2009 IS THE YEAR FULL OF GOD'S BLESSINGS

First of all my family and I are so happy and blessed as I got my job back. Yes my contract with Singapore Airlines was extended for another 3 years . Praise The Lord indeed.  It was extended just  before I am doing my very last flight . It was so unexpected and it was a solid prove that The Lord will arranged things according to His timing somehow it is right on time. Who would have thought about it that the contract was extended at the very last day where all of my house has been packed and a mover is ready to shift things back to Indonesia. With the job for another 3 years means we can go on with our orphanage's projects and we must prepare well for the next 3 years . We have to make our orphanage to be self sufficient as soon as possible so that even though I am loosing the job ( just in case in th enext 3 years) we can still run the orphanage based on our own strength ( the strength from The Lord).

To add up God's blessings we are being chosen to be one of the top ten of The CNN Heroes program. Anderson Cooper and his team found us and he thinks that we are doing something for others . It was through Grace Ong's nomination CNN came to know about our activities. Praise The Lord for all of the connection that The Lord has made.  If we are looking that our work place is a slump area, very backwards and dirty and dark villages how can it be possible we are being nominated for such a program with CNN. Indeed God has made them all possible through the correct friends and channels.   Being one of the top ten CNN Heroes we are awarded some 25 000 USD ( minus USA Tax). This will be a very substantial back up for us to conduct our activities.

Thinking about our working place which is in the village area and away from the city it is rather miracle for us to be brought to the Kodak Theater. We can only be thankful to the whole thing.

With CNN Heroes program we are blessed with so many new wonderful friends. Some are becoming so close to us even though we have been friends only for the last 3 months. Indeed we are so blessed. Some will be visiting our orphanage as early as this Dec 23rd like Marissa Maren , a banker and a professional ballroom dancer from New York. She is coming to be celebrating this up coming Christmas with the orphanage children.  We are so thankful that some more people are willing to come and sharing their precious time just to be with us at the orphanage.

Because of CNN Heroes program we are getting the chance to meet up with our friend Jorge ,The Angel from Queens , New York. He is a real angel where people will not be turned away hungry at night. Simple hot food was handed  to those homeless people under the railway track of 73rd street and Roosevelt avenue in Queens. I was having the privilege to assist him on Dec 5th . It was a cold night and it will be a real suffer for those who are not having a place to stay and food to eat. Our friend Jorge Munoz was able to provide food to all of the people who were coming to him. Praise The Lord for connecting me with such wonderful people like Jorge. We are so blessed that we are on the side of giving away rather than being given away the food .   At this occasion we were joined by our dear bro Andy Naibaho , our other bro Welem and his dear wife Nina Adrians and a great Manhattan couple Katie and Steve the rock and roll singer for the kids.   It was a beautiful night where we can be together witnessing and assisting Jorge giving away food for the homeless.

helping Jorge distributing food for the homeless in Queens , New York

Katie  Steve and Nina Adrians sharing the vegetables

bro Andy Naibaho making coffee for the people

From this New York flight I went straight to the orphanage for 1,5 days as Singapore Channel News Asia was already waiting for us at Kupang.  Channel News Asia was having me some tme back when I was doing an effort to help out the earth quake victims at Jogja. Now they are coming to the orphanage . It is a privilege to have them with us at the orphanage. A team of three led by My Zainudin  Afandi , Png choo  Pee and Mohamad Radzi Basyunan were with us.

Peggy being interviewed

Gerson Mangi being interviewed . Gerson by January will be on his 4th semester for his medical school

This time of the year is the rainy season for Timor Island and its vicinity. While we were there the rain was on and off intensely. If the rain is falling for few hours continuously flash flood can happen. It is rather ironic that the dry season is too long and when the rain comes the soil is not able to hold the water too much. This is because the soil is mostly consist of thin layer of good soil and the rest are coral.  One thing that is making us happy is the fact that we still some mangoes hanging on its trees. The Jackfruit is not having any more fruits after August but the breadfruit is starting toi have good fruits.

some mangoes are still hanging for us

Seeing the children growing it is making us happy especially if they are able to do their best in school. It is their efforts that is more important rather than the end result. It is ok if the children are not able to get a god grade but  we are making sure that they are doing  their best already. Children may not be all good on their academical skills but may be they are good with heir vocational skills. Our efforts has been supported by my father in law's effort upon teaching them so many things. Cornelis Lakusa ( my father in law) is so good with math, science , physics and he speaks perfect English and Dutch as well as German. Without him we will have to work harder ha ha ha . He is only 79 years young ha ha ha .

Our newest baby , Christian Joel Pascalis Funuk has been progressing well. He is almost done with the initial vaccination and other check ups in Jakarta. While Martina is faithfully with him and trying her best to give her love to the new comer baby. Indeed for all these years the children have been showing such a good togetherness being performed by all of them. Seeing them progressing has been a real rewarding matters to Peggy and myself.

19 months old Martina has been eating on her own

trying to entertain her new "orphanage's sibling"

Mr Cornelis Lakusa teaching he older children

To add up God's blessings we are happy to share with you that a Swedish cosmetic company in Indonesia has chosen us to be their partner upon helping the children education in Nusa Tenggara Province and especially in Kupang. We will try to start the program right after the rainy season ended in March. We share the same vision about how to help out people out of poverty through enhancement on their education.

Symbolic partnership of Oriflame Roslin Orphanage and Yayasan Tunas Cendekia

Dik Doang, Yudhistira Juwono,Peggy Budi and president of Oriflame for Indonesia