As part of The Midwives National day we were asked to attend a mass that was attended almost entirely by midwives and midwives students. We were given guests of honor seats on the front row. Including setting on the side wings there were probably about 300 in attendance.
The mass was given in Teton.
We are asked frequently if people can take our pictures. People who we don't even know like having their pictures taken with foreigners. This happened quite a lot after the mass.
In 1991 during the occupation there was a shooting of a civilians by the Indonesian military in this Cemetery. It is a national landmark. It is also a place where we all went after the mass to honor the a midwives who have passed away over the years.
This is where we put flowers and lit candles in a general reverence and remembrance of those who have passed away.
After the cemetery we went to the National Hospital. Which is the largest hospital in the country. At that time I symbolically presented some newborn baby packets to The Midwives Association. The packets which we donated had diapers, women's hygiene materials, baby hand mittins, shirts, pants, blankets, towel, soap and diapers. We donated 500 packets.
The Midwife Association requested these as an inducement for pregnant women to seek out midwives. Currently about 30% of all of the babies delivered in the country are done so without trained medical help. These gift bags will be distributed in the rural areas in the country where poverty is most rampant.
This is inside one of the maternity rooms. There were about 20 beds in the room. It was not air-conditioned. There were three of these rooms in the hospital.
This is one of the new mothers that we presented the gift bag too. She said that she had no other clothes for her new baby and was very happy to receive this gift.
Being the preeminent Hospital in the country it was surprising to see how run-down and modest it was. There was a lot of old medical equipment outside stacked against the walls of the buildings. Most of the doctors in the hospital were natives. Most of them had been trained in Cuba
On our way home they pulled up alongside of our car.
How wonderful that you were able to donate 500 newborn packets to help those who need it most. The most people we ever saw on one motorcycle was 6 but some missionaries claimed they saw 8! Thanks for sharing some of your experiences.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the law all adults are using motorcycle helmets. Not a single child or youth ever has a helmet on. We saw one accident where a motorcycle slid out and fell over while making a turn. Luckily the mother was holding her baby in such a way that the baby did not hit the ground. Whenever there is serious accident I'm sure the injuries are horrible.
DeleteIn Indonesia about 80% of the accidents include a motorcycle! Your comments about the American embassy in Timor Leste is very interesting because the one in Jakarta looks like a fort! You pass through many security checkpoints before you get in.
DeleteThe next time you see President Sabandiyo please give him our love. We worked closely with him when we were serving there!
Amazing. You are the Rock Stars of the island! How wonderful to see such need and joy from something so simple as your packets!! !! We need to do more packet-making here, stateside! !!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's hard to comprehend the reality of people not even having baby clothes. Even though the maternity room was stuffed full of mothers and babies, and it was hot there was still a wonderful spirit in there as you had all those new mothers who love their little baby so much. It took us and the couple before us almost 7 months to accumulate the items to go in the gift bags. Most of them had to be shipped on a boat from Indonesia. It's just hard to get things here.
DeleteInteresting to see the hospital! So much to be done! Thank you Cheryl & Lee for being there.
ReplyDeleteMy friend who used to live there said there is a National election May 12. She wanted to be sure you knew sometimes dangerous things happen in Dili then. Be Safe! We know Heavenly Father is watching over you too. I love reading of your adventures.
Diane Wallace
It's been surprising how much energy there has been in the country concerning this campaign. Each party had a different day to have their parade and yet sometimes some of the supporters from an opposing party would march in their opponents parade. It didn't seem to matter to them. Apparently back in the early 2000s when they had an election like this there was violence. We're being careful. Today is election day and we're just staying home.
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