March of 2010 found five of us headed back out to the islands.  After 2 days delay (one in LA and one in Fiji secondary to the hurricane that hit Fiji) the team finally arrived.  Drew and Joy met them in Tarawa.  The starter on the boat wasn’t working so they spent several days fixing it.  The plan had been for the team to spend 1 1/2 weeks going to several islands conducting medical clinics then return for a departure day for five people. 

Since the delays and boat repairs took most of the time the plan got switched to doing evangelism on Tarawa.  A week long series of meetings was started in the town of Buota.  Joe, a Solomon islander who lives in Buota, is a lay evangelist.  He conducts three nights a week of Bible studies.  He trucked loads of people over an hour every night from his village to the large evangelistic series that Search For One put on a year ago.  His church grew from —- to 40 during those meetings. 

He requested we come to his village.  We used a sheet for a projector screen, hung up a big tarp to keep the projector dry and had several speakers including a college student.  The young adults did the music.  We couldn’t see any people out there in the darkness.  I asked Joe if there was anyone listening?  Were the meetings doing any good?  He said that the people hide in the darkness because if the people from the neighboring churches saw them they would make life difficult for them.  From that small series four more people starting taking Bible studies.  God is so good and multiplies our small efforts into jewels for His kingdom.

The Buota church needs a church facility.  They have land donated out on a beautiful point looking out on the ocean.  The church is going to prepare the site between now and this next winter so we can bring a building team to erect a one-day church.  We look forward to that project.  There will be need for money for building supplies and food.  They have a house we can use for sleeping and cooking.  It has two regular bathrooms and the only bath tub I have EVER seen in Kiribati.  We will also need people to help build.  Any mission-minded able-bodied person wanting a warm destination in the middle of winter, apply to help.  We could use YOU!

Gary and Linda Morgan remained after everyone else left with a list of projects to accomplish.  We spent several days trying to catch up with the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is in charge of work permits.  He evidently doesn’t work a 5-day work week.  Or even a 3 or 2 day work week.  He lost the application papers we had given him a week prior and didn’t want to talk to us.  But persistence FINALLY paid off.  We visited with the Ambassadors from Australia and Taiwan.  They informed us of grant money we could write for to start an industry for Kauma to help the students with their tuition and give them a skill.  NOW WE NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO WRITE GRANTS!!!  If you are out there please contact us. 

To expedite getting work permits for visiting and long term volunteers (which wasn’t an issue in the past) the government was telling us we needed to incorporate in Kiribati.  So we wrote the documents, collected the 15 signatures required for the board in Kiribati, went to court to get stamped (stamps are VERY important) and filled the papers.  WHEW! 

We went and visited with the Administrator of the Hospital and the Director of Nursing (equals in providing medical care to the people).  They were very helpful and are willing to endorse and get any permits we need for medical teams or students.  The Administrator said he would also get the word out to the islands we are planning to visit so the people will be lined up when we arrive.  That was awesome!  Que up teams we need volunteers for high adventure in primitive conditions.

We also went out to Abemama to look for property where we could build a hanger for the airplane.  We found two people willing to let us use their property.  One wants a usual and customary lease and the other was willing to just let us use it for free.  WOW!!!  They are both right on the runway and extend to the ocean.  We are hoping that the church building crew that will be going out this next winter would like to take a trip out to Abemama and continue building by helping with the hanger. 

We saw God’s leading and blessing at every turn.  There is much to do and we are excited about all the opportunities.  We are also excited about the people God sends to help.  If you are one of them - a BIG THANK YOU for your help and committment to God’s work.  If you are a donator we want to give you a special THANK YOU.  We really rely on the donations of those interested in getting the Gospel message out to a remote corner of the earth. 

JESUS IS COMING SOON.  Lets all keep an ear open to how God wants us individually to play a part and the preparation work so we can GO HOME.

GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!!!