Roslin Orphanage Blog

It will be great if we can make our dreams into a reality.

It will be great if we can help others to make it happen for others .

It will be great …..

Here is an example of what to do while we still have the time .

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

This is the local musical instrument in Timor . It is called as SASANDO .

With this musical instrument we can sing any song and any tunes if you are good at it. We are planning to buy at least two of them and will ask the children to start learning how to play it. With this effort I am hoping that their local culture will be able to be preserved in the future.

Beside the musical instrument Timor is having so many different kind of cloth which are made differently both the designs and materials. It is a long time kind of work to make just one cloth. For example it can be done in 3 months or more just to make a piece of cloth. Different village means different designs , different region or different province means different design. So by looking at their locally made cloth or dress we can also understand from which part of this province a particular person is coming from. We are also planning to buy at least two wooden manually made cloth machines too for the same reason , that is to preserve their local culture’s values.

the beginning stage of a good mango harvest

We are so happy to see the mango trees are showing lots and lots of flower . We are doing our best to make sure that we are giving enough water for them so that the flower will be strong enough for not falling too easily when the strong wind blows. It will be a great blessings in the form of a good mango harvest some times in December and January.

Another blessing was given to me as my idea was recognized by SIA . It is a blessing for me as the certificate was given to me on July 17th by the head of the department. Blessing can be gotten if we are doing things with the spirit of volunteering . By being recognized by the company , I can feel my happiness each time I am working . It was the company’s action of implementing my ideas to the work that I am doing. I wish that I can participate more in the future.

receiving a certificate of recognition from SIA

On July 19th another blessing was received by Peggy . It was the recognition from The Rotary International for the work that is has been doing with the orphanage. Praise The Lord. It was a great evening because I was getting also a recognition for a voluntarism matter. Praise The Lord for a double Joy

Peggy receiving the award from The Rotary International HQ

Peggy’s certificate from Rotary International

District Government Chris handed the certificate from The Rotary Foundation

The next picture was taken when there was a package from madam Ade Gregory , from San Francisco . Each of the orphans were getting new San Francisco Tshirt. Also each of them were receiving a box of vitamin which is enough for them to consume it for a month. Praise The Lord for the multiple blessings.

new Tshirt and vitamins for the orphans

Blessing does not mean that we must get or receive some thing but to meet up with the people that we love is also a blessing on its own. For example , it is a blessing for us to have a visit from my father in law . He has been doing so much for the little orphans at the orphanage , now it is the turn for my own children to have him for a while in Singapore. He is coming for his regular check up here in Singapore. We know that the little orphans want him back as soon as possible but my children want their grandpa too. I hope that one day I will be wanted by my grand children too ha ha ha ha . It must be some thing else to be with our grand children .

Favorite Grandpa and his grand children sharing a quality time

I am also feeling so blessed every time I am in New York or Los Angeles . Yes it is far from home but God let me feels at home where ever I am . I have been given new friends , new brothers and sisters and good times. It is a blessing indeed if we can have good friends and people around us in another country. For my self to be able to be in the USA at least twice a month is a blessing indeed ( considering I was from a small city , in my home town in Indonesia.

some of my “family” while I am in New York

some of my new ” family” in Philadelphia

This morning I was blessed by having a new friend which I have never been seeing him in person, Mr Rahmadi live near my home in Jakarta. What happen was , I went to Jakarta yesterday and I am supposed to bring my daughter’s air ticket so that she can go back from Indonesia to Singapore. I was mistakenly bringing the ticket back to Singapore ( ha ha ha ). It is a blessing that my friend Mr Rahmadi is a neighbor to our home in Jakarta , so I just sent the soft copy of the ticket and after he printed it , he was actually deliver the ticket to our home ( even though I have told my helper to go to his house to pick it up). Praise The Lord that the blessings can be in the form of so many things. It is us to see it as a blessing but some time we are unable to see it that way. To Pak Rahmadi , terima kasih sekali atas bantuan nya.

There has been so many more of blessings which I can not write them all for now. Will keep you up dated later on.

Can you imagine that these children came to us as ” days old babies” ?

Yes they came to us as one , two or 3 days old babies and they can grow well with love.

It has been a blessing for us to have them under our care

will you be apart of their growth ? Come and share your time with us any time .

A new day means a new blessing , a new sun rise, a new sun rise and a new praise to The Lord. July 14th, It was a super day for us to see those ” days old babies” to be enrolled to their first day at school( primary school). Blessings has been given to us so that we can look after those infants from some 6 years ago. If last year we enrolled them into a kindergarten, now they are entering the primary school. If in the past they can only be fed , now they can do things for them self and going to their formal school education. we enrolled them into a Catholic school , a private school. It is known to be a better school rather than the other schools near by our orphanage. What we are hoping now is their ability to adopt their new school and able to learn the curriculum accordingly.

Elis Edu dan Ako when they were small

Lala when she was a baby

we were babies before so we can fit in together

Markus a boy who was abandoned when he was 1 day old

As you can see that they have grown , from infancy into their schooling age and so far so good that our care is according to our plans. Indeed a big change as we all can see now that they can prepare them self upon going to school without getting any help from the older orphans. It is the best for them to be self sufficient and independent since they are young. We wish that we will be able to stay healthy and capable to look after them better and seeing them reaching their adulthood too. May The Lord grant our wish.

prepare things by them self for their first day at school

No more kindergarten for us as we are baby no more

going to school by our pick up for the 9 orphans

” Kindergarten no more for us”, these were the actual words that Edu, Markus, Ako ,Lala , Chris and Elis were saying as they woke up in the morning of July 14th 2008. They were so excited to go to their new school. They have prepared things ( school bag, school book, shoes and clothes/uniform) before they went to bed and tried to sleep early so that they will not be late going for their first day at school. The school is giving them a new look as they were wearing their new uniform.

Not only for those 6 children but also a special day for Lody, Michael, Prity and July. For these 4 children we moved them from the government school into this private catholic school. The reason is for a better education quality and to prevent them being walking in the mud during the rainy season. With all of them attending at the same primary school , we can take them to school with our pick up and to pick them us after school at the same time. Lody is joining primary 6, Pritty, Micahel into primary 2 while July into primary 3.

A good news was given to us by God. One day before I left Singapore for New York , my former senior pilot called me . We were having a casual chat and at the end he was asking me about the orphanage’s progress. I told him that one of the orphan has graduated his high school and we intend to send him into medical school ( according to his will too). Gerson has been a good boy and obedient to us and also his grade is also acceptable for it. My senior pilot told me that If Gerson is accepted at a medical school , he is willing to finance his fee ( it will not be cheap but he is willing to do it). Praise The Lord. Now it is time to pray for it and it is time for Gerson to prepare him self for the tests. We have bought him many books about biology, physic, math etc. We are really hoping that he can get in. With God’s favor we can get it.

Good evening to All,

I just finished discussing with my wife Peggy on the phone.  An idea just pop out and we are incline to do it gradually. As we are having continues water which flowing at our farm , we are planning to shift the older orphans to live at the farm instead of at the current orphanage. We are planning to send them to the school near by the farm and still within walking distance . So much positive things can be done but there is a down side that the student will not be getting education as good as now . The current school are nearer the city and the teacher is better in term of their availability and their knowledge about teaching the subject. No more great library for them except books in our mobile library.

A simple but healthy shelter can be build but they will be some distance away from the orphanage . Control will be lagging but their initiative can be grown better .

We are planning to give them assignment for each of them with a plot of land individually so that they can do things according what they like and good at. If each of them is assigned some 2000 M2 , after school they can spend their time planting veggies or even doing fish farming. We will support them with their education needs but they can get extra funding from the land that we assigned to each one of them. The land is there and the water is available for it. An effort must be and can be shown.

Each of them can show us about what they can do individually and how they can divide their time wisely so that the schooling and the farming are good ( or the other way around ). It is possible that their needs can be funded by the assignment if they are really putting the efforts into it.

Peggy and I are still thinking about it .

Any idea ? please let us know .

This morning we are richer by one more child , it is a baby girl . She was born from a mother whom the father left when the baby was still some 4 months inside the mother ( Martha). She was promised that the man will marry her and will give her a full responsibility upon the child birth but actually the man has left Martha and gone no where to be found ( till now). Any way Martha was working at a shop in town area where the case was happening. God sent her to us through a friend whom we have known for some years. Any way it was borne as a healthy baby and we are planning to give her name as Roslin some thing ( but with a Roslin name attached in her name ) . The mother ( Martha) has been living at the orphanage since she was 4 months pregnant. Even though we have been sending Martha for a proper check up during her pregnancy , this morning we sis not have the time to go to the hospital and the baby was actually born with the help of a nurse who is living near the orphanage. Peggy was in the city area when she heard the news about the baby’s birth’s progress. She was rushing back to help out but the baby was born when she got home. Thank you to you All that this baby will not be having any problem with baby clothings. We are having lots of baby clothing as what we have collected from All of you ( friends).

Beside a baby blessing we are also blessed with all the mango trees which are showing lots and lots of flower and a great mango harvest can be expected in December. If you want some ripe mango please come in December , you may get it your self right from the tree. We do leave the mango on its tree until they are ripen. Will share with the picture to All when the mangoes are ripen ha ha ha .

It was so appropriate that this evening we were having madam Reena and her husband Dev came to our place and bringing a baby cote and a lot of baby clothing. It will be great for this newly born baby. We have been so lucky that every time we are having a new baby ( infant) we are almost getting another baby cote. Praise The Lord indeed.

madam Reena and hubby Dev

In few days time when Peggy is here , I will up load the newly born baby’s photo.

When people were talking about the global warming , we are frequently relating all the disaster that have been happening in the recent years. It is real or not people can not be sure unless if they are following the news development about it. For those who live in the city will be able to hear it from the media but for those villagers , they are the victims of the global warming without knowing that the earth has been on a constant degradation and getting worst by days.  I was flying back from New York ( Newark Airport) to Singapore via The North Pole . This time I was so sad to see that the solid ice caps has been gone .  My worries was started when I was passing though the latitude of 80 N. From there I was following the ice condition right through the exact North pole location. I was sad to see that there wasn’t any solid ice cap at 80 N, 81 N, 82 N , 83 N and even 85 N. My thoughts was imagining about those potential area which will be under the water as the sea water is keep on rising and rising. My thought was also for those area in the world which had been under the severe floods. Who is responsible for the world’s temperature to rise ? non other than the human being.

It is now that we have to start doing some thing before it is too late . If we can not do the huge tasks that belongs to the big countries ( reducing the green house effects) we can start it as an individual. Preserve the nature by using natural thing more and to refuse the use of plastic materials and burning less oil, gs and coal. It is up you how you manage it but we have to start doing it now.  Plant more trees and replace the destroyed forest. Encourage the government to prevent more from the deforestation to happen and do their part upon preserving the reserved area or park. Preserving the farm land and encourage the farmer to plant more new trees.

The rate of the change has been so fast . in 2004 when we are starting to fly over the North pole , the ice caps some how is a lot more that now ( at the same period of the year). More and more weather related calamities and disaster can be as the result of this global warming issue.  The main thing is for us to take part of preserving the earth in ways that within our reach. As a farmer may be we can do it by planting more trees at the side of the farm and our farm’s fences. Dividing water more to others so that more trees can be grown else where. As a city person may be we can use less car or even do not buy car if you can afford to use the public transports ( like me ha ha ha , I do not have any car in Singapore because the public transport is so easy ). Use less plastic bags , less tree cutting at the city sides, recycle the recycle items etc.

THE GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL

the most northern land mass before the north pole from New York

passing 80 N of earth latitude

passing 82 N of earth latitude

passing 83 N or earth latitude

at 85 N of the earth latitude , see the N pole at forward left in green color

passing 85 N latitude and still no solid ice caps

no more solid ice caps as we passed 85 N latitude

the closet existing human was miles away

80 miles from the North pole also no solid ice caps

at the North Pole still no solid ice caps

abeam the North pole at 33 000 feet

Global warming is real . There wasn’t any solid ice caps at the pole on July 7th 2008

The dry season is gripping the area now . No rain what soever and things are worse because of the windy condition. The only thing which is reducing the hardship is the cool temperature ( around 18 C in the morning to 28 C in the afternoon) as Kupang or Timor Island is currently under the influence of Australian winter . In the dry environment naturally we will be taking more liquid by drinking water for our body but because of the dryness and the cool temperature people are not able to drink enough and the cool temperature is making us forgetting to drink thus dehydration is prone to happen to many people. For this year we are so lucky as we are not having any problem at all with the water supply for us as well as for our near by neighbor. With the water truck that we are having , our needs in water can be fulfilled including the need for water for our plants . Praise The Lord. If in the past we were so effected by the dust , for this year onwards we are are to reduce it by watering the plants and including the leaf washing . We wash the leaf by spraying the trees from above (like rain) thus the dust will be cleared from the leafs. If the leafs are clean , it will be able to hold dust which is flying on the air. The leafs( trees) are able to act as our dust filter accordingly , Praise The Lord. Two things can be done with one action, one we got the leaf cleaned and the trees getting watered by the water which falling from the leaf washing.

washing the leaf as well as watering the trees

our water truck is doing its duty

With having enough water and having enough sun , we are made capable to look after our nursery plants better. We have been trying to teach the older orphans to have their chance to learn to cultivate and multiplied the plants ( and its flower) and to sell it after the flower has been good enough to be an item to sell. With this chance given to the orphans , they will be better with their survival skills. It is a good training from them and benefiting financially for the orphanage as well.

plants for sale

The main thing is not the money that we can get but the training process upon their survival skills. By letting them to participate upon looking after the plants , we can train them to be patient, to be self discipline upon making sure that the plants being watered every day and also teaching them about practicing having hope as a result of our actions. For us , just having to see the plants growing well and showing e new leaf will be a big bonus already. By doing it every day at the pace of what the nature is giving us , we can train them and my self to be diligent and doing step by step naturally . Not rushing or short cutting is possible as the nature taking us its pace naturally ( like what we are trying to grow the veggies without a chemical fertilizer). So far we are using our organic fertilizer factories( the cow dunks and made humus leafs) for fertilizing our plants. In that way we can get a healthier veggies and free from a chemical substances.

growing an organic plants without chemical fertilizer

Indeed no rain but we are having the blessing that our Jack fruit tree is having loads of fruits hanging on its tree trunk and branches. It is a matter of time that we will be getting a ripe Jack fruit on its trees and for us to enjoy it. Come in end of August or September 2 week , we shall be able to eat our Jack fruit right from its tree. Usually if one Jack fruit is starting to ripe , we will have the rest in about almost daily . Just walk close to the tree and we shall be able to smell the fragrant of the riping Jack Fruit.

Right to the ground level and plenty

plenty and hanging up there too

Our chicken are also multiplied and they chicken are eating things from the nature which available on and in the orphanage compound. Their diet can be Grasshopper, small insects and our crushed organic corn specially made for the little chicks. at this time we are seeing some Hens with 9 and 7 new chicks. Some other Hens are still in the process of hedging its eggs. Praise The Lord.

our chicken is being multiplied

The dry and cold wind is making the banana trees can not grow well in most part of the island , even at our place . Even though we are watering the banana trees , the leafs are still damaged because of the dryness and the wind. None of the leafs are in tact.

the damaged banana leafs

By having our water truck , even though the season is so dry we are able to maintain the growth of a particular tree such as the Turi trees( sesbania grandiflora syn Aeschynomene grandiflora). this tree is not only the roots is good to fertilize the soil but the leaf is also good for it. In Java and many parts of tropical countries, people are eating the flower as a cooked salad. So we are having the benefit of the soil being fertile and we can have the flower to be eaten as well. In the real life if we are stranded in the jungle or no where , we can eat this too as our survival effort.

the Turi tree ( sebasnia grandiflora ) and its flower

Not only the things are progressing but surely our orphans have been progressing as well. Those who came to the orphanage were ” days old” babies and now they are already big enough for their schooling year. Some were already at primary one and going to primary 2 . For the new term , we will be having another 5 or 6 children ( orphans) will be starting their primary one too. Many of them have received their school results ( rapport ) and all of them are going to the next level except one girl did not graduate from the secondary school. Not every children are the same , not every orphans is able to digest the lessons properly. These problems can happened to any children ( non orphan) . Running the orphanage is not only getting enough food fro them but the hardest part is actually to perform as their parents . It is easier if they came to us when they are small but for those who came to live with us is older than 12 years old , it will be more difficult to lead them. Those who came as a baby , we know exactly their stages in life but for those who has been living with such a hardship before , it will be more difficult to teach and to lead them. It is ok if the children failed in their exams but the main thing is that they have done their best. It is not right for us to expect them to be good if they were coming from such a remote places. We are having an orphan which came to us from some 300 km away where the education level is very low . This particular boy was not able to know any English word. For this case we are not just ask them to leave the orphanage but we have to nurture them from scratch. It was amazing that my father in law was able to make him understand and to pass the exams . This boy is not on secondary 3 already. My father in law ( Cornelis) has been giving his precious time on teaching the orphans on one to one basis for quite some times. We will not be having a good education at the orphanage without him. We really owe him for spending his time with us . He is only 78 years old young ha ha ha ( but you can still ask him about math, physics, chemistry and English. Beside fluently speaking English , he speaks Dutch , German and some French as well. I think that I will ask him to teach me more and more each day. He just arrived this evening in Singapore for his health check up . Because of him , the little orphans are able to sing many English songs , many of the children able to learn English well and the little one can have a sense of having sort of a family closeness when he is around. Praise The Lord for providing us such a fine gentlemen with us who is willing to assist us upon nurturing the little ones . It is not easy tasks to look after children since they are babies. They are so cute yet so fragile and needing your fullest attention and care until they can actually eat and going to the bath room on their own. We are lucky that those little babies are having so many children to be their example upon doing things by them self. If you may remember , our little Cornelis ( the orphan) was able to eat on his own when he was only 18 months. He was doing it based on seeing others eating on their own so he followed. The same thing for going to the bath room , they are learning by looking to what others are doing. Especially for the bath room matter , we are always keeping an eye and being with them( supervising) and making sure that they will not slip down because of the soap playing or pushing each other. When I was passing through Jakarta , I was able to buy some books specially published for baby’s needs. those books later on I found out that they were written by one of my close friend ( Dr Hindah Muaris). It was written about baby diets right from they are infants.

their last day at kindergarten

sharing a quality time with the little ones

our library can be a class room too

one to one teaching by Grandpa Cornelis

books by Dr Hindah Muaris for our orphanage needs

It is the cool season now in Kupang, for some area this is the season where the worst dry period for that area. I was told by Peggy that when she was buying some vitamins at the pharmacy , she over heard that there are so many people are infected by flu . It was said by one of a doctor who was also buying some medicines for his clinic. Most of the flu was said to be airborne bacteria and the dryness which is gripping the area. It is good if people can afford to buy vitamin C or Ester C so that their immunity is good but to most of the villagers , buying vitamin from a pharmacy has never been done. Firstly the pharmacy is unheard of by them , secondly they do not have the money and most of the case is the distance to the pharmacy just to far for them( to many people can be some 100 km away) . For this vitamin matter our mobile library is really a useful tool for us to share. As I have mentioned on my previous blog entry, we were bringing a lot of vitamin from Singapore for the people who we can reach at our regular places that we are visiting with the mobile library. The vitamin was from madam Adelina and her family. It was quite a lot so I was asking sis Lay Kean and bro Chris Sng to bring some portion of the vitamin. Actually God has provided us some Vitamin source too ( in the form of mandarin fruit) . For the people in SoE town and its surrounding , now is the mandarin season. Even though locally they have this vitamin source , sadly to most of them they just simply can not afford it. Hmmmmmmm

The locally available source of vitamin C

so much to do and so fun to do it

the seedling that will be planted in a week time

Fun fun fun is the word for me to do things at the farm. Since young Peggy and I are enjoying plans and flowers. Cleaning and planting at the garden or a farm is an easy and enjoyable thing to do. May be because of our common interest we were well bonded until now ha ha ha .

With our success on the first harvest I am confident that we shall not only capable of reaching the self sufficient stage but we can also produce some for helping others. It has been done that we were only taking 1/3 of the harvest and the 2/3 was given away to the people who are in need. For this preparation of planting the second batch of paddy, not we are only certain with the out come but the joy that we will be having upon the next harvest has been felt now. Praise The Lord that we are made to be capable to have the land which we bought it for cheap but God has made it to be so fertile and useful upon to do His work. It was cheap because for a long time people considered the land was not a good soil as there wasn’t any water source except the very short rain yearly.

Anyway we were working hand in hand with the orphanage members , young and old. Knowing that the harvest will be for our own benefit and others , all of us so eagerly working at the farm. In fact all of the orphans always competing to be included for the farm trip. When we are at the farm , we do not choose what to be done but we just do whats not being done. All of us can work with the tractor, with the parang ( big long knife) cleaning the farm and cutting grass for the cow or any thing at all.

For every meals that we were having it feels so good , even though not much of variety of its side dishes , we always happy for knowing that the food that we are consuming was our own harvest. We are eating our own corn , our own rice, our own Kang Kong and our own beans. May be it seemed to be too ordinary for you but if we are thinking about all of them are organic one may be you will have a different angle to think about it. Praise The Lord that the water that God has sent to us is not only free all year long but it is also like watering the farm with tons of mineral water. No pollution and free flowing all year long.

For the fun that we were having , we were staying at the farm for 2 days . Sleeping at the farm with proper tents and equipment was making us so close to the nature yet we are free from the mosquito and other insects. We were bringing two generators and some cooking equipments. It was so good. At night we were entertained by the melodious tune from one of the worker who plays violin, from the frogs and the crickets. By early morning the birds we were taking its turn to sing for us.

all of us are involved

simply just corn , beans, Kang Kong and some anchovies but all are organic ones

great to eat all organic food every day

our precious tents at the farm

sleeping nicely in the tent

Andre playing his violin for us

It has been a long trip for me. It was started with my trip to Los Angeles on June 14th to June 21st. I was there not only foe the flying duty but also for the Rotary International Convention which was help from June 14th to June 19th 2008. It was a great convention both in its programs and also the number of the participant which was more than 20 000 people. I learn a lot about the Polio eradication in the world is actually being executed by Rotary International by working together with UNICEF , CDC and WHO . From the efforts that has been done by Rotary International and the 3 major bodies , Polio has been eliminated 99% of it ( in 20 years) and the remaining 1% is being our main concern to be eliminated as soon as possible. The countries which are still being effected are Nigeria, India , Pakistan and Afghanistan. Another illness that I am really trying to learn more is Malaria. Our orphanage is located where Malaria is still effecting some people who are living distance away from the city side. We have been bringing Malaria pills when we are visiting the outskirt area. They have been a very good present from us to the villagers. In West Timor , the Malaria pills is not expensive like in Singapore because the demand is so high and the supply is a lot. In Singapore one pill can be about 2 SGD while in West Timor one pill can be about 5 Cent SGD or less. I wish that we can eliminate Malaria as well as Polio illness some day soon.

There are different theme for each year in Rotary International year , this year the theme is “Make dreams real”. Our emphasis for almost Rotary year has been providing clean water source for the people who are living with bad water or even no water area, literacy programs and sanitation matter. Indeed these 3 things are our goals too for the orphanage ( see the history of the orphanage from the earlier entries).

the current Rotary International logo

among Rotarian friends during the convention

Because of this convention , I am able to meet up with more friends who are having so many knowledge and experienced that we can learn from them . At the moment I am trying to work together with one of the Rotary Club friend from USA about giving away free treatment/ operation for lip clef operation. The main factor for lip’s clef is mostly because of lagging in Zink on their diet. I have identified two places so far within 150 km away from the orphanage at a city called SoE and another one is at Manggarai city ( another province in another island within 1 hour and 20 minutes flight time). I hope that we can make this service real as soon as possible.

One project that I am working on at the moment through Rotary International is providing a clean water supply for an orphanage in Sikumana , Kupang city also ( some 40 km away from orphanage). We are hoping that this project can be done in less than 2 months to its completion. This water drilling will not only providing water for this Sikumana orphanage but it will also providing water for a primary school and a secondary school which are next to the orphanage’s location. Some villagers who are the neighbor of this Sikumana orphanage will be benefiting also . Roughly this water will be in great used for some 600 people at that area.

taking picture at the location where we will drill the water

the current water storage at this Sikumana orphanage

some of the orphans that will be helped with clean water project

Anyway when I was arriving from Los Angeles on June 21st morning at 05 26 am , I was only having some 2 hours at home before heading back to the airport and going to our orphanage in West Timor ( via Jakarta). Singapore to Jakarta at the average is 1 hour and 20 minutes . In Jakarta I had the chance to go home to our Jakarta’s home for at least 4 hours before I head back to the airport again ( Praise The Lord ). It was great to be at home even just for a while. From Jakarta to Timor I took the flight which transiting at Surabaya. It was 1 hour and 5 minutes flight to Surabaya and from Surabaya to Kupang was 1 hour and 50 minutes. I am sure that you are agree with me that it was a long day indeed for me on that day. LUcky that when I arrived at Kupang the air was so clean / fresh and the temperature was about 18 C ( due to the Australian winter effect). The coolness made me feel great and eliminating my tiredness greatly, Praise The Lord.

On this trip I was bringing half of the vitamin that were donated by sis Adelina ( from Singapore motherhood forum member). The other half was brought by bro Chris Sng , sis Lay Kean and sis Wendy . We were given some 50 boxes of the precious items and substance that is needed badly by the growing children. The children so easily consuming the chew able vitamins especially the variety of its color just hard to be resist by the children. Thank you sis Adelina and family. The vitamin is not just for our orphanage children but for the other children out side the orphanage as well ( especially at villages that we are visiting). With having enough needed vitamin the children will be having a good resistance to so many kind illnesses ( good immunity).

a villager was given 3 boxes for his 2 children

multi vitamin from sis Amy Lee of SIA

Prior to my arrival to the orphanage , my son Christian and her mum ( Peggy) were having some quality yet busy time. Christian was so eagerly going once his school holiday was started and in fact we did not have the chance to ask him where he wanted to go for his holiday. If we do ask him , the answer will be going to the orphanage ( for the time being he doesn’t want to go else where). At the orphanage he has been helping while having his fun too. The beach will always one of the program that he will definitively going for. Things can be interesting as long as we are doing it with happiness and knowing that the purpose is good. It can be any thing like cutting grass for the cow, collecting the unused Kang Kong vegetable for the pigs

Christian and the older orphans at the beach

grass for the cow

cutting our own veggie for lunch

at our second artesian water source

fun and quality time