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Water Project in Palu

One and a half hours outside of Palu, Sulawesi there is a small village called Mbuwu. When Richard, CEO of Entrust, and Jim from the Waterjars, first visited Mbuwu there were no sanitary options for the locals. Together with Henny and her husband Agus, they met Yulianus Santo, a local pastor of a church which was looking for funding for a roof and flooring. He explained the village’s sanitation problem to Richard and Jim and introduced them to the locals. They presented their urgent need to build a church and renovate their pastor’s house. Working with the locals, Richard helped them sift through their needs to find what was the most crucial. Families had no access to toilets as they live in houses the size of a king-sized bed. With no other option they used the forest and river to relieve themselves. The government supplied water tanks for storage but there was no way of filtering the water directly to the houses. There was a basic need for better hygiene in the village and this is the one they chose to focus on. The idea for a toilet and water project was formed to provide the community with better sanitation and hygiene. From the start, the project would be run as a community development mission. By empowering the villagers to build their own toilets the projects encourages sense of ownership and maintenance once the project is completed. Approaches like this limit the involvement of outsiders; to the locals this is an effort to overcome their own problem. A committee of leaders within the village was chosen to run the construction of 40 toilets and 2 water tanks, enough for each household. Shane Wilson, an Australian living in Indonesia, joined to bring his water and sanitation expertise to the project.The committee through a treasurer, Agus, receives the money sent by Entrust, which they take to a shop that supplies the community the raw materials. This way the committee receives the raw materials and can unite the village to build the toilets themselves. What started as a community development project also became a spiritual development opportunity. Originally the Christians in the village were unsure of how this project should extend to non-Christian neighbours. By putting the Jesus’ words into practice, the locals realised what it means to love God and to love their neighbours by practical means. Other non-Christains are also their ‘neighbours’, ‘brothers and sisters’. They can come together and share their stories of life and faith. The process has not been smooth, as different challenges have come forward at every stage. The community had to be helped to understand why sanitation was more urgent than building a church. Results have not been instant since the first visit and everyone has had to learn to be patient while the project comes together. In spite of the challenges, the committee has not lost their passion in their call to lead their community. The process has proven that basic needs like hygiene must be met for people to receive the Gospel. By cleansing and purifying the villagers’ physical needs, the experience has allowed their faith in God to quench the need in their hearts.   Want to join? click down bellow.

Naomi

This is Naomi. Over the week and a half I was in Hohidiai I observed that at only the age of ten she has already established a strong sense of social justice and a keen desire for things to be fair One time, while in my room, five of the girls, including Naomi, came in to spend time with me. I was going through my suitcase and one of the girls pointed to some candy I had bought and asked about it. There were 35 pieces of candy and I said to them that they could each have some and they each took 7. I told them that was maybe too many each and we decided that each of them could have three in order to save some for others. They each put four back however one of the girls, Natalia, quickly popped one in her mouth so that she now only had three in her hand but only had to put three back. This did not go unnoticed by Naomi however as she immediately reported this to me saying ‘Look what she did, she cheated. She had one in her mouth already, this is not fair’. I then gave her the rest of the candies as i knew that her sense of integrity made her the perfect person to handle and distribute them. Another day I bought 5 mangoes and we decided that they should go in a fridge to chill and we would eat them later on. Later that day I was eating my dinner, in a slight rush as I had to get to the Monday night prayers that happened after dinner, and seven of the kids came in to remind me that we hadn’t eaten the mangoes yet and that we needed to do that now. I planned to slice the kids two of the mangoes and put them on a plate whilst continuing to eat my dinner. As I started to slice the mango I realised the plan wouldn’t work as the second I cut a slice it was taken by one of the kids. I left my dinner for a moment so that I could use two hands to cut slices for all the kids and upon seeing this Naomi decided to help me by picking up my food and feeding me to make sure everything got done right and on time. Once the slices were done it became clear that all the kids wanted the pip however Naomi looked over and said ‘No Caleb you shouldn’t have it this time, you had it last time’ and instead of asking for it like most children she told me that Jasmine should have it as she had not had it yet and she wanted to make certain that everyone had a turn. Naomi is only young and already has this fairness instilled in her. This reminded me that there is goodness in the community and that there is always potential for it to spread, even from a ten year old.

A Well Love Garden

Last week I visited Cana Farm on the outskirts of Sydney, with another 15 ladies from the Leadership for Mission program as part of our immersion experience. Cana Farm is a community based initiative which serves the marginalised and disadvantaged people within society. Their mission is that of companionship with the peoaple in need, many are without their families and support system. We arrived in the morning and were told that our task for the day is weeding in the farm. We broke up into groups with our ‘weapons’ of choice (shovel, spades, weeding thingy) and gloves. While we worked we spoke to the other volunteers. We talked about a lot of things like how to plant tomatoes, the effect of hail on watermelon plants and comparing natural and manufactured fertilisers. Dave* was one of the volunteers who taught us how to shovel correctly. He was visiting the farm for the first time as part of his community service. He had been in prison for a drug related offence and had already gone through the first stage of recovery. This was the second stage of his service/assignment, to serve the community and contribute to a positive situation. He was finding his feet and reintegrating into society. Other volunteers at the farm had similar stories of time spent in prison, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. Dave felt that society could be judgemental to him and his story but working with us we saw him as another human being. Our conversations focused on our similarities and not on his past. To the plants it doesn’t matter who is doing the planting or what their background is. The plants will simply grow. The farm sells the produce it grows and other products they make like candles and jam. They receive no government subsidy because they want to be able to pursue their calling to help the people no one else would. Together the staff and volunteers work together to make and sell what they can to keep the farm running. During lunch I met another man who was volunteering with his carer. Steve* has a learning disability which didn’t stop him from being passionate about his project. He was responsible for growing potted plants to be sold for Mother’s Day and he taught me about how to care for plants. At Cana he found his empowerment through a project that would help support the farm. They focused on what he can do and not what he couldn’t. After lunch there was a birthday celebration for one of the volunteers, Jane*. They brought out a cake and she blew out the candles. The volunteers and staff took turns standing behind her with their hands on her shoulders, talking about everything good about Jane. She has been a part of the farm for a few years now. She came from an alcoholic and abusive background and she had left her family because she wanted something more for her life. At Cana she’d shown initiative helping out and selling produce. Now she is one of the leaders who welcome new volunteers and work alongside them. As they took turns talking about Jane, it was clear that they have formed strong bonds like a family. Jane had been loved back to life. The experience reminded me of Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He walked with them in a non-threatening way. He did not push them, but through the journey he was quietly leading them. The companionship I saw at Cana Farm was like this. The people had come with their own struggles and found support on their journey to recovery. Volunteering at the farm I learnt a lot about companionship. The farm removed people from what they had done and replaced it with who they are; farmers, mothers, survivors. While society is not as accepting of people with stories like theirs, Cana Farms respected each person and their dignity. I was reminded that the support they had found is what every person needs; people who trust them and love them so they can flourish. We came home with dirty hands and feet but with a full heart.   Want to join? Click down bellow.

Meet Dr. Gabby

20 Toilet Trips I fell ill during my visit to Semarang. In one night I probably made 20 trips to the toilet and barely got any sleep. By the morning I was weak and I thought I will go to the ER if I didn’t improve but the next day I was scheduled to fly and had meetings set up. Instead I called my friend Dr Adrian who prescribed me some medicine and told me to get in touch with his friend Dr Gabby who was also in Semarang. Taking his advice, I called Gabby who agreed with the prescription. She knew I travel alone on this trip so she came to visit me at the hotel. Gabby could see that the medicine was working so she took me out for lunch. She was very friendly and easy to warm to. After a traumatic experience the night before, it was comforting having a doctor around me for the day! As we talked Gabby told me of how she had just returned to Semarang and was looking for a job after finishing her placement in Bogor. I had just visited Bogor and knew the area she had been working in. Most people in that area are Muslim and although Gabby was in the minority it didn’t mean much to her in the face of humanity. The hospital she worked at had limited facilities and she had to make do with what she had. For her the call to serve has been one she has gladly answered. For Gabby this was a chance to start anew though she knew she still wanted to serve. I could tell she had a heart for people in need. She reminded me of our friend Dr Adrian who lived in Halmahera who is thouroughly a missionary doctor. He volunteers in a clinic serving people with HIV, leprosy and tuberculosis. He works with limited resources but does all he can for the people he treats. Gabby understood why he would do this because she would do the same. The Perfect Pants After lunch my next meeting was with Antonius Gunawan, the founder of Wisma Rela Bhakti. As our friendship was just starting Gabby came with me. He told us of how Wisma Rela Bhakti started and the experiences they have had since then. Antonius was pleased to hear Gabby had applied for a job at Rumah Sakit Elizabeth, the hospital next door to Wisma Rela Bhakti. The religious sisters of the hospital were already working with the home, treating residents for free. He offered to put in a good word for her, most likely ensuring her the role. While Gabby appreciated the offer, she politely declined and was determined to follow the natural process. My next appointment was giving a talk to over 50 people at a private evangelisation school. I was asked to share what iti is like to follow Jesus as a young woman. Gabby offered to drive me there but there was one problem; she was wearing shorts. She felt that was not appropriate for the occasion. This meant we only had an hour to leave Antonius, find parking and buy long pants for her to wear. We prayed as we looked for parking at the shopping centre, asking God to lead us to the perfect pants. He did and we made it in time for the talk. Afterwards we went for dinner with some of the people who had been there for the talk including Fr Aria Dewanto, SJ. Gabby had only planned to be with me for lunch but that night, as she took me back to my hotel, I knew how warm and generous she was with her time. Deus Providebit A couple of weeks after my visit Gabby was hired to work at Rumah Sakit Elizabeth. Through the collaboration with Wisma Rela Bhakti, Gabby got to see the work Antonius and his staff were doing. The centre is developing to help more people through Rumah Kasih Fransiskus, the latest home for the elderly. The home always requires more medical professionals to take care of the elderly people who come in. When construction began on the new house Antonius says God made him stupid.  He had no idea who would run the activities or what to have the volunteers doing. He chose to surrender, telling himself ‘Deus Providebit’ – God will provide. Antonius relied on other people for help and seeing the vibrance and energy of the volunteers inspired him. The Story Forward  Rumah Kasih Fransiskus is run with Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 25:40 “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. Encouraged by the community spirit, Gabby now volunteers her time to care for the elderly. Being treated by the young doctor or cheered up by the young volunteers makes the elderly people feel nostalgic, reminding them of their own children/family. For the young volunteers they care for the old people as they would for their parents. Rumah Kasih Fransiskus has two sections with one half providing aged care activities such as the Parents Day Care where young working people can drop their parents off for the day while they go to work. Before, the parents experienced loneliness being left home alone. With the Parents Day Care, they have opportunities to interact with other people. It also provides physical and spiritual activities, such as arts & crafts, singing, prayer, hairdressing and sewing. In the other half of the building volunteers provide free food for builders and heavy labourers working in the area. Antonius believes the success of the home is a sign of God’s glory. Looking back, Gabby remembers her first meeting with Antonius and how he first inspired her to get involved. Now she is proud of the opportunity to serve those in need, encouraging doctors and nurses to do the same. With her skills and education, she has gone further to volunteer with care and compassion. …

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