Septuagenarian Years Begin

I wasn’t up when Joshua returned from collecting Gayle from the airport but I did hear the gate as it is very noisy. I wasn’t surprised that they both slept in as they hadn’t reached home untill after 3am.  I had a quiet day too doing all the usual things.  I was waiting for Gayle to get up to do some shopping with her but that was put off till the following day as she was exhausted.  That evening she needed to rush out to a wedding rehearsal with Josh, I was in bed by 9pm but woke at 3:30am again.  This is becoming a nuisance!  It’s too early to get up but too late to be able to get back to sleep!  I was surprised I didn’t hear the time being chimed throughout the night, but then at 4am I did hear it, at the other end of the street.  It was then I realised that some nights it’s not right outside my bedroom window and that’s why I had thought I had slept so soundly; I hadn’t heard it! LOL

Friday, I needed to get in some more walking so after my morning routine I headed out to Tiara along the backstreets.  I saw the familiar faces of vendors and a group of guys who drive vans who, when not employed gamble in the back of one of the vans. They often give me a friendly shout as I pass by.  While walking I received a call from one of the community garden committee members who was filling me in on some of the thoughts we had discussed the previous day in regards to adding more garden beds.  There had been a few things I was concerned about and had nominated her to be my representative in the discussions.  Part way through I suddenly saw my phone battery was very low so suggested we end the call as I needed data to keep in touch with Gayle who had suggested we have lunch at Tiara.  She was still sleeping when I left so I needed my internet connection.

On arriving at Tiara, I had an ice dessert and waited for Gayle, then together we ordered lunch to take home and shopped for groceries before she drove us both home. By 2:45pm we were out the door heading to the wedding Gayle was performing.  I was very kindly invited although I was not intending to stay after 5pm as I knew it was going to be a late night.  While things were just getting organised Gayle suggested I take a stroll around the garden behind the venue, Yoyok Bokashi Farm.  Before venturing into the potentially bug-infested domain, I needed protection otherwise I’d be eaten alive.  Joshua and I went to the local mini-mart where I looked through the available insect-protection products, sniffing to see what the scent was like.  While I was doing this with one tube I thought I might buy, it bubbled out the top!  “Oops!  Looks like I’ll have to buy this one I said” and headed to the counter wiping the excess on my face and arms.  One of the attendants who was near by was laughing quietly to herself.

Thus protected I headed to the garden.  Here I met the head gardener and although we had limited language I came to understand he worked with one of the universities as well as in this organic garden. I love looking around gardens, especially productive ones.

The wedding ceremony started at 4:30pm and finished around 5pm which was perfect timing for me. There were chairs set out on the grass in the heat of the sun which I found a little strange as most Asians don’t like to be in the sun.  I sat with a few of the church members under the shade of a pergola to one side.  Here I was able to get up and wander around taking photos.  It was a lovely Christian service with many of the church members participating, supporting the bride and the groom who were also members. I didn’t stay for the food although I would have loved to have tried it. I later heard they ate around 7pm, far too late for me.  I was already home and getting ready for bed by then.

Saturday was another lazy day.  Then at 5pm Gayle received a message from a Perth lady who was visiting to say she was in the area so Gayle invited her around. It was lovely meeting Jay, she and Gayle shared their grief of losing their husbands recently. Since his death Jay was travelling all over the world house-sitting, which she really enjoyed.

On Sunday, my Septuagint years began. Gayle and Joshua gave me a lovely welcome to my birthday before church than lots of birthday greetings at church and at the end of the service I was called out to the front.  I had begun to wonder if it might not happen as there were lots of other things happening that Sunday too.  But then, happy birthday was sung as I received a lovely mini cake followed by prayer and more birthday greetings.  I felt so loved.  Jay then took Gayle and me out for lunch.  I wanted to return to the Yum Cha place I was taken to when picked up from the airport.  Praise the Lord it wasn’t far from the church.  It was a lovely lunch and chat with Jay too.  From here she joined us looking at shoes and bags.  I was looking for a small backpack like the one I took everywhere with me.  Unfortunately I couldn’t find what I wanted but both Jay and Gayle bought things.  From here we stopped at Tiara for ice drinks and a bit of shopping.  I really wanted to buy a fresh durian but settled on a fresh durian juice instead, it which was delicious. We tried to find fresh durian as we drove home but there was none to be found, it’s not really the season for it here. The rest of the evening was a quiet one where I responded to all the birthday comments through social media and from my church greetings with an encouraging verse from Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  A very apt verse to start me on my septuagenarian years plus my new adventure to Japan.

Before heading to bed that night I helped Gayle with making her kombucha. Between us we finished off a little bit to, empty one of her bottles which we needed to refill with the next batch.  Unfortunately I forgot that tea contains caffeine, which although in kombucha is very low, because I was having it just before bed, it affected me. I slept well till 11:30pm then was awake till nearly 4am and awake again at 6am!  SO frustrating!  Praise the Lord I didn’t have anything important on that day.

Gayle and Joshua were out all day, I was invited to join them but I preferred to do things around the house getting ready for my flight.  I just like to make sure all is ready.  While Josh was out he did help me buy $2 worth of data for another 30 days so I don’t have to buy another $30 worth at the airport on my return.  This will keep my SIM activated till my return when I can top it up again.

I slept better that night waking around 7am.  Again Gayle and Joshua were out for the day while I finalised the things to prepare for my trip. I packed again trying to limit myself to 7kg of luggage so I could take it all on board with me.  I couldn’t get it below 8kg so I decided, as the ticket includes 20kg luggage, if I put the big backpack in cargo I could then take my flute as well.  Who knows I might even get time to practice while in Japan.

I booked my Grab taxi for the following day to get me to the airport then looked around for e-SIM I could buy before leaving for Japan.  I thought I had one that would cover both Japan and Vietnam so bought 10GB for 30 days.  Unfortunately it was only for Japan and I wasn’t able to change it or upgrade it. At least I have learnt from my error.  I still need to buy one for Vietnam now.  Last year I bought one on my arrival at the airport for $20 so I might do that again.  I was feeling more confident that I was now ready and prepared for the next step of my new adventure. I had been emailing the tour guide in Japan asking her if she had a social media chat channel I would contact her on if I needed to when in Japan.  She had given us her mobile number but this was not much use unless we bought a mobile plan which is not usually what happens when you’re travelling.  Most people just use internet data.  She then said she was with ‘LINE’ which is a popular Asian chat.  I down loaded it and eventually we were connected.  I felt relieved, I could now contact her if and when needed.

Gayle and Joshua arrived home early that afternoon, both not feeling well and went straight to bed. I dosed myself with Olive Leaf Extract and Vit C and prayed for protection.

Photos:  1. Bougainvillea    2. Yoyok Bokashi Farm    3. Bday cake    4. Yum Cha lunch with Jay and Gayle    5. The wedding

Prayer & Praise Points:

Praise the Lord for Gayle’s safe return to Bali.  Please continue to pray for her as she has another appointment with the hospital sometime in June.

Praise the Lord for all the wonderful birthday greetings and the lovely time I had for my 70^th birthday, bringing me into my septuagenarian years.

Praise the Lord for the remaining days in Bali before my flight to Japan.

Please pray that I remain in good health during all of my travels.

I continue to give thanks to the Lord for my neighbours looking after my place while I’m away.

Please pray for Jen and Ralf as they travel throughout Europe, may they be kept safe and enjoy their adventures too.

Continue to pray for the world.  For peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia, and countries dealing with major disasters, wars and the unbelievable hardships they cause.  Pray for all those caught up in the suffering these events have caused.  Pray that God’s peace may be known by all people especially for those who live with despair, that they will find hope in Christ Jesus.

Please keep my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat, in your prayers.  Pray that they will come to know the love of Jesus.  Jen is off again on her adventures in Europe, please pray for her safety.