Jovita Triwiludjeng RSCJ, Lulut, with children from Pondok Bocah (Kids' Place). Lulut was inspired to start a pre-school for poor neighborhood kids. She consulted the local political leader about who the neediest families might be. He was delighted, since in Jakarta only the richest can afford pre-school education and this would be free! Lulut figured she could handle twelve kids four mornings a week while continuing her university studies. She spoke with twelve sets of parents, assuring them there would be no proselytizing. All twelve families agreed. The school began in the garage (no car: no need of a garage) with the kids sitting on mats on the floor. Within months, little tables and chairs, educational toys, and cuddly stuffed animals poured in.

The opening day twenty mothers appeared with their kids!!! The mothers wait in the garden until class is over: another challenge - some of these women have yet to learn to read and write. Lulut invites two mothers to sit in on each session. They serve as aids and also learn about the program so they can reinforce the learning at home.

This little lad is the son of Tigor Azaz Nainggolan who was a lay participant at the 2000 General Chapter. In Joigny, Tigor asked the capitulants to pray that his wife Tiar and he would have a child. If it were a girl she would be named Madeleine Sophie. This little fellow is Yusuf Madeleino!

Some students in front of two houses in a mountainous area of Timore Leste, the world's newest nation, where we work with Claretian Fathers. The house on the left is totally burnt out. When the Indonesian military left Timor which it had occupied for close to 25 years, they left with a scorched earth policy. Virtually the whole infrastructure of the country was destroyed. The house on the left shows what happened to most of the homes when the soldiers left after 88% of the people chose independence rather than incorporation into Indonesia. The house on the right was built by the UN forces which helped with the transition to nationhood. When the tsunami hit Indonesia, Timor gave $50,000 in relief aid. It sounds like a pittance but, according to Cecile Meyer of our UN office, it represents 0.006 of Timor's national budget. Hefty by comparison to some other nations.

The Claretian Provincial and Nance O'Neil in front of our community house at Jl.Kebon Nanas (Pineapple Farm Street) in Jakarta. The fish is a sign to street kids. One tells the other, "It's the house with a fish!"