I'm free but how about them?

While awaiting my return to Timor, I'm actually pretty free now. So I got myself another blog at yourwill.blogspot.com and write more personal stuffs there. My friend exclaimed the other day, "wah! now you have 2 blogs! you so free ah!" I laugh at it and smiled but sometimes having all the time in the world is not exactly a good thing. I'm sure you know what I'm saying.

Tumbleweed just posted a post about an attack on some local journalist in Timor bcos the crowds thought the journalists supported the ousted-prime minister by putting out the news about him. These people too, had a lot free time. Sadly, there's not enough jobs, not enough money, not enough food, not enough education, not enough role-models and many not-enoughs in East Timor; and this free time coupled with energy, anger, lies, manipulation and other no-goods have turn the people against each other. I am free(pun intended) but how about them? I'm free of poverty, of illiteracy, of needs and of many things but how about them? The world can't provide a solution. The freedom they got serves them no purpose nor has it benefitted them in this ever cruel world. What they really need is freedom in God. Jesus said he came to "give us life and life abundantly"(john 10:10) With such a promise of abundance, there is freedom in everything - freedom from fear of having not enough food, of not getting a job, of rejection, of disease, of poverty and of hell. They need God, they need to hear God's word, and they need to see God's love. But how to achieve this unless someone goes to them? You are free, but how about them? Go.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" Luke 4:18-19

The Real Issue

The Prime Minister of Timor had resigned yesterday morning and many people in Timor are very happy. They are happy that they have gotten rid of a PM that is alleged to have a secret hit squad and responsible for the killings and violence in recent times. While the resignation of the PM might help in calming the situation further, there is still this one evil lingering behind the scene. And that is unforgiveness and grudges - between the east and west part of Timor Leste. While it is true that many people do not like the PM, blamed him for the unrest and the "rebels" cited him as the cause of their "rebellion", removing him only solve part of the whole big problem. Reconciliation between the wounded east and west of the country will take a long long time and it will be a difficult and challenging task for the interim/new government. Should President Gusmao choose not to stand for election next may(which he already indicated that he will not contest), one can only wonder whether this outbreak of violence will happen again. We all know how much the people respect and listen to the President.

Rumours and accusations can very easily re-open old wounds and cause another round of civil unrest. Unless the government deal with this east-west issue and not sweep it under the carpet(again), Timor will always be a dormant volcano. It will be calm until shaken - and then the explosion will destroy again. And this time, there will not be a xanana firefighter to put out the flames. I really hope the interim government and the UN advisers will see this as a major issue and seek to reconcile the east and west as soon as possible. Delaying it will only make Timor dormant again, preparing it for another round of explosion.

People of HOPE

"Bon dia Maun, Bon dia Mana", 24 children came out to greet the visitors a good morning. These are no ordinary kids - they are kids without parents but are facing their world with a big smile each day. Hope Orphanage is the place they lived in and family is everyone. I was priviledge to have visited it and so have others and it's just mind-boggling how much the founders loved the children, or rather THEIR children. Isa and Ina, the founders, went through quite a lot to start the orphanage and to keep it going. With 3 children of their own to take care of and running Timor Sun, a local English newspaper, it's not easy but Hope prevailed(even with the amount of bills per month). In case you think the newspaper business is giving them tons of money, it isn't but like I said, Hope prevails and a guy called Jeremy Ballenger come into the picture.

Jeremy visited Hope Orphanage some time back and started a website for it. He even got the website google advertisements and a PayPal donation system. Like Isa and Ina, he's paying from his own pocket to help Hope and I think the world can take comfort that there is still very much unconditional love around. If you haven't visited the website, click here and help support Hope Orphanage.

These are the people of HOPE. Nobodies in this world, but a big heart for the unknowns of this world. Giving hope to 24 orphans and making them known.

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus said,"...it is more blessed to give than to receive", Acts 20:35.
How true.

Editing photos using Curves

Ok, let's take a break from all the gunshots, violence and sad news. Recently, I learned more about curves and how it works. As a photography newbie into my 8th month, I realise this 'discovery' should have been made months ago as it's so useful. I used to shoot in RAW format but because it's so slow to process my files(on my pentium 3, 128mb laptop!), I've switch to jpeg.

RAW format used to give me the extra edge in adjusting my exposure and colour balance in Nikon Capture but I discovered that curves can also do almost the same job. The RGB curve helps in adjusting the lighting of my photos - the highlights(making it brighter) and the shadows(making it darker). If my colour balance is not good, I'll adjust the curves of the individual colour channels. eg: if too green(eg:flourescent lit room), adjust curve of green channel(which can be selected from the drop list) Another useful tool in Nikon Capture to help in the lighting of your photos is D-Lighting. You can try D-lighting it first before adjusting the curves. (Sometime it's better, sometimes it's not.) For my recent photos of Dom Bosco and the violence in East Timor, I've tweaked some photos using curves to make the colours more vivid.

If you want to create your own custom curves or find out more about curves, a good website to go to is Komin. There's even a free custom tone curve download for the D70 & D100 in his website. Thumbs up to ppl like him who bothers to spend time writing and posting these useful information. Arigato.

Gunshots - hear them yourselves and pray

My brazilian friend recorded some of the gunshots near Audian on 25th may and I recorded them in my handphone. Here are the files in mp3 format. 1. with portuguese commentary, 2. more shots, 3. the loudest of the lot Well, I must say it is only interesting if you haven't hear gunshots upfront before(so NS guys in s'pore, you can skip this).

I can't do much now except to pray for the situation in East Timor. Will you join me in prayer together? please pray for:
1. Wisdom to be with the government and international forces as they deal with the situation.
2. God to keep every Timorese safe and provide for them.
3. God to protect missionaries, church pastors and workers that are still in East Timor.
4. Sound thinking and peace in the hearts and mind of the people. Especially those causing trouble right now and those in much fear.
5. Comfort for those who are now in mourning over the loss of their love ones.

Pray. It does wonders.