We have 82 full-time Indonesian staff at our base in Halmahera. There are about 30 medical workers and 15 medical workers in training. These trainees are in a one-year program where they get the most basic education and practical experience. They are especially able to diagnose tropical infectious diseases, They can set broken bones and stitch up wounds. The training they are getting would be close to a first step EMT. The real blessing is they...

We have not had a door open for Yulens yet. Yulens is the 23 year old mother from Indonesia who was tragically burned. She is a mother of a small child and has a supportive husband. We are pursuing all our options in hopes that she will get the professional care she needs. She is burned on her face and chest. She also has some burns on her legs. It is much easier finding help for a child than an adult. I am still hopeful she will get the help...

We all realize we are in challenging economic time. We are doing all we know to make necessary adjustments. I am thankful for those faithful donors who have stood with us for all these years and continue to support the work of IFC.I think of the 35 children in our Children’s Home that need love and support. We are working in a remote region but the effect of this economic fall does touch them. I think in some ways it hits them harder that...

I was in Illinois earlier this year where I experienced my first tornado producing thunderstorm. I saw the warnings on the weather channel and could see the dark clouds approaching. I stood in the safety of my friends home as the storm approached. It kept getting closer and closer. The wind and hail was intense. I could see it was nothing to take lightly. It came and it passed. I was in awe of its power and its beauty.We are in an economic...

Malaria is a huge problem in the remote islands of North Maluku. Our medical staff faithfully treat those who are suffering from malaria. It is not uncommon to have entire villages sick with malaria. These villages are called “black villages”. One “black village” is a Muslim village on a very remote small island. We have sent a number of teams to this village to help treat them–every family has had at least one...

The importance of going to the sick is at the very heart of our medical work in Indonesia. We call them “Mobile Clinics”. The medical teams will go to a remote village and stay from one day to three months. These clinics provide needed treatment for those in the remote islands and jungle villages where they do not have access to medical care. In a one day clinic the teams have seen over 200 patients. The teams that stay for over a...

This Sunday, Kasih, the little girl with the severe cleft lip/palate, starts her journey to Adelaide tomorrow. This is the culmination of many months of fundraising and coordination (many thanks to Dr Nicole Anderson and Lisa Robinson) for all their hard work in making this happen. Kasih will get first class surgical treatment in Adelaide. Sunday’s trip will be from Halmahera to Manado. Kasih and her Mother will be escorted by a guest we...

I just got the great news from Peter Scarborough, IFC Field Director, that the medical ward (small hospital) in Halmahera is now open. Peter sent the note,”The 16 bed ward – which has turned into a 21 bed ward is virtually complete and the first patients are already in. Many thanks to the Rotary clubs of Gippsland (especially Berwick and Warragul) and the local Gold Mine in Halmahera for this.”This project was funded by these...

The number is now 35 children in our care. These are children who are either abandoned or orphaned. We have older kids and new born babies. The older children like Merna, who lost both parents, is being educated and supported by us as we watch over her well-being. She is happy, loved and has a lot of friends. Merna is one of the 35 souls we have been given to provide a happy and nurturing life.Esther Scarborough wrote about the most recent...

Peter Scarborough reported that the recent powerful earthquake did not result in any loss of life to his knowledge. The shake was felt at our medical base in North Maluku. The ground rolled and trees swayed for a short time. We have built the structures on our base to withstand most of these shakes. We have done our best to reinforce our structures. It helps to have structural engineers on our team.We are thankful to report the minimal damage...