Waterfalls

We recently hiked to this waterfall with an amazing family who teaches with Mike, the Bryans! They took us for a picnic lunch at this waterfall about an hour from us. We had to walk through this small village, then through the most beautiful rice fields I have ever seen. The wind was blowing and we could hear the dried rice heads hitting each other and it was so beautiful, it is hard to describe. To be able to go to the waterfall, which is just a dirt path that winds through the hillside, a women stands at her house, where the path starts, and charges a nominal fee to be able to go to the waterfall. It made me laugh so much, but Indonesian's are quite smart business people and never miss an oportunity to make a little money.
The kids also hiked with Mr. Bryan and Mike up and around the top of the waterfall. They were amazed to see where it started and were glad to work up a sweat because the water is VERY, VERY cold!
To stand on the side of the mountain and look at the beauty of God was breath-taking!

Jazz and Ella's first day of Pre-school

Jazz and Ella started pre-school this week (8-3-09). They are attending a play group/preschool for children that a few of our friends set up. One of our favorite people are teaching at it, Mbak Dion and her sister Mbak Dina. It is an international preschool with children from Korea, China, Indonesia, and Americans. Jazz and Ella attend 3 days a week, 2 hours a day mostly so I can get some school done and so they can be with Mbak Dion. They kids have LOVED it. I was a little worried about Ella but she is doing great and always comes home with a smile. That could also be because she and Jazz ride on Mbak Dina's motorcycle to and from school every time. The school is not far. I will truthfully say, I would NEVER, EVER, EVER let my little guys ride a motorcycle anywhere if we were living in the states but in Indonesia . . . . . lol!

Melissa Cass-Dorcas

Melissa grew up here in Indonesia with Mike. She came back to visit and was able to get together with our family. She and Mike had a lot of fun sharing their memories of growing up in Indonesia.

The Pine Forest - May 2009

Bet you didn't think a Jungle Island would have a Pine Forest!
We truely felt like we were home in Sonora. It was cool and overcast. The kids really loved hiking the mountain.

Homeschooling in Salitiga

These are the 2009 graduates from 2 homeschooling families. The 4 children that are not Maclean kids are the Klein family. They have lived in Indonesia for 6 years and the dad teaches English to Indonesians. We love to hang out with the Kleins.

Mbak Dian

Here is one of our FAVORITE people!!!! We all love her. This is Mbak Dian, Mbak is the word for older sister. This what the Indonesians use for Miss. She is not married and just had a birthday where she turned 20. She teaches Cybelle and Jazzs' playgroup 3 x a week and she comes to my house 2xs a week to help take care of the little guys, mostly Ella, so I can get school done. She has very good English so she too is helping me with my Indonesian. She is very creative and fun and loves Jesus too. When she started working for me, I asked her to only speak Indonesian to the kids. Now, Cybelle, Jazz and Ella know wayyyyyyyyy more Indonesian than momma. lol. She is also good at helping me to understand the way things work here. I am always asking why and how come. She likes to know how things work in America. My helper and I are always teasing her, that she will marry an American because she likes American food, especially cheese. (Indonesians don't like cheese). On Dian's birthday, our family threw her a little party. After you turn 18, Indonesians don't really celebrate birthdays anymore. So we found out Dians favorite fruit and dessert and got a little present for her. Her favorite fruit is bananas and her favorite dessert is pudding (Indo style, a little different than American style). We made her banana pudding with Nilla Waffers. She had 3 helpings. She declared it her all-time favorite dessert. (Thanks to special people who provided ingredients) We got her a gift certificate to get her nails done. She had never had a manicure. She was so excited and was showing off her nails the next day. A girl is a girl everywhere. It has been so great getting to know Dian and I am very glad she is blessing my kids with her joy and wisdom.

Wati Grant

We would like to share some of the AMAZING people in our life here in Indonesia. The first picture is of my language teacher and friend, Wati Grant. She tutors me in Indonesian 2 times a week. She is married to a co-worker of Mike's. Her husband, Mike Grant, is from the East Coast of the U.S. Her beautiful daughter, Daniela, is a good friend of Cybelles. I really love Wati, first off because she loves Jesus so much and lives her life in accordance with that love. She inspires me every time I am with her. She is also very very very patient with me, while I slaughter the Indonesian language. Wati is also a very good cook and always has yummy things for me to try at her house. She is a very understanding and special friend.