Max in East Timor - Religion and Traditions

When Max and Erika first arrived in Dili, East Timor, they had to visit the Australian Embassy to register as a visitor to East Timor. This meant that if there was any danger in East Timor the Australian Embassy would help Max and Erika to come home to Australia. Because it was Christmas time the Australian Embassy celebrated by building a nativity in the front of their office .

At one end of Dili there is a mountain and on top of the mountain is a huge statue of Christ looking over Dili. This is called "Christos Rey" which means "Christ the King." Max decided to climb the "Christos Rey" mountain.

At the bottom of the mountain there were some stairs to climb to the top. There were lots and lots and lots of stairs to climb to get to the top of "Christos Rey" Mountain. Along the way were 14 grottos each containing a beautifully engraved station of the cross. Max stopped at each grotto to pray.

Closer and closer. Until he reached the top.

Here is the "Christos Rey" statue. Can you see Australia on the map?

This is the view from the "Christos Rey" statue that looks back towards Dili.

In Same, the village where Max lived, on the other side of East Timor, there was a very old Portuguese Catholic Church that was not used any more as it was in ruins.

Here is the new Same Catholic church. There was a tall bell tower next to the church. The bell was rung every morning at 6.00am. On Sunday everybody sings at mass. They have such beautiful voices.

Here is the Same cemetery in the forest just outside the town.

One of the traditions in Same was that whenever someone got married the family made an archway of palm leaves at the front of their home. There was a wedding at this house.