Neri and Yana...

 

Did I tell you about Neri and Yana?
Two very special Papuans.
So normal... it seems.

Neri and Yana maried about five years ago. They don't have children of their own.. yet.
But they are always busy caring for about 23 kids, this is where they live, for the moment....

the 31st of January they have to leave this house. Thats what they told us a few days ago, with their eyes filled with tears... I only pasted by for a visit, was'nt prepared.

I don't have a solution and am panicing a littlebit...
Marcel can you pray? 46 childrenseyes + Neri and Yana are looking hopefully towards me.
Maybe they think: Marcel helped Enius building a house......
I am very uncomfartable with the situation and am murmeling something like this:

Ok...Lord I don't get this I have no idea what should happen next.
But you promise if we call out to you, you will answer
I have no idea how I can help or what Neri and Yanaand their kids should do.
Please give a solution Lord, for these wunderfull people.
Amen.

With another week to go, Neri is calling me. I just woke up and am still a little bit grumpy. I answer the phone:

Hello, this is Marcel...
Hi Marcel, this is the Bupati...(Mayor)
Sigh.....hahaha .Hi Neri, wazz upp?
Can you help me today? I got wood and we will start to build the new house. A tempotary house.

It is always fun to visit Neri. He is a fun guy and he always makes people laugh. Most of the time my stomach hurts from laughing when I go home...

To be honest, sometimes I go home with tears in my eyes, I save the tears for my journey home. Every child has its own story and a lot of kids from the street come by for help. And they always receive a blessing from Neri and Yana. In Wamena we have around 800 kids that live on the streets, They keep themselves alive by putting cardboards on motorbikes, washing cars, stealing, sex and so on.

Neri en Yana don't get a lot of help from the Government or the Churches, sometimes a group of friends hepthem. Yana is a teacher at a highschool and from her salary and the money they earn with selling petrol, they take care for 'their' kids. Regurarly they fast so their children have enough to eat.

Ok, back to today. I arrive at Neri and Yana's place. They are enthousiastic, they are building a temporary house. I ask with what?
They look kind of suprised by my question.... With wood of course....The children are already gone to the new place to prepare the ground.

My eyes grow as I look at  the 20 pieces of wood.....
With a lot of questions going around in my brain we start to load the wood into the car...

Nei notices my questions by looking at me and says:
We prayed, so God will answer, don't you believe that?
A big smile on his face.
Honest? I ask.
Of course! He answers.
I don't know.....
Well I believe it...He slaps me on my shoulder en calls the kids.

When I am allready home he sends me a sms. Tools we can borrow, we've got nails, 150 zink for the roof, sand, stones and a carpenter will come to help building. We only need some timber, please pray...

What do you think, will he get the timber? Will they be able to build the temporary house?
And next?
We keep you posted