the timor trip has really opened my eyes and heart to God and to the reality of the world... maybe its because i've been sheltered all my life.. we're really fortunate to be able to live and grow up in such an environment and society... never seen such poverty... and it makes me sad that there are actually people.. and children having to grow up like that...
just a lil history of timor... it was a colony of portugal from the 16th century until 1975... it was subsequently invaded and occupied by indonesia until 2000... the timorese fought in a civil war and gained indepence... when the indonesians left... they destroyed everything built by them including communication lines.. power supply.. roads and buildings... even after independence.. turmoil continued to plague the country... in 2006 riots broke out to force the president then to resign...
timor is one of the poorest countries in the world (i think)...
the dili airport in timor is the only airport i've been to that allows people to take pictures freely... heh heh... check out the australian troops in timor...
check out their airport... there's only one duty-free shop... and only one belt unloading luggage.. which really isnt surprising seeing that only a few airlines fly to dili...
that's me and grace (our long-term missionary in timor) getting very excited about our 4-wheel drive with a sun roof!
the drive down to our district is about 2 hours... as the main road down is closed due to a land slide the night before.. we were forced to take the coastal route... which is great cos we managed to get a view of the beautiful coastline... clear waters!!
one of the things i can never get used to over there is the limited electricity supply... in manatuto (that's the district where we stayed) electricity only comes on at about 6pm and goes off at 11pm.. which means the fans can't be switched on overnight... the air is still... really hard to fall asleep... and there's no heater!! showering in cold water is really difficult for me ;(
restaurant cock & bull - the place where we had ALL our meals... as jess always says..."today's food menu is... rice... vege and meat... & drinks menu is... water.. coke & sprite!" yeap..that's ALL... :(
the dogs kept by the missionary there (rocky & charcoal!! not hard to guess who's who right...)
our mission in timor is to organise a christmas carnival for the families living in the village of kampong alor.. i think the work of God is truly amazing... there are many times we do not understand why God allows our plans to be disrupted... it may seem disrupted to us.. but to God... everything is under control :)
our carnival!
my booth...
other than organising the carnival.. the team also visited the families in the kampong and distributed some food for the families... the smiles and laughter of the children made me melt...
the stuff we packed!!
this is the reality...
the market place to buy food...
don't ask me what's this.. i also dunno.. its sold at the market!
our entourage...
a child carrying a child is the norm...
the children simply love taking pictures!
our favourite baby... pedro!
the youths who helped us with the carnival...
i really thank God for the opportunity to go to timor... for the experience... i hear timor calling out to me... but at this point in time i dont think its strong enough for me to drop everything and move there... but... i promise i'll be back in 2 years... till then "ate logu" timor! (see ya later!)
