Friends

I have been thinking recently about the amazing friends I have made in the last 10 years. I have been to some remote and far out places. I couldn't possibly name them on these lines but I have thought about many of them recently. There is a community a couple hours drive north of Sydney, Australia. Taree has become a destination for me when I am down under.

I do not remember who was the first Aussie I met there but I have made many friends in Taree. These amazing people have partnered with our work and have become dear to me. I am rich with the friends I have made in Taree and over the last years. I have taken 30 teams to Indonesia and always consider myself blessed to be with people who see that they can give to the poor.

I will drive next to the Hunter River again some day--I know because I have lots of friends there.

Encouraging

I do not know what you need to have a sense of encouragement. The recent reports on two of the children who are being cared by our medical staff in Indonesia was exactly what made me feel encouraged. There were two little girls who have needed our help and prayers. Jien is now nine years old and Junita is less than a year old. They both needed miracles.

Jien has recently started to walk with assistance. She is so weak and frail but seems to have turned a corner. She is now eating better and is growing from the 15 pound she when we first met her 10 months ago.

Junita was badly burned on her head and upper body in a hot oil spill. She went to Bethesda Hospital in Kalimantan where she had had skin grafts over her head. She is really doing well.

Both of these children were not expected to live but it looks like they have a chance now. That is what makes me encouraged today.

A Few Steps

Jien has been fighting for her life. The medical staff have treated her with little progress. She is now nine years old and less than 20 pounds. She has T.B. and malnourishment--that is a terrible combination. We have all been concerned and cheering her on. It seemed like every small bite of food was one more step closer to her being healthy.

We just got the best news yesterday. She is not only walking but she has begun to eat more. She is a miracle and so many are praying and hoping she makes it. I can't wait to hear the next report that she is even better than today's great report.

The staff have just done an amazing job in loving and treating her. She has been through so much sadness in her short life. Her mother died of T.B. and she has to fight everyday.

A New Ear

Tison went to surgery yesterday. He was scheduled to have his right ear repaired. The outer ear was pulled over to a closed position. Due to the burn injury his ear was folded forward and was closed--you could not see his inside of his ear. It was a concern because it was very obvious when you looked at him. He was very self-conscious of it and wanted it to look better.

He has had several surgeries that addressed more functional problems--those are very important but to an 11 year old boy his appearance was also important. I think it turned out very well. His ear is now open--there was no damage to the inner ear. He definitely will be able to have improved hearing and looks. There is more work to be done but I am very happy to see this important step. I think Tison will be very happy once he recovers from the surgery.

He is a step-by-step project. He has so many injuries and even as he grows there will be more to be done just due to him growing in size. He wants to stay here in the U.S. but we have been reminding him of how much his family loves him. He really does love his family and we will be taking him home before his current visa expires. He will be much better than he was and will have a new look--a new ear.

Snow machines

We have friends who have a large farm in Alaska. Tison was invited to come down and ride machines with their son. Here is a boy born in Indonesia and now very much a part of life in the arctic.

We arrived with plenty of daylight on a beautiful sunny day. It was a little cool but the sun was bright and Tison was more than ready to get on the snow machine and have some fun. He got his winter clothes on and we hardly saw them again. They were just having a great time riding and enjoying the amazing winter day. Tison was having so much fun he forgot to come in to eat lunch.

He is making memories here in the Great Northland. He will be going back to his home in a couple months. He will be under the hot tropical sun and the snow and chill will be only in his stories to his friends. He has told us he loves living here--everyone likes him and he really feels good about himself. He misses his family and will be happy to see them--but he will have a place in his memories for Alaska.

Junita

She is seven months old and has had more pain than any child should endure. Junita was injured in a hot oil accident. Her face, scalp, arms and upper chest. She was diagnosed with a 25% to 50% chance to survive the accident. Her mother ,who was also injured in the accident, brought her to our clinic in Kusuri asking for help.

She needed skin grafts and had little time to waist. The staff made the decision to transport her and her mother to a Bethesda Hospital on the island of Kalimantan. She was escorted by one of the doctors and arrived safe. This is a long and grueling trip for someone in her condition. She had er first surgery and is now stable. Her life was spared but more surgeries will be required to prevent more damage.

Prayer--Down Under

I am sure most of you have heard of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. The loss of life and destruction was vast. We kept hearing the death toll rising and the heroics of those tireless rescuers. I have several friends who live there and just got a note from Peter and Katherine, his wife . Peter volunteered at our base in Halmahera in 2004. He and I were roommates for about a week. Peter is a doctor and what I remember was how compassionate and kind he was to those he treated.

He gave me an update on the recent earthquake. Our prayers and heart are with the people of New Zealand and specifically Christchurch.

These are the words Peter quoted from Pastor Steve (last name withheld) from Christchurch--

"John 10:35 says very simply “Jesus wept”. Sometimes the only thing we can do is what comes naturally at times of great distress – to weep and to let out the deep emotions that have bubbled up so close to the surface. Weeping did not stop Jesus from waiting on his Father for the wisdom and power to be able to respond to the pain. Nor did it stop him from working to bring healing and hope to Lazarus and his family. Sometimes you have to weep. Weep, wait, and work. One day at a time. We are still overwhelmed by the response and resilience of so many in the face of personal tragedy, anxiety, injury and hardship. Church remains a hive of activity, the café is open during the day, and many food parcels are still being prepared and going out the doors just as fast to people in need. Fresh supplies were bought in yesterday so we are currently well stocked to provide emergency assistance to people in need."

Pray--pray --pray.