| Thanks to many supporters, friends and family of Natalie & Jason and Bikabele Bear from Victoria to Western Australia, some wonderful Perth schoolchildren, Quiz Nite goers and Balinese support, during the week of 15th - 21st October 2006, Natalie & Jason joined a team of Aussie Bikabele supporters to embark on the trip to Klungkung, Bali, and complete the all important project we set out to start raising funds for 12 months ago.
Overcoming the challenges of working with "Bali time" in Bali conditions and with an element of language barriers, the crew (thankfully assisted by some wonderful Balinese people and ex-pats in Bali) faced our challenges head on got into stripping back the old, worn and rusted playground remains, renovated, re-built, added onto and developed a new Playground, all brightly painted for the disabled children of Panti Asuhan Semara Putra Orphanage.
Once the children of the orphanage realised what we were doing, they eagerly jumped in and assisted wherever they could, sanding, painting, carrying bricks, shovelling, you name it, they wanted to be so much a part of what was happening on their front doorstep. It was so special to have the kids working alongside us, we revelled in making them feel totally involved whilst soaking in their smiles and laughter.
With the Playground complete, we all returned to the Orphanage on Friday 20th October for a specially prepared beautiful and at times emotional Balinese Blessing Ceremony. During the ceremony the children danced their traditional dances of appreciation and played some balinese musical instruments for us, the Playground equipment was blessed for safe use, we were blessed, the children were blessed.
Natalie and Jason laid a naming plaque in memory of their two little angels, Caleb & Spencer and the playground was dedicated to their memory. A second plaque was placed by Nengah Rapet, special Balinese friend of Ian "Vibes" Murray, in memory of Ian's inspirational visit to the children in February 2006. And especially important we had the opportunity to play with the children in their new playground, laugh with them, show them newly donated sports equipment and items, and just share some special time with them before being overwhelmed by their many hugs of appreciation as we headed off to return to our homeland, where we so often can take things for granted. What an awesome day, what an awesome week and what an awesome feeling we were left with. With these children many of whom barely speak, and the little they do so far is in Indonesian, we found there were no language barriers today, they totally appreciated the gift of a new playground and we totally understood their joy and gratitude."Providing rainbows and smiles to the world of disadvantaged, underprivileged and orphan children" - that's the grassroots of what Bikabele Cares for Kids is really about. And that's what the Caleb & Spencer Memorial Playground is achieving, for some special kids.May little Caleb & Spencer forever be remembered in the smiles of those wonderful children playing in their playground.Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to make this one dream possible for an inspirational couple, who so deeply understand..."Children are a gift in this World".
|
