He Has a Name

The little boy I wrote about in the last story is named Indra. He is four years old. He was abandoned by his parents and his aunt is now raising him. He is always in her arms. He has a hole in his heart and needs surgery for PDA.

He is in a difficult time as his future is in question. He cannot run and play like the other children in the camp where he and his aunt are living. The camp they live in is depressing and not a good place to live. Indra's aunt does not have a husband or children. He is her sunshine and needs to get his heart repaired soon.

So far we have raised half of what he needs for his surgery. He needs another $ 1,000 to cover the rest of the costs. We are trying to give him a normal life.

Hole in His Heart

I just got a note from IFC medical director, Esther Scarborough. She told me about a small boy (I do not have his name) who is living in a camp and needs surgery to close a hole in his heart. I got to see him because I have stopped at that camp a number of times. He is always in the arms of his mother and cries a lot. He seems lethargic and doctors feel they need to get him help soon.

There are about 500 people living in this camp--they are unable or unwilling to return to their homes because of lack of money or safety issues. They remain in these poor conditions and life seems to go on. This small boy is in need of surgery in Jakarta. It can be done but we need the funds to get him help. It costs around $ 3,000 to get him and his mother to Jakarta, lodging and surgery. Please pray with us about this little boy.

I have several photos of him but he is crying in every photo. His family is praying but they are very poor and need some help.

Christiana

Lodi and Eka have their own son, Christian, who is ten years old. He is bright and full of energy. He comes home from school and hardly sets his books down and he is out the door with the soccer ball. He is also the top student in his class. He is now a big brother to his new sister Christiana. She is a new born who was adopted by Lodi and Eka. Chritiana was born at our clinic to a mother was not willing to give her a home. She wanted her to go to a good home. Her prayers were answered.

Lodi and Eka are leaders at the IFC Medical Base. Lodi is the right hand man to Peter--he is a very valuable part of our work. Eka is the head of the Leper treatment program. This couple has a perfect home for this little girl. Christian makes a good big brother and loves to show her affection.

This beautiful girl has come to a nurturing and caring family. She is one of the many who are being cared for by staff families on our base. These children were abandoned or thrown away but now they have found homes of solid families where they receive all they need to grow up accepted and loved.

Wounds Still Open

She sat with us and told us about her life. Ribka is about 23 years old and started by telling us about the attack on her village during the years of conflict. She stated that she and her family fled from their village and ran to the jungle where they lived for five months. She spoke of the struggle of eating only what they could find--roots and occasional fruit. It was a difficult time and just full of suffering.

It reminded me that the wounds of the struggle are still open. She didn't start her story at her years of innocent childhood. She began with the the deepest sadness in her life. I could see that her wound was still very tender and was defining her as a person.

We need to remember these ones who faced unspeakable losses in their lives. We cannot just pass by and minimize the affect of those painful years. They will be walking through these issues for many years. Ribka and others like her are now working to mend the wounds of others--who could be more understanding than those who have the same loss in their lives.

Dr. Lena

She is a tall Indonesian woman. She is going to be a Medical Doctor. She has completed her studies and just needs to pass her medical examination to get a license to practice medicine. Dr. Lena came to our base to work on her English language. She is very good in English but wanted a more technical grasp of the language.

She told us that she came to learn English but she learned compassion. Dr. Lena studied medicine to have a successful and prosperous life. She admits she got into medicine to make lots of money. She watched the way our medical staff gave to each patient. They show respect and mercy to everyone who comes to our clinic. They show no partiality--it does not matter if they are poor. It does not matter if they are Muslim or Christian--they all get the same care. She witnessed this day after day and it began to touch her. She is a good person and will make an amazing doctor now that she has discovered the key--compassion.

Jurambi

We were taken to the Ward to see the newest arrival. It seemed important and had an sense of urgency. When we went to the room we could see a young man in serious condition. Jurambi is 21 years old and has an unknown illness. It was a little early to know because he had just arrived and was being diagnosed. He was malnourished and very weak. He looks like someone with AIDS. The Doctor was doing tests and asking the questions about contracting HIV.

His parents had brought him to the Ward. We spoke to them and it just seemed like they had no more options. Jurambi had been working in West Papua for a couple years. He began to get sick while he was there. They wanted answers but needed a miracle. I thought how hopeless this must feel for them. They were poor and had waited until he was near death to bring him into the Ward. This is not uncommon for the sick to come to our clinic when they have allowed their illness to progress to a very serious point. He was receiving 24 hour care and had improved slightly in a few days.

Medical care can be very difficult at the ends of the earth due to the serious condition of patients when they arrive at our clinic. They are poor and even the transportation costs can be a more than they can afford. There are many remote islands that require the sick to travel in small boats in open ocean waters. The storm seasons make the already daunting travel even more dangerous. Then there is superstition which can be an obstacle to getting help soon enough. These families are desperate and sometimes rely on witchdoctors to cure their loved ones. The challenges facing medical workers in these remote regions can be monumental. It is never a question of the concern or love of a family for their sick or injured loved ones--it is how many obstacles are in the way to getting them to help.

Pa Pa Daud

David is from Illinois and has been a friend of mine for a number of years. He is a real student and loved researching about Indonesia and especially the people of East Indonesia. I have learned a lot from him and always look forward to the inspiring and interesting things he shares with me.

David was recently on a team that went to Indonesia and shared the big heart he has for the people and the knowledge of the culture. The interest he has for knowledge is only dwarfed by his heart for the people. David might be found holding one of the children in the children's home or talking at length to one of the Indonesians he meets. There is something about David that opens the hearts of people. He is interested in them and they can read that in him.

We stayed in a hotel while preparing to leave the country. It is a quiet place and it allows the team to rest before the long flights home to America. David had made friends of the Indonesian staff and almost all of them knew him--they called him Pa Pa Daud. Daud is the Indonesian name for David. Pa Pa is an affectionate and respectful title to a senior male figure. I think the name will stick. His friendliness and interest in each of them gave him a new title. Sometimes it is a kind word and an open heart that mean the most.

Between Two Worlds

Cathy and I had just come from the remote islands to the east of Manado. We had spent lots time with the poor and sick--it was such a blessed time to share their lives and to stand with them. There is something about the simple live they live. The daily struggle to survive is always facing them--hardship is a constant reminder of their world. Our affections were with the abandoned children and the lepers who were now close to our hearts.

Tison is an eight year old boy who was badly burned and was brought to our medical base about six months ago. He is in very bad shape but he just lives as if he had no injuries. He would play soccer and stand on his head. You would never know he was burned so bad and has not seen his family in six months. What a joy to spend time with him and the others who depend on us. I love the time I get to spend with Tison and the others. Billie, his 12 year old friend, was also a burn victim was just a sweet temperamented boy. He and Tison were just the best of friends. and could be found together most of the time.

We left these islands and our friends to speak at a conference in Manado--the rooms were arranged and we checked into the hotel. We entered the hotel lobby and realized this hotel was nicer than any place we have stayed--even in the U.S. We were in a bit of culture shock. We went to the 10th floor to our room. I looked out the window and saw the homes of the poor as far as I could see. I told Cathy--I do not like what I am feeling. It felt sad looking down from the beautifully hotel room to the poverty below us. I then understood we lived between two worlds. My heart was for the poor and I felt the contrast of these two worlds. I understand the difference and the difference is a lot bigger than how much someone owns. It is what owns you. It is one thing to feel for the poor it is another thing to get to know their struggle and to stand with them--that is when these two worlds come together.