[Oe List ...] More on The

[Sherwood Shankland]

Greetings from Colorado.  Eunice and I have so many memories of Pak The for short (The Liang Djien pronounced: “Tae Li-en Jen”) was an Indonesian of Chinese ancestry who stubbornly refused to change his name to a Malay derivative such as Soeharti or Soeharto following the slaughter of ethnic Chinese by the newly independent patriots in the 60’s and the subsequent language ‘cleansing’ of family names especially on Java. Pak The was a school teacher in Tangerang outside of Jakarta, just up the road from the Kelapa Dua project site. He had been to an early ITI (“International Training Institute for Global Churchmen”)in the RS-I / Church renewal era of our work. But when we started site selection for Human Development Projects in Area Singapore (Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia) he leaped into the role of local guide and translator, especially in Indonesia. He would take off early from his class room or just arrange substitutes to be available. Once Kelapa Dua village (Two Coconuts) was identified he joined the consult team and played a huge leadership role along with Connie Wiediatma  (sp?) our two anchors in both verbal interpretation and written translations. But Pak The was far more than a translator…he was a quiet observer of our clients and government counterparts, an provided cross-cultural insights and solutions to dilemmas and critical issues when we concrete sequential westerners weren’t noticing the space between the trees. At the national level, The and Connie were navigating relationships with Mrs. Adam Malik the wife of the Vice President for our visas, General Nasution who donated the land for our staff residence building and community center. 

Two years later Pak The, Eunice and I were asked to relocate to the island of Sulawesi to start a new Human Development Project (HDP). We were given one-way air tickets, $200 cash and a list of two ITI grads to contact when we arrived. Yikes! Pak The worked his diplomatic magic and we soon had a group of excited local colleagues helping in site selection and framing the provincial government. Along with an introduction letter from the Dept. of Social Affairs (arranged by Mrs. Malik) we were soon sitting in the Governor’s office arranging for fully sponsored tours of the province which ultimately located Bontoa village which joined Kelapa Dua and Bubun in North Sumatra in the Band of 24 HDPs. 

After a powerful village consult with colleagues Marge Tomlinson, Wanda Holcomb, Donna McKleskey, Jim Weigel, Dan Tuecke, with Tim and Kay Lush our Area Priors, Mujiatmo, Atack, and many others. Later we asked Pak The to join Tim Caswell (the British wizard with graphic pedagogy) to head up a Human Development Training Institute (HDTI). Tim and The would stay up until the wee hours of the morning preparing lesson plans which deeply addressed the lives of our Indonesian staff and Bontoa residents. And on and on… Pak The was a bit of a loner, often reading Zane Gray novels to improve his English vocabulary, while smoking the intense Indonesian clove-laced cigarettes - “Chin-kay”

We trusted Pak The totally – with our lives and the success of the village work at a time when we all were still trying to figure out what was possible to achieve with a highly enthusiastic group of naïve internationals and frisky young  Indonesians. Pak The earned our deep respect with his own unshakable resolve and hard work. He provided calm confidence when we were frustrated, and bold initiatives when we hesitated. A colleague through and through. We are missing him already. Journey on Pak The, Journey on. 

In deep gratitude for the life of a gentle spirit giant. 

Blessings to his family on the road ahead. 

Selamat Jalan Pak The! 

Eunice and Sherwood 

 

 

From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Dharmalingam Vinasithamby via OE
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2018 11:56 AM
To: oe at lists.wedgeblade.net
Cc: Dharmalingam Vinasithamby <dvinasithamby at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Oe List ...] More on The

 

Dear colleagues,

Edna, another HDP colleague, sent me more information on The from his daughter. The Liang Djien died at 4.15 am on March 1st aged 75. Doctors said his death was due to complications such as kidney failure, sepsis etc. His daughter can be reached at +6281910270315. Am attaching a photo of him displayed at the Sinar Kaseh funeral parlour. I've forgotten his wife Mercy's full name but she was from the HDP in the Philippines.

 

regards

 

Dharma

 

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