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.