Looking Back At 2008

When I look back at 2008 I am amazed at the forward steps our work has made. I credit the awesome staff led by Peter and Esther Scarborough. They are the real heroes and have worked with integrity and compassion.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Building and dedication of new 21 bed patient ward.
• We now have 28 children in our care. These are orphaned and abandoned children.
• Three new vehicles were purchased giving us reliable transportation.
• The "Hohidiai" Clinic in Halmahera treated over 10,000 poor.
• The clinic is now wired with a LAN computer system.
  
• The second four-plex unit was built for the Tamariska (Leper Treatment Center).
  
• Self-sustaining programs are being developed--including the sale of coffee.
  
• Three children are being treated overseas--Yulce, Vino and Kasih.
  
• 22 short-term foreign teams came to assist our work.
• We have over 80 full-time staff at our base--about 30 are medical workers.
  
• Two of our staff are in medical school, five in nursing training, two are training for dentistry, two more as midwives and a pharmacist.
  

The most rewarding part of our work is knowing lives were saved and a mountains of compassion was given to the poorest of the poor. Our care is based on need--no one is turned away. These are only the highlights, there are so many individual miracles and breakthroughs. We just want to be a part of changing the future of this region by investing in the people.

Now we look ahead to 2009 with enthusiasm and hope.

Narrow Roads

The roads on the remote island near our base are narrow. Those of you who have been there and know what it feels like to pass an oncoming truck understand the sense of relief after both vehicles pass untouched. There is no shoulder and it is not uncommon to have a pile of sand or even road crews on the road without any warning--no signs or flagmen. The dogs are the worst--they just lay down in the road daring you to hit them. Pigs, chickens, goats, and dogs just run loose. If you hit one you will have to pay the owner an unrealistic amount of payment for the animal They calculate the value of the animal and the potential off spring that would have been born due to the loss of the animal. It can be costly to hit an animal.

On Christmas eve three of our staff were coming back to our base after transporting a terminally ill patient to Tobelo. They were coming around a corner near our base and a speeding vehicle came around the corner and the driver had to make a quick decision. He had a moment to decide to turn into the ditch and take his chances instead of a certain head on collision--he turned into the ditch. Our driver is very safe and thankfully he was going slow around that corner. All three of our staff were not injured in the crash but the one riding in the middle broke the windshield.

Peter Scarborough wrote, " Whilst the damage looks extensive the car doors still open and close OK and the wheels are seemingly in alignment. The front headlights are undamaged. We will need to purchase a new bonnet (hood), front quarter panels, grill, bumper assembly, windscreen and a new radiator. Praise God it can be fixed.

We can fix the little truck--we are very thankful our three awesome staff are fine other than some soreness.

Cars--Boats--Air Planes

It was the afternoon before our team was to leave the remote island of Halmahera. Our team was scheduled to leave on a flight in the morning. We were in town purchasing some of the last items before we were to leave. We were just getting ready to drive to our base some 20 miles away but we were flagged down by the ticket agent who had sold us the tickets a week earlier. She told us that our flight had been canceled. That meant we had to work quickly and find a way to get to our international flight that was to leave in three days. Three days seems like plenty of time--but not on these islands. We had few options--we had no time to spare.

There were no flights off the island we were on for days but we were able to get the last seats on a flight leaving on another island the next day at around 1 p.m. I knew what that meant but my team didn't. We were also asked to help three Australian young people to get to that flight. They were in the same dilemma we faced. We were in for a long day. We got a private car to take us to catch a boat. We left at 5 a.m. and sped down the road to our base where we picked up the Australian's and now had a two car caravan. It is an experience you will never forget as you drive down the jungle roads at a high rate of speed in the dark--dogs , pigs, chickens and goats all in the way. Finally, the sun came up but we just kept flying down the road. It was beautiful but hard to enjoy the sights when they are just flashing by the window.

We made it to Sofifi around 9:30 a.m. and negotiated for a speed boat. We had to cross open water to reach the island of Ternate where our flight would depart in a couple hours. It is better to cross in the morning as the waves are not as big. I look at the number of outboard motors on each boat. The vast majority have only two motors and the most I have seen is five. The more motors the bigger the boat. These are water taxis. We were able to find a three engine boat and got a good price. We loaded all our luggage on the boat and we were on our way. I joke that the extra motors are for parts. It is rare that all the motors work. I was surprised when all three of our motors never missed a beat. It was a beautiful clear day and the seas were calm. We made good time and only hit a couple waves that tossed the boat. One of our Australian friends got a little stressed but we were able to help her feel safe.

We landed and got two taxis and stopped at the airlines office to get our tickets. The ticket agent told us that we got the last seats on that flight. A nice lunch awaited us at the airport and a few minutes of rest until we finally checked in and boarded our flight. This is not Singapore International Airport we had to ride a bus to the plane and walk on the pavement to board our flight. It didn't matter, we were on our way and in time to make our international flight.

In these remote areas you must have a back-up plan at all times. The options are few if something like this happens. We were blessed to get the last seats on the flight and thankfully the ticket agent saw us and informed us the flight was canceled. We were totally exhausted by the time we made it to our hotel and the hot shower I enjoyed would have been worth a hundred dollars.

Prince Daud

We call him a prince because he seems to have a domain of his own--he has a northern and southern kingdom. He was six years old when I first saw him. He came in the back of a pick-up truck. He had just had a very bad burn injury and was in a lot of pain. I remember him crying that first day and threatening to have his uncle, a police man, come a shoot the nurse who was treating his burn wounds. He needed urgent care and was in for a couple years of painful therapy. He was really strong and proved to have a lot of will power to improve.

I remember when he went with us a village about 40 miles north of our medical base. We were getting ready to leave and he told us he was going to stay there because his grandmother lived there--he wanted to spend time with her. He was then left in the care of his grandmother.

In about 10 days he shows up at our medical base. He was on public transportation and just came into the main base office and said--you will have to pay the driver. We paid the driver and we realized he had his northern domain (where his grandmother lived) and his southern kingdom (our medical base). We started calling him Prince Daud that day. His name is Nino or Daud (David) and he is now 11 years old. He has a special place in all of our hearts because he has been in our care for five years. He has made remarkable progress.

He generally doesn't smile but if you can get him to laugh it is contagious. He will get an entire room rolling on the floor. We love him and want him to prosper. He has a good heart and is pretty smart--even though he seems to miss more school than he attends. He is one of the little ones that will be with us for years to come. He comes and just pulls up a chair to the dinner table--he is welcome and he knows it. I hope to see him grow up to be a good man. I do know he will not be crippled or useless. He is normal and has little evidence of his burn.

He painted his face like a cat in the photo--you never know what a prince might do.

More Lepers

It was raining hard and then the skies cleared so I walked to the leper treatment center. I wanted to see Hendrik who was the first leper in our care. He was sitting in front of his unit. I called out his name and heard his call back to me. He inspired the building of these units to help other lepers. He was rejected by his village and lived like a dog for 15 years. He is now happy and loved by everyone.

Hendrik was not alone at the Tamariska (dwelling place of kings). The two buildings have four units each and they are completely full. I saw a young man sitting outside his unit and went over and shook his hand. He would not look up at me--it appeared he carried some shame about his condition. I was told he had a form of skin leprosy. It is highly transferable but also treatable. If he stays on his medication and builds up his health he can full recover.

The third building will be started in 2009. This will give us four more units and the ability to care for more lepers and T.B. victims.

Tison

Tison (pronounced Tee-sone) is seven years old and is so full of life and is always smiling. He runs and plays with his friends. He is a kid who will grab your heart very fast. He is normal in every way except is he badly burned over a big part of his body. He was standing a few feet away from his father who was holding a container of kerosene when it exploded in flames. His life changed in a moment. This little boy who has the beautiful smile was now fighting for his life. He has an unstoppable spirit and I know it was that tenacity that kept him fighting for his life.

About four months ago his father brought Tison to our medical base and has not been back. I know he felt like he could not do anything for him. He is from an island around 200 miles away and it was not an easy trip.

Tison is now well adjusted to life on our base. He could be found just about anywhere. He is surrounded by his buddies (I call them the "Three Amigos") and they are always doing something fun and exciting. They could be playing soccer or just playing hide-and-seek. He is always where the excitement is or maybe where he is there is excitement.

He was called the "Monkey Boy" by the villagers because the burn on his legs have limited how far the skin on his legs would stretch. He does look like a monkey when he runs. He does not let that stop him in the least.

He would see me walking down one of the paths on our base and yell in his strong voice--Hello Carl. Then he would grab hold of my hand and we would walk together until he found something better to do. He would see me sitting and then climb up on my lap. I think he knew he would get a hug and maybe a small candy. He was very busy but he was never mean or malicious.

I do not know what will happen to Tison. He needs some help with his burn wounds. He is badly burned on his right arm, right hand, legs, chest, face and ears. I feel Tison is tough enough to handle several surgeries if he could get help. He is also remarkably realistic and mature as he considers his condition. This seven year old boy prayed this prayer, “Lord, I want to be normal like the other children but if it is Your will for me to be like this I will accept it”. Someday he might he like the other children--by God's grace.

Coffee Time

It is time to see if after fours years of growth we can start harvesting coffee from our base in Northeast Indonesia. Jim and Cindy Aldrich set out to get some of those precious beans. It was not as easy as it would been and believe me every cup of coffee I drink now I savor it. It is a tremendous amount of work when you consider the experimentation to get the beans off the husks and the drying process. Jim studied about the process of harvesting coffee. Cindy picked a bunch of beans and our Indonesian staff in charge of the coffee also worked hard to get those beans processed.

Jim tried a wet process by soaking the beans for a day. Then the following day he used a screen and and forced the beans through the screen. The hot equatorial sun was perfect for drying the beans. Cindy and Jim had several interested helpers. Three of the helpers were burn victims--two of them had badly deformed hands due to their burns. They did their best to help sort the good beans from the pulp. There also was an old Indonesian woman who did not need any instructions--it seemed she might have done this before. These helpers and a couple others worked hours sorting and getting the husks off.

The dried beans were brought to the U.S. for roasting. They had to be sorted again and the best beans selected. Jim knows there are devices to do all this but what he wanted is to get the best beans he could to the U.S. and see if it is a good quality coffee. Will it be worth processing the coffee--we will find out in the next couple weeks. I do know that the cost of each cup of coffee will be over $ 100. It took hours and hours and many hands to get what is now ready for roasting. If it is good coffee we will call it copiriska which means "coffee of kings".

15 Seconds

Who would think 15 seconds would make the difference between making a flight or spending the day organizing new flights. We knew it would be close but when our flight from Alaska was delayed 40 minutes we had only 20 minutes to get to our international flight to Tokyo. We landed and just ran from the North Satellite with three train rides and a run up the escalator in the South Satellite. I was out of breath when I reached the top of the escalator and tried to locate the gate for our flight. Thankfully it was the closest gate. I walked around the corner as I heard my seat announced. The airlines agent was giving my seat to someone who was on standby. I told her that was my seat and she was just about to swipe his ticket and give him my seat. She said--"Just a minute. I can give you the seat." I told her I had three others traveling with me. She told me, "Unless they are there they will not be able to make this flight." I was not going to split my team up and I knew one of my team members had recently had knee surgery and she could not run up the escalator like I did--but they were coming. I asked her to give them a minute. She said the door is closing. At that moment the rest of my team appeared. We got a lot of grace and boarded the flight. When I reached the plane doorway the steward said something interesting to me. He said, " I do not know what your story is but this never happens." I do not know what he meant I was just thankful to be on the flight now we wondered if our luggage made it.

Later we landed in Bangkok early in the morning. It was an adventure and another miracle to make our flight to Jakarta. It was two weeks later that this Bangkok Airport was in total chaos when anti-government protesters took over the airport and the roads in and out. I support we were blessed it could have been a lot worse. International travel is crazy sometimes.

Tired but Blessed

It was a long trip back from remote East Indonesia but an awesome experience. The team went via Tokyo--Bangkok--Jakarta--Manado. The return trip was Manado--Jakarta--Seoul--Tokyo. We heard about the problems in Bangkok and were thankful we did not return to Bangkok on our return trip. The Bangkok Airport was closed and we would have been stranded somewhere in Asia.

We accomplished everything we planned as a team. The LAN system is in place and the clinic and ward are now connected. The best part of the trip was to meet the people. I will write more about Tison the seven year old burn victim and his friends. I called them the "three amigos". The 21 bed ward was open and just packed. I will share a couple stories about what the ward means to the area.

I am blessed to know everything is moving forward and the compassion shown to the poor and injured is changing things for the good. Remember even though the economy is challenged hunger and sickness continue without change. The people in the remote region of East Indonesia do not know about a world economic crisis. They just know they have the same struggles to live and survive.

Long Flight

37 hours from home to Manado (Indonesia). I have made this trip over 20 times in the last seven years. I can't say I am used to the long hours of travel. I arrive at the airport at 5 a.m. and then the journey begins. I will be joined by a team that is traveling with me. We are excited about going but I remember how long the trip really is. The international flights have movies and seem to be more aware of the sleep we passengers need. Thankfully I can sleep well on a plane. We plan to install a computer network at our clinic in northeast Indonesia.

I will be in touch when I can find an Internet connection. It has already snowed here but we will soon be in the sweltering heat of the tropics. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Cards

It just amazes me how some people catch a vision of our work. Katherine and her husband have been to Indonesia and helped in the medical work. Katherine's husband is a medical doctor from New Zealand. Katherine is a talented photographer and took some amazing photos of daily life in Halmahera. She has selected eight photos and put them on cards. She is giving them as a promotion of the medical work of IFC. We are offering them for $ 10 for eight cards plus $ 2 for shipping. If you would like to have sets of these cards please contact us and we will be happy to send them to you. Just mail a request and check to our P.O. Box or go to our web-site and use your credit card.

Network Time

Cat 5e cable, crimping tools, switches, plugs and much more--these are the parts we need to build a computer network at our clinic in Halmahera. This will greatly increase our ability to keep records of all of the patients that come to the clinic. Last year there were over 10,000 who came to our clinic for help. The intake form was done hard copy. That is a lot of records and sometimes difficult to find needed information. This network will increase the effectiveness of our care. We plan to link the clinic to the new Ward (21 bed in-patient facility). Our team will be installing this network in the month of November. We have a good computer tech on staff.

Never Too Old

I met Leroy and Mary this week. Leroy is 74 years old and is drilling water wells in Kenya. He has been there for 20 years now. The youthful look in his eye covers the fact that most people are retired by his age. No retirement for him--he sold his home and he and his sweetheart are going for it in these golden years of their lives. He had lots of meetings and seemed to be fueled with his passion for helping the people of Kenya.

I have heard the saying "die with my boots on". Leroy is the walking personification of that saying. I love the heart and energy I saw in him. I think I might have gone to Kenya with him but I know my heart is in Indonesia. Lord willing I will have the same heart and strength as Leroy when I am in my 70's.

I think we all need to see someone like Leroy to remind us that there is a better way to grow old. He wasn't retreating or resting--he and Mary were putting it all on the line. God Bless them.

Staff Housing

We have 82 full-time Indonesian staff at our base in Halmahera. There are about 30 medical workers and 15 medical workers in training. These trainees are in a one-year program where they get the most basic education and practical experience. They are especially able to diagnose tropical infectious diseases, They can set broken bones and stitch up wounds. The training they are getting would be close to a first step EMT. The real blessing is they do an amazing job with those who come to our clinics with injuries or illnesses. The rest of the staff are construction workers, mechanics, agricultural workers, cooks, drivers, security guards, children's workers and secretarial. In addition to these workers we have two in medical school near Jakarta, five in an accredited nursing training, two in dentistry, two mid-wives and a pharmacist. It is a big operation.

The staff are amazing people. We have housed them wherever we could find room on our base. They have stayed seven and eight to a room in some cases. I think they have been fantastic about where they have lived. We did get a recent donation to build staff quarters. These facilities will provide excellent housing for these young people. There will be a wing for men and one for woman. The construction of the staff housing will begin the end of this year.

Yulens Still Waiting

We have not had a door open for Yulens yet. Yulens is the 23 year old mother from Indonesia who was tragically burned. She is a mother of a small child and has a supportive husband. We are pursuing all our options in hopes that she will get the professional care she needs. She is burned on her face and chest. She also has some burns on her legs. It is much easier finding help for a child than an adult. I am still hopeful she will get the help she needs. Until then she is waiting in Indonesia for a door to open.

Faithful Friends

We all realize we are in challenging economic time. We are doing all we know to make necessary adjustments. I am thankful for those faithful donors who have stood with us for all these years and continue to support the work of IFC.

I think of the 35 children in our Children's Home that need love and support. We are working in a remote region but the effect of this economic fall does touch them. I think in some ways it hits them harder that others. When the income of a laborer is a dollar a day there is no room for extras. There are many families who live subsistence lifestyles like their parents and grandparents. They seem to look at one day at a time.

Our medical work is greatly needed for the poor because we provide free medical care. Last year 10,000 people came to our clinic asking for medical help. The help we can provide is because we have so many who have believed in our mission. We serve the lowest and least--from new born children to outcast lepers. It is a privilege and blessing to serve them. I thank all of you who have stood with us and continue to stand with us in these days. Hunger and suffering do not stop because the world markets are going crazy.

Safe in the Storm

I was in Illinois earlier this year where I experienced my first tornado producing thunderstorm. I saw the warnings on the weather channel and could see the dark clouds approaching. I stood in the safety of my friends home as the storm approached. It kept getting closer and closer. The wind and hail was intense. I could see it was nothing to take lightly. It came and it passed. I was in awe of its power and its beauty.

We are in an economic storm at this time. I am not sure how it will change the world and our nation. I remain hopeful for Indonesia and have no thought of giving up. We have 35 children in our care, lepers and thousands who depend on us for their medical help. We have to stand safe in the midst of the storm.

Malaria

Malaria is a huge problem in the remote islands of North Maluku. Our medical staff faithfully treat those who are suffering from malaria. It is not uncommon to have entire villages sick with malaria. These villages are called "black villages". One "black village" is a Muslim village on a very remote small island. We have sent a number of teams to this village to help treat them--every family has had at least one member die due to malaria. It has devastated these people. We have a lot of compassion for them and want to assist them in stopping these outbreaks of malaria. The use of mosquito nets is a good first step. During the rainy months it is especially important to have protection at night as they sleep. We also help them with the WHO (World Health Organization) medicines that have to be taken faithfully in order to be cured of malaria. We want to see the health restored to this village and so many others who suffer from outbreaks of malaria.

Mobile Clinics

The importance of going to the sick is at the very heart of our medical work in Indonesia. We call them "Mobile Clinics". The medical teams will go to a remote village and stay from one day to three months. These clinics provide needed treatment for those in the remote islands and jungle villages where they do not have access to medical care. In a one day clinic the teams have seen over 200 patients. The teams that stay for over a week will also do training for the villagers in the area of hygiene, STD's and fire prevention. These teams are invited by the village leaders to come and stay in their village. The investment by our teams leaves a healthier village.

Finding Hope in Adelaide

This Sunday, Kasih, the little girl with the severe cleft lip/palate, starts her journey to Adelaide tomorrow. This is the culmination of many months of fundraising and coordination (many thanks to Dr Nicole Anderson and Lisa Robinson) for all their hard work in making this happen. Kasih will get first class surgical treatment in Adelaide. Sunday's trip will be from Halmahera to Manado. Kasih and her Mother will be escorted by a guest we have here at present - Martin Gare, who is also from Adelaide.

See also http://kasihsjourney.com/ for Kasih's story.

Dr. Nicole Anderson and Lisa Robinson have opened so many doors to see that Kasih has the best treatment possible. They are both amazing woman with huge hearts. Check out the link to see all the updates on her progress.

Doors Open

I just got the great news from Peter Scarborough, IFC Field Director, that the medical ward (small hospital) in Halmahera is now open. Peter sent the note,"The 16 bed ward - which has turned into a 21 bed ward is virtually complete and the first patients are already in. Many thanks to the Rotary clubs of Gippsland (especially Berwick and Warragul) and the local Gold Mine in Halmahera for this."

This project was funded by these Rotary clubs in Australia . It has been a challenge because of the rising cost of building materials. The in-patient ward will give the sick and injured a place to recover from their serious wounds or illnesses. There is a joining birthing center that will give woman in the region a safe place to bring life into this world.

We thank the good people from Gippsland and the leaders of the local gold mine for their heart and help in providing the funds for this ward. We know the people of Halmahera will receive the blessing of being cared for during their recovery time.

The Number is 35

The number is now 35 children in our care. These are children who are either abandoned or orphaned. We have older kids and new born babies. The older children like Merna, who lost both parents, is being educated and supported by us as we watch over her well-being. She is happy, loved and has a lot of friends. Merna is one of the 35 souls we have been given to provide a happy and nurturing life.

Esther Scarborough wrote about the most recent additions to our Children's Home. She wrote, "We have two new babies--one was to be aborted but after counselling the mother chose to keep her and give her to us. The baby has a full head of hair and is gorgeous - she needs sponsorship. The second one is the result of rape and also a dear little girl."

I spoke at the dedication of the Children's Home and knew there would be more than the 11 children we had at that time. Now there are 35 lives to guide and support. We will give them all we can and provide for a happy and nurturing years as they grow up.

Safe After the Shake

Peter Scarborough reported that the recent powerful earthquake did not result in any loss of life to his knowledge. The shake was felt at our medical base in North Maluku. The ground rolled and trees swayed for a short time. We have built the structures on our base to withstand most of these shakes. We have done our best to reinforce our structures. It helps to have structural engineers on our team.

We are thankful to report the minimal damage to structures in the region, no loss of life and no tsunami. Tsunamis are feared and for good reason. Indonesia knows all to well following the huge loss during the Christmas eve tsunami in Banda Aceh. There are thousands of islands and hundreds of villages on these shorelines. They live there because they survive off the sea and its abundance. It can put them in the way of the destructive power of those very waters that provide their daily food. The ocean remained calm and these hundreds of villages were safe.

7.6 Earthquake

I just got the news that there was a powerful earthquake that rocked the region we are working. I only have a little direct information about this quake. It was centered 55 miles from Manado and 75 miles from Ternate in the Molucca Sea.

Peter Scarborough reported that our base was fine and there were no injuries there. They did feel the quake. We are the only medical option for the poor in the region. If there are injuries we will be working 24/7 to treat their injuries.

I will share updates as I get them.

Doors Need To Open

I met with Mary Meier, a nurse, who is trying to open doors for Yulen to get the needed treatment for her burn injuries. Mary is a real hero and she is working on behalf of Yulen. There are several doors that need to open before we can order tickets and get Yulen and her husband here in the U.S. Her surgeries and therapy will take around one year.

I appreciate Mary and the heart that she has for this desperate situation. We have a lot to do to get them here by the end of November. There are visas, airline flights and funds to raise to begin her journey. I am confident that Yulen will get quality care and have a normal life.

Yulen

She was a beautiful young mother. Her home was filled with laughter and the daily chores of any Indonesian family in this region. Yulen and her husband were working hard and making ends meet. Then the tragic kerosene spill happened. She was burned over her chest and face. She went from a young mother to someone who is struggling for her life. She went to the IFC Clinic for help. They have been caring for her and keeping her burns clean and treating the infection. She needs expert care to help with the scares and infection.

We are seeking help for Yulen here in Alaska. If this door opens then we will transport her all the way to Alaska. She will need to be strong and able to adjust to all the changes. Join us in praying for her and the hope for a bright future. She has her whole life ahead of her and just needs to get past this injury and have a normal life.

Gold Medals

While Indonesia has only one gold medal that I have seen in the Olympics. I believe we have a lot of gold medal winners on our staff. If I were to give the medals I would award many of them with gold medals in compassion.

Our staff members make a winning effort when they care for the lepers at our base and nearby. Olan is so committed to the health and emotional well being of these rejected people. Olan wraps their woulds and spends time talking to them while quickly becoming their friend. Eka has served the T.B. patients for years. She goes out every day to make sure they are eating nutritious food and that they are taking their medicines. Yohanis goes out to the remote islands to find children we have heard were being abandoned. He also escorts the sick including lepers to our base. He is a winner in my estimation.

There are many others who serve with IFC who make amazing efforts to serve the least and the lowest. They are all real heroes. I admire everyone of them and I know they are saving lives and relieving the suffering of thousands on these remote islands.

Blue Sky

I just returned from a rare blue sky day in Valdez, Alaska. It is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. The mountains that surround the city were just crystal clear and snow capped. Esther met with several people and shared the work in Indonesia with another large group. It was a worthwhile time of building partnerships.

While driving back to Fairbanks we saw four moose and one caribou. The caribou was running down the road in from of us. He had large antlers and ran full speed down the road before dashing into the bushes.

We drove 360 miles back and saw the stunning sites over that stretch of the highway. Alaska is wild and beautiful but breathtaking under blue skies.

Miles--Miles--Miles

I have been traveling with Esther Scarborough and Nius. Nius has met with several groups to share about his life and work. He is in medical school and has an awesome story of how he desires to serve the poor in his region. We have past over 1,000 mile posts in the last week. We have seen several animals--moose, caribou, musk ox, bear and even elk. There is another more than 800 miles to go and mountains and rivers to cross. Esther will be in Alaska for another week and a half.

"The Last Frontier"

Tonight Esther Scarborough and Nius Sudan will arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska. They have been in California for two weeks and will be here in "The Last Frontier". Nius will be speaking to several groups and he will be very busy. Esther will be traveling around the state and will find her way to Palmer and Anchorage on August 1-4.

She will go to one of the most spectacular places in Alaska--Valdez. She will speak there and meet with friends. August 9-11 will be her short stop in Valdez. The beauty and fishing are world class. The rest of her stay will be in Fairbanks.

It is a privilege to have both of them her in Alaska.

On U.S. Soil

Nius Sudan and Esther Scarborough are in the U.S. They arrived in last week. Nius is an amazing young Indonesian man. He has been sharing his story of survival and courage. Esther Scarborough is the director of IFC's medical work in Indonesia. She is a real hero and has served the poor and former refugees--saving countless lives.

They will be in Los Angeles for two weeks and then to Alaska for a month. Nius will be speaking to a number of groups including at University of Alaska. He and Esther will meet with medical professionals in Alaska. They will be traveling to Fairbanks, Palmer, Anchorage and Valdez.

First AIDS Death

This is a sobering report. I just got a note from our medical base in East Indonesia. They informed me that a father of four came to our clinic. He died yesterday from the effects of AIDS. The sad part of the story in that three of his children have also died of AIDS.

Our teams go into public schools and warn the students about STD's. I have witnessed these amazing teams as they tell these students the realities of the sexually transmitted diseases. These students look wide-eyed as they hear these warnings. Now what we have been so concerned about has been confirmed--AIDS is now spreading in these villages.

New Ears

Vino has been here in the U.S. receiving reconstructive surgeries to repair the burn injury he received in a kerosene spill accident in Indonesian. He has made fine progress as his right arm and hand were freed and his neck and chin were also reconstructed.

He is a normal and energetic little boy. He goes to school and is fluent in English. He has lots of friends but the best friend is Dr. Richard Grossman who is giving him a new life. Dr. Grossman has performed all the surgeries and is happy with the results.

His ears were nearly completely burned off. The rebuilding of his ears will take time to heal but will result in a more normal look. He is feeling very good about how his life has changed.

Ziba

I met with Anis, one of our Indonesian staff, and reminded him that he has an important job. He is in charge of finding the lepers and bringing them to our base for treatment. I also told him he is like the servant of King David who was sent to find the lame boy named Mephiboseth. King David’s servant was Ziba. He went to a very remote place to find this lame boy hoping to bring him back to meet King David. When the boy met the King he got on his knees and stated that he was no more than a “dog” in his sight. David accepted him and gave him a place at his table. He went from rejected to one of the highest places in the kingdom. Anis has an important job just like Ziba. He is sent out to find the most rejected and bring them back to a place where they are given a place at “the table” of acceptance.

Midnight Sun Festival

It is the longest day of the year. No it was not 25 hours long--but it is the summer solstice. The sun is above the horizon longer than any other day in the year. The Midnight Sun Festival is here in Fairbanks-- it is literally light at midnight. There were some 30,000 people attending this Festival.

IFC had a booth at the Midnight Sun Festival where we spoke to hundreds of visitors and many Alaskans about our efforts in Indonesia. We were there from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. We met people from Scotland, Australia, Canada and all over the lower-48 states. It was a beautiful day and we sold almost all of our Indonesian handcrafts.

This was great exposure for IFC and a really fun day with several volunteers manning the table.

He Will Be Missed

I have a heavy heart at the accidental death of a young friend of mine. Jeremy Earnshaw was on staff at the YWAM base in Newcastle, Australia. He and three friends went to spend the day at the beach after he called his father, Darryl, wishing him a happy Father's Day. He and his friends were enjoying the day as they were walking near some rock outcroppings when a freak wave swept over Jeremy and one of his friends--they were pulled into the wild waves. Jeremy was never seem again. His friend was rescued by an emergency helicopter about an hour later as he clung to a life vest that was thrown to him. A gallant search and rescue followed and in the midst of the storm they searched but found no trace of Jeremy.

Many of his friends and family have prayed with hope that he would be found. At this point--we are all saddened that he has not been found. His father will be going to Australia to handle the final affairs and to comfort the friends of Jeremy. Jeremy was 23 years old and engaged to a wonderful Australian woman. His fiancee, Christina, needs our prayers for comfort. Also we need to pray for his family as they seek understanding for this accidental loss.

Jeremy Earnshaw was an amazing young man who learned to give his life to others. He was a friend of mine and even though I was old enough to be his father--he was a friend. I will miss him so much. He gave his life to help troubled youth. Jeremy lived a full life because he gave his whole self to others. I loved him and will miss the great talks and cups of coffee we shared. He was not shallow he built his life on deeply held beliefs. He stood on the rock of his life--Jesus Christ.

The Fleet

Imagine riding in a vehicle that you can see the road under your feet. The cars we had on our base were just a bucket of bolts. Rotted floorboards were the least of their troubles. They all broke down regularly and were on life support more than on the road. Riding down jungle roads in marginal vehicles was always a security concern. We just did not have the money to buy new transportation. We put our limited funds into medicines or building needed facilities.

We now have three new vehicles because of the kind donations of several people. These are wonderful because they are safe and reliable. The donors all experienced our old cars. We can breath a sigh of relief now that we have new wheels.

If any of you come on a future team you will get to ride in one of them.

Life Line

Where would we be without email, blogs, and the Internet? I know there are negative and positive realities about the Internet. What if you are miles from the nearest cell phone tower and the Internet is not even in the region. That is the challenge of working at the end of the earth.

IFC has solved that with a modest Internet satellite system. It connects the base with the rest of the world. This is an amazing system because it can find a satellite somewhere over the Equator and make it possible for them to send and receive emails. It cannot access the web but it can do email.

That is a life line. We get regular reports at our office here in the U.S. about the status of the work in those remote Islands. We can stay in touch with the daily events and schedule teams without too much hassle. There is also a sat-phone for other emergencies and communications.

We can get email in the middle of the jungle in the far corner of Indonesia—what a time we are living.

Turning the Tide

I do not know if you will see this the way I do—but when 1,100 fruiting trees were planted around three years ago on the base property I could see a change coming. It would take some time but it was coming. It is like the tide changing. These trees will turn a tide in providing some of the food needs we have had and even provide some income in the sale of the surplus.

The bananas (eating and cooking), rambutan, pineapple, papaya, sirsak, mango, lemons, limes, Bali orange, avocado, and even durian (known as the king of fruits) will be hanging from trees all over the property. We will use a lot of this fruit to feed our staff and patients. We will also sell whatever remains. These trees will help us off-set the high cost of feeding over 100 people each day.

Corn, egg plant, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables are also grown in gardens. We use this in the same way to supplement the cost of food. We also have cows, pigs, chickens, goats, ducks, and geese that are on the property.

We must turn the tide by becoming more and more dependent on what we can grow or sell. By the way—durian is not as bad as some say it is.

Memories

I just got home from a time in Idaho. It was a great time of sharing the work of IFC in Indonesia. It was also a time of stepping into the past. I spoke to a group and a woman came to me and said she had a picture of me from my college days. My wife and I went to a small private college in southern Idaho. I worked in the food service my entire time at school. My first job was to wash dishes and later I was given a job making cookies. I really liked that job and enjoyed the kitchen staff. Sometimes we would get an invitation to go to the kitchen staff's homes for a home cooked meal. The woman who said she had a picture of me was one of these wonderful kitchen staff that showed their kindness to some of us student staff. I looked at the photo and it brought back some great memories. It was taken 32 years ago--just before my wife and I were married. It is not often you get to see a reminder of your distant past. I was slim and had lots of hair--my how things have changed.

Friends from the Beginning

I am in Idaho this week. IFC has some good friends and supporters here in the famous potatoes state. I spent yesterday with Ray and Lorraine who are choice leaders and have supported the work in Indoneisia since we began in early 2001. We has a wonderful time and caught up on the time since our last meeting. They are so positive and encouraging.

I will be here in Idaho for this week--meeting with partners and finding new partners. I began this work with the desire to go thru every door that opens. I can see some new doors opening here and I will walk thru them. I know there is more in Idaho than potatoes.

Coming Soon--Update on the Hospital

The doors to our hospital are scheduled to open in about two months. This will be a great day when the sick can get long-term care at this facility. The hospital is small (compared to Western facilities) but it is a place where the poorest of the poor will get free medical treatment. We already see over 10,000 a year at our clinic just a hundred feet from the door of the hospital. We will have an out-patient facility and an in-patient facility next to each other. I want to thank Rotary Australia for the funds and vision to build this facility. It takes a lot of perseverance because of the growing cost of materials and the quality of the construction is first class. This will be the best facility in the region. We even have a helicopter landing site and ambulance for emergency cases. This hospital has a birthing ward and food service. In many hospitals in Indonesia the family has to provide linens and food for their loved ones. We will provide food and all the personal care needed to make the hospital time positive.

It is amazing to realize we just purchased the 75 acres of this site only four years ago. We now have the clinic, children’s home, leper treatment center, medical base house, mechanics shop, security gates, carpenter’s work area, coconut oil processing facility, gardens over 1,000 fruiting trees, a kiosk, and numerous staff homes. This is a community committed to show compassion to the poor and needy.

Partners

I have been reflecting recently of the hundreds of partners we have in our work. We have over 80 full-time workers at our base in Indonesia but there are hundreds of others who are standing with us.

I have friends, Dona and Craig, who have been supporting our efforts from the first day we began to work with refugees. I am blessed and amazed at their heart and faithfulness. They have never been to Indonesia but they are so important to Indonesia. I can't tell you what it means to me to have them as friends and I know without a doubt they know my heart.

My longest partner is my wife, Cathy, who has been married to me for 32 years. She is so much and more but she has made it possible for me to invest in the future of the refugees in Indonesia. She works a full-time job which makes it possible to live here. She also goes with me to Indonesia once a year while using her vacation leave. She has stood with me all these years and has been an awesome joy to me and so many others.

I have another friend who went on a short-term team. Tevis has a very tender heart. He is also a person who you love to spend time with. He is an influence in his local church along with Jim, Cindy, Dale and Shirley. These people are just amazing supporters.

I also have four men who have been my sounding board and wise voices to guide the work of IFC. Dan, Wayne, Jim and Jerry are the men of highest integrity. I know they have given so much of themselves and they each have a love for the people of Indonesia. These men are the foundation of this work.

I have so many others I am thinking about like Greg (Bull), Dennis, David, Jim, Anita , Joe, Collette, Patrick, Judy, Glen, Fliss and many more. The list would be very long if I named even the ones on the short list. It has been a blessing and it is clear to see it takes a lot of partners to meet all the needs. We are not a big organization but we are big into partnerships.

Kasih

Kasih, 11 months old, was brought to the IFC clinic in remote East Indonesia. She had a badly deformed face with a severe cleft palate (a Tessier Cleft) deformity. Dr. Nichole Anderson and Lisa Robinson examined her and felt she needed professional care--she was is bad shape and the risk of infection was high.. That care is being sought in Australia with renown surgeon David David. Please remember Kasih as she will need passport, visa, a host family and lots of support . The heroes here are Dr. Anderson and Lisa Robinson. They were moved with compassion and knocked on many doors until one opened.

Small Can Be Mighty

The sign said--Butler population 200. It was raining and it didn't take long to get a glimpse of what turned out to be Butler. There was a Post Office on the main road and a couple closed down shops. I am sure the vast majority of you have never been to Butler, Illinois. My friend, David Hunter, recommended we stop there after a recent speaking engagement in Central Illinois. We were looking for "Love Packages". There were no signs with arrows--we just began to drive around town and we found it in a short time. That is one of the blessings of a small town--no maps needed. There were two large warehouses and a couple cars parked at an open door.

We looked around for a few minutes and then stepped inside and gave a yell. That was when we met Steven Schmidt working in the warehouse. Steven told us how he started this work by looking at a small stack of Bibles in his home. He thought he should send them somewhere because he didn't need all those Bibles. That was the seed that began a massive distribution work. This is a small town where a mighty work is being done. I was impressed at the humble and determined efforts of this place. They shipped 828 tons of literature to all parts of the world last year.

I guess big things can come in small packages. It is just another reminder that small can be mighty. The determination and loving effort of this team has made a huge impact around the world. Now you know Butler, Illinois is on the map thanks to "Love Packages".

My Treasure Hunt

My Treasure Hunt was the title of the article that Brother Terry wrote back in 2005 for the pages of our annual report. I read it again today because I am near his home in Illinois and really missed seeing him. He passed away this last year after a hard fight with cancer. He fought with grace even though he was in terrible pain. I loved him very much and admired his strength and heart.

In his article he spoke about another man he met in Indonesia named Cornelius. Little did he know at the time that he and Cornelius would have a lot in common. He wrote, "The treasure was in the home of a man to whom Esther, IFC Medical Director, had been ministering to through her love, compassion, and health care. His name was Cornelius, he had cancer." Terry prayed with him and comforted him that day. Cornelius died in the next month but not until a man named Brother Terry was able to give him the treasure of his love and prayers. I imagine Terry and Cornelius have met in eternity--two men from different countries but forever brought together but the grace and compassions of Christ.

Yes--Brother Terry--you did find the treasure. Thank you for not burying it.

On The Road

I will be traveling tonight on the late flight out of Alaska. We had six inches of snow yesterday and I think I will find green grass in my final destination--Illinois. IFC has many friends and partners in mid-state Illinois.

My friend, Terry Holderread, invited me to come to Illinois in 2003. We called him "Brother Terry" which fit him so well. He was a brother and friend to everyone. I miss him since his death last year. I would get regular notes from him and lots of encouragement.

There are so many of our partners in mid-Illinois and it will be good to see them again. This is a big part of our work--building friendships and new partners.

I will be on the road for the next two weeks.

The Doors Never Close

Peter Scarborough, IFC Field Director recently wrote, "We are looking forward to the patient ward (hospital) being finished in just over 2 months from now. We are also looking forward to the day when the ambulance arrives.

We squeezed three guys onto the floor in the back of the car - would you believe that they were found in this state (broken bones, head injuries, and bleeding) by the road! We had another two inside the clinic being treated so had to move these guys along to the hospital (in Tobelo) which is still 45 minutes away - I am not convinced that they will all make it alive. People just passed them and did nothing, our car was on the way back from Pediwang and our driver stopped to pick them up. The kids were in the car - little Theresa (age three) came running in saying "Celaka" Celaka" (which means "accident" "accident", and saying "Takut" (Scared). We are seeing more and more accident cases like this. None of these three had a helmet on, they were all on one motor bike."

The doors to our clinic never close to emergencies. We are the first and sometimes the only medical help many people have. It looks like we are at least two months from completing the small hospital that will be adjacent to our clinic. We will also have an ambulance to assist in emergencies.

I did not post the photo of these three men in the back of our car because it was just too shocking. We pray all these men were able to survive this bad accident that Peter reported.

500 Days

Our team had three consecutive days of flights canceled. It was not frustrating because we looked for the good and filled these days meeting people. These three days were filled with divine appointments. I have learned not to get up tight or fretful but walk through the doors that open.

It was during the three day pause in our travels that we met a woman who taught us all about life and death. Her name is Hawila and she was the mother to Gloria. Gloria was born with a major birth defects that resulted in her severe disfiguring. She had no skull on the upper half of her head. She had what looked like a sack holding her brain, no left arm, the mouth and nasal openings were just holes. In spite of all these problems she was clean and was age appropriate in every other way. It was the peacefulness of the home that first struck all of us. Hawila told us how she was told Gloria would not live four days and she should just let her die. We got a lesson in real hope as she told us how she would not give up on her and that even though she had major problems she was still her child. I came back to the U.S. and sought to find an open door to help her with her medical challenges. The reality was she was so badly deformed that the prospects of helping her was a reaal long shot. It would take a team of doctors to help her and that team could no be assembled. I was careful not to give Hawila and her family false hope but we prayed for God's will to be done. I had a doctor on the last team and my hope was he would help with a medical opinion on the chances of her getting treatment.

I got word before our team left that Gloria caught a bad cold/flu and never recovered. She died on January 12th. My heart sunk as I knew we had run out of time. We had looked for doors to open here on earth but now the doors to the glories of heaven had now opened for her.

I wanted to spend some time with Hawila and her husband when I got to Indonesia. They were able to join our team for dinner one night. I greeted them as they came in the restaurant--we shed some tears together. Little did I know I was in for another lesson-it was a seed planted in the disappointment of the loss of this child. Hawila looked at me and said, " God gave us Gloria for 500 days". How many times do people blame or lash out in the numbing pain of the loss of a loved one. These words seemed to cut through all the moments they had their hopes dashed or just prayed for the doors to open. She showed us what gratitude looks like. She did not lay a charge at the feet of God or show anger that the doors did not open as we had hoped. It was contentment with tears. Oh--how I want to let that sink into my being. We are reminded that every life has meaning even if it is here for only 500 days.

Looking To The Future

There will be a transition in our work in the years to come. It has been our heart to give this work into the capable hands of our Indonesian staff--they are smart and dedicated. We are building the infrastructure while selected members of our team are being trained. It will be a number of years before this transition is completed but we are now investing in the future.

Well over 50 young people have completed the one year medical course taught by Esther Scarbough. They follow that training with a one year internship while serving at our clinic and mobile clinics. They get very good training and experience in those two years. They would be close to a starting EMT--with a focus on tropical diseases.

Nius and Melly are in Medical School in Jakarta. They are working hard and doing well in their studies. Neither one of them would have a chance to get this education because they come from poor families and this door would never open for them. It really is a miracle they are in Medical School.

Melly was short of support and the date for payment to enter school was coming. She decided if she could not go then she would give her support for Nius. Melly is a jewel and was willing to give all her support away to help Nius. This shows her heart and the kind of leader she is going to be. She is loved and highly regarded.

Nius is one of the bravest men I have ever met. He is a man of integrity with a desire to serve the poor. He does not want to get wealthy--he wants to help the suffering poor. He is also doing well in his studies. It is hard work but he is giving his all. This is a God given gift in his mind.

Our medical work needs more than two doctors to provide for the needs that we see on a daily basis. We now have two others in nursing school, two in dental school, one in pharmacy school. and two are training to be midwives. These are the ones we are investing in for the future. The time will come when we will hand the baton to them to run the medical work. That will be an awesome day.

Anto's Story

The smell was overpowering as Esther Scarborough, IFC Medical Director, searched for where it was coming from. She walked to a shed behind a home in that remote village in East Indonesia. There she found a badly burned boy near death. He was weak and his burns that covered both legs from his hips to his feet were molded and infected. His burn was so bad that his family had given up on this 17 year old boy. They had “put him out” to die.

Anto had been burned in an accident and was near death when Esther found him. Esther said—she got mad when she saw him and told him he was not going to die but live. They picked up his limp body and took him to the clinic. His burns needed immediate treatment. They needed to be cleaned and the damaged skin removed. He also needed a lot of support. Can you imagine being taken by your family to a shed and left to just die? Anto had his entire life before him but he had to be treated for these terrible injuries. Esther and the medical staff performed the painful process of cleaning the burned skin and began therapy. This was a slow process but day by day and month by month Anto began to improve. He was a quiet young man who had a lot of strength. I watched the staff change his sterile dressings many times. I saw his transformation as he went from a bed to a chair—from a chair to a wheel chair—from a wheel chair to crutches—from crutches to walking a couple steps—from steps to walking—from walking to running.

He had made good progress and worked very hard through a lot of pain to go from a “death shed” to a vibrant teenager who was now running. Anto wants to be a medical worker. He has experienced the life giving care and wants to give it to others. Esther has become an important part of his life because she saw a future for him at the lowest point in his life. Anto is an example of what can happen when a person has a bad burn in remote areas of the world. They do not believe there is anything that can be done for some of these injuries. We need to educate people in these regions that many of these injuries are treatable.

A Tribute to Some Good People

IFC has been serving the people of Indonesia since 2001. In those years we have had many amazing people help us with support or by joining a short-term team. I want to give a tribute to a couple of these partners.

I met a rancher named Greg in Australia. I went to his home on the edge of the outback and had a cup of tea one afternoon. He reminded me of what we think about when we imagine an Australian rancher. He and I sat and spoke about the challenges the refugees were facing in the refugee camps in North Indonesia. We prayed together and then I got in the car to leave his place and he called me back into the house. He looked me in the eyes and said--I believe I need to help. He just wrote a check while telling me he wished he could give more. Greg has a tender heart and a quick response to compassion. I left there blessed to have met Greg and to see how he was so willing to help. Greg has been a long distant friend over these years.

I have another friend of mine who lives just a 30 minute drive from my home. Patrick is a very talented photographer and has a growing business. He has blessed me and the work of IFC from the first day we set out to make a difference in Indonesia. Patrick has made it possible for IFC to have a web-site, first class display and this blog. I admire his gentle spirit and the help he has been in so many ways. We also have common ground in that we both enjoy reading A.W. Tozer.

I am thankful for good people who have stood with us. Those standing with us stretch from the Australian Outback to the Alaska Wilderness--ranchers and photographers. We share one desire and that is to help the least and poorest (former refugees) in East Indonesia.

Vino

Vino was brought to one of our clinics. I remember seeing him and wondering what could be done to help him. He had been badly burned in a kerosene spill accident. His right arm, right hand, chest and neck were scared and he needed expert reconstructive surgery. He was presented to the Children's Burn Foundation and Grossman Burn Center. He came to the U.S. to be treated. He has made wonderful progress and is now free of the burns contractures and continues to be treated. He is going to school and seems to have adjusted very well.

Vino is facing some challenges that could effect his recovery. He is running out of harvestable skin for grafting. He is having "balloons" placed under his good skin to stretch the skin to provide more usable grafts. We are now waiting to see the results of the new skin harvest. I will keep you posted on the progress.

Home Sweet Home

New bricks are setting ready for the beginning of the foundation for the next leper house. This new building will be the third house at the Tamarista. These are all four-plex units which will provide homes for the lepers and their families to live.

We are in the process of filling the two other buildings with lepers from remote villages in this region. There are several lepers who have asked to come to the Tamarista. This is the stormy time of year and these lepers and their families have to take care in being transported by boat. They will begin to fill these two homes in the days and weeks ahead.

Those who suffer from leprosy can be treated with good results. They need more than a negative report on the leprosy--they need their emotional and self-esteem rebuilt as well. It can take two years of treatment to finally get a negative status on their leprosy. These families will live in clean units with a bathroom, served nutritious food, and have a daily medical care. It is an honor to move forward in the construction in order to help the least of the least.

Extravagance

I was in one of the villages near our medical base and was served some coffee. It was one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. I asked where did they get this coffee--an old woman smiled and told us it was from her tree. She told us that all of the fruit tree and coffee trees had been destroyed in the crisis. She got this twinkle in her eye and said, " My coffee is from a few branches that survived." I asked her if she had more and she raised her eyebrows. This is the same as nodding affirmatively for us. I wanted to buy some of her coffee to take home with me. She agreed to sell me some of her coffee.

We walked down the road to her home. The front of her home was just a huge hole where bombs had found their target. She walked in and went thru another door. A few minuted later she comes with about five ounces of coffee. She told me it was all she had left. It was a small amount but it was also an opportunity to bless this old woman. I looked into my wallet and I had a 5,000 Rupiah (55 cents) and 100,000 Rupiah ($ 11 USD.) and I had a choice to make. She offered to just give me the coffee. There was no way I was going to miss the chance to shock her with a big gift. I rolled up the 100,000 bill and put it into her hand. I took my coffee beans and started to walk down the road.

I felt great knowing she was getting more than she expected. She was a surviver who had excaped with her life from the years of the conflict. She and her coffee had that in common. As I walked down the road I heard her excited shouts to the woman across the road. She was saying, "You cannot believe what that crazy white man gave me for my coffee." She got more for this small amount of coffee than most workers get in a week of hard work. She had reason to shout. This was a day when extravagance came to her door.

The coffee was wonderful. I had it roasted and enjoyed every sip. It was also especially nice knowing a small amount of the bitterness of life had been removed from this old woman's life.

We are now growing 200 coffee trees on our base. These trees were started from seeds from this village. These beans came from the branches that survived the conflict. The trees are now 10-12 feet tall and are just full of coffee beans--our hope is to market the coffee in the future.

Keys To the Future

The conflict (1999-2003) left this region devastated. There are ruins almost everywhere you look. This was a difficult time for those who survived the conflict. It is now a season of rebuilding their homes and lives.

This photo seems to illustrate the status of this region. The portion of the ruins of a church is still standing next to the new church under construction. This is a place that is between the dark past and their future.

Our hope is to be a part of a positive future for those who are rebuilding their lives. Villages and businesses are being rebuilt and the economic outlook is much better. The markets and stores are very busy. There are smiles and it seems the future could be bright. I am hopeful but cautious--there has to be real forgiveness and restoration as a foundation to the future. The evidence of a peaceful future is not necessarily new roads and buildings--it is inner healing from the sorrows of this region. Forgiveness and reconciliation are the keys to the future.

Rain

It can rain in the tropics--as you can see. This photo is taken at the Medical Base House--it was taken in February during the rainy season. These islands have dense jungles drenched nearly every day during the rainy season. The rich volcanic soil combined with a perfect climate produce ideal conditions for the growth of fruit and vegetables.

It also provides a wet playground for the children at the base. Epen (big brother) is enjoying the downpour with Teresa and Victor. It wasn't long before they we running and splashing in the big puddles. They played for over an hour and came in completely soaked. When you witness these fantastic downpours it is easy to see why these islands are so green and fruitful.

Yulen's Story

Yulen's story in her own words:

"I remember the time and date the 22nd of February at 7 o'clock at night I
wanted to light the kerosene lamp at our house. I put more kerosene in the
light then I went to put the container of kerosene back but I was still
holding the light when all of a sudden my hair and face was on fire. At the
time my hair was long and it was falling off onto my body, hands and legs as
it burnt. I screamed and fortunately my neighbour who was bathing nearby at
the well heard me and threw water over me. I was cared for at home for a day
where a nurse gave me intravenous fluids but then I went to the public
hospital in Tobelo. I was in that hospital for 20 days but the nurses only
changed my wounds every 2 or 3 days. The other patients were upset by my
wounds because they smelt so bad. We heard from a nurse that the clinic here
(IFC Clinic named Hohidiai) has good cream for burn wounds so we asked the
clinic for help. For the time we were in the public hospital we had to pay Rp. 8
million (that is about $ 900 USD). We received assistance from the church
and other friends and relatives but we were almost out of money when my
relatives and I made the decision together to take me to clinic Hohidiai. We
arrived here on the 14th of March with the hope that the medical staff would
serve me here. We are so grateful that I can be in this clinic. God Bless
you."



"Yulen's burns are very extensive. Whilst we will do our best to get them
healed she will be in our clinic for many months and may end up with severe
scarring. She may need plastic surgery later. Whilst she has a long haul
ahead of her we count it a privilege to serve her here. She is not out of
complete danger. Burns patients can die in the first 6 weeks from infection,
fluid loss and malnutrition." Esther Scarboroug

Ribbon Cutting

It was the only day we got a reprieve from the tropical rain. It was a beautiful night for this celebration. The Tamarista, Leper Center, had two four-plex buildings completed. We were there that night for a ribbon cutting and celebration of the completion of these leper houses.

The children danced a traditional dance and we enjoyed a nice dinner. I shared the story of Mephibosheth who was a lame boy who was a relative to Jonathan. King David sent his servant to find him and then brought him to his home. Mephibosheth was a throw-away and when he met King David he called himself a “dog”. This was the very word that Hendrik, the leper living in the Tamarista, was called when he was cast out of his village. I love that about the Lord—He is for the least and lowest. He shows mercy to them. Mephibosheth was given a place at the table of King David. He was accepted and given honor. This seemed so fitting for this dedication.

Lyle Gresehover represented his “home group” who had given funds to build one of these homes. Dale and Shirley Shelley stood for First Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks who also gave funds to build this site. They cut the ribbon and we rejoiced that those who suffer the effects of leprosy can find a place where they are accepted and treated.

The remaining units will be filled soon. The team knows were there are lepers who want to come. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Planting Oak Seeds

Children were being left at our clinic. There were some who just were not wanted but others were orphans. The number started to grow and we had to make a decision about how we would care for them. We decided to not only care for them but to provide a future for these little ones. They had no idea their lives just made a turn for the best.

These were the seeds being planted for the future. They are like the oak seeds that were planted to provide the massive beams for the cathedrals. The first generation plants the seeds, the next generation cuts the huge oak trees and shapes the beams and the third generation finishes the cathedral. We could see the amazing plan to use these lives to make a difference in this conflict region. I think it is like the Lord to take thrown away lives and make them the ones who change the history of a nation or region. Read the story of Joseph in Genesis. He was just that—he was thrown away by his brothers and God used him to save a nation. We are looking to this generation and also the next—we are growing big trees.

The Alaska Team came to train and encourage the Children’s Home staff. Cathy Cady, Becky Halbert and Beverly Conover brought lots of materials and enthusiasm. They spent two or three days evaluating the programs and staff. The goal was to encourage the staff and give them tools to use to improve the learning and safety of the children. It was a wonderful time together. The children became very comfortable with the “bulai (white)” woman. They were holding, reading books, playing games, painting, and stimulating their learning.

Why People Seek Treatment

In Indonesia you do not just go to the "emergency room" for treatment. You must have the money in advance for the treatment. It makes it very hard for the poor to get medical help. The IFC Clinic offers free care for the poor. This is a way for the poor to get examined and then treated for their injuries or sickness.

If the patient needs surgery we try to help with that if we have the funds. We have provided many surgeries from broken bones to tumor removal. We usually take them to a hospital in Manado which provides good care. We have staff that help these patients with transportation, housing, getting into the hospital and after surgery care.

Patients have told us over and over that they know they are cared for at the clinic. That means a lot because we want them to get the best care possible.

I saw it again last month when a Muslim man came to the clinic following what was suspected as a stroke. He was in one of the rooms and was joined by his family. He told us he wanted to stay because he knew the staff really cared for him. He was at a difficult time and gave us the greatest compliment.

Hospital Progress

The hospital being built on the Medical Base has a roof, walls and the interior work is being completed. It will be a 16 bed facility with a birthing center on one end. This is will provid needed in-patient care for this region. It is located next the clinic and will compliment the out-patient work there.

This project is being funded by Rotary (Australia). There is a helicopter landing pad and an ambulance that will add to the versatility of the hospital. The cost of cement and steel have increased the cost of this construction which has slowed the progress at times. It is moving forward now and there should be a date of completion some time in the summer.

I am thankful that we are able to add this facility to the medical work here. It will provide first-class treatment to those who cannot afford medical care. It is a joy to see this come to pass.

Mobile Clinics

The poverty in this region of Indonesia can be so bad that even the cost of transportation to a hospital or clinic can be more than most can afford. The mobile clinics that go to remote villages bring help to those who cannot access health care. The Alaska Team went to a village on the Island of Halmahera. This clinic was to be just a one day event. IFC have sent teams to remote areas and they stay for three days to as much as three months. This clinic was conducted under a roof but there were no walls around the clinic area. The first step is to unload the medicines and set up chairs. It didn't take long and the clinic was underway. It was hot and very humid. There were about seven medical staff doing examinations along with Scott Conover a P.A. from Alaska. There was no privacy and the medical interviews were conducted with the medical staff and patient sitting on chairs facing each other. Scott was in his element. He had a smile on his face the entire day. Scott is a great teacher and spent the day instructing our medical staff as well as seeing patients. These are very poor people. They saw people suffering from malnourishment, T.B., malaria, the flu, fevers and possible cancer. There were some very serious problems.

While the medical team was conducting the clinic another group of brave souls were entertaining a band of children. This was great fun with balloons, singing and games. The children were having a lot of fun with the bulai (white people).

This clinic saw over 100 patients that day. They ranges from new born to the elderly. This is a way we can help with the health in these small villages. It is a privilege to be able to provide some hope to their suffering.

She Wanted a Girl

Jeremy has curly hair and seems to smile all the time. He is plump and looks very healthy. When he was born he was rejected by his mother. She wanted a girl. His mother was a prostitute and she was not willing to keep him. He could not advocate for himself and ask for life but she was talked into giving him to us.

His future is bright and he is just adorable. The future would have been dark if he was raised by a mother who would provide little love and was willing to just throw him away. He is now joined by the other band of throw-aways in the Children's Home. Jeremy will be nurtured with lots of hugs and hope. The children we are raising are all going to be bi-lingual (Indonesian and English) and offered the highest level of education they are able to achieve. Education is so important to the path for their future.

I looked at the smiling face of little Jeremy--thanking God he is alive and we have him in our care. I also see him as a part of the band of rejected souls who have been rescued. Thank all of you for your prayers and support.

Finally Home

It was a month ago we left with our team for Indonesia. We had some amazing days and became deep friends in the process. We traveled lots of air miles and sat in plenty of airports. The time with our staff, children and the people of remote Indonesia were just priceless. I will have a lot of stories in the next days. I am jet lagged and have a pile of emails to answer.

We are at an important time of our work. Thanks for all your support and prayers.

Island Blessings

This is my first update since we arrived in remote Indonesia. The team from Alaska are are doing well--except a few "Bally Bellies". The food has been wonderful and the team is in full gear forward. We joined a mobile clinic yesterday at a beautiful village on the ocean. The team saw over 100 patients. They saw the infected, lepers, T.B., pregnant, respiratory problems, heart issues and the full package of ailments. It was hot but enjoyable work. The children were cared for by our team of children's workers. The kids even sang "Jingle Bells"--something just didn't seem right about singing "dashing thru the snow" with palm trees swaying in the hot tropical breeze. Such is life in the field.

We found out our flight off the island is canceled. Today I will try to make new arrangements. Life at the end of the earth can be challenging. We have to remember to be flexible. I hope to get to Manado in time to speak at a Leader's Conference.

There is another clinic today at our medical base. The poor come to get free care. I can't think of a better investment of time and recourses than to help the helpless.

Early Flight

The Alaska Team is in Manado. We are all well and warm. We heard that it was very cold back home. No one has "Bali Belly" and we have had a lot of rice to eat. We have had two days here and it has been a time of preparation. We leave at 4 a.m. for our flight tomorrow. We will land on the beautiful island and start our work. We have traveled a long way and we are ready in everyway to see our friends. Thank for the prayers.

Taking Flight

In a couple hours our team will be on the way to Indonesia. We have a lot of connections and hour on the planes. Our bags are packed and all the documents are signed and we are ready to go. It seems like such a long journey but it is worth every stop or delay. The people of Indonesia are beautiful and we will have the opportunity to help some of the poorest in remote regions of East Indonesia and to love the "little ones" in the Children's Home.

In a couple days we will have more than our share of rice and fish. The food will be different and heat will be a big change for us but we will be with friends doing what e love to do.

I will be back in about a month. If I get the chance to write I will. We will be where there is no phone or internet. So I will write when I can.

Helping the Helpless

This nameless eight-month old girl was brought to our medical base in Kusuri. She was examined by Dr. Nichole Anderson from New Zealand and by Esther Scarborough, IFC Medical Director in Indonesia. Dr. Anderson said the cleft palate is the worst she has seen. I will try to see this child myself when I arrive in Indonesia.

This is another child we ask you to pray for--we hope and pray we can see a door open to help her. The best option is to find someone in Indonesia to do the surgery. I do not know if her medical needs make her a candidate to come to the U.S. I will have more details in about a month.

We are willing to help the "little ones" who grow up in poverty and have major medical needs. Please join us in prayer for this nameless little girl.

Frozen Chosen

It was 25 degrees below zero F. (33 degrees below C.) on the sign at the Dentist office on the Steese Hwy this morning. Yes--that is bitter cold and some of you might wonder why anyone would choose to live in a place like this. By-the-way it has been colder than 40 below F. this winter already. Now you really are wondering why some of us are living in the arctic. Well--this is our home. It actually takes a special person with a little adventure to stay more than one winter. I have found that as cold as it may be outside people here are really warm hearted and caring.

There will be eight of these frozen souls from the arctic and one from Illinois replacing their parkas for t-shirts and walking shorts. They will make up the team of nine going on a short-term team to remote Indonesia. This team will be training the IFC Children's Home staff on early childhood development benchmarks, working along side the medical staff with a focus on tropical diseases (like malaria, dengue fever and leprosy), engineering projects and three will share from the Bible to encourage the entire staff.

What a privilege to share the training and talents of these nine Americans. They will share warm hearts and friendship with the people of Indonesia. They will work faithfully but the bonus of walking barefoot on white sand beaches near the Equator is not a bad replacement for snow drifts and minus temperatures.