I had to do it. I had to write a post about my growing faith and ability to lean on God in the face of stressful situations. This day was one big ball of stress.
Gabriel was worn out going to Zack's school event today, so he was cranky and whiny all day. At 1 p.m. contractors came to work the iron grids that cover our downstairs windows. RSO decided, after everyone had moved in, that the grids are not up to security standards and need to be reinforced. So that means cutting metals and welding in our living room all afternoon.
I went to pick up Zack from school and we arrived first in the pick up line. But I didn't know exactly where to tell the driver to stop the car, so we pulled off to the side to let other traffic pass. As other cars began to arrive they started to pass us, so I told the driver to go ahead and get in line. One of the guards accused us of "cutting" and made us go all the way around the block! I was livid. With my 50 words of Bahasa I was unable to explain to the guard that we had absolutely not cut in line. We went from first arrival to 31st in line. That meant an extra 15 minutes of waiting time for Zack (and also that much more car time for Gabey). It took an hour to get home after that because traffic increases almost exponentially after 1 p.m.
We arrived home to the screeching sound of metal being cut and the boys panicked. In the chaos I yelled at them to get on their bathing suits and go outside while I brought their snack. In his hurry Zack slammed his hand in the cabinet and cut his finger. More drama ensued with the flow of blood. About 20 or so minutes after I got them all calmed and settled by the pool with their snack, this happened:
Gabriel was worn out going to Zack's school event today, so he was cranky and whiny all day. At 1 p.m. contractors came to work the iron grids that cover our downstairs windows. RSO decided, after everyone had moved in, that the grids are not up to security standards and need to be reinforced. So that means cutting metals and welding in our living room all afternoon.
I went to pick up Zack from school and we arrived first in the pick up line. But I didn't know exactly where to tell the driver to stop the car, so we pulled off to the side to let other traffic pass. As other cars began to arrive they started to pass us, so I told the driver to go ahead and get in line. One of the guards accused us of "cutting" and made us go all the way around the block! I was livid. With my 50 words of Bahasa I was unable to explain to the guard that we had absolutely not cut in line. We went from first arrival to 31st in line. That meant an extra 15 minutes of waiting time for Zack (and also that much more car time for Gabey). It took an hour to get home after that because traffic increases almost exponentially after 1 p.m.
We arrived home to the screeching sound of metal being cut and the boys panicked. In the chaos I yelled at them to get on their bathing suits and go outside while I brought their snack. In his hurry Zack slammed his hand in the cabinet and cut his finger. More drama ensued with the flow of blood. About 20 or so minutes after I got them all calmed and settled by the pool with their snack, this happened:
Violence erupts at US embassy in Jakarta
Men throw rocks as Indonesian police release tear gas at anti-American protests in front of the United States embassy in Jakarta.
A MOB of Indonesian Islamists waving jihad flags attacked the US embassy in Jakarta, throwing rocks and bricks, but they were repelled by tear gas and riot police.
About 500 people from a number of radical groups were protesting against the movie The Innocence of Muslims by calling for the arrest and death penalty for movie director and filmmakers Sam Bacile and Terry Jones.
Shouting "Allahu Akbar" and "F--- America", the mob, many of whom were masked, marched on the embassy and, when they arrived, promptly began to attack. Riot police were initially caught unprepared and without their shields.
Volleys of rocks and bricks, broken from the pavement, rained on the police and embassy guards. Local media also reported several petrol bombs being thrown at the embassy.
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One guard was pursued by a mob. It appeared he was eventually caught by a large group of protesters and surrounded, though it's not known what happened to him.
A police officer was carried from the scene by his comrades, with reports variously suggesting he had been hit by a rock or stabbed in the face.
The protesters also targeted western journalist. At one stage a mob surrounded us threatening violence, accusing us of being Americans.
The protesters were praying, chanting Islamic slogans and singing as they continued to block the road outside the embassy.
The protest, which began with the burning of a US flag, was spearheaded by the Islamic Defenders Front or FPI, and Majelis Mujahideen Indonesia, the two increasingly muscular Indonesian radical groups recently responsible for preventing US pop star Lady Gaga from performing in Indonesia.
The groups want Islamic law imposed in Indonesia.
Many of the protesters were wearing masks and paramilitary uniforms. Some of the protesters marched under the black flag of the radical group Hizb ut-Tahrir, and another which signifies allegiance with al-Qaeda.
We are all safe at home now. We have a well-fortified compound and guards. As of right now business will resume as usual tomorrow. Please pray for peace and calm in the Muslim world. I will continue to lean.
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