Tonight's menu: goat

We were invited to our friend's house to celebrate idul fitri with he and his family. We ate sate gambing (goat on a stick) and bakso (meatballs). Too bad Josh forgot to wear his sarung!

The big 25!

What do you do on your birthday? Why eat Italian food at the nicest place in the city of course! Haha! We had a great time getting dressed up and eating at Portofino's, located in the fancy hotel.

The other picture is when some friends came over for ice cream to celebrate. We had a great time. They taught me a traditional dance although for some reason it looks like I'm the only once dancing in the picture..... go figure.

One Week Respite

Today thousands (maybe millions!) of residents left the city in route to their hometowns. This next week is both a religious and national annual holiday and, for the most part, the city has emptied. We started things off right today with four hours of fun at the pool. We were seven adults, six kids, goggles, floaties, frisbees and all! It truly was a great day and we're looking forward to the upcoming week. During this week, Betty hopes to learn to drive our standard transmission Toyota Kijang, I hope to learn to drive a motorbike, and we both hope to get some rest and perspective. We just returned from the movie rental store (Global Video!) with three flicks and there's a pizza on the way (Pizza Hut, medium, green pepper and onion, stuffed crust, $6.50). Though our entertainment options and food selection is limited, we're thankful for what we got (it's a lot more than some of our co-workers elsewhere). It's 5:37pm here and the sun (like everyday at this time) has just about retired for the day. Each A/C in both rooms are cranked and we're bout to shut ourselves in. Have a good day everyone. Go Heels!

Did someone say "Package?"

So our family and friends really love us. They sent us packages that made everyone on our team jealous! :) But we got to share the goodies, so they were happy. It was great to just have things that reminded us of home.

Can Uncle Josh come out and play?

Every afternoon around 4:30 these little guys come ringing.... our doorbell literally lasts for 30 seconds and plays little songs like "Happy Birthday" and "Twinkle twinkle little star"...yesterday they rang 3 times before I could even walk to the door. As soon as Josh appeared they erupted into cheers. He's shown them how to play frisbee (something they just don't play here) so that's the latest excitement!

Rice fields and homesickness

Josh and I visited our friend's family who lives on the outskirts of our city. As we got out of the car and looked around I simply sighed.
I miss the tobacco fields and tall rows of corn more on some days then others. I imagine driving out of Holly Springs parking lot and not being able to see the highway for the corn being so tall. We've decided that one thing that makes living in this city so difficult is that simply, it is a city.

Convenience is desired and malls are wonderfully air conditioned but something about rice fields and breathing the country air is glorious. Glorious because the fields seem to go on forever and sing to the creator of the fields, of the sky, and of the heavens. It seems they sing to the One who is absolutely perfect, who deserves every beautiful song.

I thank Him for the rice fields, and as much as I wish I could be what I call home, I thank Him for bringing me here, and hope that more than just rice will satisfy the people of this land.

Indonesia Celebrated their independence on the 17th of August. These are a few ways we celebrated. Josh drove a becak (pedicab) with his friend, we joined our neighborhood in the sehat jalan (healthy walk), and we went with some friends to a small amusment park. The family sitting next to Josh are our neighbors. They're so hospitable and helpful to us! We thank God for their generosity. The picture of the alligator and shark represent the fight between water and land... Surabaya is actually both words (the words for shark and crocodile) mixed together.