We have just returned from Timor-Leste.  What a beautiful country it is, with unspoilt beaches and panoramic views throughout the country.

The reason for this trip was to deliver 6 more laptops and a generator along with a few other bits and pieces, to the community of Soibada in the district of Manatuto. 

The Parish Priest of Soibada, Fr Abel, welcomed us along with the school director, teachers and the nuns.  Soon after we had a meeting where a lot of ideas and proposals for the computers and resource room were exchanged and discussed with positive results.  One of the proposals was to assist the community to learn how to use the computers by employing a trained computer (IT) teacher or to pay for a member of the community to go to Dili and complete a course so that he/she can return to Soibada and teach the new skills to the community, both young and old.

Fr Abel has also asked us for financial assistance to support 8 youth from Soibada district with their further education studies in Timor-Leste.  This is something that we will be discussing at our next committee meeting.

We were also pleased to meet with his Excellency the Bishop of Baucau, Bishop Basilio Nascimento and Fr John & Fr Natalino of Baucau and Fr Denezio of Viqueque were we stayed for the night after visiting his Parish.

 

During this trip we also staged a photographic exhibition “Timor-Leste – Terra Bonita” at Casa Europa in Dili for two weeks.  The exhibition was very successful with photographs taken on previous trips throughout the country of Timor-Leste including Oecussi.  The aim of the exhibition was to show the community of Timor-Leste and visitors how beautiful country is, captured through the artistic eye of Wendy Ricardo.  We also plan to stage similar exhibitions throughout Australia but first we need a holiday after these three weeks of non-stop travelling and meetings (yes we forgot to have a holiday).

Upon our return from Timor-Leste we were invited to attend a Mass being held in Tetum (Timor-Leste official language), at St Williams Parish in Brisbane.  At this Mass we had the pleasure of meeting with the guests from the Parish of Liquica in Timor-Leste.

Mario has been asked, by the local Country Womens Association, to do a presentation on Timor-Leste.  He has also been asked to show maps, pictures, arts and crafts on the day to give an insight into the lives of our nearest neighbour.

Check out the new photos in the gallery.

Thank you once again and God Bless.