Our big news is that there is a couple who will be replacing us after we leave. We are really happy to know that there will be someone to continue the projects and work with the Kota Kinabalu branch members and missionaries. They will arrive a week after we leave but that is OK. We can leave them lots of information about what we have been doing. Hopefully we do not overwhelm them.
So we have been continuing with all the things that we do. We make visits, teach classes, and last week we got our last clean water project 'kicked-off' by making a visit to the kampung of Data Kakus which is 3+ hours out of Bintulu mostly on timber roads. Keep in mind that we are in the rainy season and the roads are dirt or, more accurately, mud.
OUR GROUP AT THE ENTRY TO DATA KAKUS
There were 12 of us who went out there in 3 Hilux Toyota trucks driven by men who live in DK so they knew the road. Which was a really good thing because the road we usually take was washed out and we had to go a different and longer route. We left Bintulu about 7:30 AM and arrived in DK about 1 PM. We were met by Peter, the headman and his niece, Elizabeth both of whom we knew from our past visits.
WAITING TO SEE IF THE ROAD WILL BE PASSABLE SOON
ELDERLY WOMAN RESIDENT OF DATA KAKUS
First we reviewed the project they are going to do. The members of the community are going to do the work as 'goyong rotong' or working together for the good of the group. Bill spent some time going over just what they will do to upgrade and improve their water system and then he had Peter teach it back to all who were present. They will do just fine. We are partnering with the Rotary Club in Bintulu and they will help with getting the materials. Jawa, a teacher at the primary school in DK, will be our site monitor as he has access to the internet once a week to give us reports and send photos of the progress. They didn't commit to how long it would take them to complete the work. I sure hope it doesn't take too long.
MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THE PROJECT
ENJOYING A MEAL AT JAWA'S HOME
THAT IS DAISY KOH ON THE LEFT, E/S ORIEN ON THE RIGHT
ELDERLY RESIDENT OF DATA KAKUS
They always feed us at DK and then Elizabeth gave us a tour of the village as the two missionary couples from Bintulu had not been there or any place like it and were most interested in the peaceful lifestyle. It was interesting to see children swimming in the river, a woman fishing with a net in the river, elderly people with the elongated ear lobes that were a mark of beauty until the 1950's, rice and pepper berries drying in the sun on rotan mats, shy but very curious children peeking at us,
JUST BACK FROM THE JUNGLE FARM WITH VEGETABLES FOR DINNER
ELDERLY WOMAN IN DATA KAKUS
DRYING PEPPER ON A ROTAN MAT
THEY STORE THEIR RICE IN THESE STRUCTURES TO PROTECT IT FROM VERMIN
FISHING FOR 2" LONG FISH
RAISED WALKWAY THROUGH DATA KAKUS
DATA KAKUS
DATA KAKUS
A LOT OF LIVIN' IN THAT FACE
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1 comment:
that trip sounds like a memorable one! glad you survived!
sure miss you. and love you.
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