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A Place of Hope in Indonesia |
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 Gerardette
Philips from the Indian Province, our new novice mistress, gives a
medal of SMS to Ros, our first Batak member. She is from North
Sumatera. Besides taking responsibility for Ros' noviceship program,
Gera teaches part time at a Muslim University, Paramedina, and serves
part time as campus minister at Atma Jaya Catholic University. She is
also completing a master's degree program in Islamic Studies.
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 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.
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 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!
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 Before
the 2000 General Chapter several provincials visited us in Indonesia.
Ilsemarie Weiffen, then provincial of Germany, was so taken by her
visit to Nur Abadi (a Muslim School for the Developmentally Delayed
where our novices minister) that she offered to market some of their
handicrafts. She did, and the proceeds and donations which she received
were a boon to Nur Abadi. The Euro goes a looooong way in Indonesia.
Ibu Silvia, the foundress of the school was so grateful, that when
Digna Dacanay, our Area Superior, showed her the logo of the new
province, Ibu Silvia said the school would make a huge banner for the
opening ceremony. The picture shows the kids holding a small scale
model of the banner which graced the formal opening in Vienna.
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 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.
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 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!"
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