A tale of five cartons – Getting basic needs to the Saburai Mission, Timor Leste – Mission for the Poor: Serving the people of Flores and Timor Leste

We are late with our posts, so we have a bit to catch up on. Bear with us as we try to pick up with the latest in Saburai and Labuan Bajo.

An opportunity arose through the generosity of Bren Milsom through the Rotary Organisation and Clubs in Brisbane and the Rotary representative in Dili to enable us to send, via their shipment of a cargo container, five tea chest cartons of supplies to the brothers of the Saburai Mission, to assist their work with the very poor of the community. We were provided with in-kind donations of new children’s clothing, religious supplies, first aid supplies, dental supplies, new school uniforms, new stationery supplies and clothing for the brothers of the mission.

Donors were many, including parishioners of the Holy Family, Our Lady of Lourdes and St Clare’s Parishes in Indooroopilly, Sunnybank and Tully respectively, Holy Spirit Private Hospital Northside, Chemist Warehouse Indooroopilly, Star Discount Chemist at Graceville, Tully State High, Tully, and Café Delamore at Booval. In addition, many hand made rosaries were donated by the Boonah Rosary Group, while religious supplies were donated by Mary’s Rosary Chain Inc.

Overall it was a group effort from the provision of the contents of the cartons, their packing, delivery to the container and the generosity of the Rotary Organisation to fund the container’s six-week passage from Brisbane, via Singapore to lastly arriving at Dili, Timor Leste. Then, a four-hour drive from Dili to Maliana where the cartons were unloaded and unpacked. An adventure that took the better part of four or five months but well worth it to see the smiles.

A lot more to report on so we will see you next time…!!!!

With every blessing

Trevor and Tina