Idaho-the Cat

I realized that i forgot to add the tale of our cat Idaho. About 2 weeks ago Idaho, whom we have had for probably about 11 years-almost as long as we have been in Salatiga, came home covered in tar and rocks one Saturday night. I realized that she had not been home for at least 2 nights and so when i saw how she looked i realized there was good reason for her not having been home. I wondered if she got stuck in some paving or something as her feet were raw and she looked like she could barely walk. I took her in and quickly washed her as best i could. Question??? Have you ever tried to wash a cat who does not like water? It always brings back memories of having to bathe my sister's cat, Roscoe. I think it took three of us to hold him down and bathe him and even then we all ended up with scratches on our arms. Fortunately Idaho felt pretty yucky so with a firm grip, i was able to get some of the tar, rocks and dirt off of her. I then dried her off as best i could, set up a place for her to sleep and hoped she would be better in the morning. But, she wasn't. By Monday morning i knew she wasn't going to make it so i took her to school with me in a basket and was trying to figure out what to do. Nick was in Thailand, vets are not the greatest here and i just wondered if this was the end of our beloved Idaho. Usually i am not super sentimental over our pets. We have had lots come and go as many of you may remember from our early years here in Salatiga. But, Idaho had been with us the longest...seeing many other cats come and go.

Later that morning, Mary told me that Dr. Z. happened to be in town and that i should try giving him a call. Dr. Z. has two children at our school and is a vet from the U.S. but lives on another island. I gave him a call and he came over to the school. He explained to me that when an animal injests that much petroleum product that it is very toxic to their bodies. Idaho was severely dehydrated and there was a good chance her kidneys were shutting down. We had to deal with the dehydration first. Dr. Z went and got some IV bags and needles and showed us how to give Idaho an infusion of liquid by injecting it into the back of her neck. I had Jay watch too cuz i wasn't so sure how i would do giving this infustion to Idaho later that night. We had to do it 3 times a day for a few days along with antibiotics. It seemed like she wasn't going to pull through, and she certainly would not have without the help of Dr. Z, but by about the 4th day, she was looking for ways to escape out of the house and back to her normal routine. :) She is defintely a cat with more than 9 lives...and living over here certainly gives one more opportunity to do things you would never do in the U.S., like giving your cat an infusion of liquid or antibiotics.

Just thought i would share this with you all....if you haven't read the post below, it gives more of an update on how we are all doing. :) Blessings.

This and the other

Dear Ones,

Here it is October 1 and just now i am writing an update. We have been back in Salatiga for 2 months and time seems to have flown by. What have the Armstrongs been upto in the past 2 months....well let's see....

Luke: He is now in 9th grade and seems to be focusing on school a bit better this school year. The kid's schedule ast school is different everyday and so that has taken some getting used to but Luke for the most part has been doing a great job of getting his work turned in and things like that. His biology class recently made a huge cell model. Partners had to make parts of the cell and then students took their cell part and went inside the plastic tent/bubble thing that was the cell membrane. The students all did an excellent job and i am sure it was a great way for them to really learn the cell in an upclose way. He is also playing soccer and is on the Varsity team--but sometimes plays on the JV team as well. We have a great team this year and they are really enjoying their new coach, Greg Copeland. They got new uniforms made and didn't have them done in the blue/white/yellow school colors but in red after some of the guys' favorite soccer team. :) He plays defense and i am always amazed at how fast he really can run and get to the ball. He must get his speed from his dad.

The Cell project

Some soccer pics

Annaliese: Anna has made the adjustment back to life in Indonesia pretty smoothly. I have to say it has been wonderful to have my "si kecil" (little one) back around again...she just adds so much to our family and to daily life. She is working hard in school and continues to amaze me at her ability to balance so many things at one time. She has a pretty heavy class load, plus she is taking Arabic through an on-line class (thanks to all of you that bought earrings to help pay for that). She also helps organize her class-at the recent student sponsored 3 on 3 basketball tournament she helped organize the snack shop for her class. The Juniors put on the Junior-Senior banquet every year and so since she is a junior this year, her class will have to earn money in order to pay for the banquet for the Seniors. They have some different things planned and hopefully will be able to work together again on those projects. She still struggles with headaches on a daily basis but the pain is a lot less with meds she is taking now (thanks Dr. Turner) and if she is careful to get enough sleep and rest. She has started exercising some (weights and walking) and that seems to help as well. Thanks for praying for her.

Josh and Anna & Anna working the snack shop :)

Picnic in Kopeng-Anna with Hazel and with Mari

Nick: Nick has been busy since we returned but that is not anything new. After a week of getting settled back in Indonesia, he was off to Aceh to check on how things were going up there. He always comes back from these trips a bit tired but recharged because of getting to see the things that God is doing through the work there. Seeing houses built and crops growing and people thriving definitely makes all the traveling back and forth worthwhile. He also recently took a trip to Thailand to meet with the Asia Management Team. He also had a chance to see our friends, Carrie and Steve Durham. It was great for him to have a weekend with them and to catch up on what they are doing in Thailand. One neat thing that happened this past month was Nick speaking at our school chapel. Annaliese is on Chapel Team and asked her Dad to speak about what it means to think beyond ourselves. Of course this was a great honor for him to be asked by his daughter.

Nick with his iPhone on our picnic...Laura & Nick at a Laura's former secretary's wedding

So i guess that leaves me. School has been going okay...it is not without its ups and downs but we have a great staff and a great group of students. We have about 70 kids now and many of them are new. That is definitely one of the changing things about our school is the amount of students transferring in and out. Since there is now a language school Salatiga, we have families that come in for one year for language and then they leave to other parts of Indonesia. We definitely have to get better at dealing with students who are new to the school but also new to the country.

Yesterday was the last day of the fasting month. I have to say that every year we go through Ramadan and then the two days of Idul Fitri i am always thankful for when it is over. Sometimes i am amazed at how our Muslim neighbors and friends are able to keep up the fast for a whole month. It has been so hot and dry recently and it just seems like it would be so hard. I found out last week that one of the cleaners at the elementary, who is 7 months pregnant, has been fasting. Usually pregnant women do not have to fast but she said that they doctor told her as long as she felt strong, it was okay for her to fast. I was pretty upset to hear that but thankfully she has been okay and i hope the baby will be fine too. I also forget that this is the time of year where they go and clean up the graves of deceased family members until i was driving by a graveyard yesterday. I was with a friend and she asked what was going on there...and thus i was reminded of this other practice during this time of year. They go and clean up the graves of loved ones and also pay respects. I am not sure if this is normal Islamic practice or some of the Javanese culture that has crept in over the years. We will most likely go and visit our Muslim neighbors tomorrow...it is always good to see our neighbors but we come away pretty full as you are expected to drink tea and eat snacks at every house. :)

I almost forgot...i wanted to post some things about Indonesian Independence way back in August. This year Nick and i went to our little neighborhood celebration. It usually isn't so bad but as i walked up to where they were holding the celebration, Ibu Siti told me that i had to get on the scale. I, being a normal American, was appalled to think that i had to get on a scale and weigh in, but being that i am in a different culture, i decided i better just do it. So i hopped on the scale and they wrote down my weight. About an hour later prizes were given for the "heaviest" and "lightest" woman at the celebration. I was neither, for which i am eternally grateful. How EMBARASSING!!! Nick did have to get up and dance and he did a great Balinese/Javanese Dance. Oh this turned out to be a much more exciting Independence Day Celebration than we had ever anticipated.

Nick doing his Javanese dance and the Heaviest and Lightest ladies!

On our way Home...

Dear Friends and Family
The four of us are sitting in the Boise airport. We should be on an airplane to San Francisco but we ended up missing it...mainly because the security people went over every single little thing that Nick had with him today. It took him 20 minutes to get through security and i was waiting at the gate but the lady had to send the plane on its way so now we are hanging out until 10 am and i thought i would write a quick update about our time in the U.S. and let you know some prayer requests for the next few weeks. We hope to greet the Cole Indonesian Team as they will be flying in from San Francisco on the plane we will probably be taking out...so that is kind of cool.

We have had a wonderful summer here in the U.S. We loved getting to see so many people but as always it was too fast and the time with those we did get to see went by so quickly. We are always sad too that we can't see everyone and just wish we could sit down over a cup of coffee or tea and talk about what is going on in your lives.

Here are some of the Summer Highlights:

Boise: Getting off the plane in Boise and seeing Annaliese again after 5 months apart and a surprise visit from my oldest sister Nan , picnics in the park, coffee & lunch times with friends, shopping, waterskiing/surfing/wakeboarding with the Cowells at Lucky Peak-even though it was very cold and our tropical bodies were frozen and then later with the LaShelles at Cascade on the Bat Boat, a great Vision Lunch at Cole-thanks to all who attended, going to several movies-favorites for me were "Get Smart" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D, eating at lots of good restaurants as well as friend's homes, working out at the YMCA, going to a Boise Burn game

Anna grew her hair out and then had it cut for Locks of Love :)

Hailey: Time with my parents and good friends, Mary & Ferdinand and Jay-taking them "up north" and swimming in the freezing cold, clean water of Redfish Lake. Hiking Mount Hyndman (Nick all the way, the rest of us just part of the way), riding the chair lift to the top of Baldy (i don't like heights too much but it was worth it), taking lots of pictures of wildflowers, flank steak on the BBQ, eating asparagus and artichokes, seeing deer, watching the guys take out one of the Big Cottonwood trees in my parent's yard, playing bocce ball....getting to share at Calvary Bible Church and then at Church of the Big Wood, selling earrings and necklaces to help Anna pay for an arabic class.

Arizona: Time with Nick's Mom, Clotele, getting to see Nick's Dad, Wes, eventhough he is declining from Alzheimers-two highlights in seeing him was how loving and affectionate he is and listening to him hum several songs and singing along with him, Armstrong Family Reunion-Pirate Theme-over 50 of us up at the Worsley Lodge-playing, laughing, crafting, paintballing, singing and talking,seeing all the new babies and how much the kids had grown up, meeting new in-laws, time with Jay's family, watching a Diamondback's game, warmer weather, swimming, playing with Pepe-Grandma's dog, visiting ASU, visit with Christen and her Mom Bev, visit with Ruth, Ona and Rachel Liles.

I tried to list as many of the things that i could remember but of course i am sure i have missed a few things here and there. Overall our time in the U.S. has been great. Luke had a great time with friends and over the last couple of days, every time we had to say goodbye, he would look at me and say, "You know that it will be 2 years before we see them again...2 YEARS." I don't think i really needed the reminding but i guess he needed to be able to verbalize that. Annaliese leaves the U.S. with mixed emotions-excited to see friends back in Indonesia but definitely sad to say goodbye to everyone here. Both Nick and i look forward to the next 2 years with her being that after this term, she will be heading off to University. I think it makes us realize how much we need to take advantage of every moment we can with her as well as Luke. They grow up so fast eh?

Prayer Needs:

Laura: Well i thought this year was all laid out and was going to be smooth but over the past two weeks i found out that my 5th grade teacher's visa was denied and will not be renewed. :( Then my ESL/Art Teacher decided that he could not return. This puts a major hole in our staff and schedule-i still can't imagine how i am going to work all of this out before school begins on the 14. Please pray for me and for the rest of the admin. to be creative and to be wise in what we do.

My heart is also heavy for one of our school families, the Bruckerts. Their son was recently killed in a car accident... Jon graduated in 2004 or 2005 and was in his final year of University in the U.S. Please pray for the Bruckerts as they grieve the loss of their precious son and brother.

Nick: Nick asks for prayer for readjusting back to Indonesia and for training of the Back to God Hour staff in Conflict Resolution. Also pray for the training of the South Sumateran church which will take place in the next month or so in the area of how to walk with the poor and bring about transformation (spiritual and physically) in their lives.

Annaliese: Adjustment back to Indonesia, reestablishing friendships, school schedule and healing of headaches.

Lukas: Excitement for school and ability to really apply himself in school, reconnecting with friends in Salatiga and enjoying life daily.

Thanks again for all of you that made our time in the U.S. so special. A special thanks to the Cramers for having Annaliese for a semester-taking care of her, loving on her and making her time here so special. Ditto to the girls in her Bible Study. Thanks to Mom and Dad Newcomb for all you do for us when we are in the U.S.-driving us around, shopping, mailing, having us at home etc. Thanks to Mom Armstrong for letting us invade your home in Arizona and for putting up with us :). Thanks to the Larsons for having us in your home again, letting us come and go and all our friends and family as well. You all are great.

We will Miss all of you...and as Luke would say, "Two more years!"

Laura for the family

Post Script: Nick and i are sitting at the Jakarta airport...our bags and us have made it back to Indonesia. Annaliese and Luke are with their friend Josh here in Jakarta for a couple of days. We will get back home around noon today. :) One thing i appreciate about my husband is how he hangs in there even when things are crazy and stressful. Missing our flight turned out to be a blessing because our bags were only checked into Bangkok...but we had time along the way to get them routed to Jakarta which has been a good thing...we were going to have to get them in Bangkok and go through customs and recheck in. We were thankful to not have to do that. He is a trooper and i am thankful that he does all these interactions for us. :)

This and That

Hi There...once again it has been awhile since i posted any news about us here in Indonesia so this is my attempt to do that. Last post was in January so here are some new pics and a bit about us.

BAPTISM AT MOUNTAINVIEW

One ordinary day in March Jon-Paul, one of the teachers at the high school, had the opportunity to share with a student about accepting Jesus into his life. Jun Hyuk made a decision and the next thing we know we are witnessing one of those incredible days at our school. Jon asked Jun if he wanted to be baptiZed and he decided that he did. He was to be the only one but when Jon asked if anyone else wanted to be baptized about 20 other students came forward that morning and then later that afternoon. It was really exciting to see the Lord at work and to be a witness to all of this. God is good. The first photo is of Jon-Paul and Jun is the guy in the white shirt. The second picture is of Tim and Sid Thornton. Tim and Annaliese have been classmates since preschool so we have know the Thorntons a long time and i have worked alongside Mary and Sid at the school. Both of their boys, Tim and Micah, were baptized. Please continue to pray for these students and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We also had two students at the elementary recently commit their lives to Christ. One is a boy from India whose family is Hindu. Pray for him that he will fully understand all that it means to have a relationship with Christ and that Jesus is not just another god on the idol shelf, but is the One, True God!

PULAU SEMPU
This is one of the most beautiful places i have ever been to on earth. :) This little island is in East Java and about a 10 minute ride on a boat off the southcoast of Java. The first picture is of the lagoon where we camped on the beach for two nights after about a 2 hours hike through the jungle and along a pretty muddy path. We decided that we brought way too much stuff but were thankful for all the water that we brought in as there was not any fresh water on the island. The next picture shows the lagoon on the right and the ocean that feeds into the lagoon on the left. It is an incredible place. You can snorkel in the lagoon and not have the waves pulling you around. We saw an eel and all sorts of other tropical fish. It wasn't always the clearest water for snorkeling but we were definitely glad to have some snorkel gear along. The downside of this whole trip was that when we got there we were the only ones there but by the time we left

there were probably about 60 other people on the small little beach. Not quite the peace and quiet that we had anticipated. Two highlights for me were looking out to the ocean from the third picture and seeing a school of dolphins frolicking in the water. They were so fun to watch, especially when one of them decided to give us his own little dolphin show....he "stood" up on his tail nose in the air and then splashed down and rolled and flipped around. It was awesome to watch. I have never experienced this in nature. The second was hiking out and listening to the jungle sounds....it sounded just like the recording

they use at that restaurant...i think it is called the Rain Forest Cafe. Totally awesome. We did have quite the hike out as you can see in the last picture. Amanda had sprained her ankle and i had strained my knee and it was so muddy on the trail do to the rain. But, we made it and really it was a great adventure. The fourth photo is Nick, me, Amanda, Jay and Luke.

Field Day

Field Day is an annual event at Mountainview...one of my favorite days because it is a change of pace and the whole school is put together. The Kindergarten through 12th grade are divided into teams and we play and have fun together. The day started with chapel which i got to help plan. We have all school chapel about once a month and we have been doing a series on Stories Jesus Told. This week's stories were The 10 Silver Coins and the The Pearl of Great Price. Jeremy Cramer pictured with the orange bandana was a jewelery salesman who had to find a pearl more beautiful than anything else in the world. He finds it and sells everything, even jokingly his "wife" who was played by Sabina. We talked about how the Silver Coin Story shows how God chooses us and how the Pearl story shows that we need to Choose God above all else. Simple but cool message.

The rest of the day was spent getting faces painted, playing blind kickball, treasure hunts, doing cheers for our team and other fun stuff. I was a leader of the Tie Dye Team...we were colorful and had a lot of laughs. Thanks God for fun, delightful days. :)

Luke's team was the Red Hot Chili Cabes (Peppers)...that's Luke on the left...the blonde kid with the chili pepper on his face. :)

Junior Senior Banquet

This is a last minute add in...Saturday night was the Junior Senior Banquet. It was a blast and a first for Mountainview as they allowed dancing...Jeremy Cramer taught them how to Tango and the kids had to switch partners often so that it was not "dancing-dancing" but i think it was definitely one of the best parties i have been to at Mountainview. I got to be the photographer but managed to get in a couple of photos and even tried the tango a time or two. :)

What's New

I realize that i do not keep this blog up-to-date very well. Sometimes it is just hard to think of new things to write about that are interesting. I find that life just goes on and it all seems normal to me. Sigh. I guess the biggest thing going on is that Annaliese is now in the U.S. That seems to absorb much of my thoughts and and prayers these days. I think about her all the time and wonder how she is doing-how her headaches are and how she is navigating life as a Third Culture Kid in America. For those of you that don't know what a Third Culture Kid is, it is a child that has been primarily raised in another culture than his/her parent's culture. They are a blend then of their "passport" country and the country in which they are being raised and tend to not feel totally "at home" in either culture. I just gave a talk on that to a baseball team from Vanguard University that came through here on a service project. They spent Friday at the school and i was asked to talk about "TCKs" and the things they deal with. It was good for me to be reminded of the things that Annaliese is probably dealing with, but also hard because i felt like i didn't prepare her as well as i should have. But now she is there and there isn't a whole lot i can do for her now, which makes it really, really hard. Did i mention that it is hard? So for now, i will just keep praying and keep trusting the Lord to watch over her and all that is going on there and try to remain sane and focused on what i need to be doing here.

I have been reading a really good book lately called "The Grand Weaver" by Ravi Zacharias. It is basically the idea that God has intentionally arranged all that we are and all that we are going through, especially the day to day things. All the chapters are title with "...... Matters" for example "Your DNA Matters", "Your Disappointments Matter". It has been a really good read for me. I think especially the first two chapters mentioned above. It just was good to be reminded that God has all these things in His hands, nothing has come to me without His knowledge and His hands being on it. He uses the analogy of a tapestry that is being woven and the different threads that are woven into that tapestry are all important and an intricate part of making that tapestry what it is, and that God is the Grand Weaver of each of our tapestries. One quote that i like is, "God the Grand Weaver seeks those with tender hearts so that he can put his imprint on them. Your hurts and your disappointments are part of that design, to shape your heart and the way you feel about reality. The hurts you live through will always shape you. There is no other way." Guess that sinks in for me as the many things we have dealt with in this past year are all a part of shaping me and molding me. I can either embrace them and grow and learn or reject them and become hardened toward life. I pray that i will soften and grow always.

The pics above are from our vacation over the Christmas Break and from saying goodbye to anna at the airport.