The priority for this visit was to transport dental supplies (tooth pastes and brushes) and kitchen items from Australia to the mission. In addition to this we made our regular shopping visits to supermarkets in Labuan Bajo to stock up the larder of the monastery. Rice and sugar were also purchased. Dental supplies are provided on an on-going basis to the children of the English class (normally about 80 children), the brothers at the monastery and to local residents as part of the mission’s outreach programs. Preparations are also being made to finalise the building of an apostolate facility on the property for long-term care of the disabled and elderly of the community. For this mission visit we say special thanks to our generous donors: the bulk of the dental supplies were kindly provided by Smile Team Orthodontics, Wollongong NSW and the staff of the Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital, Brisbane Qld. In addition we thank our loyal supporters for the provision of funds which assisted in the purchase of our supermarket supplies.
The monastery welcomes usA very friendly welcome from the brothers alsoThe new truckThe van has a new paint jobThe brothers are hard at work as usualConstructing a base for a water tankJust arrived and the gardening startsPlanting pumpkin seedsThe monastery has some new pigletsThe unpacking of supplies from Australia commencesMore unpackingKitchen suppliesDental supplies (special thanks to our generous supporters)Supplies from Australia all unpackedOff to the local shops early the next dayWe hit the supermarket firstOlivia, the owner of the RoxyMart supermarket gives us a very good price for bulk orders (special thanks to our generous sponsors)The supermarket challenge is over, back to the monastery to wait for deliveryOn our way back we spot a local busPlus an up market tourist centre with its own shuttle busRoxyMart delivers the groceries and the brothers carry them to the store roomUnpacking the supplies for storageInventory timeTime for the rosary, the chapel has a new hand carved altar and a beautiful altar clothBrothers clean up after lunchReviewing the local sponsorship children with Brother EmmanuelNew container facility at the Labuan Bajo harbourLarge boats with containers can now come into the harbourAs always, the beautiful bay at Labuan BajoAs always in the wet season, lovely cooling monsoonal rains in the afternoonsNot so beautiful are these local ‘cottages’ for workers making bricks (yes the houses are that small, note the chicken on the porch)A local shanty in the forest with a television dish of course!Returning home from mass on the Sunday morningEnglish class timeYoung brothers do a great job teaching English to the classCorrecting the children’s workTrevor speaks to the children about AustraliaBr Emmanuel speaks to the class about dental hygeinePlenty of tooth brushes and pastes for the children (many thanks to Smile Team Orthodontics, Wollongong)Preparing the give-aways, including hair bands for the girlsAlmost readyThe girls first under the watchful eye of Br EmmanuelMore girls!More girls, even more excited!The boys are very keen to get tooth brushes, possibly for the first time everThey just cant get enoughThings are getting freneticBr Emmanuel steps in to settle thingsSnacks for the children after English classChildren prepare to go homeChildren walk home after English class, see you next weekSome children are taken home by the brothersEnglish class is over and Herlina Suyati Bachtiar, SH. MBA arrives from Jakarta with a giftBrothers have prepared good food for all during our visitOnce again we say goodbye to Labuan Bajo and the brothers
Dear Trevor and Tina,
So good to hear from you with the latest update on MOP Indonesia.Thank you so much for your kind and generous spirit not to mention allthe hours of labor that go into preparing for a trip like this. The brothersmust always be overjoyed when they know that your coming for a visit.
May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you in His constant care asMOP continues to flourish under the Lord’s (and your) watchful eyes.
In the loving Hearts of Jesus and Mary,Donna SciraCalifornia
8 April 2014 at 5:53 am
Dear Trevor and Tina,
So good to hear from you with the latest update on MOP Indonesia.Thank you so much for your kind and generous spirit not to mention allthe hours of labor that go into preparing for a trip like this. The brothersmust always be overjoyed when they know that your coming for a visit.
May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you in His constant care asMOP continues to flourish under the Lord’s (and your) watchful eyes.
In the loving Hearts of Jesus and Mary,Donna SciraCalifornia
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2014 11:22:06 +0000
To: donnaatcreek@hotmail.com
9 April 2014 at 4:58 pm
Hi Donna, Many thanks. God bless you and your family for all that you do for MOP for the love of our dear Lord. Love Trevor and Tina.