Traditional Weaving and a local Catholic Hospital near Ledalero, Maumere Indonesia

I like to visit Lepo Lorun, a fantastic place in Nita, Sikka, Flores, Indonesia -- near St. Paul Major Seminary, Ledalero, where I am an SVD volunteer lay missionary.  Lepo Lorun is a living museum dedicated to education and the preservation of the fine art of "tenun ikat"/hand-weaving, not only in Indonesia but world-wide. In many ways, it is a dying art and the founder, Alfonsa Horeng Ikat Flores, is dedicated to keeping the art alive. Father Kamilus "Milto" Seran, SVD, recently made a documentary film about their work, and he took me there personally. You can click here to see "LEPO LORUN UNTUK DUNIA", a short documentary about Alfonsa and her mission. 
 I always look forward to taking my friends here when they come to Maumere. 

Hand spun thread, organically dyed, awaits the traditional "tenun ikat" hand-weaving process. 

The traditional weaving process known as "tenun ikat", still very much alive in Flores, Indonesia.  

Nearby in Kewapante, Sikka, on Flores Island there is a hospital and dental clinic run by Holy Spirit Servant Sisters (SSpS).  Visiting their hospital has been a comfort to me as it provides health care in an atmosphere of Catholic faith and spirituality.  I takes me back to the days when religious sisters ran so many Catholic hospitals in the United States.  In every room there are religious pictures, symbols, crosses...evidence of our faith everywhere.  And the Angelus is played over a loud speaker at the appropriate times for all to pray.  What a comfort for the sick!  The dental clinic is run by a sister and a lay assistant.  The sister is not a dentist, nor is the assistant.  But may people prefer to come there for dental care because of the pastoral approach of the sisters.  The rector of the seminary once told me he likes to go there because they do a good job pulling teeth.  (!) 

The entrance to the dental clinic leads to a "comfort room" to help alleviate dental anxiety.

 The dental chair