I listen to the gentle murmuring voice
Of our city, awake despite the hour
And I linger, unwilling to return
To the television world inside — droolingmonkey

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Friends Forever


This past week I had my girlfriend come to stay..we have been friends since we were 15 and nothing has ever come bewteen us.We have never had an arguement or a disagreement.We have had times where we dont see each other for a while because of places and times but when we see each other,its as if no time has ever passed..(my friend OK farmgirl and me are the same too)..
So now Robbie lives in east Timor.Her partner works for the ministry of education.
Timor is a country in the sth pacific..one of a group of islands close to Indonesia.
For the last 400 yrs Timor was occupied by the Indonesians who took over..The the Timorese ppl decided that they wanted their independence.The Indonesians didnt take it kindly.There was a horrible nasty war..so the United Nations stepped in and made them leave.They left with a scorched earth policy,burning down the schools,libraries,govt buildings and bombed the bridges and the roads..The inferstructure of Tomor was totally destroyed.The ppl have to go to school where theres no toilets or running water or even books.They are poor...the fighting still goes on altho there is a United Nations peace keeping force there now of which NZ is one of the contributaries.
Robbie lives in an apt building which is newly built and has guards on the gates.Its not safe to go for a walk.But shes helping to make a difference..she takes pics of the kids and shows them to which their reaction is amazement as theyve never seen themselves before (no mirrors)...she gives them exersize books and pencils..she takes their milk provisions to families where they cant afford it and being a catholic country they have 11..12 or more children..in one grass shack.

It was wonderful to spend this week with her.We went shopping and spent hrs talking and laughing.I went back to the doc for the 3rd time since Christmas when I got a chest infection for my present!! Its taken me all this time to come right.It was a virus so antibiotics didnt work..Im finally begiining to feel almost normal again and to stop coughing..I coughed so much a pulled all the muscles down one side and it was agony..
But my small pain is nothing compared to the trauma and devastation that the Timorese ppl live with on a daily basis.Im grateful to live in NZ:)

posted by butterflies @ 12:51 PM 7 comments

Sunday, January 04, 2009

A new year...


Happy New year my friends.
Ive had a lot of time to think over the past week.
I have enjoyed time with my family and I have seen friends that I havent seen for a while.
Once again Ive had some sickness but today my brother came out and prayed for me,laying hands onto my pulled muscles on my ribs..so sore from coughing.
Tonight I feel heaps better and have my strength back.God is good.
But the thing I have been thinking of the most is kindness.If everyone in the world would just be kind to each other and take care of how and what they say,the world would be a nicer place for me to live in.
Its so easy to be kind and gentle..considering the feelings of others without thinking of ourselves.Its easy to love.
Im praying for a year filled with kindness,of understanding and of knowledge.
And most of all for peace.
Im so easy to please:)

posted by butterflies @ 7:10 PM 7 comments

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