We had 3 times of village practice there. First, on Nov 5-8. We manage the community group, train the community committee about simple accounting, how to increase economic by involve in community group of economic. ADP facilitate people to have at least 1 addition work beside usual work so that they can increase their economic. Here We placed in a group of three and 1 facilitator from the ADP. In our leisure time, we travel around the village and visited the very beautiful beach, even much more beautiful than Bali. By the way, have you know Bali? Some people know Bali more than Indonesia for the beautiful beach and traditions. But the beach in West Sumba (name Marosi) is much more beautiful. The clean water, the coral, the fish, the waves, anything. We swam there until we feel enough. So amazing.

The second time we had the village practice on Nov 17-20. Different village of course. The task was still the same, all is for the sake of the community. Now I work alone but still had 1 facilitator from ADP even though only for short time. Almost did all duty alone with the community. I also had some leisure time and with some friends whose village was close to mine, we went to other village in upside part so we can see Marosi from above. The view was so amazing, I have even saw so beautiful sunset there. The rest of the sunshine getting sunset made something like bed net through the clouds. It was so beautiful, but for this occasion I couldn't shoot it cause I didn't have any camera and my facilitator didn't have either. The second times we went there, the view was not too good, but I could ask picture from my friends.

The third, on Nov 29-Dec 3. The task now was different, but heavier. I worked alone with 1 facilitator, but we had to build new community group in 1 village for ministry expansion. We face people who didn't know WV before, we had to introduce them about WV and motivate them to build a group so that it can increase their care one to another. WV help community by the group, so the control, training, and care can be maximize. It also teach people how to act in a real organization and teach people about management. Thank God we succeed.

We finished our training in West Sumba on Dec 10, so that night we held a ceremony and little party for all of the trainee and ADP staff. Every body happy and enjoy the party. The ADP manager even cry in secret for losing us. That was the first time for him to cry in letting trainee to go after training. Almost all of the training held in West Sumba, and we believe that our generation now means so much to the manager. We are funny, creative, kind, nice, but we can also so firmly in facing problem. We've even confronted him in a meeting before village visiting because of his decision that we thought not so good, but then we can understand each other. Much memories there, but we had to let the place and went to the next place of training, East Sumba.

We went to East Sumba on Dec 11 morning. Arrived there, only talked a while, so short time, then we were sent to the village again. We didn't have even a night to have a rest. Now the village practice was very different than before in West Sumba. We were placed only one person in one village, without any ADP staff or facilitator to accompany us. We went to the village by sand truck, standing like truck man. Every one was given 1 shirt so we looked like some orphans on the open truck. But that's so funny for us, like a very free life. We didn't know anything about the village we were heading to. Like treasure searching. All was so mystery for us, and it was already dark.

I live with a family whose home is almost on the hill top, alone in the big land. On the morning I knew about that, and that the land is so dry, empty, dirty of animals feces, so lack of water especially fresh water to drink. For Sunday ceremony to church, and for doing my tasks visiting other family in the village, I have to walk fast in a very dry land like desert, so stony and always hit my feet. Many ashes, sick of the sunshine, so hot, oh it was so hard. Every time I went any place, I had to face the same situation and condition for about half an hour or more than 1 hour. Every day I had to live the same thing, walk that far in a very sunny and hot day. It lasts until Dec 18.

On Dec 19, all of us were gathered in one village for children's Christmas celebration held by the ADP. On Dec 18-19 night, we were all slept in 2 small house, not inside, but outside the house. You know, we all and some children, so crowded. We cooked our meal alone by using wood. We had to learn our selves cause we've never cook with wood for the fire. And on Dec 20 morning, we went to another village by truck to have a hiking.

The hiking was too hard for all of us, cause the track was a tall, steep, stony hill. No trees to cover us so sunshine hit us so much. I almost feel breathless, even though I've had climbing experiences before. But the track was so hard. We visit one sponsored child there, and to reach the place we need about 4 hours. After that we went back through the same way for about 4 hours again. We soon lack of water, then we drank the water from the river. There is much of water, but only in the river, not every where. From the spot we began the hike, we went back to the city in the dark, of course by truck. Then we placed in a hotel until Dec 23.

Actually we back home to Jakarta on Dec 23, but the ticket only to Denpasar Bali. Cause some of us never visit Bali before include me, then we decide to stay in Bali for a night so we can see Bali. That's why I arrived in Jakarta on Dec 24, and then had the Christmas ceremony in church.

The West and East Sumbanese people are alike, of course they have some differences. Their house built from wood, the roof from grass leaf or something like that. The house built in three level, first for animals, second for people, third for commodity supply. Actually the condition is not good for health, but they believe that it was the best for them. They call it house of generations. Their tradition need so much money to use, so much animals to eat, and of course big party. That makes them poor cause their work every day is only for tradition. They are ashamed if they can't make a big party when they build house, marriage, death, many others.

Every place I went on the village practice brought many lessons and memory for me. The people were so sociable, nice, and kind. I learn how to live like them, with lack of water, lack of food, lack of nutrition, lack of facility, almost all is in lack condition, but they never complaint. But I enjoy the situation, that means so much to me.

I don't know exactly how long will I stay in Jakarta, but the fix time is not more than Jan 31. I ask the HR department to be placed in Papua, but last Friday they asked me to go to Aceh, the center of the Tsunami, to do relief job. From our group of 22 trainees, we'll be sent to Aceh before Jan 31 for about 1 year, but only 6 trainees, and I'm the only female. I can accept their decision, I know that is God's plan for me.

That's all my story. So long. But I really hope you enjoy it. Please don't bore with me. Thanks for the prayer warriors team for me, I think it really affect me much. After this writings I do not know when I can write again. I do not know if they have Internet in Aceh.

Your Niece,

Naomi