We live just south of one of the few surviving traditional markets or pasar in Medan, Pasar Pringgan. Walking through this market is a fascinating blend of what Indonesia has probably been like for decades, and the country it is becoming. A mix of old and new, adapting and accommodating each other with a degree… Continue reading Pasar Priggan
Mega
When you go to Walmart, or Target, or Home Depot, or any other number of retail establishments, you expect when you walk in there will be someone you can ask questions of, someone to show you where things are. Sometimes you have to hunt them down, but they’re there. Somewhere. Here in Medan, when you… Continue reading Mega
Kopi Kru
We chose our rental house based on several factors – proximity to our language school (we can walk there in 15 minutes), proximity to the University of Northern Sumatra (USU) where we hope to make contacts and friends, and proximity to a traditional market, in this case, Pasar Pringgan. The Pasar lies between our house… Continue reading Kopi Kru
More Guests
Overlapping Deaconess Rein’s time in country but missing actually visiting with her was Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Rev. Charles Ferry. He visited with us on his way further westward to assess the situation in Sri Lanka, which has been troublesome to say the least. Our workers there, Rev. Steven Mahlberg & family, are safe… Continue reading More Guests
Out of Town/Country/Hemisphere Guests
It’s been a busy week. Sickness for most of the family capped it off, but there were some great moments in between! We were blessed to have Deaconess Sandra Rhein in-country to meet with Rev. Wood and the hymnal committee working on the first Indonesian Lutheran Hymnal. Undoubtedly a productive meeting (though because I’m nowhere… Continue reading Out of Town/Country/Hemisphere Guests
Sick
You know it intellectually. You move to another part of the world, the flora and fauna are different. Climate is different. Microbes are different. There will be issues. One of the less glamorous aspects of working abroad is adapting to these differences, and therefore coping with the resulting issues. The tricky part is you’re never… Continue reading Sick
Learning Culture
I’m listening to the gradually waning sounds of laughter, splashing water, and hoots and hollers coming from our front porch area. Our three kids and three of their friends/teachers from the language school we attend have been busy pouring bucket after bucket of water down our carport, accompanied with some rather nice smelling bodywash, apparently.… Continue reading Learning Culture
Ride Sharing
We don’t have a vehicle here in Indonesia. While the kids are eager to try their hands at the ubiquitous motos or scooters, we aren’t sure that will actually work out for them without a valid US drivers’ license first. Time will tell. Beyond the switch from American roads and driving on the right-hand side… Continue reading Ride Sharing
Goodbye Jimmy
That’s Jimmy, our first pet in Medan. Kind of anticlimactic in many ways. We didn’t pick him out, he picked us. We rarely saw him, except when we’d inadvertently open a cabinet door he was hiding behind. We joked about the parties he would throw when we were away from the apartment, but he was… Continue reading Goodbye Jimmy
He Is Risen – Everywhere!
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! This truth stands in human history. In geography and history and time and place, witnessed and attested to. And it is true whether we are gathering in the United States or Europe or Indonesia. The same Lord is one Lord raised from the dead as proof his… Continue reading He Is Risen – Everywhere!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 