“Jesus is living next to you, in the brothers and sisters
with whom you share your daily existence.”
-Pope St. John Paul I
For the past ten years, Sister Hyun Jung Kim has been serving the people of East Timor where access to healthcare remains a daily struggle for many families living in remote mountain villages.
Together with her Timorese colleagues at Clínica Uma Ita Nian (“Our Home”) Sister Hyun Jung has become a source of healing, dignity, and hope for some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Through mobile clinics and outreach programs, they travel to 34 villages bringing medical care, rehabilitation services, and health education to people who have little or no access to doctors or hospitals.
Advocating for Healthcare in East Timor
Among the clinic’s most inspiring efforts is its support for people with disabilities and their families. Last year, several mothers of children with disabilities formed a group called Lian Liurai Feto — “Queen’s Voice.” Together, they advocate for the dignity and rights of their children while supporting one another through shared experience and faith-filled perseverance. With encouragement from the clinic, they even opened a small restaurant that now provides both income and renewed hope for the future.
Another remarkable ministry is Uma Esperansa (“House of Hope”) a maternity shelter opened in response to the urgent needs of expectant mothers in the Aileu region. Many women there go through pregnancy and childbirth with little or no medical care, contributing to tragically high maternal and infant mortality rates.
At Uma Esperansa, mothers receive prenatal care, nourishing meals, a safe place to stay before delivery, and access to professional medical assistance at a nearby hospital. Already, more than 50 mothers have safely welcomed healthy babies into the world.
Fatima’s Story: A Miracle Doubled
One young mother, Fatima, arrived at the shelter eight months pregnant, having never received prenatal care. During her first examination, she learned she was carrying twins. After delivering the first baby safely, complications arose with the second child during an emergency transfer to the national hospital. Yet, through what many called a miracle, the baby turned into the proper position during the difficult journey, and Fatima safely delivered her second child as well.
Today, both babies are thriving.
Stories like Fatima’s remind us that even small acts of compassion can become life-saving blessings.
Help Sister Hyun Jung Kim Provide Healthcare to Those in Need
Sister Hyun Jung often says that none of this would be possible without the kindness and generosity of faithful friends who care deeply about their brothers and sisters across the world. Your support helps provide medical outreach, maternal care, rehabilitation services, and hope to families who might otherwise be forgotten.
Your generosity will help bring healing, dignity, and hope to countless families in East Timor. And as Sister Hyun Jung says so beautifully, “God will bless you as you have blessed them.”