One day in Kiribati

Last evening as I was walking to the school by moonlight, a lady on a motorcycle approached Joy and me--looking for "the doctor." Her 48 year old husband with a heart problem had suddenly become very short of breath. She gave me a ride back to our beach hut for my stethoscope and blood-pressure monitor. We arrived to find him lying comfortably on his back but breathing very fast without any pain. His blood pressure was low and his pulse was weak but normal rate. There was nothing I  could do for him and I was called out pronounce him dead at 1:30 this morning.  He will be buried today. He was apparently advised to leave the Island last month by a doctor on Tarawa, due to health concerns. He was scheduled to fly out next week. It is such a helpless feeling to know our patient needs to be in an emergency room and instead they are on a remote island with no medical facilities--except you.

We were just finishing our late breakfast this AM when a man on a motorcycle drove up a advised that a Tsunami may be coming ashore in 30 minutes--about two hours ago now. That is also a helpless feeling. There is really no "high ground" here. You just think of lots of things you never have thought of for a long time and pray that it will NOT hit here. We did not have time to get out to the sailing boat and get away from shore. (3 mile walk!!) The wave was due to hit 90 minutes ago and all is quiet with no wave coming ashore....yet.

I attached a photo of our new home on Abemama. It is in much need of repairs, but the kitchen hut in a higher priority. We hope to sleep in the smaller hut where there is more air flow as it is too hot in the bigger hut at night.

This is serious camping here! The wind generator has not generated a single watt in 3 days now. The "new" $300.00 battery for the twelve volt water pump will not hold a charge. Three of the five solar panels need to be fixed. The 240 V power from the school is to be reconnected "any day now," as of a week ago. There are no light bulbs even if there were power to the fixtures.... Base camp will be slowly, slowly put together, on "Island time!" I am so thankful for the small Honda generator that SFO has!!

Destination Abemama, accomplished!

Gary Morgan and I stayed on Tarawa a few more days and attended a meeting with Mission and Kauma School leaders. The Mission President was not aware of what Search for One was doing on Abemama and at the Kauma School. He said it was "providential" that Gary and I were there for these meetings.

Gary and I spent days wandering through stores looking for parts we needed, especially a piece of 3/4 inch hose for the new 12 volt water pump. We went to EVERY store on the Island that might possibly have it. Finally, it was time to go to the airport to catch our plane to Abemama and meet up with the rest of the team. We checked in at the airport and while we waited Gary wanted to talk with a technician from Australia that he knew. So we headed back to the airport mechanical area and met Jonathan. A very talented and friendly chap from "down under." As we talked, I noticed a piece of 3/4 inch hose on a chair. We mentioned we had been all around the Island looking for hose like that. The conversation moved on to other stories and then the staff of the airline came back looking for us as it was time to board. Jonathan ran and cut us a piece of the hose literally one minute before we boarded to Abemama! Once again, God's timing is PERFECT!! Now we will be able to have real running water! Yes, it is not drinkable, but with some chlorine and our new Berkey Filter it will be.

We hope to get the windmill up and running tomorrow before Gary leaves. I will be able to install the 12 volt lights and pump later this week. The new cook house should also be completed this week. It will be good to get a bit more settled! I hope to get some photo's uploaded this week as well.

Thanks everyone for your support!

First Week Update

We have now been here a week. I am still here on Tarawa. Our things and the teams frieght will be going to Abemama tomorrow, but will need to confirm that tomorrow. Joy flew out to Abemama on Sunday with the other ladies of the team. Gary Morgan (President of Search for One) and I will attend a meeting at the mission tomorrow and then fly out to Abemama on Wednesday. We spent today lining up supplies and tickets.

We met a Kiribati man who works a lot with volunteers from Australia and he had some good ideas of how to work with the Government such that we may not have to leave and come back in four months from now. Gary hopes to meet with the Ministry of Health on his way back home next week. Will let you know how that turns out.

The principal of the Kauma Adventist High school is here now for meeting and he advised us that the school now has wireless internet! That means we can do Skype calls from the school! What a blessing for keeping in touch with family and friends!! "Remote" redefined again! (Still no electricity at basecamp and no running water.)

Bumps in the Road

We have been here now 3 days. The "Sugar Blues," Search for One's 40' sailboat is not working (even though it just had a new engine put in this past March.) The "Super Cat" we took out to Abemama in the past is not operating any longer. The cost to fly our things to Abemama is prohibitive, and there were not seats available for the team even if we wanted to fly. There is a landing craft that will be going out to Abemama next Sunday or Monday.

We wanted to open an account today at the bank and were unable do so without a letter from Immigration. We then went to Immigration to get our letter and "Work Permit." We were then advised that we needed to have a United Sates police clearance report, Curriculum Vitae, United States Medical exam, and were also advised all this had to be done and submitted prior to entering the country! All this was a "change in the law" that occurred within the last 12 months. The "good news" was that the visitor permit is now good for 4 months now instead of the previous 30 day limit. Long story short, we will need to leave the country in four months or pay $5,000.00 per person to try to change our "entry status!!" Unless the Ministry of Health can help us, we will have a "forced vacation" to somewhere! We may have to sail to the Marshall Islands....or the Cook Islands.....or any suggestions out there?!

We ran a clinic at one of the villages here on Tarawa.  The three nurses and I kept busy with lots of patients.  We were able to hand out some needed medicines and encouragement.  There is so much need!

We also stopped by the Australian High Commissioner's Office and met him and his Assistant High Commissioner.  They were very cordial and interested in Search for One's involvement in health and development work in the outer islands.  We were invited to join the Australian expatriate community during their monthly get togethers at the embassy.

Greetings from Fiji

We arrived in Fiji at 5 AM and were met by Gary Morgan, President of Search for One (SFO). We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of fresh mango, pineapple, papaya, and bananas back at his Hotel. Joy was able to get in a nice swim while I went with Gary down to the boat harbor looking for supplies for the Sugar Blues (40' sailboat that SFO owns.) We are now getting ready to board for Tarawa, Kiribati. I was very blessed to have 4 seats in a row on the overnight flight from LAX and was able to sleep!! I was praying for someway to get some rest on the plane. Need to run--thanks for checking in with us!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

I am writing from LAX, about to board Air Pacific for Fiji and then Tarawa. It was amazing to see how we had just the help we needed--just when we needed it! I feel very blessed right now. (And fatigued!)
Still looking for a team member. Boarding in 30 minutes! Many thanks to all the Prayer Warriors and helpers. Must run now and get through security--bye for now!

On The Road!

Wow! The last four days have been a whirlwind! So many last minute loose ends--hard to find time to pack! We had the privilege to share how God has led us to this mission opportunity with our Hamburg church family and with the Pottsville church. We are so warmed by their incredible support and generosity!  We had reserved a 22' truck to take things down to storage in TN. I had thought a 17' would likely do the job, but a 22' was the same price. Why not have some extra room I thought. When we went to pick up the truck, they said they would like to give us a 26' for the same price. And they would discount the total cost by 5% to help with the extra fuel. Well, you guessed it--that 26' truck was just what we needed. ("Before you call, I will answer") So much for "thinning down!" (But we did sell all the furniture and appliances except for our bed, my desk, two chairs, a small dining set, two small book shelves, a sofa and piano.) With timely help from friends and neighbors, we finally got all packed up, truck loaded and then I realized that I did not know where the keys were. That is a real sinking feeling..Then I also realized the special lock was also "somewhere" in the truck. (It was one of those days that our mother's always warn us about!) Joy and her Dad were on their Penske's to pick up another key (at 9:00 PM!) when I was impressed to check the only bag I had access to. What a relief to find both the keys and the lock! We are now at a hotel for some much needed sleep--compliments of Joy's parents. Thanks Mom and Dad Youngberg!! It was not easy to say goodbye them and to son Daniel for the next 10 to 12 months. We need to stop in Chattanooga TN to say good-bye to our daughter Janna and then on to Jackson TN to unload the truck by 3:00 PM Friday. Many thanks to Joy's sister Susan for arranging help. Oh will it be nice to rest for Sabbath!! Our plane leaves for Tarawa Sunday the 13th. Now I must sleep, many thanks to all those Prayer Warriors out there--could not have made it without you!!