The trip to Indonesia started early, took a long time, had delays and transfers, and included trains, planes and automobiles (vans and buses).

Early Wednesday morning (September 4), Pete and Mia took off from Tucson, Arizona with a van full of wheelchairs on their way to Los Angeles Airport. Mid morning that same day, Dan boarded a train in San Diego going to downtown Los Angeles where he would then board a bus to LAX. Sometime mid-afternoon, all three met at Terminal 4 to unload the wheelchairs and hopefully get approval from the airline to check the wheelchairs as baggage without incurring expensive fees. Thankfully the airline staff was very understanding and helpful and allowed the chairs to be checked without any fees. By about 6pm, the wheelchairs and luggage were checked through to Jakarta, all three had successfully passed TSA inspections and were now free to wait until midnight for the 14 hour flight to Hong Kong.

The flight to Hong Kong was uneventful, as was the 4 hour layover, and the 5 hour flight to Jakarta. Upon arriving in Jakarta, we were met with a representative from Jakarta Swift who helped us collect all 12 chairs from the baggage claim area and assisted us as we went through customs/immigration. Immediately outside the terminal, Don and additional volunteers/staff were waiting to greet us, load up the wheelchairs and give us a ride to our hotel.

After approximately 40 hours from beginning our journey, we were finally at a very nice hotel somewhere in central Jakarta. Even though there was a sincere intent to clean up and meet for a bite to eat, all 3 (Mia, Pete and Dan) ended up crashing/falling asleep after taking a shower and cleaning up…..hopefully to be recharged for an early morning pick-up to go to a Jakarta Swift wheelchair basketball practice.

It seems like only yesterday that it was months away for this Project in Bandung, Indonesia. But here we are, getting ready with last minute preparations and last minute nervousness. We recently got approval for the wheelchairs to be shipped with Cathay Airlines Cargo. Thank you very much Cathay Pacific! We greatly appreciate your assistance.

On the one hand a great relief and help, on the other hand a bit of uncertainty and anxiety. Will the chairs arrive when we do? Will Indonesian customs be cooperative and timely in their release of the chairs?  Will we have to pay duty/taxes on the used chairs?

Very early September 5, Mia Hansen, Peter Hughes and Dan Altan are flying from LAX to Hong Kong with American Airlines, then from Hong Kong to Jakarta with Cathay Pacific. If all goes well, we should be in Jakarta, Indonesia around 1:30 pm on September 6. Let’s hope the unrest in Hong Kong doesn’t effect our travel.

Donald with Jakarta Swift in Indonesia has been working very hard to organize and coordinate things for our arrival and for a successful Project/clinic in Bandung. We’re all very excited and looking forward to partnering with Donald in this, our 4th, worldwide Project.

Sometimes things just don’t go as you plan, hope for, or anticipate…..and sometimes things happen organically that are very special and memorable.

Although the WAW group was on time and ready to go for an exciting Day 2, it quickly became apparent that the turn-out for day two would be quite underwhelming and much less than anticipated. At 9am, the start time for Day 2, only a couple of people showed up. Over the next hour and a half a few other people showed up…..for a total of 5 participants. Deciding to make the best of the situation, Jacob and Dan decided to start the day with some 2-on-2, which quickly became 3-on-3, and by about 12 noon we had enough people to run a full 5-on-5.

By 1pm, it was decided to end the day and do closing statements, pictures and goodbye’s with the participants and organizers. We were informed that one of the participants, an elderly gentleman using a hospital-type wheelchair, with very limited sports involvement and a severe case of diabetes wanted to make a speech. He had participated in Day 1, with very limited mobility and athleticism. The sincerity and deep emotion of the gentleman’s comments and message was quite intense, creating moist eyes throughout the crowd…….he wanted to thank Wheelchair Athletes Worldwide and Nancy (Corazones Valientes Del Norte President) for putting on the clinic and making the wheelchairs available to local participants. He said he felt more concern and care displayed towards him during the clinic than he usually gets during his rehabilitation sessions at the airport. He wished us the best and wished for us to continue our efforts.

To wrap up the day, we were treated to a wonderful display of a cultural dance by two mentally challenged dancers. The performance was outstanding.

The day begins with a 7;30 am ride to the gym to prep and plan for the day. The eleven wheelchairs were rolled out of the locked storage room to be checked for any last minute needed repairs. With the donation of an electrical air pump from the Juanita Amenero Foundation, all the tires were pumped up to ¨competitive¨psi levels with only one tube needing to be replaced as it seemed to have an unresolved, ongoing flat.

The event was scheduled to start at 9 am, and by 10 am we were still awaiting the arrival of many participants…..traffic and transporttion issues are a constant and ongoing concern for disabled people in Chiclayo. By 10:15, it was decided to start the event regardless of who else may still arrive. With approximately 25 participants, of varying disabilities, Jacob started the warm-up exercises. Drills of many kinds…..shooting, passing, chair skills, etc…. were conducted throughout the day; as well as an amazingly well-received introduction to wheelchair soccer, which was gretly enjoyed by all participants!

Overall, regardless of the smaller than hoped for turn-out, the day proved to be quite successful and enjoyed by all. The participants seemed eager to return for day 2.