Rose Garden Moms and Baby Home

Candace has been here for four days, and unlike the other visitors we've had (mom and dad, Dale) we've kept a pretty low profile so far. For her first day she pretty much caught up with Gray's Anatomy on-line (there's a great site to go to when you want to watch commercial free tv on your computer) and in the evening came with me to my SPH teachers' (women) bible study. Yesterday she wasn't feeling well so again, we mostly stayed at home. It was fine with me because at this point we're starting "THE ARGUMENT" that seems inevitable when you are dealing with insurance companies, so I spent some time on Skype and on the computer looking for ammunition. Yesterday morning I had the "Unpacking the Boxes" study that I'm holding in my home for 7 weeks, and although she didn't have the homework done (can you believe it?!) she participated and had some good things to say. The topic was 'loneliness' and I think we all have something to say on that, whether we've moved to a different town or a different country.As you can see by the photo of baby Matthew, today was a special day. We went with the "Lippo Ladies" to visit the Rose Garden. This is a home sponsored and run by the Living Faith church here in Lippo Village (the same people we did the 'under the bridge' ministry at Christmas with mom), and the home is set up to house young Indonesian moms who have no where else to go. Quite often when a young woman gets pregnant outside of marriage she gets rejected by her family and so this is a safe, loving place for her to finish out her pregnancy, give birth and learn to be a mom. The length of stay is a maximum of 2 years, and so the girls get a good start at motherhood and sometimes at lifeskills as well. Although this home is meant for young moms, they are very willing to take on other situations as well, such as battered women looking for a safe place to life for a while. Typically their moms have been poorer women from around Indonesia, but they also open their doors to those in the higher economic bracket. They just have not been approached by any yet.

Tina is 4 month old Matthew's mom, and she has been at the home since February. Since she's arrived she's not only learned about how to care for and raise a baby, but she's also learned how to run a home, how to speak English (for future job potential) and various other life skills. Apparently when she showed up she wouldn't crack a smile. Today she constantly smiled and was extremely welcoming. Her baby was a very content, smiley little guy.

This next photo is of Candace as a Lippo Lady, getting in the gang. It was nice for her to be able to discuss a bit of AIDS information as a nurse and as a self-appointed AIDS advocate, as she calls herself, with the woman who runs the home, Detty Laidlow. Candace is in the upper left hand corner, in purple.

As an aside, it's funny what goes on in Indonesian construction. No one knows why there are 2 toilets. My guess is that one was originally intended as a beaudet (is that how you spell it? I almost called it a bodem). Living here in Indo, I am wondering why they didn't put them even closer, just in case of the "both ends" scenario? O dear, did I write that down?? Anyways, Sandy and Esther were good sports at this photo op.


Finally, I love this shot of my new friend, Amanda. Amanda's new to SPH and Indo, just moved here one month ago, 2 days after her wedding. The photos beautiful but we're not going to pressure her in the baby area. That's just irritating.
One last note. Tris is still in a lot of pain. Please pray all of this surgery/insurance stuff goes quickly and we can just get him to Singapore and healed up.

Thanks for reading.