Blog
On The Road
I will be traveling tonight on the late flight out of Alaska. We had six inches of snow yesterday and I think I will find green grass in my final destination–Illinois. IFC has many friends and partners in mid-state Illinois.My friend, Terry Holderread, invited me to come to Illinois in 2003. We called him “Brother Terry” which fit him so well. He was a brother and friend to everyone. I miss him since his death last year. I would get regular notes from him and lots of encouragement.There are so many of our partners in...
read moreThe Doors Never Close
Peter Scarborough, IFC Field Director recently wrote, “We are looking forward to the patient ward (hospital) being finished in just over 2 months from now. We are also looking forward to the day when the ambulance arrives. We squeezed three guys onto the floor in the back of the car – would you believe that they were found in this state (broken bones, head injuries, and bleeding) by the road! We had another two inside the clinic being treated so had to move these guys along to the hospital (in Tobelo) which is still 45 minutes...
read more500 Days
Our team had three consecutive days of flights canceled. It was not frustrating because we looked for the good and filled these days meeting people. These three days were filled with divine appointments. I have learned not to get up tight or fretful but walk through the doors that open.It was during the three day pause in our travels that we met a woman who taught us all about life and death. Her name is Hawila and she was the mother to Gloria. Gloria was born with a major birth defects that resulted in her severe disfiguring. She had no...
read moreLooking To The Future
There will be a transition in our work in the years to come. It has been our heart to give this work into the capable hands of our Indonesian staff–they are smart and dedicated. We are building the infrastructure while selected members of our team are being trained. It will be a number of years before this transition is completed but we are now investing in the future.Well over 50 young people have completed the one year medical course taught by Esther Scarbough. They follow that training with a one year internship while serving at our...
read moreAnto’s Story
The smell was overpowering as Esther Scarborough, IFC Medical Director, searched for where it was coming from. She walked to a shed behind a home in that remote village in East Indonesia. There she found a badly burned boy near death. He was weak and his burns that covered both legs from his hips to his feet were molded and infected. His burn was so bad that his family had given up on this 17 year old boy. They had “put him out” to die.Anto had been burned in an accident and was near death when Esther found him. Esther said—she got mad when...
read moreA Tribute to Some Good People
IFC has been serving the people of Indonesia since 2001. In those years we have had many amazing people help us with support or by joining a short-term team. I want to give a tribute to a couple of these partners.I met a rancher named Greg in Australia. I went to his home on the edge of the outback and had a cup of tea one afternoon. He reminded me of what we think about when we imagine an Australian rancher. He and I sat and spoke about the challenges the refugees were facing in the refugee camps in North Indonesia. We prayed together and...
read moreVino
Vino was brought to one of our clinics. I remember seeing him and wondering what could be done to help him. He had been badly burned in a kerosene spill accident. His right arm, right hand, chest and neck were scared and he needed expert reconstructive surgery. He was presented to the Children’s Burn Foundation and Grossman Burn Center. He came to the U.S. to be treated. He has made wonderful progress and is now free of the burns contractures and continues to be treated. He is going to school and seems to have adjusted very well.Vino is...
read moreHome Sweet Home
+2-08+754.jpg)
New bricks are setting ready for the beginning of the foundation for the next leper house. This new building will be the third house at the Tamarista. These are all four-plex units which will provide homes for the lepers and their families to live. We are in the process of filling the two other buildings with lepers from remote villages in this region. There are several lepers who have asked to come to the Tamarista. This is the stormy time of year and these lepers and their families have to take care in being transported by boat. They will...
read moreExtravagance
I was in one of the villages near our medical base and was served some coffee. It was one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. I asked where did they get this coffee–an old woman smiled and told us it was from her tree. She told us that all of the fruit tree and coffee trees had been destroyed in the crisis. She got this twinkle in her eye and said, ” My coffee is from a few branches that survived.” I asked her if she had more and she raised her eyebrows. This is the same as nodding affirmatively for us. I wanted to...
read moreKeys To the Future
The conflict (1999-2003) left this region devastated. There are ruins almost everywhere you look. This was a difficult time for those who survived the conflict. It is now a season of rebuilding their homes and lives. This photo seems to illustrate the status of this region. The portion of the ruins of a church is still standing next to the new church under construction. This is a place that is between the dark past and their future. Our hope is to be a part of a positive future for those who are rebuilding their lives. Villages and businesses...
read more