Update from Robin and Family ~~ Bumi Sehat, Bali
         Three bombs rocked Bali a few nights ago, and no doubt have our
family around the world worried.  First of all, our family and the Bumi
Sehat crew are all safe. Sadly lives were lost and many many injured.  The
fall out will be devastating for the fragile Bali economy, as tourists flee
our island. We were just feeling that there was hope in the air.  Young
families were coming to us to say they had found work.  The stranglehold of
sorrow and bargaining spiritually with the gods, so that another bomb would
not happen again in Bali, had lifted.
         The night of Oct. 1st hope was again lost.  Bali holds her breath,
awaiting the fall out.
         I spent some time on Oct. 2nd in the Sangla hospital, Denpasar, as
well as Prima Medica hospital, where most of the bomb victims are being
treated.  The atmosphere there was calm, organized.  The volunteers and
staff had things in hand.  Free phone calls were available for people
needing to contact family out of country.  There were not nearly the numbers
of hurt that there were in the 2002 terrorist attack of Bali.  Those bombs
burned people.  These 2005 bombs sprayed shrapnel.  Both are terrible and
mean, but I saw much less human trauma this time. It will be a while before
the missing are found or considered truly lost.  Many people will suffer
hearing loss or damage.  Many patients have already been evacuated to
Surabaya, Singapore or Australia.  We feel terrible that his happened, but
also feel blessed, as it could have been much worse.
         On the brighter side, My mother arrived on Oct. 3rd, after
surviving a typhoon in Taipei.  She looks wonderful and has already attended
births by my side at Bumi Sehat Bali.
         Today in "Hari Raya Galungan" the Hindu holiday. We had a Muslim
baby girl born at Bumi.  Yesterday we smiled as a Catholic family from Timor
and a Hindu family from Bali compared their baby girls, both born the
evening before at Bumi.  These daughters, born five minutes apart, will lead
completely different lives.  Their parents have become friends, sharing
first bath rituals, and admiring their lovely girls.  I learned that
Timorese people line up to wash their faces with the water from a newborn's
first bath.  This water, flecked with birth blood, meconium, and vernix is
revered by them and considered a blessing.
         The Aceh clinic is doing beautifully, we are coping with many
emergencies there lately.
         Please don't worry about us, light a candle and send out a prayer
that our planet may heal, and terrorism will come to a peaceful end.
                            Love, Robin & Family