june 2008 trip

THIS WRITE UP WAS WRITTEN BY SIS LAY KEAN for her trip from June 14th to June 20th 2008

All of the pictures were taken by bro Christopher Sng. It was supposed to be published earlier but I was just able to get this article today.

Kupang – It is a city in Timor Island which is the capital city for the Nusa Tenggara Province . Majority consists of Catholics and Protestants. Churches and seminaries were found all over poor villages. Some churches are made with wooden planks and zinc roofs, and some brick ones are unfinished due to lack of funds. A typical village hut is made of thatched straw roofs, walls of dried palm stems placed vertically & closely, and floors of hard dry soil. The poor grows papaya, banana and tapioca in semi-dry land.

Day 1 (14^th June) – Arrived in Kupang after 11pm. Was met by Budi’s father-in-law (we call him “Opa” meaning grandfather). Opa is a strong old man of 78 yrs of age, with vast knowledge on the Indonesian history. He also spoke fluent English. Opa took us for a midnight meal at a warung (shop) and we had some fried chicken and 2 BBQ garoupas with rice. Meal costs about S$15 for 5 people. We were then taken to their ‘home-stay’, which consists of 25 individual motel-like rooms, and a separate building which serves as common area. This home-stay premise is located about 400m from the orphanage grounds. We had three workers who were building there, who also acted as our protectors. They were most polite and friendly, so much so that we tipped them on the last day.

Opa Cornelis lakusa

BBQ Garoupa and sate , hmmmm yummy

Day 2 – Opa came with Pak Lief (their close friend and the care taker of the orphanage if Peggy and Budi are away) to take us for lunch. Then we sightseeing around town. The town is not very big, and not very modern.

The orphanage is well equipped and developed. They have a large garden with crops, a library, a little grocer shop, a computer building, a dorm for the older boys (where our donated children clothes are stored), workers’ quarters, and the main house.

the orphanage's gate in June

the way they preserve their corn from insects is to place it hanging in the kitchen

We met the LOVELY children. The young ones (nursery age) were all lying in a room when we peeped in. They got up and looked at us shyly. As I could speak Bahasa Malaysia, I managed to urge them to talk to me. Within minutes they were crowding around us, touching our hands, and smiling non-stop. They are ok once they got pass the awkwardness. None of them shouted, fought or anything. They are VERY CUTE, even though some of them may not have magazine cover page ‘child-model’ looks. If one looks pass their skin colour and background, one will find these creations of God simply beautiful. Their demeanor and behavior made them ABSOLUTELY LOVABLE.

They were co-operative and obedient with adults, friendly and totally caring towards the infants. We witnessed the pre-schooled old girls running to soothe the 2-yr olds whenever they cry. The babies were picked up and pacified immediately with cuddles, gentle strokes and kind words. It amazes me as these older girls are barely strong enough to carry the toddlers, yet they struggle with the weight so that the young ones don’t continue crying. When a toddler had mucus running down his nose, an older girl will pinch the mucus off for him without an adult prompting. I’m afraid I have never seen this in Singapore!!!

The children are very obedient. One word from Opa or an adult, and they act accordingly. We saw 16 little kids under 7 yrs of age and four girls in their teens. I understand that there are a few teenage boys around too.

In the afternoon, we went back to nap in the home-stay. They came to pick us up from dinner at 8pm.

tender loving care being practiced

most of the time the eggs is always eaten last

Day 3 – We waited for our host in the morning, and decided to take a walk over to the orphanage as we want to see the kids again. A group of kids (nursery age) were singing Christian songs very loudly in a room. When they saw us, they took to us immediately. The little girls came for cuddles and sat on our laps. All we received from them were genuine smiles, love and more love.

Near noon, we went bush-walking with Opa The neighborhood around the orphanage consists of many straw huts and some simple constructed brick cottages. Many are poor, but none of them as poverty-stricken as the East Timorese refugees that we saw on Day 4!! The neighborhood roads were dusty and rocky. But we soon forgot about that as our eyes were constantly bewildered by the sights we saw. We saw how people live despite having very basic material items in their houses. We saw smiles and heard greetings from the residents as we walked by and clicked our cameras as we gawked like tourists. The constant “Selamat siang” greeting (good morning) made us feel so welcomed and safe. Village kids finishing school and walking back, smiled and followed us for a short distance. When I clicked my camera at them, they giggled. When we stopped at a small ‘grocer’ stall, he brought out plastic chairs for us to sit.

Day 4 – Budi’s wife Peggy returned from Jakarta after sending her son off at the airport (for him to return to Singapore for school). Near noon we set off in the orphanage's bus for a day trip

This is where we stopped and to pick up various essential items:

1. Mixed rice stall - to pack lunch for everyone, and some BBQ fish.
2. Grocer in another village – for packets of coffee and herbs (to use for our padi field picnic)
3. Roadside – for oranges and purple sweet potatoes.
4. Roadside – bought sea-salt packed in long palm-leaf weaved basket (like a wine bottle holder!)
5. Roadside – for fried dough made with palm sugar. Tasted absolutely delicious, said everyone!!
6. Palm tree plantation – we get to taste freshly harvested palm juice from a palm-leaf basket, and to buy cooked palm sugar (tasted much like English toffee, but look like gula melaka). They were selling 6 flat, round pieces for 15-cents. Bought 30 myself. Can be used for cooking, baking or as sweets!
7. Roadside – bought freshly-caught fishes and mud crabs. They were hanging from the stall, and were tied-up like ‘bak-chang’. Haha!!

EAST TIMORESE REFUGEES’ HOME – I am told that this family used to own a large house in Dili, East Timor. When war broke out, they ran with the only clothes on their back. Since 2000, they have been living from hand-to-mouth. I saw practically nothing of value (to our eyes) in their hut, and the most precious items they have are probably their violin and guitar. The little boy of about 2 yrs old, played with a push-toy which is made from a piece of long stick, a plastic mineral water bottle with 2 wooden wheels! The adult sons played us 3 songs with their musical instruments. They played and sang beautifully… felt so so sad when I listened to their sweet and

1. melodious tunes. At one stage, our driver started dancing and invited chuckles from everyone. I taped the songs, but the file is too big to post on the forum.
2. Stopped at Peggy’s padi field for a picnic. They brought out quilts and chairs to sit on. The workers started a fire to fry the fish and other food. I saw kangkong flowers for the 1^st time as one plot has been planted with kangkong. Saw 2 workers ploughing the fields to prepare it for next planting. Saw fresh water sprouting out of a pipe non-stop from the ground. Unlike many parts of Timor which have extreme dry land, Budi & Peggy are lucky to buy this piece of land which has underground source of water.
3. At 5pm, it started to get dark. We drove in semi-darkness in an isolated road in the country side until we reached a far town. The roads were so bad that our bus was rocking side-to-side like a boat in the storm! The village is where my former maid lives. Her hut is the typical house made from palm stems and straws. They are building a brick house, but has stopped due to lack of funds. There was a hen behind my chair in the ‘living room’ with 11 chicks underneath her. Ha ha. As we were leaving, I gave her mother some money.

buying the fresh mud crab

a visit at the ex East Timor refugee home , a leaning hut and an unpaved floor

playing the most valuable property that they have

My hubby Chris and me

buying the local oranges at OeSau market

palm sugar which just freshly made

the best toy that the village children have

at the farm

Day 5 – At 6.30am, we went to the beach-side market to buy fish. Bought three 2-kg tuna fishes for $4.50 each... and is deemed expensive because in Jan-Feb months, they are about $1.50 each!! Very fresh too because saw the blood drained out as red as human blood. Peggy cooked curried crabs and fish for our lunch. Then we went back to our home-stay for rest.

About 3.30pm, we got restless at our home-stay and walked over to the orphanage. Peggy has just gotten back from buying water with the water truck (the truck was purchased last year, with the money from fellow donors in Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries). Peggy was supervising the watering of plants. At 5pm, we went to the beach for a walk. Peggy went to buy dinner and 2 large BBQ tuna fishes and had wanted to eat at the beach ( they brought lights) but we did not know that and we thought that we were going to eat in the pitch darkness ! so we said no ha ha ha

at the fish market

fresh fish right from the boat

6th day we were taking the flight home and left for the airport at 5 am

some of the children detail

sis lay Kean , sis Wendy and Peggy

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

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