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.