Special Request

Several people have asked how they might help support the relief effort for those affected by the recent eruption of Mt. Merapi here in Central Java. For a time, we were as confused as everyone else! The relief effort was hampered by wild media coverage, news of conflicting (and competing) NGO’s, and lack of government direction and oversight, even our local friends were confused. Meanwhile, over 200 people have died and thousands remain homeless. The eruptions have died down considerably. From where we sit, Mt. Merapi looks once again like the picture postcard volcano with charming but harmless little puffs of smoke rising from the crater but frankly no one, local or otherwise, can say if the current crisis is over. And, the people in the camps, who were living pretty hand-to-mouth to begin with, have nothing to return to -- no houses, no schools, no livestock, no crops, no mosques, no churches. Everything has been incinerated.

Graham’s Indonesian teacher, Ibu Maria Teguh, who has become a good friend, is organizing a delivery of supplies to one of the refugee camps in which she has a colleague. The Indonesian government has, from all reports, flooded the camps with rice and pop mie (instant noodles of marginal nutritional value) but little else. Our hope to provide some badly needed supplies to one of the camps outside of Yogyacarta. These supplies -- protein in the form of salted eggs, dried beef and tinned fish, diapers and powdered milk, vitamins and school supplies -- will be purchased in Salatiga and driven over to the camps on Sunday, November 26, by Ibu Maria, a couple of other teachers, and ourselves.

To be frank, American dollars go a long way in this part of the world. Ibu Maria gave me a list of the supplies they wanted included in each family packet: a weeks worth of eggs, milk, diapers and supplies came to about 65,000 Rupea. At 9,000 Rupea to the dollar, that’s a little over seven bucks. It’s not enough to live on, but it will make a HUGE difference!

Please consider helping us with this effort. I know that there are many important causes competing for your attention at home, but for the time being, this is our home, and we feel obliged to do what we can to help the neighbors and friends who have made us so welcome in it.

If you're still interested in helping with Merapi relief, please make your check payable to:

Laura Prindiville
Account: 10043487
In the memo line, please write "Merapi Relief".


Then mail it to:

First Security Bank
208 E. Main Street
Bozeman, MT 59715


As the timeline on this is pretty tight, please do email me at prindylou@yahoo.com and let me know how much you are sending. That way, Kirk and I can cover any gifts that don't clear before the weekend. I promise to keep all donations confidential.

Laura, Kirk, Seamus and Graham Patrick