Week of  August 17  Wheelchair visits in Maggelang, Sleman and Klaten. Visiting Sri's family farm. Touring UGM ophthalmology dept. to inspect equipment donated by LDS charities. Eye examinations. Malang branch service/humanitarian project with the community.

                                             
                 Wheelchair Visits: Maggelang, Sleman, Klaten

Every few months we try to visit some of the people who have received wheelchairs from LDS Charities. It is always special to meet in their homes, learn of their stories, meet their families, and see the impact the wheelchair has made in their lives. These have always been humbling experiences.

Sri, on the right is our guide. She is a wonderful lady that works for UCP, the wheelchair distributor we work with in Indonesia. We have shared Sri's story before, but she was in a motorcycle accident in 1997 and is paralyzed from the waist down. Her story is very inspiring and now she goes about lifting up others and giving them hope. While she does PR work for UCP she says she visits other people in wheelchairs, on her own, on weekends. As she said, "I have to. I know how much it means to them. She is such a joy to work with. One of the most special people we have grown to love here in Indonesia. 

Our first visit of the day is with Muh Lutfi Husein. Here at his school. 12 years old. He has cerebral palsy. Received his first wheelchair in 2010. His mother now lets him attend school without her. She says, "I am so happy that the other children at school are so accepting of him."

                             Vehin Nafisa Sabria. 5 years old. Pictured here with her teachers

School children gathered around the facet and learning how to wash with soap and water.

 

The kids were thrilled when we came into their classroom, and proud to say, "How are you?" In English.

Our next stop was out in the countryside of Maggelang, and of course we can never get enough pictures.

Svlastri 20, on the left, an her older sister Listyaningsih 22. They have had their disability since birth. They said it was genetics. They received their wheelchairs for the first time in April 2013. Until then they had to be carried by their parents. Pictured with their mother Wiyati and their father, Suboro. They had two other siblings that passed away. Svlastri loves to read and write and hopes to someday write a book. She spoke pretty good English.

Listyaningsih is learning to cross-stich and was proud to show us one of her pieces. She is trying to start her on business. And guess who became her first customer? Sister Lucherini, of course. She is stitching an Indonesian scene for her. They have such pretty smiles! A smile changes so much!

 
The laborious challenge to lift the from their chairs

With the help of a cushion, designed by UPC, that they lean on, they can sit up and read, work and do many things. This is in their bedroom where they spend a lot of time enjoying their crafts and books and TV!
When asked what has been the biggest difference the wheelchairs have made for them? "We can go outside, and visit our neighbors!"
Wonderful young ladies with a desire to learn new things, grow, and become independent. It was a delight to meet with them and their parents.

                              The beautiful countryside. We can never take enough pictures

These farmers are growing crops of tobacco, peanuts and eggplant.

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The brown colored crop is sugarcane, below.

                                                Chinese cemetery built along the hillside, it looks like a miniature neighborhood of houses built on the side of the hill, But they are the gravesites for the Chinese.

3 sisters pictured with Sri. They are part of a family with 8 siblings. The other 5 do not have a disability. Left to right, Enny 59, in the white. She could walk until she was 10 with help. Then she gradually lost her balance. In 2004 she began to loose her eyesight from glaucoma. She is now completely blind. But nevertheless had a wonderful smile and was happy to visit with us. Yani, 47 in the brown is the youngest in the family. She can still use a walker with help. But her arms are getting weaker and she easily looses her balance. Asih, 64 , is the oldest in the family. She was pretty emotional as she shared her stories. She could walk until she was 5 and then started to loose her balance. She has not been able to walk at all for the past 30 years. They have 2 other sisters that care for them. One during the day, and the other in the evening. All of them are proud to say that they were able to complete high school.

Siti Aminah, 8. With her father Sukasno (pic above). Mother, Tumminah (pic below).

 They want their little girl to walk so badly, they changed her name,  hoping that it would heal her.

Her parents said they first discovered something was wrong with Siti when she was about one years old. They noticed she only would lay down and never roll over, or try to crawl. She loves her wheelchair which they first received in Nov. 2010. She loves to go outside with her father when he comes home from work and after her bath. Her mother says that she begins to smile when she hears her fathers motorcycle coming home from work. And the children from around the village will often come and visit with Siti.  Sukasno is a carpenter and just finished building their home just 2 months ago. A beautiful child with loving kind parents. We felt such a wonderful loving spirit while we visited in their home.

Sri, being helped up a hill by our driver Dwi. A wonderful man from the Jogja ward. Willing to help us in any way he can.

Driving through the small winding roads through the dense forest. It is an island paradise

The back of the wheelchair with the UCP logo and LDS charities. It reads: Humanitarian services. Strengthening families. The new logo is in Indonesian

                                                  Menik Sumini ,40 years old.
8 years ago she was on a ladder similar to the one pictured below, cutting bamboo leaves to feed their cow when she fell and broke her back. At the time her daughter was only 2 years old. Her husband was working in Jakarta (approx. 300 kilometers away)  as a taxi driver. She has a great spirit of independence.

 

 

 

Menik and her mother, Sarmo Suwito who cares for her. Menik said that her husband use to send money but doesn't anymore and she has not seen him for a very long time.

They had beautiful trees all around their home. Coffee, cocoa , cobean, coconut, banana, jackfruit, guava, avocado, orange, papaya, and rambutan and other plants that they use in many ways!

                                                Dwi, and Sister Lucherini looking for snicker bars on the cocoa tree. Sadly, the snicker bars weren't ready to harvest yet!!

                                                                The avocado tree, they say this is a young one. They grow quite large apparently. Sister Lucherini was looking for some. They use it as a fruit here.
                                    

Menik is learning to sew jilbabs, the head scarf's worn by Muslim women and these rugs made from scrapes of batik fabric which were beautiful. All to help her develop more independence. the wheelchair has allowed her to have more of her life back and be out and about. She now has a motorcycle chair like Sri that will allow her to come and go as she likes.

                    Just a few streets away, lived Pago. 61 years old. He has a great smile and love for life. When we got there he was back behind his home down in his farm, working in his garden. Here he is pictured coming up the hill to greet us.

                        In 1978, Pago fell from a coconut tree similar to this one and broke his back.

He wanted to show us that he can still hoe and work in his garden. He says he hauls wood, works in the garden, farms, and sells fruit , vegetables and chickens. An example of how not to quit and let setbacks and trials prevent one from succeeding in life!

Pago and Menik

Behind them is Pago's friend and neighbor Damai, and his wife, Gemiyem.

His neighbor told us that Pago has a 'big spirit for life.' After meeting him we believe it.

 

 

 

 

Fadlil 8 years old with is mother Ranti.  She said at birth everything seemed fine with him. Then 17 days later he started to have seizures and they gave him a blood transfusion. Then she didn't understand what happened to him and never has received answers. He can hear, but can't see. In May 2013 he received his wheelchair and can now go outside and see things. She says it is hard for their family and she gets tired, but what can you do? You must carry on.

 

Slamet Rukmi yati 44. With her daughter Tik, 17, and her husband, Marono. They have two other sons who live away from home. 5 years ago she fell from a tree and is paralyzed . Her husband just doesn't understand and asks almost everyday why she doesn't just get up and walk? Currently she is not using the wheelchair because of pressure sores. They were grateful that we would stop by and visit them. It has been a humbling two days to meet with these many people and learn of their stories and experiences. We are so grateful for the blessing to be a small part of such a great work. The gift of mobility.
                                            
                                Visiting Sri's village and home in Klaten

 We didn't expect to see something like this come by?

A special treat when we got to Sri's home was to take a ride on their wagon along with her two nephews and her parents . Hitching up the bulls.

Grandfather with his two young grandsons, being the best helpers a grandpa can have. They each have their own whip too! And they used them the whole time, sometimes they missed their target and got grandpa on the head instead. Grandpa had great patience with these two helpers! They were so cute.

Fun ride, loved every minute! 

The frowny face doesn't do justice to the picture. Beautiful farmland, cool breeze, very relaxing. It was great time.

Unhitching the bulls, and of course the helpers are on to their next adventure, wanting to tease the bull..... but watch out, he is  a lot bigger than them!

Mom, Dad, Sri, and her nephews. A wonderful family, we had a great visit with them.

                               
                  Visiting the University of Gadjah Mada department of Opthalmology
                 and inspecting the eye equipment that has been donated by LDS charities.

 The CCTV for microscope that would allow the residents to watch on television the surgical procedures.

 Later we met at a government facility in the town of Bantul, where children from several schools were gathered for free eye examinations. The residents provided the expertise. LDS charities provided the equipment and the needed eye glasses. Picture above with Dr Suhardjo from UGM, Director of Community Outreach and the doctor we have worked with. Centered is Mr. Sunarto, representing the government of the community of Bantul. Every 20th day of the month, it is customary to wear traditional clothing of Jawa. Today was our lucky day.

 

 Sunarto proudly showing his keris. A traditional Javanese dagger with a straight or wavy blade, carried behind them tucked into their sash.

 Much of the donated equipment allows the doctors to now go out in to the villages and remote areas to do eye examinations. And of course to catch and treat eye problems much earlier and in many cases with people who would otherwise never have access to an eye doctor. These instruments can check for cataracts, glaucoma, cornea infections, and eye problems due to diabetes.  20-30% of diabetic patients will have diabetic retinopathy. We were told that Indonesia has the 4th highest incidence of diabetes. A monumental problem here!

David, 10 years old in 5th grade, is finding out that he will need glasses. He doesn't mind too much, he  has an older brother who wears them. He tells me that he will be able to watch his favorite cartoon now, Meiko.  He will get his glasses in 2 weeks from the school. 

Getting to hear Davids story about his exam today. He is excited to get Black glasses!

                          Leaving the eye exams, we find the banana market!                 

 We are not sure how many different varieties of bananas there are...but there are a lot, and they are very good!

 This banana farmer is quite proud of his bananas. Many are used for cooking, not good to eat raw, but the best ones are the ones that look all bruised and dark! Then they have small ones that are very sweet also. Yum!

                                             Traveling to the city of Malang. East Jawa.
                                              Malang branch / humanitarian project
                                      Refurbishing a multi purpose field for a local community

 5 LDS families also lived in this area and will benefit from this field that can be used for sporting activities, families gatherings, community meetings. What before was just a gravel hole, is now a nice beautiful facility for all to use. It had just been painted earlier today.

Opportunity to try a little badmitton. A popular sport in Indonesia

 The children coming out from around the neighborhoods to check out this new field and see what is going on. They were very curious and grew excited when they learned that this was built for them!

 Even our young missionaries got into the fun and enjoyed a quick game of badmitton.

 Community leaders and fathers gathering with us for the ceremony, along with missionaries and local members

 RT coordinator Swato on the right, thanking the church for this field. "On behalf of the community and the RT, we are thankful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We hope this will be a benefit for the community, Thank you."

 President Rama, 2nd counselor in the district presidency said, "There is no motivation except for us to build community relationships. We are always looking for opportunities to work together, to serve, and to help those in need."

 

 

 Branch President Winanto said, "It is an honor for us to be accepted in the community. We are from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Malang. This gift is purely for humanitarian service with no other motives. We hope to build relationships , and work together to make our communities better."

 This rice dish is served only for special celebration ceremonies. It is yellow rice, made with coconut milk and turmeric and is one of Sister Lucherini's favorite dishes here. It is a high honor to be served first.

 The neighborhood leaders children enjoying the food, the youngest badmitton players, below, Andre in the red shirt and his opponent, Dafit in the blue shirt both 10 years old.

 

What will we miss the most? Getting to meet the people of this beautiful Island country of Indonesia!

 This picture epitomizes Sister Lucherini and her mission. With the women and children. It does not matter, race, religion or color. She loves to be with them and they with her. They can feel her joy, love and compassion. In moments they are instant friends.

                                                                The men.....

 

                                         The women having some 'girl' time...  ( Sister Lucherini got to play badmitton with the young lady in the black jilbab that is sitting next to her. What a fun night!

 We passed this building and had to take some pictures. Of course we thought it was a mosque, but found out it is just an office building..... certainly like no other! Totally created to look like a mosque. It was so beautiful. Looks like a postcard, but it is the real deal! It has a restaurant that we need to try.

 

Another awesome week with humbling and enriching experiences. We continue to count our blessings of gratitude in multiple ways. For our health, for our children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and parents. For the opportunities we had back home, and for this special privilege to be here in Indonesia at this time. Our time is fast moving along!!