I have been in Australia for a couple weeks but it rather cool. I have been blamed for bringing the cold temperatures here. It was minus 40 when I left Alaska and then warmed to above freezing. It was hot here and then I came and it has cooled.The good news is the people have been wonderful and warm to me. I attended the wedding of Hendra and Miriam near Melbourne and now I am in New South Wales. It has been great to establish friendships and...

I am currently in Australia just north of Sydney. It was a long flight from Alaska to Sydney and a long way from the minus 40 I left. Just before I left the deep freeze–my car stopped on the highway and I had it towed home. I still do not know why it stalled. I figured–I will deal with that when I get home.I have been speaking where the door opens here in Australia and have renewed friendships. These are friends I have met over the...

It is over 100 degrees F. warmer than when I left Alaska. I came out of the deep freeze and into the beautiful fertile valley just over an hour east of Melbourne in Australia. I am here to celebrate the wedding of two amazing young people–Hendra and Miriam.Hendra is the typical groom–nervous and just wanting the wedding to be finished. He is an awesome young man. There has been a lot of activity around here–with waves of...

I will be traveling to see my Australian friends this next week—after a stop in Seattle. I am anxious to sit and have a “cupper” with them. The purpose of the trip is to attend the wedding of Miriam and Hendra Pontomudis. This is a very special couple and I want to support them in their new life together. I will also be meeting Peter and Esther Scarborough on the road and getting to know Bill and Leanne Anderson the new Hohidiai directors in...

Nov 14, 2011 IFC/Hohidiai is the only help some find in their most desperate time of need. Tiny Margaretta came to our clinic with her parents. She was born with deformed eyelids (see photo). Her parents were asking for help and did not know where to turn. The staff examined her and knew she needed surgery to repair her eyelids. She was sent to surgery in hopes of improving her appearance and saving the sight in her one functioning eye. The...

In June of 2003 Yulce was admitted to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles for treatment of burn injuries. She received 12 surgeries in her first year and returned home in June of 2004. Her story was made into a documentary called “A Face For Yulce” which was shown here in the U.S. and all over the world. It was a great story of hope and determination. In 2006, she displayed her strength and courage as she came back to the U.S. for more...

We cannot say no to helping an abandoned new born. When they are left of unwanted we have said yes 50 times. We now have about 50 little ones ranging in age from new born to mid-teens. Our family has grown and continues to grow. It is a challenge to our staff and keeping up with facilities. These are our growing pains. We encourage our staff to adopt these unwanted children and the others we have in one of our two children’s home.There...

Today I wrote several “Thank You” notes to some of our partners. I like to send a short personal note to those who pray and support our efforts. I have done this for the past 10 years–every time I write a note, I am awed by at the faithfulness and kindness of our partners. I know many of these donors personally.In these difficult economic times it is amazing that so many are willing to help. Another amazing thing is that we...

I have traveled all over the world to build partnerships for the work in Indonesia. I am away from home a good part of the year traveling in the U.S. and other points on the planet. I am so fortunate to have amazing friends all over this globe.The one thing that I notice about being back home is how many people I know or am acquainted. I was a baseball and football coach here when my son was growing up and later into his High School years. I...

Thirty years ago–we thought a window was an opening in a structure. Today the term “Windows” takes on a more technical definition. We are in a completely new world of communication and information acquisition. Then there are the new terms–booting–downloading–email–utilities–we have to learn how to use properly.The youth cannot remember NOT having a computer. It is my generation that has lived in...