From a Stolen Ticket to a Church That Will Not Give Up

In 1982, 12-year-old Thomson Thomas Talomanafe was told his education was over.

His father could not afford to send him to middle school on the impoverished Indonesian island of Timor, so Thomson was expected to spend his life working in the fields.

But Thomson believed there had to be more.

He left home with almost nothing, sold a stolen boat ticket for $1 to obtain a copy of his school records, and secretly boarded a cattle boat headed for Bali. When the crew discovered him, they allowed him to work cleaning cattle stalls and bathrooms in exchange for his passage.

Once in Bali, Thomson lived on the streets, then worked in restaurants—sleeping on restaurant benches at night—while putting himself through middle school and high school.

During those years, a friend invited him to a Christian youth group, where Thomson gave his life to Jesus.

His determination to build a different future would eventually become a determination to help others do the same.

A Promise That Changed Everything

Years later, Thomson married Bertha, built a career in the hospitality industry, and became the father of three daughters: Dewi, Adelyne, and Grace.

Then, in 2002, Thomson became critically ill.

After six months in the hospital, doctors told him that if he survived, he would require dialysis for the rest of his life. Thomson prayed and made God a promise: if he recovered, he would leave his career and devote his life to ministry.

He recovered.

And he kept his promise.

Thomson, Bertha, and their daughters founded Elim United Pentecostal Church in Kuta, Bali, named for the biblical oasis—a place of refreshment, provision, and strength.

A Church That Gives Even When It Has Almost Nothing

Today, Elim serves approximately 65 regularly attending adults, along with many children.

Most members have very limited financial resources. The church's average weekly offering is approximately $6.

And yet, they give.

Every Sunday, Elim provides a simple meal of rice and broth because many of those attending are hungry. The church also helps feed people experiencing homelessness and distributes clothing to those in need.

Pastor Thomson and his family have made extraordinary personal sacrifices to keep this ministry alive. They mortgaged their home to help secure a building for the church. Thomson sold inherited family land to help obtain the church's nonprofit status. At one point, the family even gave away their own scooter so a church member could get to work.

They have never had much.

But they continue to use what they have to serve others.

Then Our Paths Crossed

We did not travel to Bali looking for a ministry to support.

In fact, meeting Thomson required such an extraordinary series of circumstances that we returned home believing our paths had been divinely orchestrated.

At breakfast in the hotel Scott had selected, we met John and Sue Downs, who were in Bali celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Sue was scheduled to speak at a church service, and Thomson—who speaks five languages—was serving as her interpreter.

We attended the service.

Later, at dinner with approximately 25 people, Thomson happened to sit on the floor beside Shannon.

A conversation began.

Thomson offered to serve as our guide for the remainder of our trip. We then learned that he was the pastor of the church John and Sue had helped plant 25 years earlier—and that Elim was only about 15 minutes from our hotel.

We visited the church.

We met Thomson's family.

We met the congregation.

We listened to their stories and began to understand their immense needs.

Of all the countries we could have visited, thousands of Indonesian islands, several hotels we considered, and dozens of people gathered at one dinner, somehow our paths crossed with Thomson's.

What began as a chance meeting became something we could no longer view as chance.

We returned home believing God had connected our lives for a reason—and that He had sent us there for such a time as this.

That relationship has grown into an ongoing partnership through Best Life, Inc.—one built not simply around financial assistance, but around education, leadership development, mentoring, ministry, meeting practical needs, and helping people build sustainable futures.

Your Generosity Is Already Changing Lives

We have already seen what can happen when people choose to help.

Through donor generosity:

All 11 children connected with the Elim fellowship are in school for the 2026–2027 school year.
100% of Dewi's law school tuition has been funded for all years through the Brent Alan Detering Memorial Scholarship.
Six-year-old Abraham received needed dental care.
Bertha's urgent and painful dental needs were addressed.
Thomson's family now has ongoing access to clean water free from heavy metals.
Thomson and Bertha received needed eye examinations and glasses.
Resources were provided to address black mold in the family's home and the church classroom.
$2,000 of debt previously incurred to fund church operations has been brought current.

These aren't abstract gifts.

They are children sitting in classrooms. Clean water to drink. Relief from pain. Clear vision. Food. Health. Opportunity. Dignity. Hope.

And this partnership extends beyond financial support.

Dr. Scott Gordon meets regularly with Pastor Thomson for leadership mentoring and accountability and teaches leadership to men connected with the church. Their work is helping strengthen leaders for the future of Elim and its ministry.

Dr. Shannon Gordon teaches a weekly women's Bible study, Who You Are in Christ. Attendance has grown, and women are gathering together to deepen their faith and better understand who they are in Christ.

We aren't interested in simply sending money across the world.

We are building relationships, strengthening leaders, meeting practical needs, and helping create opportunities that can last.

There Is Still Much More to Do

The needs remain significant, and gifts of every size can make a difference.

Current priorities include:

Providing rice and food for hungry church members and their children
Meeting approximately $700 in church property taxes due in September
Paying the remaining $4,000 in borrowed operational funding
Replacing school uniforms as children grow or their uniforms wear out
Supporting transportation and fuel for ministry and community outreach
Strengthening and developing future church leaders
Continuing educational and family support
Helping Thomson's family move toward safer housing
Providing resources that can create sustainable, long-term income

Thomson's family's current home has serious mold, poor ventilation, inadequate space, and limited electrical capacity.

Their dream isn't luxury.

It is a safe home with enough room for their family, space to grow food and, someday perhaps, a place of refuge for new Christians who have been rejected by their families.

From Meeting Needs to Building Sustainability

One of Best Life's goals is not simply to respond to today's emergencies, but whenever possible to help families and communities build toward greater independence and sustainability.

One particularly promising opportunity has recently emerged for Thomson's family.

Pastor Thomson has been given an opportunity to use land to raise piglets, an important commodity in Indonesia.

A piglet can currently be purchased for approximately $66.37 USD. According to the information provided to Best Life, establishing a herd of approximately 30 pigs—an investment of about $2,007.60—could develop into a self-sustaining source of income capable of helping the family meet its ongoing expenses.

Imagine what that could mean.

Instead of continually raising money to address one family expense after another, an investment today could help create income for tomorrow.

Our goal isn't simply to meet today's need. Whenever possible, we want to help create tomorrow's opportunity.

Will You Join Us?

Thomson's story began more than four decades ago with a 12-year-old boy who refused to surrender his future.

Today, he is still refusing to give up—this time on the people God has placed around him.

And we have the opportunity to stand beside them.

You can make a one-time gift to help meet an immediate need, or become a monthly supporter and help Best Life provide consistent support as needs and opportunities arise.

No gift is too small to matter.

A gift can put rice on a table.

It can help keep a child in school.

It can help strengthen a church serving people with very little.

It can help develop leaders who will continue serving their community.

And it can help a family move from meeting one urgent need after another toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.

Most of all, it says to this family and this church:

You are seen. You are valued. And you are not walking alone.

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given, He will repay to him.”
— Proverbs 19:17

Help Us Build Better Lives in Bali

Give today—or become a monthly partner—and help Elim continue bringing hope, practical help, opportunity, and the love of Christ to the people it serves.

Building Better Lives in Bali

Connecting resources, creating opportunity, and strengthening communities in Bali.