Week of Nov. 17, 2013
 Yogyakarta (Jogja)

Mt Merapi. It actually is having a slight eruption the morning we took this picture. (Nov 18th). Merapi means 'Fire Mountain." It is the most active of the 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Typically small eruptions occur every 2-3 years, and larger ones every 10-15 years. Thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano with villages as high 1700 meters (5,600 ft) above sea level. They say smoke can be seen emerging from the mountaintop at least 300 days/year. On the afternoon of October 25th, 2010 Merapi erupted and continued with multiple eruptions, avalanches, and numerous volcanic earthquakes thru December 3rd. The death toll reached 353, with over 320,000 people displaced. It was a major area of focus for the humanitarian missionaries at the time.

It isn't always work. While we stay in different areas of Indonesia we try to include a prep day that will allow us to enjoy the cultural experiences of this unique country. Today we marked off riding an elephant from the bucket list.

 

 

Borobudur. A 9th century Buddhist Temple. The single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform is surrounded  by 72 Buddha statues. The construction has been estimated to have taken 75 years

From the top the views were spectacular

Elder and Sister Lucherini with Giovanni. The first person we met with an Italian name. Felt a kinship....though our skin color is abit different.

Giovanni has been our driver and translator.

This little lady was selling peanuts in her basket. The best part was her smile when she saw herself later in the picture.

The Jogja missionaries. President and Sister Donald. (Mission President and his wife) in the center.

While in Jogja we took the opportunity to visit the facility (UCP) that distributes the wheelchairs for

us. We also had the chance to visit with some of the recipients in the area.  

 

Hendra. 19 yrs old. Born with spastic CP. Has had a wheelchair since 2009. Another benefit of the wheelchairs provided through church humanitarian is the children can receive new ones as their body grows.

Meeting Revy at her home (on left) with her parents. Sri (on right) works for UCP. Both have truly inspiring stories that will touch your heart with the impact the 'gift of mobility' can and has provided.

Sri's story:
www.ucpwheels.org/blog/entry/client-staff-members-journey-to-inspire

Revi's story:
http://ucpwfh.org/blog/entry/client-profile-revi

Surakarta (Solo)

Located about 2 hours east of Jogja. It is another central city for our work in Indonesia. We came here to work with local church leaders on a humanitarian project centered around assisting the poor and needy to arise above the poverty level. A monumental task. One of the ways you work to accomplish this is trying to identify small projects that can provide enough income to help feed a family, thus allowing them to use the funds they currently have to pay other bills. With the end goal of rising above the poverty level.

This is an ant farm we were looking at. Relatively minimal startup and overhead costs. And with in a few months the ants and eggs can be sold . (The eggs are sold as food for rare song birds).  You can google information about this at 'ternak kroto.' An interesting income source for a small business?

We continue to experience many firsts in Indonesia.  Today we had lunch in a small café where the food is displayed in the front window. As you see from these 3 pictures the food was quite tasty and we ate away. But there was far to much food than we could all eat, and it seemed as if a lot of it would be thrown away.  Not to worry our hosts said, "You only pay for what you eat. The rest is put back." We wish we had known that before we ate! This is a true Indonesian restaurant, no silverware, you just use the right hand. Its not as easy as one would think. I (Mary) made a mess. But in honesty, the fish there was really good, some of the best I've had.

 

Our focus while in Solo was to visit some of the poor and needy . Here is a family with their Bishop (Uskup) Anto (far left). Father-Sriyadi, works as a tire fixer (far right). Mother: Hendrati, (not pictured is a clothe-dryer), Bowo (Son-in-law, going to school to be a pharmacist), daughter Maria. They and the family that lived next door (pictured below) are located next to a river that floods every year in the rainy season (beginning November -March). They mentioned that last year the water flooded up to 4 feet in their tiny house. The government has said that both families must move.

 Uskup Anto . Mulyani and her son Tony. Next to their new bakso (meatball) shop.

                                                                The neighborhood.

The longest river on the island of Java. It is the cause of a lot of flooding, it has quite steep banks and seems to have plenty of room to fill,  yet the families described above will be flooded out in the coming months, just like every year.







                                                            
Sriyadi helping a customer

 Meeting other families the following day with another Bishop.
Brother Sukro, daughter-Fitri, Uskup (Bishop) Awik, Sister Lucherini, and Sister Sukro.

One of the projects the church recently assisted with was providing 3 chickens and a rooster to needy families. The Sutry's have grown their chickens from 4 to 30. He will begin next month to start a business selling the chickens. A great success and one we hope to repeat with other families in the coming months.

Visiting other homes in the area.

Uskup Awik, Dewi in front of her home. Husband: Joko Susanto (at work) sells calculators. They live as squatters and have been told to leave. In time their home will be torn down and removed.

Ngadiyando family. 3 children, Nephi, Natashia, Nicto