The testimony below is submitted by Teacher Katherine Koh on her mission trip to West Timor.BIG PARTY IN LITTLE TIMOR After reading and hearing so much about the Roslin Orphanage from many sources, especially from Capt Budi, an A345 captain with SIA, who co-manages the orphanage with his wife, Peggy, a team of 10 staff from the SIA Group decided to pay a visit there to experience the life in an orphanage in the small town of Kupang in West Timor. The team were there from 05 to 09 August 2006.
We stayed in a hostel 300 metres from the Roslin Orphanage. Although the hostel rooms had attached bathrooms, there were no hot water system and the bowl had to be manually flushed.
We were very excited to see the children, who were also just as excited to see us. Many are able to feed themselves from the time they were under 2 years old and most have been toilet trained. We helped to feed the smaller ones and some of us also helped to bathe them. There are now 40 children in the orphanage, the youngest being 35 days old and the oldest is now in 2nd year at the local university. The children are not put up for adoption as Budi and his wife, Peggy prefer to perform the role of foster parents to all their young charges. The children are given a proper education to at least a secondary level and the more promising charges are given a shot at tertiary schooling. The orphanage is entirely self funded by Budi and some sponsors. Apart from the Roslin Orphanage, Budi and Peggy also provide a mobile library service and employment opportunities to the locals in their stores and farms, run a college which provides technical education, and are involved in a whole host of other community activities such as the project to fortify the diets of pregnant and nursing mothers.
On the 3rd day, Peggy told us that 300 children were invited to the orphanage in the evening to feast on hard-boiled eggs and green bean soup. This was a rare treat for them as the village children only get to eat hard-boiled eggs twice a year. Although they reared hens, the eggs lay by the hens were sold in the market as an income. Peggy first embarked on the feeding program for the village children with the aim of improving the children’s nutrition, as malnutrition is common in Timor. We helped in the preparation of the food and as early as 4.30 pm, the children from nearby villages, some of them accompanied by their parents started streaming into the orphanage’s garage. The small party began with the children singing songs. We helped to distribute the bowls of green pea soup and the eggs to all the children and their parents.
On the 4th day, Peggy told us that she expected 400 children to come to the orphanage in the evening. This event was not planned for our sakes but is part of the planned arrangements to improve the nutrition diet of the children of the small village. We again helped to prepare the food for the evening feast and packed them into plastic boxes.
The party started with the village children and their parents singing and dancing to the Timorese traditional songs which were being played. When the dinner was served, it was amazing to see the small children ate their food so quickly. Peggy then asked if they wanted more rice and many put up their hands. It was more amazing to see them enjoyed eating just plain rice alone. Corn is the only staple food of the locals and to them eating rice was a real treat. The singing and dancing resumed after dinner. The children enjoyed themselves so much but like they say, all good things must come to an end.
This is one of the most enriching trips we have had. Being able to see with our very own eyes and mingling with the little ones as well as the local people, have made us look at lives in a different perspective. The events are still vivid in our memories.
We would encourage more people to visit the orphanage on a regular basis and help out in any way we could. This is a way of encouraging Budi and Peggy that we are by their side, and supporting their work. Now, one of the urgent needs are the collection of books including children English books, and multi media materials for the new library which is target to open in January 2007.
Those who wish to contact Budi may email him at: budisoehardi@yahoo.com or go to the Roslin orphanage website at: http://www.geocities.com/roslinorphanage.
