Teti convinced me that we should move out to the village again and renovate the mosque her grandfather had built. This leads up to many conflicts with local family living there. Many even thought we were there to take the mosque. From their point of view it was a business that provides an income for their families. They cannot see it as I do that once it was constructed it is no longer property of man but mans gift back to God.

Wednesday, April 30,2003
After the noon prayers Asar and some cleaning we began packing for a short stay in a village called Lempong. Teti has some family that lives there and had invited us to come and visit. The man had built a Massid from his own money and is still continuing work on it. It was a 2-hour drive from where we were. Deni dropped us there and said he would see us Friday. It was down a long windy one lane rocky road. All around there is only rice fields and mountains. We sat and talked for some time and then the son came by. He invited me to his house a short walk away. We talked as much as my little Indonesian and his little English would allow. I had some coffee then we returned to the house of Abba. After a short talk the son went back home. I decided to go on an exploration trip. It is mostly small villages in the area so I felt fairly safe. I wanted to climb one of the mountains and get out away from people for a while. I found a trail at the side of the road and followed it straight up the mountain. I walked maybe one hour without seeing anyone. I reached a summit and decide to just sit for a while. After one hour of enjoying the peace and quite I started back down. I saw this patch of leaves on the hill and thought I must be careful or I might slip. The thought had just passed when down I went twisting my foot behind me. I heard a snapping sound and thought I had broken something. I stood back with a stabbing pain in my left ankle. I prayed to God to relieve the pain and it helped. I hobbled back to the house still another 30 minutes away. I got back just in time for Magrib to be finished and prayed myself. I went to the house and everyone was ready to eat. We ate some of the best tasting charbroiled fish I ever tasted. It was about 2 foot long. There are small ponds all about and they said it came from the one below the Massid. We then went to the Massid for Isa. My foot was throbbing. Once back at the house I told them of my little adventure. We went to be in a small room but it was too hot and a few mosquitoes like my fresh meat a lot. By now my foot was starting to hurt a lot more. I went to sleep on the floor. Later Teti woke me and asked for me to come to the bed. Throughout the night my foot was throbbing.
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Started the day as with morning prayers at 4:30am. I did some cleaning around the house. Then around 8am I went to Bandung by Ancott, a small mini bus that costs "1000rp, 10cents". I went to the house of Susi and met Denny our friend and driver. He drove me around the rest of the day. I had to go to immigration to get a copy of my passport they were keeping for me. I then went to the university IAIN to meet with them about attending school. Then I went to the Internet, but it was so slow that I just checked a few e-mails and came back to the village.
Monday, April 28, 2003
Started the day as with morning prayers at 4:30am. Then we did some cleaning and I worked on the computer here some. Around 10am Teti said she wanted to go somewhere. She had arranged for some motorcycles to take us to visit the memorials of her grandfather and family. We then went to a haunted house. Then we went out in the middle of a rice field to a reservoir with a spring that feeds water to some houses in the area. It was a big rectangular bunker with two doors on top. Inside there was nothing but a big rock and a shallow pool of water. I was told that some religious people would climb down in there and stay for 4 days without coming out. Teti and me did climb in but we did not stay for more than 30 minutes. We then went to another memorial before returning to the house.
Friday, May 30, 2003
I have been doing a lot of work since May, 10.just not writing, since no one is reading it anyway what does it matter. If I am wrong, drop me a line at glenn.madden@t456.com, this will encourage me to get busier with writing and include more details of the daily activities. Just say in the message "I AM READING YOUR STORY".
Instead of guessing at each day's activities for the past 2 1/2 weeks I am going to write a short narrative.
We built a 2-meter by 2-meter square Gazebo. I did a lot of the work but one man we call only by Abba 60 years old did the hardest part. He put on the roof and did most of the sawing. I then had a young man here in the village paint it white for me. Everyone in the village was really impressed. It is quite unusual for Indonesia as most structures built here or simple in design and or built to serve a specific purpose. It cost me about $100 in materials because for the lower parts I used teak wood brought in from Sumatra. It is very hard wood and I understand it lasts longer than any treated wood in the USA can. I had to pay two men and the boy for a days work at the going rate of $2.50 each per day in US dollars or 25,000 Indonesian Rupia. The labor cost me including some packs of cigarettes about $10 US in total. I feel guilty not paying more but since I am broke almost I will keep a mental record of them and when I have money I will remember them in some special way.
After that I laid out a plan for a shelter for the goats that Teti bought. II used all cheap wood, which seems OK. A 2 x 4 costs about 50 cents for the cheap wood and about $2 for the good teak wood. I taught the man that it was best to select the wood yourself rather than the traditional way of letting the store load up you with the first grabbed. Most of the wood materials here or supplied in a very rough state. Some of it still has the tree bark on it.
We made a deposit for the land that we built all of this on. We had already discussed buying the land from one of the family. I put down $300 for now. We still owe him about $600 for about 1/2 of an acre. After we made the deposit I decided we should build a small fishpond since it is mostly labor involved I thought it would be really cheap. In US terms it is, but since my money is running out again it cost more than I thought Cement costs about $3 a bag and bricks cost about 2 cents each. So far the small pool of a 2-meter circle and 1/2 meter deep, which is almost finished, has cost us almost $50. 4 bags of cement $12, 500 bricks $10, and so far 3 days of labor for two men $15, tea, cigarettes, and food not sure how much. They are also building a brick path that halfway circles the pool.
I have been going to the Massid as required most of the time to worship God but sometimes in the house. I am now attending the Islamic university IAIN every Monday and Wednesday. Teti told me that one of her uncles used to be a director there and told me I should ask about him. I found out that he left the university 7 years ago from my professors. One of my professors said they were close friends and said he would contact him for me. They were really surprised that we knew him because he was the president of the university when he left. Teti had not seen him for more than 33 years. We were able to meet him a few days later. All of my professors seemed so surprised that we were his family. I think he is still very active teaching Islam throughout Indonesia. I think he wants us to come to his house later when he has time. He was very happy to see Teti and told me to call him uncle.
My teacher of Indonesian has already asked me to make a recording for him in my normal voice, in English for his students of English to listen too. The last time we met he said that he was going to schedule me to meet some 100 teachers of English to later do the same for them. He also said they would pay me for the service but I reminded him I could not work in Indonesia due immigration rules. I told him I would be more than glad to do it for free, but if they were to offer me a gift at some later point I would not turn it away due to my financial situation.
MORE...
Some one stole mine and Tiaras sandals from the porch. I think it was family because they know I had just bought a new pair. But the joke is on them because even though my sandals were only a week old they had developed a split in one of the rubber bottoms. The manager of the Massid, "DKM" stopped Teti from reading the Quran every morning in the Massid by locking up the microphone. That was after a short but loud squabble. When she reads the Quran most people can feeling something and if they have been doing wrong it will talk to their hearts. She says that her grandfather left all of the rice fields that or now owned by the DKM to support the Massid. But the DKM does not work as far as I know nor his sons. They use the profits from the rice for their income, as far as I know and understand.
My business at the right, http://t456.com/collectibles is bringing in $20 or $30 a week more or less. I have been working on updating the shopping cart, which should make it easier and comfortable for shopping. I am also adding a few cosmetic changes and verifying with my supplier of in stock and discontinued items. Speaking of cosmetic changes I had a lady contact me a few days ago by e-mail about selling Mary Kay products on our site. I hope I can do that at a reasonable price for my customers and still make a little profit.
I am sitting in the Gazebo right now amidst banana trees, which grow wild here writing this. It is 4am so I must start getting ready for morning worship. I will try and be more up to date but do not forget to write me if you are reading this.

Saturday, May 10, 2003
Salat at 4:30am. I let out the chickens and took the birds out to their stand in the trees. All day I worked on the web site. I took a break now and then but did not quit until time for bed. I have cleaned up the Animal figurines section and more than half of the Home Decor section.
Friday, May 09, 2003
Salat at 4:30am. Took out the birds to the trees and let out the chickens and geese. I then put together what I needed for the Internet. I wanted to go early so I could be back in the village for Salat Jumat at 12pm. I took three different Ancotts to get to Bandung at the Internet service I use. I logged into my e-mail and was surprised to find I had 4 sales. Thanks to God. I checked all of my e-mails and deleted some 300 junk mails and answered maybe 4 real e-mails. I am sorry if I have to make things short sometimes but I stay pretty busy for a man without a job. I then took an ancott to the fish store and bought 20 bags of baby fish to feed the big ones with. This cost me 8,000rp. I then took the ancott to the motorcycle taxi stand. I hired a motorcycle taxi to take me back to the village for 25,000rp. I helped Teti a little then went for Prayer. I finished out the day with prayer times and working on an upgrade for http://t456.com/collectibles. I want the shopping cart to be a little more user friendly.
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Salat Subu 4:30am. Started to go to the Internet but Teti needed help around the house. I helped her some and then went to the local market and bought some soap, bug spray... Nothing much the rest of the day. Went to the Massid for times for Salat and just sat around a lot. I upgraded the web site index page at http://t456.com/collectibles to try and make a better shopping cart interface.
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Salat Subu 4:30am. I set up the pump in the well for Teti and took all of the clothes and dishes out to the well for her to wash later. I then cooked some eggs and toast for everyone. I helped let out the chickens and birds. I gave Tiara a bath. I then played blocks with Tiara for a little while. It is better than chasing her around the neighborhood. She gets bored all the time and goes everywhere. I guess it is OK except when she gets near the busy street in front to the village. There are many motorcycles, and big buses passing there. They do not go very fast because the road is only rocks and dirt with a lot of holes, but I still worry. Tiara never looks for any danger. Here in the village the paths between the houses are only big enough for motorcycles and a bechac. Immigration just called said my visa is ready so I can stay in Indonesia another month. We have to renew it every month. I can only do that 4 times before I have to leave the country. I hope that when I go in another month to Singapore that they will be give an education visa so I can stay for one year at a time.
I went in a bechac with Tiara to one of the small stores here and bought some vegetables. Three packs of kankung "greens", 3 tomatoes, 1/2 kilo of fresh beans, small bag of mushrooms, some long green beans, and a pack of potato chips for Tiara. All of this cost me 9,000rp, about 90 cents US.
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
Salat Subu 4:30am. After that I worked on the web site some. Did some writing and then went to the Internet in Bandung. I had one sale but the item was out of stock so I had to refund the purchase. I took a motorbike ride back to the village for 20,000rp. After Salat Duhur I rested for a little time then helped Teti with some cleaning. After Salat Asar I studied Arabic for a while. Teti bought 3 sheep. We still do not have anywhere to keep them so the man we bought them from is keeping them for us now. I did some work around the house and put up the chickens. After Salat Magrib some family stopped by just talking. I cooked some dinner. After Salat Isa I went to bed.
Monday, May 05, 2003
Salat Subu 4:30 am. I studied Arabic for some time then ate breakfast around 11am the University IAIN called and said they wanted to meet with me. I went there by Ancott and discussed what type of classes I would take and scheduled the first class for Monday the next week. I then went back to the village. I did Wudu and went to the Massid for Duhur. I thought being late I would be praying alone but there was one man there whom just began also. After that I went with Teti to look at a chicken coop. It was so huge from front to back and the door so small that you would never catch the chickens once you put them in. She also wanted to look at a small shelter for some sheep. That is when she told me one man was bringing some sheep for her to look at buying. She also talked with another man about buying some land near to the Massid. They had already started clearing out some of the plant growth so we could look at it better. It is a nice piece of land right behind the cemetery. I guess if we buy it they will not have to take us very far when we die. Completed Salat Asar and rested some. Then I set up a pump in the well again for Teti to do some washing around the house. After Magrib she got busy with teaching some young men about reading the Quran and so I did the washing and watering the flowers. I also cooked some rice. After Salat Isa we ate and I put everything away.
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Salat Subu 4:30 am. Put my fence back up that someone tore down during the night. Then I just sat around most of the morning. Tried to start some studies in Arabic using the Rosetta Stone CD but it got too noisy. Cleaning the house and sitting around until time for Prayer Duhur 12pm. I then decided I wanted to put together this pump we had bought since the one in the public wash area had died. I first tried to use some flexible hose but it kept collapsing from the suction pressure. After Salat Asar 3pm I went and bought some PVC and connections. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to get the pump to work using this. Finally one of the young men in the village started helping me and he got it working. Teti then used this water to wash clothes, dishes, and the entire area around the house, and watered her flowers. At 6pm I went to the Massid for Salat Magrib. I then went in the dark and bought some bottled tea at one of the small country stores and some cigarettes for Teti. Tea costs 1,000 rp and cigarettes are 5,000 rp. 1 rp is about 10 cents in US. I then prayed before going to sleep for Salat Isa.
Saturday, May 03, 2003
Salat Subu 4:30 am. I then went to the Internet around 6am. Chicken is still alive this morning. After answering e-mails and making a shipment to my one buying customer I went to Suzy's house. There I met with Idik, another friend and regular taxi driver for Suzy and Yuli. We went and bout some Pampers and other daily supplies that are not available in the village. We left from there and went to the local fish for aquarium market place. This was just a bunch of stands along the side of a street. I bought some empung - baby fish for the bigger ones to eat. I then went to Hero a shopping market and bought a tape for Teti to teach a couple of Beo birds she has to talk. I also bought a CD about Islam and one movie for Tiara called Cats and Dogs. We then went back to the village on the way I prayed for Duhur Prayer time. Just before the village I stopped and bought some chicken wire, about 100 feet for 125,000 rp. Chicken died and is in the freezer. Teti had been working outside all day so I started cleaning in the house. 3 PM Salat Asar. Put a makeshift fence around the area where Teti has her chickens. 6 pm Salat Magrib. After that I cooked some food and rested until time for bed. I Prayed for Salat Isa and went to sleep.

Friday, May 02, 2003
We again rented the motorcycles and went out visiting ancient memorials and religious places. Around 3pm we started back to our home near Bandung. We arrived just in time to find that one of our chickens was sick. One man was about to chop off its head so he could eat it before it died. Teti took the chicken and is presently feeding it and trying to nourish it back to health.
My foot is much better.
Thursday, May 01,2003
We rented a couple of motorcycle drivers for the day and went to visit some the local religious leaders. I learned a lot of what is happening here in Indonesia. So many people proclaim that they are Muslim but never study. This has allowed a business to develop where these religious leaders sell pieces of paper usually enclosed in plastic with Arabic scripture on them. They tell the people that this will help them. They do not even explain the meanings of the words as most of these religious leaders cannot even speak Arabic and have no idea of the meanings of the words themselves. We spent the entire day doing this. I met only one man that seemed to have a good heart and did not offer us these bits of paper.