This is my fourth trip to East Timor. It was certainly an exciting trip. On the average we spent about 4 hours on the road daily.
When we arrived there on the first day, 28 April, we smacked right into the final day of the riots. The disgruntled soldiers who were dismissed from the military started a protest. In Singapore, we never had protest so it was "exciting" to see a group of people holding axes and sticks in their hands walking towards you. I had to do a "3 point turn" and turn back. Instead of going to the Orphange, we left for Baucau, the 2nd largest city of ET. It was about 3 hours drive from Dili and the road conditions were fine.
Comfort would be the last thing on my mind. I would be happy to have a roof over my head. The rooms in Baucau cost only US$10. The bathroom was communal type, water was cold and electricity was cut off at 12am... we had to open our room doors as it was getting quite warm in the room.
Most of us woke up at 2.3oam to the commotion of Ibu's cries. She was in pain apparently. Her cries/moans added more gloom to the very dark common area. We had to literally grope, with a few torchlights here and there. Total pitch darkness swarm over us each time when someone took their torchlights else where. The Dr. woke up to treat her and we prayed for her and laid hands on her icy cold body. Some of the willing guys went to her room to clean up the vomit so that she could return to her room and retire for the night. She got much better and then pain left her after sipping some hot liquid. Everybody went back to sleep about 3plus in the morning. I went out to the veranda and was treated to a whole sky filled with stars, just like what we see on some dramas on TV. IT's real!
We left for Los Palos at 7am to the symphony of the crowing roosters, each held a distinct tone. Los Palos was enroute to Illomar, Ailibere, the place where we were scheduled to do medical work. We arrived 2 hours behind scheduled time as we spent some time in LP looking for accommodation. The drive to Ailibere took us close to 2 hours. We were about 30 - 40km/hour as the road was made up of gravels, stones and rocks. Most of the time, I was in 2nd gear, whether I was going up slope or sliding down slope. It was an adventure that I had to quickly adapt to. I was more concern how my driving would affect my passengers as 2 of them are drivers themselves. You know, it is always more challenging to drive drivers than non drivers but I thank God I managed to do so.
We arrived Ailibere and the medical team quickly unloaded and set up their counters. Some of us turned to the children and taught them to sing some english songs. The medical 'centre' was soon packed with people who needed to see a doctor. Medical aid there is scarce. The nearest clinic would take 2 hours walk. Lunch was arranged with the local villagers. For 5 chickens and 1 kg of rice, we paid US$25.00. The cheapest meal for the team of 10 in the whole trip. Lunch came at 2.30pm. We ate till 3pm plus. Medical work begun shortly and the Dr. confirmed that they would stop at 4.30pm as it was better for the team to travel back during daylight considering the challenging terrain.
With my limited Bahasa Indonesia, I spoke to some of the youths who were hanging around . I was glad I could make out what they were saying and we had our moments of fun. I asked them innocently if they have a ball to play with as I noted the field they had. August told me that they are "myskin" so I told them that I would "cari" (find) in my dictionary what does myskin means. "Myskin" meant poor and destitute. Well... think they can live without the ball but they can't live without Jesus. For me, our task is to meet the poverty of the soul more than the seemingly lack of material needs - "poverty of wants".
They are rich in natural resources, all they need to do is to learn how to cultivate it. This time, everywhere we went, we see lush greens. Perhaps, we should not be too quick to import our brand of 'prosperity' but help them see (educate) that they are rich themselves and are able to be self sufficient if they knew how to work with what they have been given.
The tension of this trip came when the Desa Head requested for us to extend the medical work for another hour. He was quite persistent and asked not only once but twice. The Dr. said no and he went to ask our P. We decided to stick together as a team to the decision. The difficulty for me in this decision was this: "Did we make the decision because we placed our safety as priority or did we put their interest as priority?" It's a thin line. I struggled to reconcile what I knew to be true in the bible vs what took place in reality.
What WOULD JESUS DO? - Of course, the scriptures tells us that sometimes, when Jesus was on mission, he would stop and also call it a day, on other occassions he carried on despite the fact that he was tired or emotionally drained (in the case of the death of John the Baptist - he had wanted to retreat but the crowd pressed in and he gave in as He saw them as sheep without a Shepherd). In our case, did we do the right thing. I felt 'torned' initially. I mean, we hear sermons in church about laying down our lives, consider the interest of others better then our own interest. At the crucial point, we made a decision because it was safer for the team. The other side of the coin was, when will be able to meet ALL the needs? The signal we sent to them was also a point of education, we do not give in to demands and will not be 'threatened' as the message given to us by the Head was, if we don't meet the request, next time the villagers won't come or won't welcome us anymore.
On our way down, I felt God saying to me, "You all have done your best". I felt comforted but I kept thinking of these non believers. They are catholics by name and by social pressures. They need to hear the name of Jesus. HOw else can they hear unless we go and speak? I remembered my earlier conversations with the teenagers about learning English. They say they do learn it in school and seemed quite interested to learn it from me when we were conversing. What an opportunity if I can teach them English and proclaim the name of Jesus as well. The Lord willing, It will be possible.
adventures at ET to be continued......
When we arrived there on the first day, 28 April, we smacked right into the final day of the riots. The disgruntled soldiers who were dismissed from the military started a protest. In Singapore, we never had protest so it was "exciting" to see a group of people holding axes and sticks in their hands walking towards you. I had to do a "3 point turn" and turn back. Instead of going to the Orphange, we left for Baucau, the 2nd largest city of ET. It was about 3 hours drive from Dili and the road conditions were fine.
Comfort would be the last thing on my mind. I would be happy to have a roof over my head. The rooms in Baucau cost only US$10. The bathroom was communal type, water was cold and electricity was cut off at 12am... we had to open our room doors as it was getting quite warm in the room.
Most of us woke up at 2.3oam to the commotion of Ibu's cries. She was in pain apparently. Her cries/moans added more gloom to the very dark common area. We had to literally grope, with a few torchlights here and there. Total pitch darkness swarm over us each time when someone took their torchlights else where. The Dr. woke up to treat her and we prayed for her and laid hands on her icy cold body. Some of the willing guys went to her room to clean up the vomit so that she could return to her room and retire for the night. She got much better and then pain left her after sipping some hot liquid. Everybody went back to sleep about 3plus in the morning. I went out to the veranda and was treated to a whole sky filled with stars, just like what we see on some dramas on TV. IT's real!
We left for Los Palos at 7am to the symphony of the crowing roosters, each held a distinct tone. Los Palos was enroute to Illomar, Ailibere, the place where we were scheduled to do medical work. We arrived 2 hours behind scheduled time as we spent some time in LP looking for accommodation. The drive to Ailibere took us close to 2 hours. We were about 30 - 40km/hour as the road was made up of gravels, stones and rocks. Most of the time, I was in 2nd gear, whether I was going up slope or sliding down slope. It was an adventure that I had to quickly adapt to. I was more concern how my driving would affect my passengers as 2 of them are drivers themselves. You know, it is always more challenging to drive drivers than non drivers but I thank God I managed to do so.
We arrived Ailibere and the medical team quickly unloaded and set up their counters. Some of us turned to the children and taught them to sing some english songs. The medical 'centre' was soon packed with people who needed to see a doctor. Medical aid there is scarce. The nearest clinic would take 2 hours walk. Lunch was arranged with the local villagers. For 5 chickens and 1 kg of rice, we paid US$25.00. The cheapest meal for the team of 10 in the whole trip. Lunch came at 2.30pm. We ate till 3pm plus. Medical work begun shortly and the Dr. confirmed that they would stop at 4.30pm as it was better for the team to travel back during daylight considering the challenging terrain.
With my limited Bahasa Indonesia, I spoke to some of the youths who were hanging around . I was glad I could make out what they were saying and we had our moments of fun. I asked them innocently if they have a ball to play with as I noted the field they had. August told me that they are "myskin" so I told them that I would "cari" (find) in my dictionary what does myskin means. "Myskin" meant poor and destitute. Well... think they can live without the ball but they can't live without Jesus. For me, our task is to meet the poverty of the soul more than the seemingly lack of material needs - "poverty of wants".
They are rich in natural resources, all they need to do is to learn how to cultivate it. This time, everywhere we went, we see lush greens. Perhaps, we should not be too quick to import our brand of 'prosperity' but help them see (educate) that they are rich themselves and are able to be self sufficient if they knew how to work with what they have been given.
The tension of this trip came when the Desa Head requested for us to extend the medical work for another hour. He was quite persistent and asked not only once but twice. The Dr. said no and he went to ask our P. We decided to stick together as a team to the decision. The difficulty for me in this decision was this: "Did we make the decision because we placed our safety as priority or did we put their interest as priority?" It's a thin line. I struggled to reconcile what I knew to be true in the bible vs what took place in reality.
What WOULD JESUS DO? - Of course, the scriptures tells us that sometimes, when Jesus was on mission, he would stop and also call it a day, on other occassions he carried on despite the fact that he was tired or emotionally drained (in the case of the death of John the Baptist - he had wanted to retreat but the crowd pressed in and he gave in as He saw them as sheep without a Shepherd). In our case, did we do the right thing. I felt 'torned' initially. I mean, we hear sermons in church about laying down our lives, consider the interest of others better then our own interest. At the crucial point, we made a decision because it was safer for the team. The other side of the coin was, when will be able to meet ALL the needs? The signal we sent to them was also a point of education, we do not give in to demands and will not be 'threatened' as the message given to us by the Head was, if we don't meet the request, next time the villagers won't come or won't welcome us anymore.
On our way down, I felt God saying to me, "You all have done your best". I felt comforted but I kept thinking of these non believers. They are catholics by name and by social pressures. They need to hear the name of Jesus. HOw else can they hear unless we go and speak? I remembered my earlier conversations with the teenagers about learning English. They say they do learn it in school and seemed quite interested to learn it from me when we were conversing. What an opportunity if I can teach them English and proclaim the name of Jesus as well. The Lord willing, It will be possible.
adventures at ET to be continued......
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