Cross of Hope
East Timor
At present Orlando, our landlord for more than 13 years, is getting close to dying and was in a coma for a few days last week, but has improved a bit yesterday, even sat up when I visited him last night.
His grand-son, also Orlando, tells me he is 89, born 1923 – so born during Portuguese times.
He would have been 18 when the Australians arrived in Dec 1941, followed by the Japanese in Feb 1942. (The afternoon of the Darwin bombing) A lady ,Berta, and Orlando found and saved the life of one of the Australian soldiers during this time. From other stuff I have read, I think the soldier might have been Keith, unsuccessfully “executed” by the Japanese when they arrived.
Of course, Orlando was here when the Indonesians arrived in 1975.
In1998, Br Dan Courtney, through connections with the Canossian sisters, Sr Fatima is Orlando’s daughter, visited East Timor and arranged for Orlando to build a house ready for CER’s arrival in Feb 1999.
When the results of the ballot were announced in Sept 1999, we all know what happened. So most of CER were evacuated by plane, but Br Dan and Fr Peter drove about 30 people to West Timor by car. But Orlando did not go. His wife Berta was sick and bedridden, so could not travel.
“If they come to the house to kill us, I will die with her” was his decision.
The militia did come, and stole everything from the CER house they could carry-TV, clothes, fridge etc. One of them had too much to carry, and as a result left his very large sword behind. Orlando found it later in the house and buried it.
And he gave it to CER a few years ago, after one of our house masses, and it has hung above our door since then. But we gave it back to Orlando and his family on Friday night, as a symbol of the love he showed to his wife and all people in his life.
I suppose many Timorese have similar stories, but Orlando’s is one story those living in his house have been privileged to share
Love to all, Bill
PS Rain has eased, roads are a little better, and Peter and Frank are settling in
