4 Bowls, 5 Spoons

It was a relief to land in Jakarta after 24 hours of flight time not including lay overs.  For Jacob and Nathaniel these were their first flights.  By flight #3 they were pro's ....especially at the security check in points.  In Nashville the combination of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, along with medicines caused my carry on luggage to undergo a special test for explosives.  In L.A. they were about to re call all our baggage and not let us on the plane because we did not have round trip tickets.  Needless to say......Darron smiled, we all prayed and it worked out.  Kevin Costello, Bryan and Elijah Gallant, Nova and Hetti were such a welcomed site and escorted us safely to the SDA Guest House and a meal at none other than Pizza Hut (much to the boys relief).


Our room at the Guest House has 6 beds, we all have mosquito nets strung by resourceful Darron.  The first night our's fell down on us and Nathaniel wiggled out from under his.  The children find their nets a haven and I have never seen them so willing to spend time "in bed".  Here we mainly have to worry about Dingi Fever (carried by a mosquito that bites in the day time).


We can walk 5-10 minutes and get to two different grocery stores.  I am pleasantly surprised at the foods available.  Entertaining to us were all the different flavors of potato chips, mainly fish flavors.  We found British chocolate.....the best you know!  So at least the basic food group is covered!


OSHA is not here.  Their sidewalks and construction safety leave much to be OSHA'd.  I try to imagine my quadriplegic BIL navigating these streets and it simply would imprison him.  The streets are crazy with traffic, motorcycles galore and all kinds of hand pulled carts, vendors that one is not sure if it would be safe to taste the wares, young children begging with babies in their arms and a monkey in clothes on a chain riding a scooter (just to name a few sights). 


We are in Jakarta for a little over a week as our paper work is being processed.  The people treat us like hero's or celebrities, honoring us with seats of honor, gifts of food, etc.  We feel so silly not knowing their language and are already trying in earnest to learn Indonesian.  


A few funny events already were we tried to buy toilet paper and purchased paper towels instead.  They are not quite as soft on our bottoms, BUT it works!  Also 2 nights ago I untucked all of Darron's sheets in the bed next to me.  He stated I was very insistent and determined.... he soon realized that I was asleep.


Currently we eat lunch out because we have no where to cook. Trying to get brave at ordering food in a foreign language and adjust our taste buds.  We eat breakfast and supper in our room.  We have 4 bowls and 5 spoons. Nathaniel (6) said last night, "I wish it was like America here".  One day we will feel like Indonesia is our home and we won't long for America like we do today.  I look forward to that day.