True Friendship

"We've been invited to go to Lembang," Ibu said. It's the end of the LEAD International training session, she added, and some of Bapak's former colleagues had been attending the event. One of them, Boris Graizbord, the Mexico national program director, especially wanted to meet Ibu and also visit Bapak's grave. It was Boris who made all the arrangements to ensure Bapak's body would get home as soon as possible, after he passed away five years ago...at a LEAD International training session in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Meeting some of the people who were closest to Bapak during his years as LEAD Indonesia national program director - people he would speak of often and with much fondness - was very moving. We were also told that Sasha, the Russian national country director, at a dinner of the LEAD International board stood up and asked that everyone observe a moment of silence, "...in honour of Kismadi," he said. Five years later. They still think of him and obviously miss him.

This is why I know that Bapak's legacy lives on...through his friends, whom obviously enriched his life - and through the many people he touched. I am blessed to be witness to it all. I have come to learn that legacies ripple and live on. Lucky are we who feel and learn from those ripples!

Thank you Boris, Ali, Osontogun, Sasha, and the many members of the LEAD family who continue to allow me to feel Bapak's presence.