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...

I met with Mary Meier, a nurse, who is trying to open doors for Yulen to get the needed treatment for her burn injuries. Mary is a real hero and she is working on behalf of Yulen. There are several doors that need to open before we can order tickets and get Yulen and her husband here in the U.S. Her surgeries and therapy will take around one year.I appreciate Mary and the heart that she has for this desperate situation. We have a lot to do to...

She was a beautiful young mother. Her home was filled with laughter and the daily chores of any Indonesian family in this region. Yulen and her husband were working hard and making ends meet. Then the tragic kerosene spill happened. She was burned over her chest and face. She went from a young mother to someone who is struggling for her life. She went to the IFC Clinic for help. They have been caring for her and keeping her burns clean and...

This is a sobering report. I just got a note from our medical base in East Indonesia. They informed me that a father of four came to our clinic. He died yesterday from the effects of AIDS. The sad part of the story in that three of his children have also died of AIDS.Our teams go into public schools and warn the students about STD’s. I have witnessed these amazing teams as they tell these students the realities of the sexually transmitted...

Vino has been here in the U.S. receiving reconstructive surgeries to repair the burn injury he received in a kerosene spill accident in Indonesian. He has made fine progress as his right arm and hand were freed and his neck and chin were also reconstructed.He is a normal and energetic little boy. He goes to school and is fluent in English. He has lots of friends but the best friend is Dr. Richard Grossman who is giving him a new life. Dr....

I met with Anis, one of our Indonesian staff, and reminded him that he has an important job. He is in charge of finding the lepers and bringing them to our base for treatment. I also told him he is like the servant of King David who was sent to find the lame boy named Mephiboseth. King David’s servant was Ziba. He went to a very remote place to find this lame boy hoping to bring him back to meet King David. When the boy met the King he got on...