This nameless eight-month old girl was brought to our medical base in Kusuri. She was examined by Dr. Nichole Anderson from New Zealand and by Esther Scarborough, IFC Medical Director in Indonesia. Dr. Anderson said the cleft palate is the worst she has seen. I will try to see this child myself when I arrive in Indonesia.This is another child we ask you to pray for–we hope and pray we can see a door open to help her. The best option is to...

It was 25 degrees below zero F. (33 degrees below C.) on the sign at the Dentist office on the Steese Hwy this morning. Yes–that is bitter cold and some of you might wonder why anyone would choose to live in a place like this. By-the-way it has been colder than 40 below F. this winter already. Now you really are wondering why some of us are living in the arctic. Well–this is our home. It actually takes a special person with a little...

It was minus 25 degrees below zero F. ( minus 33 C.) on the sign at the Dental Office on the Steese Hwy this morning. A friend of mine just got home from a well deserved rest in Hawaii. When he got off the plane it was minus 38 degrees F.–the cold hit him like a frozen slap in the face. Those of you who have never experienced (and do not want to) this kind of bitter cold may say we are crazy to live here. It is hard on cars and harder on...

Our team went out to a wooden hut; they described it as more like a dog house or chicken coop. The patient was an old, thin woman. The team had come to care for her wounds as she was a leper. She told them how when she was cast out to the jungle by the other villagers when she was younger and separated from her children and loved ones, along with 6 other leprosy sufferers.Thirty or so years later a pastor went out to find them and bring them...

It is more like a bee hive–full of activity. People are going everywhere–some are cleaning–some are working with animals–some are helping the sick–some are building new buildings–some are security guard–some are loving and caring for children in the Children’s Home–some are mechanics repairing our ailing vehicles–some are gardeners–some are translators–some are...

Dr. Stella is now our full-time doctor at the Island clinic. She is an answer to our prayer and will allow us to go to another level in our care of the poor. Dr. Stella is young woman who is very committed and has such a calming way about her. She came to us just in time to get us prepared for the new hospital. The hospital is now getting its roof built. It will be a 16 bed facility with radiology and a birthing center. Next to the hospital is...

Esther Scarborough wrote about a child she was told was unwanted. He was on another island and it took quite an effort to get him. The new born baby was found discarded in the garbage pile. He was heard crying by an old woman (grandmother) who rescued him.Here is Esther’s note:The baby has just arrived at our clinic. Vikki & Yenni who collected the baby from the island of Obi expected to be away just one week, I think they were away...

Lazarus and his wife live in the unit next to Hendrick and his dog. Lazarus is a leper with a wonderful quiet way about himself. He is fortunate to have his wife by his side. This is not the norm. We have seen many lepers who are just thrown away by their families. They are banished and left to their own or with a little help from their village. Lazarus has visible damage to his hands. His fingers are frozen in a disfigured open hand. He cannot...

What a great name for the Leper Center — Resting Place of Kings (Taman Rista). In the middle of the jungle of Halmahera this place of rest is now being built. There is one four-plex built and second four-plex is nearly completed. A water well is now drilled next to the site to provide good water for the residents.I went to visit the site and could see Hendrik, the first leper we brought to the base, supervising the work on the second four-plex...

The food program has made a big transformation since the days in the refugee camps. IFC still provides food for the needy. We provide nutritious food (eggs, fish, chicken, rice and veggies) for at least 15 leper families in our region. These are families who have one member of who has leprosy. We have found that in order for the leper to recover they have to stay on a regiment of WHO medicines and improve their health. The food is an important...