It was supposed to be an evening where we are trying to teach the children about sanitation and self discipline but it turned out that we were the one getting the lesson and new meaning of the word togetherness is our strength. The lesson was coming from the little children and their day today activities.

Peggy was trying to find out who is really doing things for the little ones and we were hoping the adult that we assigned her and him to do such as changing the clothes if the little get wet or having a poe  in their room.  In fact we have prepared for some gifts for these adult for doing a great job on looking after the little ones.  On that evening we found out that the children are actually hand in hand doing things for them self.  One will change the under wear , pants or skirts  while others cleaning the floor from the dirt and one is wiping the floor.  One boy who was supposed to be the one who is so passive and less talk ( Elis ) is the one who will wash the dirty and wet pants most frequently and hang it properly. Peggy was speechless to find out that the children are doing things among them self more and more and hand in hand to maintain their room to be clean.  Indeed the word ” togetherness is our strength ” has been well reflected by the little ones . They way they are doing it is without having to think it is dirty or who should do it. This is really a big gift for us the adult and the care taker of the orphanage.

To add the joy that we are having , we are also finding out that they have the sense of love to others especially in the absence of the adult on taking care of them. Amazingly the so called the older ones will automatically assumed the role as the one who should do it for the little ones ( the older ones are 7 years and under).

Indeed it is a blessing to know that the young can really set up a good working environment and coordinating among them self. I am more sure that our efforts to nourish them will be having a great harvest at the end. Praise The Lord.

This is also meeting out objective since we are started the orphanage. We were more into taking care the babies rather than the older one as the little one will be less exposure from bad influences and easier teach them values ( as if it will be easier to paint on a clean canvas) . It was not easy to look after them since they were babies but the hard part will be less and less difficult in the future.  Many bad cases with teaching the older ones as they have been living in a condition where living is based on survival. In any occasions to lie and cheat are just too automatically coming out without the sense of guilt.

well it is the new year now , we shall do better and with a new spirit and full steam ahead for the every thing that are in front of our ways. Happy New Year to All.

Peggy and Budi

This trip is a special trip for me . Really a great trip because from Jakarta I was escorted by our special friend who was acting as the pilot in command . Captain Sastra made a special request to be able to fly me from Jakarta to Timor. It was coincidence that he was trained to be a pilot at the very same flying school as my self ( at Australian Flying Training School in Sydney), except that the timing was different. Captain Sastra is a regular visitor to the orphanage since some 3 years ago. If he is having a flight to Timor he will always come to the orphanage not only by him self but also bringing the whole set of his crew as well ( co pilot and stewardesses). The orphans are really close to him and to his crew every time he is visiting the orphanage. We were arriving at 20:30 pm with the comfort of great weather all the way from Jakarta to Timor and great service by the cabin crew from the start to finished. We felt that the flight was so short because we were so happy all the way . Thank you to The Lord for such a great trip that we made on that day.

the new class room and the front half of the new room

We can only do our best and planning the best we could but the out come can be better or can be short from the target. We can teach the children the best we could but again the child’s development can be varies. So much has been planned for us to use up our time efficiently but apparently we can not decline short comings. So many things has been planned for the trip but we can only fulfilled some of them. The good thing has been a constant progress being made no matter how small . The two new buildings is only waiting for the floor ( tiles) installment , painting jobs and some electrical wires. The main work of the building has been done and so far great working quality has been accomplished. My plan to conduct lessons to the children wasn’t able to be perform but we know that the day for us to use the new class room building is getting closer and closer. The new room for the children is also getting closer to be used and closer to be able to give more comfort to the orphans. The reason for the slower progress on building progress was lagging on the work force. The workers must leave the orphanage and going home for flipping their farm’s soil. That is to prepare their planting day upon the arrival of the rain. Rumor has been spread that the rainy season will be coming earlier as a result of global warming. Based on their knowledge and the incidental rain just 2 weeks before I arrived in Timor , there was a heavy rain ( really heavy). The rain was caused by unusual tropical depression which was drifting towards Timor during that day. People are more convince with the rumor of earlier rainy season. 3 of our main workers were taking turns to go home and flipping their farm’s soil ( locally they call it as ” Tofa” ) . With having less workers we can not perform the intended speed that we have planned to perform. Until now the rain hasn’t come and no one knows when will it be. The worker’s going home and doing their land flipping may partly be blame on me . I was one time talking to my friends about the amount of ice cap in the North Polar reagent which largely reduced all these years. I was even showing some photos which I took around the North Pole area to my friends and to the workers as well . My story ( experience) may be even convincing the global warming issue to the workers ha ha ha.

For the library which I was planning to officially opened must be delayed again till things are really ready. Again we do not have enough work force to man the library just yet. The two orphans which are in the university have been sent out by us and to let them stay closer to their university , so that they can perform better on their studies. After all our intention has been how to help the orphans to succeed on their study. we are hoping that Immanuel ( the one who is studying electro engineering ) can complete his university soon. At the moment the library is only needing 2 persons to run it. We are hoping that soon will be able to find 2 persons who are capable to help us running the orphanage’s library. We are currently very low on our work force as most of the orphans are children under 6 years old. The older orphans must help the orphanage on looking after the garden, watering the trees and our nursery plants, getting food for our cows and other animals, to run the shop etc . The shop is meant to help them to be trained on doing some entrepreneurship even though the profit is very small . With the entrepreneurship’s skill we are hoping that the children will be able to face the out side world better and more knowledgeable. In few years time will be able to ask the smaller children to help us on watering the garden( the plants) and some simple cleaning. Now children like Michael ( 6 years old ) already helping us on cleaning the room , leading the smaller orphans to sing, play and learning so many things through some games that we taught them.

Another thing which making us so happy was seeing the children’s togetherness and willingness to share their moments and knowledges. I was so happy to see July sharing ( teaching ) Pretty how to read and explaining their school matters. Such a joy to see them able to blend well and having the sense of belonging to each other. I am hoping that they can stay that way and able to help each other till they are in their adulthood.

Currently the whole Timor Island is so dry and nothing much can be planted and grow , except for some places which are having a water source or capable to buy water for their plants. It is not easy to live without having access of clean water source . Living without a proper sanitation has been the main problem for this reagent. The child mortality has been at its peak during the months of August to November every year. In many places famine is quite a routine thing, dying children from hunger are side by side with those who died from Malaria, TB , diarrhea or simply lagging from being clean. With our best ability we are making sure that the children are having a good and reasonable balance meals, enough nutrition and vitamins. Thankyou to Mrs nanik and Mrs Jeanne Pattikawa who were sending some vitamins to the children. The additional vitamins has been a big plus to the children’s development. We are making sure that every children are enough veggies and at least an egg per day. Followed by a glass of milk for every meals . It has been great to see them wearing the milk mustache right after drinking their milk

preparing the lunch and serving it to them

cookies and a glass of milk after every meals