Trip Purpose — Gary, Hunter and I will be installing the electrical system in the new Hohidiai Library building.  This is the ‘stated’ purpose of the trip, but as usual the Hohidiai Experience is seldom confined to the stated purpose.  I look forward to seeing what adventures are up ahead.  Our travel dates are November 29 – December 23, 2017.

A welder and a rodent do not normally have anything in common. Unless you travel to the remote region of Indonesia. A team from America had come to volunteer their time and abilities.  There was a skilled welder on the team and he was organizing some needed projects. After finding the welder and looking it over, he realized it was not working. After a close inspection of the welder it was clear the wiring had been chewed by a rodent. Another...

Anita was a puzzle. She came to the Hohidiai Children’s Home as an infant. She was a puzzle because she was so tiny and never seemed to thrive. She was beautiful and had apparent great needs. The thought was that she was failing to thrive due to her tough physical start. She would cling tightly to her providers but seemed very happy. She did not speak a word.  It was recently discovered that Anita cannot hear. She has been living in a...

In two weeks I will be traveling to Indonesia with another team. This team will work in the clinic and school. The gems that will be deposited are in the form of expert training for the medical staff and the patients who come to the clinic while this team is on site. I can see the faces of the children as they sit at their desks in their classrooms. Four members of the team will be assisting in the classroom and in the after school programs....

The excitement level was high with the three boys from Alaska. We were all going to the beach to enjoy the tropical warmth and splashing with the children and staff of the Hohidiai School. We all boarded the work truck for the long drive to the dock where we would get on traditional boats to make the 20 minute run to the island.  The truck ride is the favorite ride of visitors. We were all squeezed into the back of the work truck with its five...

I remember staring out the window in grade school hoping the day would end and summer would come soon. I know that far away look very well. I just returned to the U.S. after taking a team to work in the Hohidiai School. The children are advancing very well. It is a step-by-step process. I noticed the children who were struggling the most were getting a lot of after school help and they are moving forward and even the toughest children are...

I get to travel with the most amazing people on this planet. They are a rare group because they travel to a remote region of the world, pay their own expenses and volunteer their skills and time. It is shocking when you think about it. These volunteers are: doctors nurses dentists counselors teachers construction workers computer specialists college students mothers retirees and farmers. They come from all over America and have one thing in...

Three teams will be going to the Hohidiai Clinic in Indonesia this next month. The first team has a variety of interests–medical, children’s work, English language training, video editing training and counseling. This will be a very rewarding time for our workers at the base. This first team is very skilled and prepared to give a lot of their skills and expertise.The second team will be leading a staff retreat for our leadership....

I have taken many short-term teams to Indonesia over the last nine years. I have traveled with some of the most amazing people. These people pay their way and volunteer their services. I make sure they are safe and have a positive experience. A 70 plus year-old woman was one of the best surprises. She did fine in the heat and had such a great attitude. A 15 year-old teenager was another great team member. She was so kind and seemed like she was...

I have been in the remote island of Halmahera in northeast Indonesia. There is no access to the Internet there–so I have been beyond reach since the 13th of August. Today we started traveling at 1:30 a.m. It was a four hour car trip on sometimes marginal roads thru the beautiful jungle of this island. The equatorial sky was brilliant with stars this morning. Our car nearly ran out of gas but we found a light on in a home along the road...