06 "If you’re helping someone and expecting something in return, you’re doing business, not kindness."

Vicus and I have just come back from a night drive on the scooter. It’s become somewhat of a tradition to hop on the scooter after dinner because the town becomes alive at night, and it’s a great way to cool down.

Teaching Pilates classes in the morning at Beocean has been amazing. It's really cool to have the ocean in the background. The biggest “challenge” I face is competing with the waves, as I have to speak up so the guests can hear my cues over the crashing waves.

Tomorrow, Vicus and I will drive to Liwa and visit our friends at the Pentecostal church. I met them for the first time in December, and we joined them during their family Christmas service. The way they received us was so special and made us feel like family.

They have gone through some challenges, with mudslides damaging their home and personal challenges with family members passing away and getting seriously ill.

When we spoke to them yesterday to confirm our visit, Riama, the pastor's wife, mentioned they had arranged to be back in Liwa to meet us. They had been in Jakarta for over a week, looking after family members in the hospital. She said this almost matter-of-factly, and it made me think: if this happened to me, how would I have handled it? Would I have gone to all that trouble to drive back 6 hours to meet a couple I’ve spent some time with once or twice while going through a personal crisis and have to be there for my family?

I’ll leave you with another quote you can reflect on and ask yourself which category you fall into: “If you’re helping someone and expecting something in return, you’re doing

business, not kindness.”

May we all strive to show each other more love, kindness, and grace just because we can and for no other reason.