In April 2021, Cyclone Seroja hit Timor Island, causing tragic loss of life and leaving many people without homes. The cyclone caused extensive damage, destroying bridges, roads, houses, and whole communities.

In response to this crisis, we are teaming up once again with our trusted partner, TMC Indonesia, to launch an ambitious project called Homes of Love. Our goal is to help over 80 families by rehabilitating damaged houses and building new ones. This project is one of the largest endeavors we've ever taken on at Mite.

We are committed to offering ongoing support to these families, ensuring they have safe and secure homes to live in. However, there's a challenge: the villages where we're working are located in remote areas, making it difficult for the government and other organizations to help. That's where Project 54 comes in, where a total of 13 houses in Oeakabi and Teas villages will be rehabilitated using local leaders and construction businesses. For just $1,500 you can help rebuild a families home! 

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these families and help them rebuild their homes, hearts, and hope. 

After Cyclone Seroja hit Timor Island, our community rallied together to provide relief to families through food and hygiene supplies. Now, we're building homes for 13 families in the remote villages of Oeakabi and Teas. For $1,500 you can rebuild a home! Join us in this effort to rebuild lives and restore hope.

Teas, Timor Indonesia

TMC Indonesia

Homes of Love - Teas & Oeakabi, Indonesia

Alto vividly recounts the initial fear that gripped their hearts when the cyclone hit their island: "The Seroja storm brought with it fear and worry about landslides and fallen trees. Uncertain of where to seek shelter, we made the difficult decision to stay in our home. While our house wasn't completely destroyed, the powerful winds tore away parts of the walls, crafted with woven coconut fronds. We received no assistance from the government to help with the repairs. Thankfully, I work as a pickup driver, ferrying passengers from Oebaki to the city of Soe. This income has sustained my family thus far. We have endured countless challenges in renovating and fixing our house, which is why we are immensely grateful for the blessings sent by God through Mite. Their assistance is a beacon of hope. We are ready to pour our efforts into the project until its completion.”

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Did you know Indonesia is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of rubber, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, rice, and spices? 
It's truly incredible for a country 5 times smaller than the US! But there's a hidden story behind these thriving industries that we learned when visiting the families impacted by Cyclone Seroja. 

Life for these farmers takes an unpredictable turn when tropical storms sweep through their lands. The devastation is heart-wrenching — homes demolished, plantations wiped out, and livelihoods hanging by a thread. They found themselves at a crossroads, torn between rebuilding their lives and preserving their means of survival.

Our team and partners took this delicate situation to heart during the reconstruction program because each family actively participates in building their new home. This meant that at certain times construction work halted for a brief time, extending the timeline as the farmers needed to focus on getting their crops up and running again. 

Despite this situation, the program has moved forward. Today, farmers can fully concentrate on their livelihood, knowing their homes and families are cared for.

Farmers' Journey Through Challenges in Indonesia

Yoni recounts the impact of that fateful day Cyclone Seroja hit:
At that time,  I was very worried and really didn't know what to do. Seroja destroyed our fields where we planted vegetables and sweet potatoes. The roof of our home was damaged due to strong winds. 

At that time, we couldn’t move to another place so my wife and children and I tidied up the damaged parts of our house so we could continue to live there. There was no housing assistance from the government; we only received some direct cash assistance, which was enough for food and cooking ingredients but not to repair our home. Access to clean water in Teas village was very difficult; we had to walk for kilometers up a rocky mountain to reach a safe water source. 

I am very grateful to be one of the recipients of Mite's housing assistance. I am thankful that our prayers and struggles have been answered by God. My family and I are very ready and happy to build our new home.

Thank you to our Mite community for rebuilding homes, hearts, and lives!

Yoni Fallo’s New Found Hope

Tropical Cyclone Seroja ran havoc through the island of East Timor, leaving hundreds of families like Yusuf’s without a roof over their heads and their crops ruined.

“The Seroja storm caused immense suffering for me and my family, as all our crops were completely destroyed. It was incredibly challenging to find food during that time. I am grateful that I received the aid of a livable house from Mite, allowing my family and me to have a home,” says Yusuf. “We have also started slowly rebuilding our livelihood by replanting vegetables, corn, sweet potatoes, and other crops.”

Thanks to the loving hearts of our Mite givers, Yusuf now has a new home and a chance to rebuild his life. In this multiphase project, we have supported rebuilding homes and livelihoods in these remote communities for the past two years.

We’ve got the whole community involved, and together, we have fought the elements of rain, hail, and shine to build these homes of love.

The calm after the storm: Yusuf Tenis story

Thanks to your incredible support, the Homes of Love project is making remarkable progress, with new homes going up ahead of schedule. This is an exciting development as it means the villagers of Teas and Oeakabi will soon be settling into their new homes, replacing the makeshift shacks they've been living in since the disaster.

We’re building with lightning speed ⚡ 

Meet Sandy — beyond being a loyal husband, devoted father, and respected pastor, he is a dedicated community leader and champion for helping your neighbor. 

Our team recently met Sandy during their infield visit, and unanimously agreed he is the smiliest and most positive person they've ever crossed paths with. 

Soe, Indonesia, isn't just a place for Sandy; it's his home, and he has played a pivotal role in bringing about significant changes within the community.  One standout accomplishment?  His hands-on involvement in rebuilding homes for our Homes of Love program. With over two years of collaboration with Mite, Sandy has been the driving force behind the success of all our home rebuilding projects.

Here's to Sandy—the man who not only talks the talk but walks the walk! 

Meet Sandy: The Man Who Gets Things Done!

Two years, eight projects, and 90 families with new homes. That's what our Mite community achieved! We're incredibly proud of the tremendous impact Homes of Love has had.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, though. Monsoons, bad roads, and broken bridges all tried to slow us down more than once in the past two years. Yet, those challenges didn't stop us or our partner. 

Your unrelenting support kept us going to rebuild the lives and homes of these communities devastated by Cyclone Seroja.  

We are so excited to show you your impact in our upcoming Celebration Video. Stay tuned!

Our Largest Achievement To Date

In 2022, we called on you and began our largest undertaking yet by rebuilding 90 families' homes. We are thrilled to share that, after two years of dedication, our Homes of Love program is an incredible success. 

Ninety families now have a place to call home, a sanctuary where they are rebuilding their lives once more because of your generosity, our partners' perseverance, and God’s goodness.

We believe our partner put it best when they stated that home is a place of safety and peace — a symbol for miracles. Let’s celebrate what we accomplished together through building Homes of Love! 

Project 54: Homes of Love - Teas & Oeakabi, Indonesia

Project 54: Homes of Love - Teas & Oeakabi, Indonesia