A note from IFC Director
February 24, 2004

I just returned from the remote region of North Maluku, Indonesia, where I met a little girl with a shocking burn. I am asking you to pray for a miracle. She needs extensive, expert treatment costing in the million dollar range.

While some doors have opened for this care, there are no guarantees at the moment. This is all new territory for me--but I just could not leave her out there and not do something to find her help. Funds are needed for travel for her and her mother, a translator, a home and food for a year, passports, visas, and all the medical work (I am praying we can get the medical work donated).

Please consider sharing in the channel of God’s mercy to Yulce.

Carl Cady.
IFCUS director

Yulce (Yulchee)

I was told to get into the vehicle—we were going to find a child who was a burn victim. Esther Scarborough, the IFC Medical Staff Director, drove down the side roads to the village of Paca (Pacha) just south of Tobelo in North Maluku. She drove with abandon and paid little attention to the road. I was a classic back seat driver and tried my best to keep her interested in the road we were hoping would get us safely to this village. We did at least three unintentional off road tours—Esther would deny it but I had two other witnesses, Peter Scarborough, her husband, and Greg Dixon.

We had finally arrived in the village and after asking some of the locals where to find this child we came to the split bamboo home of this burn victim. I had seen burns before and have never been comfortable with the sight of the scars. We waited for this child to be brought to us. It wasn't’t long before a large crowd had gathered around this simple home. I sat in the small room and felt little hands touching my arm. I slowly looked to see the children outside reaching through the window to get a feel of some white skin. It didn’t bother me and I just sat as a rare white skinned specimen. I know what a zoo animal feels like.

It was nearly an hour before she was brought to the house—a hush came over the crowd. I did not need an announcement—it was a silence she must have grown all too accustomed to. In a minute she entered the small room and I saw her for the first time. She was shocking. I felt that “butterfly” feeling in my stomach. She looked at me with her big eyes and I now was introduced to her, “This is Yulce (pronounced Yulchee).” She was not just a burn victim she was a 13 year old girl who unfortunately had an accident while pouring kerosene into a lamp in December of 2002.

I could see that she was uncomfortable and yet she knew these people were here to help. She remembered Esther which eased some of her anxiety. We wanted to make her feel safe as we took photos of the extent of the burns, so we went into a small bedroom in this split bamboo house. We wanted her to know she was special—I asked the Lord to use us as His voice of comfort. She was so sweet through the photos and videos. Her mother was by her side the whole time knowing this was a moment of grace. How many times would she get someone who could help her child. She is like every parent who loves their child and feels helpless in giving even a moment of hope to the disfiguring scars on her little girl. She looked at us like—could these people be the answer to my impossible prayer.

Please know this is not just a remote corner of the earth. This region was a war zone. There have been thousands murdered here and hundreds of thousands who fled this region to refugee camps in North Sulawesi. The last six months have been relatively peaceful and the refugees are returning and there is a lot of rebuilding both of lives and homes going on. This region is holding to a shaky peace and has no resources for burn victims. Yulce lay in bed for six months with no treatment. She has had no pain medicines during the months of healing of the burn wounds. She suffered unbelievable discomfort and saw her life changed forever.

The damage was extensive—she lost most of both ears, both arms are fused to her sides just above the elbows, her face from about mid-mouth is melted into her chest (she looks like she has no neck), her chest has heavy burns down to the waist, and her face was pulled downward with her lower eyelids stretched revealing the pink flesh. She has a monstrous appearance.

She is just a little girl with a beautiful laugh and the same hopes as the other girls in her village. She must have wondered—why did this happen to me?? Will I ever have a life or will I always be this disfigured woman. We tried to show her compassion without giving her “false hope”. I am not a burn specialist. I could not make her any promises. I wish I could just take her to any one of a number of burn centers in the U.S. If I had the money I would gladly pay for it. I do not qualify in any of these ways--I am just a voice for this little girl. I hope I can be a part of the answer to the prayers of Yulce and her mother. Please join me in being a voice for her. Please pray with me to the “God of all comfort” to open a door for her to get help. There must be someone who will show this beautiful child some hope.

I sat with Yulce a couple days later. I wanted her to feel comfortable and safe. I sat next to her and she put her hand in mine. She looked at me and seemed to say—You look like someone I can trust. I prayed for her and without a doubt I put my trust in the Lord. If ever I want a prayer answered, it is this one.