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...
Read MoreNius 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...
Read MoreWhere would we be without email, blogs, and the Internet? I know there are negative and positive realities about the Internet. What if you are miles from the nearest cell phone tower and the Internet is not even in the region. That is the challenge of working at the end of the earth.IFC has solved that with a modest Internet satellite system. It connects the base with the rest of the world. This is an amazing system because it can find a...
Read MoreI will be traveling tonight on the late flight out of Alaska. We had six inches of snow yesterday and I think I will find green grass in my final destination–Illinois. IFC has many friends and partners in mid-state Illinois.My friend, Terry Holderread, invited me to come to Illinois in 2003. We called him “Brother Terry” which fit him so well. He was a brother and friend to everyone. I miss him since his death last year. I...
Read MoreThere will be a transition in our work in the years to come. It has been our heart to give this work into the capable hands of our Indonesian staff–they are smart and dedicated. We are building the infrastructure while selected members of our team are being trained. It will be a number of years before this transition is completed but we are now investing in the future.Well over 50 young people have completed the one year medical course...
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It can rain in the tropics–as you can see. This photo is taken at the Medical Base House–it was taken in February during the rainy season. These islands have dense jungles drenched nearly every day during the rainy season. The rich volcanic soil combined with a perfect climate produce ideal conditions for the growth of fruit and vegetables. It also provides a wet playground for the children at the base. Epen (big brother) is...
Read MoreIf you have never been in the tropics during the rainy season you cannot imagine how hard it can rain. The rain keep the place green and provides some relief to the heat. It is now 33 C. (91 F.) with over 90 % of humidity. There is no AC so you get a little reprieve from the heat when the rain comes. It is fun to watch the children enjoy the rain. They just take life as it comes. What a concept. Let it rain and take one day at a...
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It is more like a bee hive–full of activity. People are going everywhere–some are cleaning–some are working with animals–some are helping the sick–some are building new buildings–some are security guard–some are loving and caring for children in the Children’s Home–some are mechanics repairing our ailing vehicles–some are gardeners–some are translators–some are...
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