A small troop of seven people with another mountain of luggage headed out to the islands.  This trip’s mission was to settle Dr Drew Wagner and his wife Joy into base camp with the plan that they would be staying a year.  Thus the mountain of luggage.  We arrived in Tarawa only to hear through the grape vine that the boat wasn’t working and there was no one to pick us up.  As it turned out the president of the South Pacific Union was in Tarawa and there was a meeting planned to discuss Kauma (the boarding academy where base camp is located on the island of Abemama).  The school hasn’t been doing too well and they were going to close it.  Gary and Drew decided this was really an important meeting to attend so they stayed behind while the five ladies (Joy Wagner, Shirley Panasuk, Twilla Gambel, Marimae and Linda Morgan) took off for Abemama on the inter island airline.

It was providential that the men remained behind and gave a good report for the school.  It really helped the Union president to understand the challenges Kauma was facing and the good work they were doing.  He was impressed and excited and very grateful for the insight.  He decided not to close the school.

The ladies got to work on cleaning up base camp.  The palm log posts that held the kitchen hut up rotted away at ground level and 4 months prior a good wind had brought the building down.  By the time of our arrival the posts had been replaced and a roof put on but no walls.  Also no one had cleaned up the tremendous mess.  Everything that was in the kitchen hut was wet and dirty.  Everything needed to be gone through, sorted and either cleaned or thrown out.  The beach and grounds hadn’t been cleaned in at least a year.  The sleeping huts were in need of structural and cleaning attention.  The ladies worked 3 long hot days on clean-up before the men arrived.  Shirley and Twilla took a special interest in cleaning the school’s medical clinic.  They conducted several days of morning clinic for the students.  There was no lack of chores to do and everyone was busy.  

A makeshift kitchen structure was built that was an eyesore and barely adequate to cook a meal.  If it rained - all was wet.  Gary and Drew worked on setting up a wind power generator.  Drew had LOTS of questions about how things worked, who to talk to for help and what was available.  All were busy getting things ready for Drew, Joy and Marimae to remain. 

It was an exciting prospect to have them all there working for the Kiribati people.