Today we made some family photos. This family photo was taken by an Indonesian friend who lives beside the rice field behind us on the photo. Later on in the day the new Dutch folks took some more photos of us and we of them. Don't have those yet... This photo was the best of the bunch that we have so far....

Today we went to church for the second last time here in Bandung. The preacher today had a good sermon on Philipians. How we should be thankful for what we have and not be a slave to our wants and desires but be focused on what God wants from us. It is easier to pray for things than to thank God for things that we have already received. We need to make sure that we are always thankful for all that we have whether we have a lot or a little.

We are very thankful to have been able to attend this church during our time here in Bandung. This is a small church with a big vision. It is also somewhat unique in that after the service there are always snacks and water so people are encouraged to stay and chat and get to know one another. For us from the Canadian Reformed church in Aldergrove, this is a completely natural event, but here it is not. At most churches here, people just leave and go home once the service is done. I never realized, until now, how much culture affects the way in which we worship and the way in which the communion of saints manifests itself. When people ask me how we do things back home in Canada, I always say, well, in our church, which is made up mostly of Dutch immigrants or first and second generation Dutch Canadians, we do things this way....

Another thing I've come to realize is that the role of a house wife here has a very different meaning than that back home. Back home the role of a wife and mother is to make her home a happy and, hopefully, clean one, and to teach the children etc... Here, if you are of the upper class, being a housewife means telling the pembantus what to do and probably being involved in the family business. Any children are often left with the pembantus. Of course each family will be different in how much responsibility they give to their helpers. There are some who essentially leave the raising of their children to their helpers. There are others who are much more hands on. But the truth is that if you are of the upper class, there is a good chance that you have never cleaned a toilet or the like. The women of the lower class or regular folk, are responsible for everything around the house. Each morning we wake up to the sound of our neighbours sweeping their front walks. Then they wash all their clothes, by hand, and hang them out to dry. Then the house is swept and mopped. Then they will cook for the day. Usually only one time. After that they are free to do whatever until the laundry is dry and needs to be ironed. They iron everything... But if you are an average housewife, you will only go out of the kampung to go to the market to get your basic foods and to visit the doctor or maybe every now and then, visit family. Most wives hardly ever leave the kampung. I think I would feel a little claustrophobic if I never got out like them. Our neighbours were born in this kampung, were married in this kampung and had their babies in this kampung. I just can't imagine.... The guys are only responsible for earning money for the family to live. Only if a husband can't work, they may open a little shop in their house to survive. Or the wife may try selling things door-to-door. Usually men are rather hands off when it comes to matters of the house. My neighbours think it is so funny when Hugo makes me a cup of tea. They say that they have never ever been served anything by their husbands.... I tell you, I'm sure thankful for my husband who helps out and doesn't just sit and watch tv if he's home....