We have just over a week before we leave for Indonesia. This short-term team will be focused on dental training, hygiene, training children workers and construction. We have a dentist, three college students, and electrical engineer and the team leader. We have a relatively short time in Indonesia and so we have to be ready to fill our time and give our best efforts. The team members on this team live in two locations and will be meeting in...

David is from Illinois and has been a friend of mine for a number of years. He is a real student and loved researching about Indonesia and especially the people of East Indonesia. I have learned a lot from him and always look forward to the inspiring and interesting things he shares with me.David was recently on a team that went to Indonesia and shared the big heart he has for the people and the knowledge of the culture. The interest he has for...

I am in awe of the goodness of so many people who volunteer to help the people of Indonesia. These volunteers are gifted and well prepared for the investment of their time. They are the true American Idols. They do not need to sing the the latest hits for millions on network broadcasts–they just quietly give of themselves.I am getting ready to take another team in February. It will take three days travel to get to the remote region of...

My Treasure Hunt was the title of the article that Brother Terry wrote back in 2005 for the pages of our annual report. I read it again today because I am near his home in Illinois and really missed seeing him. He passed away this last year after a hard fight with cancer. He fought with grace even though he was in terrible pain. I loved him very much and admired his strength and heart.In his article he spoke about another man he met in...

IFC has been serving the people of Indonesia since 2001. In those years we have had many amazing people help us with support or by joining a short-term team. I want to give a tribute to a couple of these partners.I met a rancher named Greg in Australia. I went to his home on the edge of the outback and had a cup of tea one afternoon. He reminded me of what we think about when we imagine an Australian rancher. He and I sat and spoke about the...

It was a month ago we left with our team for Indonesia. We had some amazing days and became deep friends in the process. We traveled lots of air miles and sat in plenty of airports. The time with our staff, children and the people of remote Indonesia were just priceless. I will have a lot of stories in the next days. I am jet lagged and have a pile of emails to answer.We are at an important time of our work. Thanks for all your support and...

This is my first update since we arrived in remote Indonesia. The team from Alaska are are doing well–except a few “Bally Bellies”. The food has been wonderful and the team is in full gear forward. We joined a mobile clinic yesterday at a beautiful village on the ocean. The team saw over 100 patients. They saw the infected, lepers, T.B., pregnant, respiratory problems, heart issues and the full package of ailments. It was hot...

The Alaska Team is in Manado. We are all well and warm. We heard that it was very cold back home. No one has “Bali Belly” and we have had a lot of rice to eat. We have had two days here and it has been a time of preparation. We leave at 4 a.m. for our flight tomorrow. We will land on the beautiful island and start our work. We have traveled a long way and we are ready in everyway to see our friends. Thank for the prayers.

In a couple hours our team will be on the way to Indonesia. We have a lot of connections and hour on the planes. Our bags are packed and all the documents are signed and we are ready to go. It seems like such a long journey but it is worth every stop or delay. The people of Indonesia are beautiful and we will have the opportunity to help some of the poorest in remote regions of East Indonesia and to love the “little ones” in the...

It was 25 degrees below zero F. (33 degrees below C.) on the sign at the Dentist office on the Steese Hwy this morning. Yes–that is bitter cold and some of you might wonder why anyone would choose to live in a place like this. By-the-way it has been colder than 40 below F. this winter already. Now you really are wondering why some of us are living in the arctic. Well–this is our home. It actually takes a special person with a little...