Mangoes are my Pineapples

We have a huge Mango tree in our front courtyard. It always gives us much more fruit than we could ever eat. The thing is, our mangoes aren't ripe yet. They are getting nice and big but still a few weeks from being ripe. The Locals here (me included) love to eat the unripe mangoes with a very spicy sweet peanut sauce.

 Part of our tree hangs over the alley next to our house and on those branches seems to grow the biggest and best mangoes. Do you see where I am going with this??

Today we caught some local young boys using a long bamboo pole with a hook on it trying to steal some mangoes. At first we were angry, they wanted the biggest best mango on the tree. Then I thought about how I could use this as an opportunity to teach these young thieves a lesson. I began to explain to them that asking for the mangoes would be better than to steal them. I explained that if I have extra that it would make me feel good if I could bless them with the gift of a mango but if they stole the mango they would would be adding more sin to their lives. This seem to hit home for them since Ramadan has just finished. They had just endured 30 of daytime fasting to get rid of their sins.

 The young guys asked for forgiveness and I sent them on their way, feeling good about myself. I managed to teach them a lesson and still be able to save the biggest best mango to grow for another day.

The boys stood out in the alley for a while and I could here them debating among each other. a few minutes later one brave fellow knocked on the gate and very loudly called out and asked if they could have a mango...Can you imagine what was going through my mind? (My mangoes! Didn't you learn anything young man? How dare you ask for a mango after you just tried to steal one!) Then I realized that was not what I was trying to teach them. The boy was doing exactly what I asked him to do...He was asking for a mango so I could feel good about Blessing him and his friends. 

I realized this teachable moment was not for them, it was for me. Do I want to give them the biggest and best I have or do I want to keep it for myself? Do I want them to see what happens when you do the right thing?.....hmmmmmm?

Beginning Idul Fitri Celebrations in prayer at the Mall

We went to the only mall on our island this morning at 6:30 am. Today is a special day for the Muslim community.Today is the first day after the 30 day fasting month of Ramadan. To begin Idul Fitri celebrations the Muslims start with prayer. Many go to the mosques in their neighborhood and many go to public parks and many, close to 2000,...go to the mall.

 Above is a photo of the empty parking lot before everyone arrived. Then... they came. Everyone was dressed in their new, finest prayer shawls and sarungs. all the men were sporting new hats and new prayer rugs. The street was lined with cars and motorcycles three deep into the road. As they arrived, musical chants proclaiming Allah's greatness repeatedly played over the loud speakers. This is the same proclamation we listened to for 7 hours last night and will listen to all day today.

 This is a FULL parking lot. Every available space was taken up with prayer mats. The men and boys sat in the front facing toward Mecca and the women and girls were in the back. The speakers loudly playing the call to prayer as the men and women bowed in reverence and humble prayer with thankfulness for completing the fast. The Muslims try to fast for 30 days each year to hopefully receive forgiveness of sins for that year.


  More than a hundred rows of people were bowing shoulder to shoulder. If you look closely you can see the edge of the McDonalds sign in the top edge of this photo. During Ramadan, McDonalds and most all other restaurants, and road side food stands were closed during the day and opened only in the afternoon as people prepared to break their daily fast. McDonalds was allowed to sell food through the day only for take out or to eaten upstairs out of sight.

 This part of the prayers shows men wanting to hear God speaking to them. Usually Muslims see and hear God through dreams and visions. We often pray with and for our Muslim friends that God will reveal his will for them through these visions and dreams, and that they would become strong family leaders, full of integrity.

I couldn't help myself when I snapped this photo. This adorable little boy is being very good as his father and uncle teach him how to pray. Couldn't you just pinch those little cheeks?  This family had to stand in the middle of the road in front of the mall in between the cars because the parking lot was filled to overflowing.

 The women, looked like a sea of beautiful brown faces surrounded by their new stylish prayer shawls. Just like I would have a new dress for Easter or Christmas, the Muslim's spend weeks before Idul Fitri picking out just the right new Holiday clothing and prayer shawls. They will spend the next 3 days visiting family and friends, receiving guests and eating and eating and eating. Idul fitri snacks are yummy. After visiting a few families you wouldn't need to eat for a week. 

The men were standing in front of our island's one and only McDonalds. The women, as you can see are in front of our one and only Kentucky Fried Chicken and across the street from our one and only Pizza Hut. Needless to say, the mall was a great place to break fast each night of Ramadan for the wealthier class. I personally prefer to eat with friends in their homes with the spiciest and yummiest traditional food.

I hope you enjoyed my photos of this very special day. It's just a glimpse through a window
in my world.

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike...

 How many of you know the struggles of getting a child into the bath? They fight you every step of the way and come up with all kinds of excuses to stall the much needed BATH. Then, just try to get them out…they do the same…”Just a minute, Mom”, “I’m still playing, Dad!”

      I’m like that with my exercise bike. I come up with a lot of reasons why “I don’t have time today” or “ I’m not feeling up to it.” Or more often… “I dun wanna!” Then, I finally get on or Rich pushes me until I do it just to shut him up… and I become just like one of those kids that don’t want to get out of the tub. The adrenaline starts pumping, and the endorphins start kicking in and all of a sudden I start enjoying it…even smiling. I put my headphones on and blast my most upbeat praise music and love every minute of it. Sooner than later I totally forget the promise of “Just 30 minutes and I can get off” often it has been 45 minutes before I even check the time.

      Unfortunately I am just like that with my Bible time…How about you? “Not enough time in the day”, “Let me get those dishes done first”, “I’ll do it after this TV show is over” “Gotta run to the store first, We are out of milk”…..sound familiar? Yet, God is faithful…when we buckle down, and put Him first, He gives us the strength, the endurance, the motivation, the desire, the joy, the pleasure, and the knowledge to live in His freedom. Often we sit to read those “10 minute devotions” and look at the clock an hour later realizing we lost track of the time. Why do we fight it so much? Why is it so difficult to get ourselves to sit down and spend time with the ONE that loves us best? Is it because we love the world we live in better? I’m not sure why, I just know I always feel better and more energized to face that world when I put the Lord’s word first.

By the way, this devotion came to me …while I was riding my exercise bike. Funny thing huh?

Rich configured this wooden contraption attached to the back wheel of a regular bicycle so I could use it for exercise. I married a smart man!