PoG Hosanna Papua Orphanages
We don’t need to do big things, just small things with great love.
This quote from Mother Teresa is an inspiration for my husband and me in strengthening the Onomi Imea team. We can’t fulfill every need of the team, we can only do what we can do with love. Greeting, smiling, listening, affirming, praying, getting involved in small things that other people might not be able to do, we are able to do it. We believe this is the Transforming Power that everyone has.
Since April 2021, one of our facilitators, Samuel, has been living in our house. At that time he was still in grade 4 of elementary school. Samuel is the first child of 4 children. His father was an office employee in Puncak Regency which was part of a conflict area, while his mother worked at home. Samuel and his siblings are active in every Power of Goodness activity at the Holei Roo Orphanage which is held every Thursday afternoon. Samuel became interested in training to become a facilitator. In April 2022, Samuel took part in Creating Cultures of Peace online training carried out by Peace Place Pati together with several friends from the Holei Roo Orphanage, several STAKPN Burere Sentani students and other participants. Samuel has high curiosity, is willing to learn and continues to practice.
In January 2023, Samuel returned to living at home because his father was sick. His father died in March 2023. We still support Samuel even though he doesn’t live with us. We provide rice when the family has food difficulties. Every day Sint takes Samuel and his siblings to school using a motorbike supported by Friends Peace Teams.
We see Samuel starting to grow. He still occasionally talks about his father. “The important thing is that I go to school, and I have to think before I act,” said Samuel in a Companion Group.
We are happy when we are able to spread happiness around us. We are grateful for all the support from amazing people we have never met before. Thank you, Friends Peace Teams and everyone involved in this journey of love.