SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST

This morning we had a ceremony officially recognizing the completion of construction for the fish farm at the Sitanala Hospital.  In attendance were a number of hospital personnel and many from the leprosy community adjacent to the hospital.  Also in attendance were several leaders from our church and a number of members from both the local Indonesian congregations and the English-speaking expat congregation.  There were also reporters from the local press, which covered the activity.   The hospital officials had done a great job of organizing the event.

The 15 fishponds contained thousands of small fish.  Many of which were hatched in those ponds within the last few weeks.  We are particularly pleased with this project because it will be economically self-sustaining and be used to teach the leprosy patients a skill so they may become self-reliant. 

We have made a number of friends at this project over the last couple months.  We will miss our weekly visits to see them and seeing the progress of the project.  Eileen was one of the speakers at the ceremony.  She spoke for about five minutes in the local language.  I (Russell) was very proud of her.  I am extremely blessed to have such a good companion.  In her talk (which we will attach on another post), Eileen notes that this has been her favorite project, and how fitting it is that the best was saved for last!   

THE MEN WE WORKED WITH EACH WEEK- PAK ZEN WAHID, PAK WAWAN, PAK CECEP

THIS PLAQUE WILL BE ERECTED NEAR PONDS- RUSSELL AND DR. MUNTHE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF REHAB WITH THE LEPROSY PATIENTS

DR MUNTHE, DR. ALOYSIUS ARIFIN, (HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR-AKA BIG BOSS) AND EILEEN

GIVING OUT STICKERS

THE CHILDREN COUNTED TO 10 IN ENGLISH BEFORE GETTING A STICKER

GIVING MY SPEECH

BISHOP MAK OF TANGERANG WARD

BISHOP MAK RECEIVING COMMEMORATIVE AWARD

PAK MUHDI PRAYING

NO RIBBON CUTTING, IT WAS FLOWER CUTTING TIME

FEEDING THE FISH WITH MY VERY OWN MAN TO HOLD AN UMBRELLA
THOUSANDS OF FISH IN PONDS

PAK CECAP, ALWAYS WITH A SMILE

BISHOP MAK AND PAK ZEN WAHID WHO IS THE TRAINER FOR THE LEPROSY PATIENTS

THIS MAN HAS LIVED IN THE LEPROSY COLONY SINCE 1979. HE HAS 5 CHILDREN, ORIGINALLY FROM EAST JAVA.  HE WILL BE TRAINED TO RAISE THE CATFISH

THE MEN IN GREEN WILL ALL BE TRAINED TO RAISE THE CATFISH

SISTER WELCH (JUST ARRIVED LAST NIGHT) ELDER LISK, AND PRESIDENT DJAROT

BOAR GOATS AND MOUNT BROMO

 This week we had the opportunity to see a part of the island which neither Eileen or I had been to before.  Malang is a city in the southern part of East Java.  It is in the mountains so it is cooler there than where we are used to – low to mid 70’s.  We were there to look at a LDS Charities sponsored goat project that was done 10 years ago with the local university agriculture department.  The native goats here are rather small; perhaps scrawny may be a more apt description.  Boar goats were imported from Australia and bred with local goats to produce, over a five-generation process, goats that weigh in the range of 100 kg vs. 30-40 kg.  Our purpose was to see if something similar might be possible to be implemented elsewhere in Java.  Elder and Sister Williams, who serve in Malang were kind enough to show us around during our visit.

(Written by Eileen)  While in Malang we had an unusual experience.  We were driving down the quiet streets when we heard a scream. I looked back to see a motorcyclist that had slid on his side. I realized that the motorcyclist had stopped suddenly for a child that had run across the street.  A nun was chasing a child that appeared to be 5 or 6 years of age. The child was running very fast and the nun was chasing after him, arms outstretched with her habit flying behind her.  The Williams commented that the building the child came out of is an orphanage where they teach English.  Their driver said that some of the children that live there have behavioral problems.  The young boy made it across two streets before being caught by the nun. She brought him back by the arm with many nuns watching with horrified looking faces.  By this time the motorcyclist had gotten up and it appeared that nobody had been hurt.

While in Malang we took the opportunity to see Mt. Bromo, an active volcano.  Actually there are several volcanoes right around Bromo, which provide a spectacular view.  Traditionally most tourist books say that the best time to see Bromo is at first light.  What this requires is a 1 AM starting time from Malang, two hours by van and then 1 more hour by jeep.  Then you hike up a ways and stand at a lookout point, in the cold and dark, waiting for the sun to come up around 5:30 AM.  You might ask why would you arrive there at 4 to see a sunrise at 5:30?  There were about 200 jeeps bringing people up to the location – almost all were Europeans.  Getting there first we had a great front row spot to view the area.  Following sunrise we drove down within a few km of the volcano and hiked up to the rim.  As we walked the distance you could see your breath, which told me it must be cold.  The smell of sulfur was so strong it burned our eyes and throat.  When after a ways the journey got steeper, Eileen decided to take a horse.

THIS BIG MOMMA BROKE OUT OF HER HOLDING PEN

THIS BABY GOAT DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO ME

RUSSELL AND ELDER WILLIAMS TALKING WITH  MANAGER OF FARM (IN ORANGE) 

THEY USE THIS BIG PROBE TO ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATE THE GOATS (OUCH)

FOG HANGING OVER THE VALLEY

THE SUN IS FINALLY COMING UP

BROMO IS THE CRATER WITH THE SULFUR STEAM COMING OUT OF IT, OUR JEEP RACED AGAINST OTHER JEEPS ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF BROMO

I THOUGHT I WOULD TASTE SOME HOT CORN,  IT WAS COLD, HOPE I DON'T GET SICK FROM IT

CLIMBING THE PATH TO BROMO

THIS MAN CALLED TO ME AND SAID "TIRED MAMA, WANT A RIDE?"  I BARTERED WITH HIM AND RODE A SHORT WAYS

AT TOP OF BROMO, THE EDGE OF THE CRATER IN THE BACKGROUND, SULFUR SMELL HORRIBLE

SULFUR COMING UP FROM BROMO

250 STEPS TO CLIMB TO THE TOP,  HORSES AND JEEPS WAITING AT BOTTOM,  NOTICE SKI HATS AND SWEATSHIRTS ON PEOPLE CLIMBING UP,  IT WAS SO COLD WE COULD SEE OUR BREATH

A VISIT WITH THE STAKE PRESIDENT

Our church has all lay leadership positions.  Our leaders spend many hours preparing and ministering to the needs of the people within their flock in addition to their full-time jobs.  A week ago we were able to get to know President Djarot Subiantoro a little bit better when he and his wife Julinda (Linda) invited us to lunch at their home.  President Djarot (Javanese often go by their first name rather than last name - that is when they have a second name) is the president of the Jakarta, Indonesia stake.  A "stake" is group of member congregation similar in size to a Catholic diocese.  With his permission we would like to share some information about this great man and his family. 

We were interested to find out that President and Sister Subiantoro had both worked for IBM in Jakarta.  Eileen's father also worked for IBM for many years until retiring.  It was while working there that Linda met President Djarot and introduced him to the LDS church.  He later converted and was baptized a member of the church.  They have 3 daughters and 1 son.

Our mission was not the first interaction we had with the Subiantoro family.  Linda is actually Brother Tandiman's sister and a close friend of Aischa whom we have spoken about in previous blog postings.  Their olderst daughter Tia Subiantoro helped tutor us a little while we were in language training at the MTC a year and a half ago.  She had the reputation between Russell and I of speaking faster than than anyone we have ever known.  One time while helping Russell get more used to hearing a native speaker speak the language, Tia tried reading a church magazine to him.  After that proved to be too dificult, she tried a newspaper, after which he kindly asked her if she had a preschool book she could read to him.  Tia has now graduated from BYU and is working in SLC with Goldman Sachs, an investment banking firm.

Their second daughter Tara has been going to BYU and will soon be serving a mission in Mandarin speaking Oakland, California (Mandarin speaking!).  Just as many others from our faith, she will have to learn a new language to serve a mission.  Their 3rd daughter Astrid loves math and plans also on going to BYU.  Their 4th, a son,  has received honors in science at the school he is attending. 

While observing this family I was struck by the similarities of our goals, desires and love that we each have for our families despite growing up half a world away from each other.  We have seen the great love President Djarot and Sister Linda show to their children and also to the members of our church.  It has been a honor and privilege to know them.  It is no wonder that Elder Bednar (one of our apostles) gave President Djarot the heavy stewardship of being the first Stake President of our church here in Indonesia.

PRESIDENT AND SISTER DJAROT ON THEIR WEDDING DAY 

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN ON THEIR WEDDING DAY IN THE MISSION HOME.  THE PICTURE STILL IS THERE, 22 YEARS LATER.

HOW GOOD ARE YOUR FEET? EILEEN SHOWING SHE CAN STAND WITH ONE FOOT ONE THESE MARBLES!

ASTRID WITH PRESIDENT DJAROT AND LINDA

PRESIDENT DJAROT, SISTER LINDA, EILEEN AND RUSSELL

LELE FOR THE KUSTA (LEPROSY)

We have recently been working on a lele (catfish) farm at the kusta (leprosy) colony at Sitanala hospital.  I (Eileen) was asked on Friday how we come up with our projects.  This one came about strictly through information received while exercising.  Most of my good ideas and contacts have some association with the pool.  It is good to be a “senior” (older) missionary.

When we first came to Jakarta I met a nice couple while on a walk at our apartment complex.  They told me about a leprosy  colony near the airport.  I was very intrigued and wanted to know more about it.  Due to our being busy with other projects and difficulty making connections nothing happened for a year.  Then when we had some slack time and were searching for a project, my friend that first mentioned the colony to me saw me at the pool and asked if he had ever given us his contact information for the kusta colony.  Only the night before we had been praying to know where we should be looking for our next project.  God works quickly when you are doing that which He wants you to do.

Within a few days we finally were able to make a visit out to the kusta colony and a few weeks later to the appropriate hospital administrators.  There we met with a Dr. Munthe who was over the rehabilitation of the patients with leprosy.  He told us that in the area there were approximately 1,000 kusta patients, most of whom have already been treated and no longer contagious.  With their families, the colony totals somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 people.  Many have tried returning to their villages after treatment but have been rejected because of the stigma attached to leprosy.  During and after treatment, the rehabilitation efforts focus not only on physical and mental issues but also tries to teach the patients skills that will enable them to earn money and become self-sufficient. 

Dr. Aloysius, director of hospital services, told us that the government gives them funding but restricts the use of those funds to the treatment of the patients, leaving them without government funding for much of their rehabilitation efforts. 

Currently they are trying to teach the patients how to garden, sew and raise fish.  Our desire was to help them in some way that would be self-sustaining if at all possible.  Dr. Munthe suggested we consider expanding their already established fish farming program.  There were 3 small ponds with plastic lining similar to what you would see in a child’s swimming pool back home.  We offered to have our church help with building more  ponds if Dr. Munthe would submit a proposal.

We were very pleased when Dr. Munthe came back to us within a short time with an organized proposal. It was checked by a local church member who also has lele to make sure that it was a sound, viable proposal.  The project was approved by our supervisors in Hong Kong and work started on July 2^nd.  We have been astonished at how quickly the work is progressing, especially considering we are in Ramadan now, the month of fasting. 

Russell and I both believe that this project came about through God’s direction.  We believe we have been lead to this place in order to help His children who are poor and suffering.  Several people at the hospital have told us that this is the first time anyone has tried to do any “big” project for the kusta patients in quite a while.  It is our hope that as the people learn how to farm fish that they may feel better about themselves as they become self-sufficient.  Perhaps this can be an income producer that will be successful enough that it can be self-sustaining and possibly provide income toward other worthwhile projects helping the kusta patients and their families.  We truly enjoy our time working with the individuals at Sitanala hospital.  Our plan is to add pictures weekly to this blog posting so that you can see the progress of the project.

CURRENT PONDS FOR CATFISH AT SITANALA

LEPROSY CLIENT FEEDING CATFISH

PATIENT

RECENTLY AMPUTATED FOOT

EILEEN WITH MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY, MAN WITH GLASSES BLIND

AT STORE BUYING MATERIALS FOR PONDS

RUSSELL DISCUSSING PLANS WITH KUSTA EMPLOYEES

THIS IS THE PLACE-THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEARED OUT BEFORE THE PONDS CAN BE PUT IN

OUR CONTRACTER AT WORK-BOTH PARENTS HAVE  LEPROSY

OUR CONTRACTOR

CLEARING OUT THE BRUSH

SNAILS FOR FRYING FOR DINNER-YUM!

LAYING CEMENT PADS

HOLES COMING OUT FROM SIDE ARE FOR OXYGENATION OF WATER

HONEYMOON SUITE

BRUSH IS COVERED WITH EGGS

BREEDER FISH-5 MALES 10 FEMALES