Delivering Funds to Brother Petrus Hendriks at Don Bosco in Wonosobo, Indonesia

 Already on December 14 in 1986, did I join Pieter for a visit to Don Bosco as the boarding school was called, where several Catholic Brothers of Charity taught boys with a hearing impediment. 

While living and working in Indonesia, we also frequently borrowed Dutch books from their extensive library.

Here on June 2, 1996,  husband Pieter hands the US $ 500.00 from our local Rotary Club of Dublin, Georgia, USA.

Brother Hendriks of course was very happy and grateful for receiving this help!

Two of the boarding school's boys are in this photo.

This boarding school is following the Dutch concept of the institute for the deaf, in St.-Michielsgestel, the Netherlands. Meaning, they are being taught the oral method and not sign language. That way they are not being singled out from society, due to the restriction of only sign language and its therefore very limited access to communication.

Reading lips and having had intensive training for speech articulation, using a mirror and by placing the index and middle finger on the throat, of both toddler and teacher, they learn to mimic the vowels and feel its special vibration in the throat.

Children's 'remaining hearing' is used to its maximum, and that often requires such hearing aids!

Another photo as proof of delivery...

On the left, in the boy's ear you clearly can see the hearing device they used at the boarding school.

Brother Petrus (Piet) Hendriks smiling happily on June 17, 1995 when we hand delivered the previous US $ 500.00

It meant a lot for them, being able to purchase some hearing aids for helping the children with a hearing impediment at this special boarding school.

~ 

Now back to the very first time that I joined Pieter to visit Don Bosco in Wonosobo, Indonesia. Pieter had been there previously and knew there were Dutch Brothers of Charity.

So here we are, seated around the table with a coffee or tea and Brother Piet Hendriks asked where I hailed from.

From Horst in Limburg, I said, mentioning my town and province... in the Netherlands.

Oh, he said from where in Horst?

Then I replied from the Afhang... and he shifted to the edge of his seat and said, oh then we can continue in your dialect as my Parents came from Horst as well!

My Uncle Antoon Hendriks lived there he said, and yes, I do recall the age old home where he lived, only two homes away from where I got born!

UNREAL for being able to speak in your own dialect, when traveling from the USA to Indonesia... and meeting someone that knows.

Upon mentioning that my Dad will never believe this incredible story, Brother Hendriks scribbled down this note for my Dad to read:

Brother Piet Hendriks

Uncle Antoon (Toon) Hendriks

Opa (Grandfather): Derix

Used to be baker, later petroleum seller.

Mother: Marie van den Oliezoes (a dialect nickname, as often was the case back then).

We learned that in Horst, there is a street named after that Uncle from Brother Piet Hendriks:

Toon Hendriksstraat (Toon Hendriksstreet).

Thanks to hometown blogger Wim Moorman (nephew of my high school friend Julia) from Horst sweet Horst I got some information via another mutual historiography/writer friend Jan Janssen.

Turned out that in 1965, a written request was made for having a street named after Toon Hendriks:

~

On behalf of the board, I would like to draw your attention to what we consider to be a very deserving Horstenaar.

This is: "Antoon Hendriks, born March 22, 1888 in Horst, died August 5, 1961". This Antoon Hendriks is a pioneer of the workers' movement in Horst. He has been a member for more than 40 years and a member of the board of construction workers for more than 35 years. In the beginning of the workers' movement in Horst, he was fired several times for his membership. Much incomprehension and poverty was his part, but nevertheless Toon persevered.

He was an example and inspiration to other board members,  by personally working with all his strengths for his fellow workers.

The community of Horst, and especially the workers, owe a lot to him, although Toon never wanted to know about thanks.

He preferred to work behind the scenes, without noting he toiled for his fellow humans. Antoon Hendriks has been dead for 3.5 years, so occasionally his name is still mentioned at board meetings. It would be a nice posthumous gift if this name could be preserved for posterity.

Respectfully,

On behalf of the board N.K.V. Horst-centrum

~

So glad that this posthumous honor has been bestowed by naming a street after him!

Just received another piece of information via writer and historical researcher Dr. Jan Janssen;

published in the local Echo on January 23, 1981.

8. Toon Hendriksstraat for the connecting road between Waterstraat and Schoolstraat in the extension of Weltersweide.

The person concerned, lived in Horst from 1888 to 1961, until 1957 on the Schoolstraat and then on the Afhangweg. He did a lot of pioneering work for the workers and was one of the leaders of the trade union movement. Mayor & Aldermen believe that here too they can certainly speak of a deserving Horstenaar, although his field of work was not only in Horst.

~

The nephew from above Toon Hendriks, Brother Piet (Petrus) Hendriks passed away suddenly on January 26, 2010

Brother Petrus Hendriks was a member of the Congregation Brothers of Charity who are active in care and education.

After his education and study at the institute for the deaf, in St.-Michielsgestel, the Netherlands, he went to Indonesia in 1964. His place of employment was Wonosobo, (where we also lived for about three years while working in Indonesia).

Provincial Councillor of the Indonesian Region of Rama Sandjaja. 

In Wonosobo he showed unlimited commitment in the service of the deaf child. Day and night, around the clock, he was always ready during class hours and in the boarding school. He is remembered as one of the institute's best principals. He did his job with full commitment. 

His spiritual life was an example to his fellow brothers. He was committed to everyone and brought religious life into daily practice. His picture is still in the school of Wonosobo. The Rama Sandjaja Region is still grateful to him and the memory of him lives on. 

In 1998 he was asked to work in Tanzania at the Brothers of Charity's hearing impediment school... He didn't stay there long because he got sick. He returned to the Netherlands and, after a rest period, went to Roermond, where he was appointed Superior. He was also appointed Provincial Councillor.

In 2001 he became the first Superior in the newly built Monastery Eikenburg. He lived there for nine years, with great pleasure. His health slowly deteriorated, but he was committed as a coster in the chapel of the Monastery and as an altar boy in the great chapel. 

Brother Petrus was a modest man, he had enough on his puzzle books and his cigarette. 

During his life as a Brother of Charity, Brother Petrus has done a lot of work, for which we are very grateful to him. More than thirty years in Indonesia, briefly in Tanzania, several years in the Provincial Administration and the years in Roermond and at Eikenburg.

Brother Petrus died suddenly, in Eindhoven at Monastery Eikenburg. He was buried after a solemn Eucharist celebration on January 29, at the monastery cemetery there.

We thank the care at Monastery Eikenburg for their efforts during the last years.

May he rest in peace.

He chose the text of the poem on the next page, by Elly Nieman and Rikkert Zuiderveld.

~

I'm traveling, even though I don't know where. 

But somewhere it was written that I had to go this way, 

And even if I sometimes hesitate along that endless track,

Yet I know:

Someone preceded me, and that's why I'm moving on.

I have no money, no map and no compass.

But I see the signs, and they tell me enough; 

and even if no one answers

on the things I asked,

Yet I know:

At the end, I find hearing, and that's why I'm going to keep going.

I am a bird that spreads its wings;

So I always want to fly beyond the sun.

I am a horse that rides without reins;

But there is someone who leads me and he says, "Come!

~

Sure, Brother Piet Hendriks, just like his Uncle Toon Hendriks, loved being fully committed to the wellbeing of others!

Both were of a very humble nature and that is why they were great at deeds!

A true example for many, that were fortunate, having known them.

Related link:

Visiting Brother Petrus Hendriks at Don Bosco in Wonosobo, Indonesia | short YouTube video from our visit in 1994