IT HAS BEEN A LONG TRIP

Submitted by CaptainB on Tue, 2008-07-01 18:40

june 2008 trip

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