We are Peter and Sue Hill from Culburra Beach, New South Wales and we were very happy to visit the Indonesian mission of the Missionaries of the Poor at Labuan Bajo, Flores.  We travelled with seven of our nine children and after spending a night at Kuta in Denpasar, Bali, we were told that our flight had been cancelled.  We finally had the clearance to fly after much discussion and after saying nine Memorares, but we were finally on our way!

Our family that travelled were Peter and Sue (Dad and Mum), Matthew 22 years old, Robert 17, Luke 15, Rachel 13, Leah 11, Anna 8 and Claire 6.

First glimpses of beautiful Labuan Bajo, Flores.
First glimpses of beautiful Labuan Bajo, Flores.
Visit to local parish church and the parish priest Fr Stefanus Sawu PR (and his puppies)
Visit to local parish church and the parish priest Fr Stefanus Sawu PR (and his puppies)
Meeting all the community; aspirants and brothers gather with our family to pray before our meal together
Meeting all the community; aspirants and brothers gather with our family to pray before our meal together
Meal time was a great experience and we shared a lot of information and laughs
Meal time was a great experience and we shared a lot of information and laughs
Matthew eating with the brothers…. He is about to try a hot chilli!
Matthew eating with the brothers…. He is about to try a hot chilli!

Brothers finishing their rosary in the truck
Brothers finishing their rosary in the truck
The monastery at night
The monastery at night
Praying in the chapel
Praying in the chapel
Adoration in the brothers’ chapel
Adoration in the brothers’ chapel
Group photo after evening prayer
Group photo after evening prayer
Local children after catechism
Local children after catechism
Taking local children back home after Peter and the girls took the catechism class
Taking local children back home after Peter and the girls took the catechism class
The rest of the gang happy to travel by van
The rest of the gang happy to travel by van
A local shop
A local shop
Roadside market
Roadside market
Where the people bathe after rain
Where the people bathe after rain
A local street with poverty evident
A local street with poverty evident
Locals at market loved the children
Locals at market loved the children
Local fish market
Local fish market
Girls learning to shop at the local markets with Brother Emmanuel
Girls learning to shop at the local markets with Brother Emmanuel
Local housing
Local housing
Neighbour’s house, Joey…showing me his bed
Neighbour’s house, Joey…showing me his bed
Claire helping brother outside the back kitchen door
Claire helping brother outside the back kitchen door
Brothers washing down outside wet area
Brothers washing down outside wet area
Locals working hard to finish the fence around the apostolate inside the monastery grounds
Locals working hard to finish the fence around the apostolate inside the monastery grounds
Claire in the yard
Claire in the yard
Leah, Anna and Claire catching the baby chicks
Leah, Anna and Claire catching the baby chicks
Plenty of work needed in the yard (with monastery in the background)
Plenty of work needed in the yard (with monastery in the background)
Leah helping with the cooking outside
Leah helping with the cooking outside
After mass on ‘All Souls Day’ at the Labuan Bajo Parish Church
After mass on ‘All Souls Day’ at the Labuan Bajo Parish Church
Travelling back to the monastery from mass
Travelling back to the monastery from mass
Praying at the grotto
Praying at the grotto
Volleyball competition and fun for all
Volleyball competition and fun for all
In a free moment…. taking a short boat trip to an island for a swim
In a free moment…. taking a short boat trip to an island for a swim
Welcome to the Komodo National Park
Welcome to the Komodo National Park
The boys, Matt, Rob and Luke hire motor bikes to follow the Missionaries of the Poor van; Brother Emmanuel likes the idea
The boys, Matt, Rob and Luke hire motor bikes to follow the Missionaries of the Poor van; Brother Emmanuel likes the idea
Spectacular view of the area
Spectacular view of the area
At the airport and sad to go
At the airport and sad to go
The airport
The airport
Memorable last glimpse of Labuan Bajo
Memorable last glimpse of Labuan Bajo