Speaking of Indonesia...: An Indonesian hoarder...

We have an elderly couple in the Timur Branch who live in a tiny (5x10) room, rent free in exchange for sweeping the walks. The room is packed from floor to ceiling with rotting scraps of wood, rotting mats and foam, rocks, old clothes, and junk collected from the garbage. Both husband and wife are tiny (under 5 feet tall) and skinny. They sleep on the garbage in a cramped position. Last week this sister was sick and had to go to the hospital....at that point her husband agreed that the missionaries could come and remove the garbage from their home. The branch donated a new bed frame and mattress to provided some comfort.

When we arrived on Friday afternoon to start our work this brother had a change of heart....said he was shy and didn't want us to remove anything. He had actually threatened Brother Hadi the previous day that he would stab him with a knife if he tried to remove the garbage. Long story short...we were able to remove a tiny portion of the things in the house. The stench was nauseating....cockroaches four inches long came out with each item removed from the house. Everything was rotting from the rain that comes through the roof. We got out as much as we could! We tried to get the bed in once the brother refused to let us remove anything else but it still wouldn't fit. He told us he would finish once we left. His wife appeared to plead with him to let us continue but no success! So sad for her.... I have never seen such filth and squalor in my life. No water, no window, no floor other than dirt....

View of the room