Pulau Omadal and About

MR TORBEN NEXT TO ELLEN, HEAD OF HUMANA SCHOOLS
NESTOR IN RED, OUR DRIVER & INTERPRETER AND
ISMAEL, OUR CONTRACTOR  ON THE RIGHT IS
THE OWNER OF THE BOAT.

   BILL AND ELLEN ON OMADAL ISLAND

HOMES AT OMADAL ISLAND

 This is such an interesting place to be serving the Lord and His children.  Last week we accompanied Torben Venning, the director of the Humana schools, to visit the island of Omadal which, for you who like maps, is in the Celebes Sea off the East coast of Sabah; GPS coordinates for Pulau (that means 'island' in Malay)  Omadal are: 4˚25’39.53”N   118˚45’11.12”E with elevation 0 to 4 meters.  The island is approximately 10 to 12 km in circumference surrounded by coral reefs.  It has sparse vegetation on most of the island.   It is about a 45 minute boat ride---small boat, big engine so we moved right along---and it is BEAUTIFUL.  These islands are surrounded by coral reefs and are some of the most popular in the world for diving.   The water is so clear and we were told that it is very clean.  (Hard to believe since they all use 'hanging toilets' which flush twice a day with the tide change.)  The islands are surrounded with coral reefs so the water is very shallow as you will see if you look at google earth.  

HER FUTURE?

THIS IS THIER HOME--SEA GYPSIES
THEY ARE POLEING THE BOAT BECAUSE THE
WATER IS SO SHALLOW

     Torben is interested in establishing a school---perhaps a floating school---for the bajau luat children who live in the area.  The bajau luat are the sea gypsies, a group of people who continue to live as they have for generations as fishermen, following the fish.  They live on their boats which are about 30 feet long and no more than 5 or 6 feet wide at the most.  They have a canopy which gives them some protection from the sun.  They use a box of sand in which to build a little fire for cooking.  There is a hammock for the baby.  Sometimes there are more than 2 generations living on the boat---the grandma sits in the back and bails because there is less than a foot of freeboard.  We have heard that they experience 'motion sickness' when they come ashore.  They are very poor and stateless having lived in these islands between Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia for so long.  Some of them have very small and humble homes built on the water, of course, near the islands.      

THE FAMILY VEHICLE

BAJAU LAUT CHILDREN---NOT A CARE

     And we went to the island because they have no fresh water.  Besides the bajau luat there are Malaysian citizens who also are located at the island.  No one actually lives ON the island.  Rather they build their homes on poles or ironwood piling over the water.  The population is about 1500 plus people and there is no fresh water on the island.  They depend on rain water collection and use it only for drinking and cooking. They bathe and wash clothing in sea water.  Only the more affluent have corrugated metal roofs and water tanks to collect it in and they sell it to the others.  They can bring water from Semporna or Bum Bum Island but it is expensive.  There are some buildings on the island---a primary school for the Malaysian children, a community center and a police post.  

HOME FROM SCHOOL. "MOM.....ANY COOKIES AND MILK?"

THE DARK SHAPES ARE FRUIT BATS

NEW TANKS AT A  HUMANA SCHOOL

     As we were walking around the island with the headman, he pointed out the flying foxes up in the coconut palms.  These are actually fruit bats and they were all over in the trees, hiding during the day from predators.  There were no other animals on the island except their goats and chickens.  My souvenir from the island is a beautiful little 2 inch abalone shell.

                                           ONE OF THE NEW TOILETS  FOR A HUMANA SCHOOL


     While we were over there in eastern Sabah, we also checked out the last 4 schools that were completed with their water collection tanks.  And the tanks are FULL because they have had some rain.  The work has been completed very well by Ismael, our contractor.  His work has improved remarkably since he began doing this work for us.  Instead of using string to support the pipe from the gutter to the tank, he is now using metal straps.  He told us that he had to get rid of some of his crew (one was his brother) because they wouldn't or couldn't do the work up to our standards.  The work is still quite primitive---no finished carpentry as he just builds an ironwood stand to support the 1600 liter water tanks outside the school and a small counter with a sink and water cooler inside the classroom.  At some of the schools he has built what you would recognize as an outhouse only with a squat pan.  Ismael is doing great work.  

                                    INSIDE THE CLASSROOM THEY HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER

THE DIET OF CHOICE HERE

WE COULDN'T BELIEVE OUR EYES BUT HE WAS 

GOING ABOUT 50 KM/H DOWN THE ROAD

TALKING ON HIS HAND PHONE!!

     Back at home. . . we had training with our area president, Elder Perkins  and an area 70, Elder Subandrio, on Saturday and then joined them and the mission president for dinner at the local Hyatt.  Had a baptism Saturday evening.  CES training at the same time so we split up---me on one side of the hallway and Bill on the other side.  We do a 5 or 6 hour block on Sundays with our meetings and training with the branch leaders.   The leaders in our branch want to do things the right way.  They are so willing and they try so hard.  They are wonderful people.  We surely do love them.  Yeah, I think we would love them even if they weren't so compliant and willing.   

UNDER-COVER SEA COP, NOT AT ALL OBVIOUS
IN SEMPORNA HARBOR

     Tuesday evening we meet with the 3 young men who are preparing to go out on their missions very soon.  We encourage them to get ready.  They have to get their clothing, vaccinations, and haircuts.  They have a hard time spending money on themselves because they have never done that, so we went with them last night to visit the clinic and get their vaccinations started and get the process of having 2 suits made for Kelven (going to London).  David is going to Washington DC so will go to the MTC in Provo.  He has a missionary couple there who will help him get the suits he needs.  The third young man, Edre (going to Perth), has two older brothers who are RM's and he is nearly ready to go out the door with their assistance.   They are all getting a little nervous about leaving as the time gets closer.  It will be a huge change in culture for all of them.  Kelven told us last night that he has never been out of East Malaysia.  He probably has not been more than 100 miles from Kota Kinabalu.  Wow! and he is going to London!  We fed the dinner at Kenny Rogers Roaster and, of course, they had chicken---the national food.  It was interesting watching them use a knife and fork to eat their chicken rather than pick it up with their fingers.  Their mothers have been working on their manners, I see. :)

HAPPY HUMANA STUDENTS

We have been well.  Bill has some trouble with his back if we spend too much time walking on concrete but his Chinese doctor has helped him a little with that.  She walks on his back and has made his legs both the same length.  How did she do that?  

MOM'S FLIGHT FROM BOISE TO KITSAP COUNTY

We hear that my niece, Megan is doing well and out of the hospital following brain surgery.  Also, my Mother is now at Keith and Patty's home in their care.  I talked to her this morning and she sounded good. Mother suffered a fall and has been in the hospital in Boise for 3 weeks. She wanted to get out of there badly. It was decided finally that she could be in a home care situation with a nurse. Being as how I am here half way around the world, Patty who is also an RN offered to take care of her in their home in Silverdale. So the hospital arranged for a private plane to fly her directly there and 2 parameds came with her and all the equipment needed for the trip. We are so thankful that she made it out of the hospital and is in good hands.

DENIS AND ROD (AND OTHERS) HELPING

WITH THE TRANSFER OF MOM

FROM PLANE TO CAR.

    We are excited to have our oldest coming on Monday. She will sacrifice one day but will get it back on the way home. It will be fun again to see where we work through new eyes from the states. We can remember when it was all so foreign to us and some of the stuff even shocking. Now it is just part of our lives. Having her here will remind us !!


We love your notes that catch us up on your lives and what is happening at home. We still miss all of you and our lives back there. It is hard to believe we have only 5 months left, We have so much to do. We hope to get two wheel chair projects going, along with another water project and one more vision project. Plus finish up what is on the books. So it is a tall order.


Please write when you can.

BAJAU LAUT WOMAN BEGGING

MEETING WITH THE HEADMAN ON OMADAL ISLAND

A DAY AT THE MARKET

2ND KAMPONG ON OMADAL ISLAND

THIRD KAMPUNG 'ON' OMADAL ISLAND

THIS IS WHERE THE SEA GYPSIES OR 

BAJU LAUT LIVE

Bill & Ellen on the other side of the world..................