For Across the Timor Sea, there have always been challenges with sourcing transport of goods and parcels to Timor Lestè, however with COVID complications (and Monsoonal flooding etc.) it has been overwhelming.

When the last container delivery happened, just as the COVID disasters hit, there were so many problems and delays.

An outcome of this was that the usual delivery choices for Across the Timor Sea had ceased to be an option.

Goods collected have been building up, so when Jan reconnected with a fellow Rotarian that was sending a container to Timor Lestè; and was willing to allocate space for Across the Timor Sea to use, it was an overwhelming relief.

All at Across the Timor Sea are extremely thankful.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

~ Across the Timor Sea

Over the years, all at Across the Timor Sea have been very impressed with how local Timor Lestè residents get together to build or repair buildings and various infrastructure; which will be very important with the extent of storm damage this year.

All this has been complicated by the COVID lock-down restrictions.

So when we received this photo of workers painting a classroom, we were delighted that it is so close to being used. We sincerely hope it wasn’t damaged during the monsoon storms and floods.

As supporting education has always been a priority for Across the Timor Sea, it is always pleasing for us to get updates regarding sponsored Students.

Especially since they have been dealing with so many hardships and challenges for many, many months. Not only COVID 19, but terrible monsoon and flood damage.

Jan was unable to travel to Timor Lestè in 2020 to update progress on Across the Timor Sea projects, and catch up with the many friends she has made there; and it looks like this year is going to be the same.

We so admire how people in Timor Lestè are managing; and especially so, after hearing about the progress of the 2019 Across the Timor Sea Graduating Students. They are a beaming example for other students.

We wish Oscar every success in his upcoming final exams; and hope that he is able continue with tertiary studies in Dili. (As have Jonia and Domingas.)

We also hope that Tim will be there to mentor these students.  His guidance has really made a difference, and is so appreciated by us all at Across the Timor Sea.

Tim is such an extraordinary young man, who has been so helpful with Across the Timor Sea’s projects. We can’t say enough about the positive difference he has made.

The school Tim attended in Australia has had a long and supportive association with Timor Lestè; and after completing his Masters of Education he went to teach at St Francis of Assisi school, in Timor Lestè. The photographs and copies of student reports Tim sent us, enabled us to give valued feedback to Across the Timor Sea scholarship sponsors, which was greatly appreciated.

Whilst Tim was teaching at St Francis of Assisi, his Grandparents went there as well, to build a new laundry trough system. ~ A wonderful bonus for the school.

Even though Tim is now teaching in Dili, he has continued his association with St Francis, helping wherever he can. We also greatly appreciate his continued support of Across the Timor Sea projects in Ailalec.

In addition, he is mentoring former Across the Timor Sea students, who are now studying in Dili.

Tim’s support has enabled Across the Timor Sea to operate more effectively in Timor Lestè. His contacts, wisdom and advice have been so helpful and reassuring. His knowledge of Tetum has enabled us to communicate more fully with Ailalec Residents; and he can liaise for us when we are not there.

He is a very special person.

We are very thankful for support Tim has given us, in so many ways.

All at Across the Timor Sea have been increasingly concerned with news we are hearing from Timor Lestè. With the problems of dealing with COVID 19 being compounded by unusually destructive monsoon storms.

The Timor Lestè Government were being remarkable in dealing with the COVID 19 epidemic at first, however destructive storms, with associated mud slides, resulted in people having to flee to evacuation centres, where overcrowding was making self-isolation even more challenging, if not impossible. Those taking refuge with relatives or friends faced overcrowding as well.

The death and injury toll is devastating. Compounding this, many people have become homeless, and much infrastructure destroyed. People are saying it was much worse than ever before.

The stories of how some people have coped, is awe-inspiring.

There is now much to do.

Lest we forget ……

• 

~ Across the Timor Sea honours those who served.

Though we have not had the amount of contact with and information from Timor Lesté that we have in previous years, what we have heard is reassuring. The Timor Lesté Government has been very careful it their approach to handling the threat of COVID 19; and though the Across the Timor Sea students had to return to their home village, they only missed two months of schooling. All returned to school, ready to finish off the school year.

         ~ We are waiting to hear how they went in their exams.

It is inspiring for all at Across the Timor Sea when we get news of Jonia and Domingas, who are preparing to continue their second year of Tertiary studies in 2021.  They were in the first group of Across the Timor Sea students to graduate from High School (in 1919).

We look forward to the start of the 2021 School year, when we will get more information about the progress of both groups of ‘Across the Timor Sea’ students.

At this time of year, as she has for the past 11 years, Jan would be travelling to Timor Lestè. Her goal is to have interaction with various contacts she has there, and monitor the progress of projects Across the Timor Sea had been undertaking. However, at the moment, Australians are banned from travelling overseas (unless exempted), so she is unable to go this year; and we are not sure how long the ban will be.

2020 has been a problematic year for many, especially in Timor Lestè. Already dealing with existing challenges, the Timor Lestè Government acted quickly to contain the first signs of COVID19. As of November 2020, there had been 30 cases, 0 deaths and 30 recovered.    ~ A remarkable statistic.

News that we have from Timor Lestè is encouraging, as things seem to be returning to some semblance of ‘normal’.  They are being very careful regarding COVID19 safety; and this is very reassuring to us.

The school year is coming to a close, and as we have always found communications between Timor Lestè difficult, we are still waiting to hear how 2020 has impacted fully on the Across the Timor Sea scholarship students. We do know there is no electricity in Ailalec; and as the students were unable to continue their studies during the COVID 19 emergency, they have missed two months of the school term.