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.