Gresik Berbagi Reach Mengare

Sunday, 30 December 2012
We held a meeting in our leader's house, in a sub-district region named Bungah Sub-District. A cloudy sky and sometimes it turned into rain, made some of us who were late become so wet. Our agenda that day was regular meeting and survey to a foster brother in a region called Mengare.
I have ever heard that region’s name before, once when I visited the house of my granny, she said that she has a relative there. Mengare became recently talked by my family when we’re talking about chips; some said that Mengare’s chips have an original and unique taste.
Only 2 of us (9 people) have ever visited Mengare. They said that this journey would be hard, the road is not wide enough, as normally wide as a road for one way car, the road located between people’s fishing pond. And guess what, everything is Correct! It is true! Moreover, it is a very deep inside-long way of Bungah Sub-District. It’s about 1 hour trip from Bungah to Mengare.
Along the way to go there, when our car met up with another car in that “not wide enough” road, one of them must stop and let another to pass by. It felt quite thrilling, although I’m not the one who drove the car (just taking picture :P #LOL). And finally our worry came true. When we met up with a car, the road is not enough and that car is ambles to the pond bank. All the boy in our car came out and helped to push the car ‘til it’s back on track.

“Not wide enough” road was not the only challenge for us, there’s one more challenge for us, the short-wooden-fragile look-not wide enough Bridge! Moreover, there’s a directly turning left/right road right after the bridge. So the driver must be a really skillful driver. And guess what? The bridge is more than three!
After asked some residences, finally we found the house that we wanted. Unluckily the foster brother’s parents are not around. We only had a chance to interview with the neighbor. They said that the foster brother were feasible to be helped. They said the parents have ever complained about the study tuition of their son. Moreover, the adik asuh have a brother who is also still study at school. Considering this condition, we felt that our long-thrilling journey here is not a waste, we really meant to help this two brothers.
It was getting dark. We should back as quickly as possible. Dark condition plus challenging road was not a good combination. Along the way back home, we forgot all the laugh and smile which accompanied us during the our way to go there. Each of us were busy with our pray for our safety. Because there’s almost no light along the road. Fortunately we were back home safely.
In my opinion, this trip was so awakening. That was the first time visit for me, Mengare, a village which was sooo remote, far from the city, although it is still in the same District as mine, Gresik. Dont expect any indomart/alfamart/Circle K, or even Seven-Eleven . I often complain because when i need to see a movie, i need to go to Surabaya first. So what about them? People who live in Mengare? Do they ever think about go to a movie theatre? I mean, even the sanitation is not that “standarized hygyne”.  So sad :(
So, are we giving up to go there again? Definitely Not! We’ll go there again. To give the scholarship fund for those two brothers and enjoying the view of natural beauty of Mengare! Wanna join?

Guys, you may see the indonesian version at icha's blog (published)

 this is a blogger-duet project. it's a rock! :))