Lifting Your Voice

I have taken many short-term teams to Indonesia over the last nine years. I have traveled with some of the most amazing people. These people pay their way and volunteer their services. I make sure they are safe and have a positive experience. A 70 plus year-old woman was one of the best surprises. She did fine in the heat and had such a great attitude. A 15 year-old teenager was another great team member. She was so kind and seemed like she was perfect for this experience.

The food, culture, driving and heat can catch you by surprise. These are real challenges--especially for us from the northern regions of North America. There are plenty of obstacles to those of us who are used to all our western comforts. I am so proud of these amazing people who give of themselves and try to bless those who are less fortunate.

Then these team members go home and they try to tell their family and friends about what they experienced. It is really hard to put into words what you see and experience on these trips. Yet they try to share about the amazing people of Indonesia and their lives and culture.

I recently went to hear one of the team members share about his experiences. He was excited and I admire the way he lifted his voice for those he met in Indonesia. He told about orphans, lepers, the training of our staff and the many other experiences he enjoyed. Dr. Paul is a testimony and inspiration to me. I would love to take Paul with me again and I would love to have more like Paul. He was sick a number of days but just kept going and did everything with a smile.

Epen and Mim

I just got the official announcement today. Epen Akay and Miriam Scarborough are engaged to be married. Epen is an amazing Indonesian young man. He is the foreign team coordinator for our medical work. He has made so many friends because of his kindness and care for each person traveling to our base. Epen taught himself English and is now fluent--that is a tough task. He is my favorite translator when I speak in large meetings. He is like a friend. Epen has had enough pain in his short life for several lifetimes but has a deep faith and strength. Miriam is the daughter of Peter and Esther Scarborough, co-founders of the work, and a wonderful young woman. She was raised most of her life in Indonesia. They make a beautiful couple and will have many years of happiness. I admire both of them and I know they will be strong leaders together.

Epen as a single man has already adopted an abandoned little girl named Lestari. He is the father figure in her life. Miriam is caring for a little boy named Leigh. Leigh was near death due to malnourishment--she has nursed him to health. He is doing very well and is bonded to Miriam. Epen and Miriam are already responsible and caring people--together they will be great parents.

Epen has been interested in Miriam for many years. He has been a perfect gentleman and has respected her as he waited for the right time to move forward in their relationship. I pray the best for them.

Kalkati

It is interesting how some names are given to children. In some cases names are just given on a "try out" basis. Imagine my surprise to know that a new born was given my name. It is the Indonesian spelling of my first and last name. They called him Kalkati (pronounced Call-Kay-Tee). He was born early and was an abandoned child. He was not in very good health.

I was humbled that a "little life", a living individual was given my name. I got to hold him although he was frail and did not look well. He was fighting for his life.

When I left two weeks later he looked better and I am optimistic he was gain more strength. He has a full-time care giver who is doing a great job nurturing him. I am looking forward to seeing how he does over these next months. These are important days for him to be nurtured back to health.

Dr. Paul

Dr. Paul came to Indonesia knowing he would be there only a short time. He filled the days he had with hours of training and dental work. Neni, the dental nurse, was so amazing. She was hungry to learn and Dr. Paul kept giving her more and more opportunities. His teaching style was to show her, then let her do what he just showed her. Neni is smart and was the perfect student. She wanted to learn more and more. It was the perfect team--Dr. Paul was willing to teach her and she was eager to learn.

Dr. Paul could have pulled and filled a hundred teeth and then go home. It would have blessed a hundred people. Now Yeni can pull and fill many times the hundred teeth Dr. Paul could have filled in the time he was in Indonesia. Neni is now an extension of Dr. Paul--she will get better and better because of what she learned under his instruction.

The investment of skilled professionals in the training of our staff is invaluable. This is the model we feel is the most effective. I appreciate Dr. Paul very much--he came in with the right attitude and gave everything he had.

Baby Steps--Tison

I just got home from Indonesia. It was only a month but it seemed like two months--there was a lot accomplished. One of the most important projects in the works is bringing a nine year old Indonesian child to American for reconstructive surgery.

Tison is badly burned and needs major help. He is an awesome little boy. He is full of energy and is normal in every way except he was involved in a accidental fuel spill. He was brought to our clinic with his injuries. Tison has extensive burns on his right arm and leg. His face and upper torso is also burned. You would never know he has limitations--he just runs and plays with his friends on the base. There are now four boys living at our base who have burn injuries. Tison caught the eye of a couple volunteers who traveled there on short-term teams. A team from Fairbanks, Alaska are moving forward with efforts to get him help.

I am hopeful we can see him come to Fairbanks and get the needed surgeries. At this point it is baby steps. We are hopeful but cautious.