We are still in awe of the ease of life in Jakarta as compared to New Delhi. I know we have yet to go through all 4 stages of adjustment (Elation!) here, but so far life seems so simple. The wealth of grocery stores, restaurants, and simpler day-to-day interactions has made us breath a sigh of relief.
Today we ventured out to church. Our very dear friends, the Dylhoffs, spent several months in Jakarta a few years back and just gushed about JICF. I had several suggestions to try JICF since we arrived, coming from Zack's KG teacher and a few of his classmates. It's right around the corner from Zack's school. We opted to go to the 8:45 a.m. service since we're all up long before 7 a.m. anyway. The minute we arrived the kids' ministry leaders swooped on us with friendly welcome and bustled the boys into their classrooms. Both went willingly, even Gabriel. They spent the whole service in their without a fuss. This was no surprise for Zack, but Gabriel has always been very reticent. He seems to take much more readily to Indonesian culture than to Indian. The vibe here is calmer overall and all the ladies offered a hand to him rather than trying to touch him or pick him up.
The worship was beautiful and lively. The message was sincere and applicable. I appreciated the pastor's reminder that discipleship starts with our own children, a good thing for me to keep in mind as I think about where I'd like to put my time in helping with the church. I need to remember that, although I'd love to do worship team, maybe my Saturdays are better spent taking care of my kids than spending 3-4 hours practicing music. Especially now that Zack is in school and weekends are my only real time with him. The kids' ministry seems like the best fit for me right now and they always need the help.
After church we crossed Jalan Jenderal Sujirman to check out the mall (complete with Starbucks!!). It was surreal to cross one of the busiest streets in Jakarta without traffic. The whole road closes every Sunday morning to make way for cyclists, joggers, and families with strollers. It's a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. The weather here is so perfect all the time! In the evenings, once the sun leaves the pool, it's actually a little to chilly for our India-thinned blood to bear swimming.
John had to head in to work for a couple hours today. He leaves tomorrow for his first of many trips this Fall, so he has some loose ends to tie. It will be a busy year for him.
So, after nearly two weeks we're settling in quickly and happily. Our only real difficulty is the car situation. We're having trouble finding a used car and we'll have to get a loan for a new one, which is proving sticky with USAA. They're claiming we can't get a car loan for a right-hand drive car. If anyone knows of way around this or other routes to take we'd love input! I'll be spending some time with them on the phone in the next couple days arguing our case.
Other than that, life is great in the Big Durian.
Today we ventured out to church. Our very dear friends, the Dylhoffs, spent several months in Jakarta a few years back and just gushed about JICF. I had several suggestions to try JICF since we arrived, coming from Zack's KG teacher and a few of his classmates. It's right around the corner from Zack's school. We opted to go to the 8:45 a.m. service since we're all up long before 7 a.m. anyway. The minute we arrived the kids' ministry leaders swooped on us with friendly welcome and bustled the boys into their classrooms. Both went willingly, even Gabriel. They spent the whole service in their without a fuss. This was no surprise for Zack, but Gabriel has always been very reticent. He seems to take much more readily to Indonesian culture than to Indian. The vibe here is calmer overall and all the ladies offered a hand to him rather than trying to touch him or pick him up.
The worship was beautiful and lively. The message was sincere and applicable. I appreciated the pastor's reminder that discipleship starts with our own children, a good thing for me to keep in mind as I think about where I'd like to put my time in helping with the church. I need to remember that, although I'd love to do worship team, maybe my Saturdays are better spent taking care of my kids than spending 3-4 hours practicing music. Especially now that Zack is in school and weekends are my only real time with him. The kids' ministry seems like the best fit for me right now and they always need the help.
After church we crossed Jalan Jenderal Sujirman to check out the mall (complete with Starbucks!!). It was surreal to cross one of the busiest streets in Jakarta without traffic. The whole road closes every Sunday morning to make way for cyclists, joggers, and families with strollers. It's a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. The weather here is so perfect all the time! In the evenings, once the sun leaves the pool, it's actually a little to chilly for our India-thinned blood to bear swimming.
John had to head in to work for a couple hours today. He leaves tomorrow for his first of many trips this Fall, so he has some loose ends to tie. It will be a busy year for him.
So, after nearly two weeks we're settling in quickly and happily. Our only real difficulty is the car situation. We're having trouble finding a used car and we'll have to get a loan for a new one, which is proving sticky with USAA. They're claiming we can't get a car loan for a right-hand drive car. If anyone knows of way around this or other routes to take we'd love input! I'll be spending some time with them on the phone in the next couple days arguing our case.
Other than that, life is great in the Big Durian.
1 comment:
smiles here
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