Abe's First Easter

Christ is RISEN. He is risen indeed!

You don't usually associate Easter with sand and sunshine, but I do, after watching the sun rise above the water on the bare beaches of Aceh three years ago. We were a foursome (Janet, a colleague, and Dave and Deb, an American doctor and his nurse wife), gathering in a huddle on that gusty Easter morning to read the story of Christ's death and resurrection. We had come to help a medical team visit cut-off villages and camps, offering basic medical care and a listening ear. We didn't exactly feel jubilant that morning. Janet wasn't feeling well and the rest of us were exhausted. We had no Easter dresses to don... just bare toes touching the sand. Death seemed so much more real than life that morning. Maybe it wasn't that far away from what the disciples must have felt. Dejected, alone, their hopes for Jesus dashed, afraid for their lives, ashamed for denying him. Imagine the shock they must have felt when they saw the empty tomb, and met Him again, face to face. Life IS so much more powerful than death.
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Abe celebrated his first Easter in full. He woke up mommy extra specially early, so she was nice and awake when the sun rose, a stunning display of splendor from her window. We worshipped at St. George's, the Anglican fellowship (English service) we now attend. The visiting choir from Singapore sang one of my all time favorites, "Christ the Lord is risen today." Abe gave an extra smile on the "Alelujah" parts. The packed congregation enjoyed a lunch buffet on the church lawn afterwards. We got to know a new (to us) couple (Chinese), who begged to babysit Abe some time for us. We got their number. After a good nap and some afternoon reading, we headed to the beach with colleagues (from S. Africa), and a family from church (husband is Canadian, wife English). We found a new beach, which proved to be jellyfish free. Mark and I got a quick swim... our first foray into the ocean here (which is too polluted near our apartment to be able to enjoy). What a splendid day.

(Click the photo for weekend pics. Select slideshow view for captions).

Easter weekend