Meeting the young men warmed my heart and then seeing where they lived broke it.
I was on the island of Kalimantan visiting a MSI-sponsored children’s home in a small town near the coast. The simple grouping of structures was home to 25 children and led well by a man named Sani who himself had grown up in a children’s home. He and his wife did the best they could managing limited resources to shelter and spiritually shepherd the kids under their care.
The girls’ dorm was adequate. My daughter and I stayed in one of the rooms and, although it wouldn’t wow any Western hotel reviewers, for Indonesia it was fine by us. We enjoyed meeting the girls and hearing them sing from their dorm rooms late into the night, then rise early for their morning prayer time.
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Old School Dormitory
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New School Dormitory
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Bunkbeds in New School Dormitory
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The boys’ dorm, if you could call it that, was a different experience. Although there was the same joy and smiles and singing, the shack-like structure was riddled with holes and didn’t have enough bedding. One of the boys, the smallest, literally slept in the rafters. During rainy season water dripped through all the gaps and kept the boys permanently damp. Sani seemed embarrassed by its condition, but he explained not enough money had come in to complete the new boy’s dorm still under construction. When he took me to the construction site I could see his eyes light up, envisioning a place where the boys could get a good night sleep on decent beds and without rain, wind and mosquitoes entering at will. The community got wind of Sani’s dream, and sometimes neighbors would drop by and donate building materials without being asked. Thanks to them and the generous gifts of the MSI supporters, the dorm could be completed within one year.
Imagine my delight at receiving a recent report of the new dorm being finished. It makes my heart fill with gratitude for you, our generous supporters, and I wanted you to know how you are making a difference in the lives of real people. Thank you.
Notice the wider smile in these before and after pictures! Sani and the boys at the school need our continued support. Please remember to download the most recent Prayer Calendar – thank you in advance for remembering us in your prayers!
