Hello everybody,

Just to let you know that we are all fine and alive, and for that grateful to be alive.

Things will take a while to become a little normal and the future will tell us what road we will need to follow.

Thank you for all who send us e-mails which were many and many. I am still responding to them in between business, that has to go on, and hospital visits to victims of the bombings in Bali.
We are grateful for being here and part of this sad event that has shocked the world. Seeing how all of us regardless race, colour and religion are joining forces to help out with the ones that are still here is a magic moment of realizing that we belong to one kind, called the Human kind.(....the "kind" bit is somewhat confusing at this moment).

holding hands with complete strangers and talking to them to ease their pain is when I realized that life is so precious.

thanks for all your help and thoughts.

....global compassion is what we need.... to reach this with violence, personally I don't know if that is the right answer...

Going to the hospital on a regular basis we realized that the main hospital Sanglah needs a big upgrade and are in the process to fulfill this need. we will let you know soon how you can help also.

again, thanks for all,

Michelle Oldenkamp

p.s. below are some stories to ponder...that I thought were very fitting for this moment.


Subject: something to ponder

 First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady

      During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was
      a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read
      the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
      Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several
      times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her
      name?
     
      I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class
      ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz
      grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet
      many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care,
      even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'.
     
      I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Our gardener here in Bali asked us how we were doing....and I told him about the friends and stories. Than I asked him about his friends and family and he told me that most of his friends had died as they were the staff in the nightclub that was blown up. Only two people survived, the cashier and some one who was in the toilet.



Second Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path

      In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid
      himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
      king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around
      it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none
      did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came
      along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
      peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of
      the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
      peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the
      road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and
      a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed
      the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never
      understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our
      condition.
 

Third Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts
 

      Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a
      little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.
      Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her
      5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had
      developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor
      explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
      be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a
      moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will
      save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister
      and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then
      his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked
      with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"
     
      Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he
      was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
     
      You see, after all, understanding and attitude are everything.

 

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