“Thrown Away Soul” is given a new name

I am in Manado and just got a call from Esther. 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 four weeks! On each attempt to return the ferry had to turn back because of high seas. Waves much higher than the boat. They were terrified of drowning. The time was spent nurturing this precious child who is now doing much better although still has a bad chest.

A few surprises have been had though! When undressing the baby to give it a bath (the baby arrived in filthy clothes) Esther discovered the baby is a boy! Not a girl as first reported! The other thing is that the baby's mother did not die but she REJECTED the baby and the cruelest thing is that this dear little boy was named "Buang Jiwa" which means "Discarded/Thrown-away soul". The grandmother is old and tried to find someone to care for this ill, malnourished boy and no-one wanted him. Needless to say we have renamed this boy Yohanes (John) John: From the Hebrew, Y'hohhanan which means, "The Lord gave graciously," or "whom Jehovah gave".

Love in Him—Esther
IFC Medical Director