COUSINS

It has been a full and fun month in Palembang, Indonesia.

We have many memories and tons of pictures to help us remember

these good times.

One of the fun things for us has been to watch these 5 grandkids

together. With all our grandchildren scattered over 2 states and 2 countries

they don't often get to be together.

Especially, the Stateside kids don't get to see the "overseas" cousins

in their daily living situations.

But as soon as the 5 got together, they immediately bonded and

were into great plans of all kinds, from running through

the neighborhoods, planning a family talent show, playing games together,

or just hanging out and talking. They have

thoroughly enjoyed each other.

Here are a few of the pictures to portray these 5 cousins.

At the movie theater lobby, waiting for the movie to start.

Kayla

Aaron

Seth

Shelby

Joel

The Luptak and Kelley cousins.

This will be a summer they won't soon forget.

FEET

I had heard about this from the TV. While it seems gross on the one hand,

it really is helpful on the other!
These little fishies eat away the dead skin on your feer or legs,
leaving your appendages nice and smooth.

Do we have these in the States?

This one is called "Fish Spa and Therapy"

and is at the local mall here in Palembang, Indonesia.

While this is a blurry picture, it will show you the set up.

It is set up in one the hallways of the mall.

After washing our feet, the "operators" led us to sit

on the bench and put our feet into the water. They suggested we not

swish our feet around in the tub, because that stresses out the fish.

However, it is really hard not to once the fish start to work,

nibbling on your legs and feet, 

as seen in the faces of our granddaughters!

Here, they're holding hands to help each other keep their

 legs still, while their squeeling.

You see the fish working on mine and Johnny's legs.

SPEAKING OF FEET.......

I was noticing our grandson, Aaron's feet. He is 14 and starting

highschool this week in Penang, Malaysia. (He's so excited).

Look at the size of his foot now - compared to his Dad.

Kris' foot on the left. Aaron's foot on the right.

Now let's compare with my own foot:

Aaron's foot on the right, my foot on the left.

How tall will he end up being?

As I write this blog, Aaron is being enrolled in the

highschool in Penang, Malaysia where

many of the Asian missionary kids go for high school.

It is a beautiful campus located on the beach.

It has a rich and long history. We're

all excited for this new adventure in his life.



GROCERY STORE

Going shopping with Jana has been amazing! I keep comparing life today in Indonesia, to

life 40 years ago, when we were raising our family in the village here.

Progress has been made!

The times have changed! No longer is there the muddy, dirty open market

with hunks of meat hanging on hooks and baskets of local vegetables where I shopped.

Take a look at the local super market where Jana and many of the locals shop.

Jana handpicking her eggs.

How wonderfrul to have beautifully cut and packaged meats ready for you!

I miss all these fresh tropical fruits!

And lots of wonderful vegetables.

People here love their food spicy, so there are plenty of hot peppers available.

And wonderful, unique things useful in the kitchens that

we don't usually find in our own supermarkets.

Useful baskets used in various ways.

And the colorful buckets found in all sizes and for all purposes.

Grocery shopping in Indonesia has vastly improved!

RELIGION

There can be little doubt that this is a Muslim country.

In fact, it is the largest Muslim country in the world, population-wise.

Most of our time here this time has been during LEBARAN, the month of Fasting for Muslims.

Because Muslims are not to eat during daylight hours, the restaurants put up curtains,

so as to shield temptation from those who choose to fast.

It has been interesting how many people we see inside these restaurants, behind the curtains

that are enjoying their noon time meals!

Other evidences of the Muslim majority here is the headcoverings of the women,

and even the little girls.

A Muslim shopkeeper and  Muslim shopper.

Chatting with a Muslim lady in the grocery store.

A little girl dressed in Muslim clothes.

A neighborhood mosque.

And another.

KELAPA MUDA - Young Coconut

One of our favorite drinks here

is Young Cocunut. Easy to find, cheap to buy,

healthy for you to drink.

Obviously, this place sells cocount drinks, so we pull over.

Tables are set up so we get one in the shade. Someone takes a young cocount,

whacks ts around the top to trim it,

then cuts a "lid" which you flip back and stick several straws in.

They always give out spoons so we can dig into the soft meat of the

coconut and eat it.

But the clear liquid of the coconut is refreshing and healthy to drink.

AROUND THE HOUSE

With three families and 11 people in one house,

you can imagine things are usually hopping in several locations.

Laundry must be dealt with every day, just to keep up.

Johnny and Kris move the clothes rack to the roof top so we

can hang up more chothes.

Jana and April hanging up clothes on the roof.

Eleven people eat a lot!

Buying vegetables from the vegetable lady who comes into the neighborhood every day.

Everyone helps.

But we made sure we had plenty of time to play games like:

Spot It

and

Settlers of Catan.

But there is still time for family worships

and just generally hanging out together.



UNEXPECTED TRIP TO SINGAPORE

It's all about ears!

After a swim in the ocean, Johnny's ears began giving him trouble.

Soon, he was like this:

And everyone was speaking loudly to everyone else, so that he wouldn't

miss out on every conversation.

Because of the lack of dependable, modern medicine, he got advice

from a doctor friend in the country, but long-distance on the phone.

Then he went to the local ENT doctor here.

Still he couldn't hear!

Finally, we decided he should fly to Singapore.

 Singapore is known not only as a hub for businesses, a greaat shopping place, and as a modern

 and dependable medical center.

Friends in Singapore made arrangements for Johnny to see an ENT specialist there the  following day, and arranged for a place
for him to stay.Flights were quickly booked,
 and he left for Singapore.
He spent 2 nights there, saw a specialist who discovered the passage between his nose
and ears were blocked, and there was fluid trapped behind the eardrums. He did tests and
then prescribed different medicines than what he'd been taking.
Johnny will need to see a specialist as soon as we get
back to America.

This was an "adventure" we had not anticipated. But
we're very thankful he was able to see
a good doctor.