided a delicious spaghetti meal for us (they know the way to my kids' hearts!) and we returned home for some much needed sleep.





Prayers for us:
-Koen seems to have developed heat rash on top of his poison ivy. He says he feels OK, but small, red bumps cover his body and he has rosy, rosy cheeks. Pray for quick relief!
-We survived our first shopping trip, but we need many other items as we settle into our home. Pray that we feel settled quickly.
-We still have no curriculum, and school begins August 1. Valerie, especially, is feeling anxious about this. Plus, she needs to set up a classroom but didn't bring any posters, etc. along due to lack of space. Pray that her classroom comes together ok.

Arriving in Asia

July 20, 2016

Sleeping while stretched out was refreshing, at least until a six-year-old wriggly body joins you in a twin bed. Our sleep greatly improved our moods, as did a bountiful breakfast buffet. Tysen insisted that we just HAD to try the toast with butter--the BEST he's EVER had! And he would know; he is a connoisseur of toast with butter. He's our very own Mercy Watson! (Does anyone know this beloved Kate DiCamillo character?)












After having our fill of toast and other delectable treats, we explored the streets of Singapore for a few hours, stopping to enjoy lunch  at the Happy Pancakes restaurant in the Orchard Center Mall. I mention this because the establishment is a non-profit organization working to encourage lower income kids in the arts. Good food and a great cause! Win-win. Adjacent to the eating area was an art work space and potential display area. They had only been open for a few months, but with food like this, they are sure to be successful!

Happy Pancakes making happy customers!

It turns out that the overnight stop in Singapore was unnecessary because our work visas could not yet be processed. We still enjoyed our brief encounter with the city and look forward to returning in a month or so to complete the visa process and possibly explore more of the city.









The Singapore airlines have a strict limit on luggage weight--a lot less than Delta's limit.We paid a huge overage fee at the Singapore ticket counter, but we had heard this might happen so it wasn't a complete shock. The Lord took care of us once again as a special individual had previously offered to cover the cost of our luggage fee after she heard that potential problem as one of our prayer requests. Over and over, we are amazed at people's generosity. We were pleasantly surprise that the airline did not include our carry ons in the luggage weigh in; we had heard they limited each carry on to only 15 lbs so we carefully weighed each one. This was a tricky endeavor when your carry on suitcase weighs 8 lbs on its own.

Weary travelers with all their luggage upon arrival in Jakarta.

The flight to Jakarta seemed to take no time at all after our long flights the day before. None of us even got to complete the in-flight movies we'd selected. We landed, praised God that ALL our luggage made it, and hopped on the bus with the other new teachers to head to school. I make this sound like a quick and simple process; it wasn't. Two of the three kids were at melting-down point which made the process a bit more stressful. We finally arrived at school around 10pm. Our amazing host family met us, and, in multiple trips, carted us and all our luggage to our new home.

Prayers for us:
-Thanks for safe travels!
-As we all adjust to the time change (11 hours!), may we show each other grace and kindness.
-That we (the kids in particular) find good friends sooner rather than later.
-We think Koen is dealing with poison ivy. He's handling it well, but it's still a concern.