Traditional coconut water - straight from the coconut
We had the best week! We went to the southern islands of Beru and Onotoa with several people including Uraia, our supervisor; E/S Brock, Service missionaries and Project Managers over the Desalination project; Epeli, Suez engineer; Willie, Suez consultant; Eretai, Construction Manager; Gideon, from OB office in charge of emergency preparedness, and Regina, woman extraordinaire who took care of every single detail of our trip! I count it as a great blessing to have been in the company of such good people. We were there to evaluate the first phase of getting clean water to 20 outer islands. Beru and Onotoa were 2 of 5 islands to receive a desalination plant.
What?! I didn't get a group picture at the beginning? Ugh
Our trip started at the airport at 5:00 am. Nothing ever goes perfectly and this was no exception. There was a little mix-up with the flight reservations which was eventually resolved by allowing passengers who were supposed to fly that day to fly the next day on the chartered flight the church had already booked to fly us between islands.
They were happy because they got a free flight out of it and we were happy because everyone who needed to be on Beru was there. Win-Win with good problem solving skills.
The Plane we flew on to get to Beru
Flight panel on the plane
Lay over at TabNorth to refuel the plane
NorthTab airport lounge
Picture from the plane window
Beautiful Beru
The first thing we did was meet with the Mayor who has only been in office about a month. He was very welcoming. Then we met with the community where the desalination plant was located. The Kiribati people are always such gracious people that they planned a celebration. It is part of their culture.
Meeting with the Mayor
Village Elder welcoming us
Ladies dancing
Then Keith and I stayed and did interviews with the people there to help evaluate the good and bad of the desalination project. We discovered that the people were only using the water to drink and cook with. They didn't want to waste the "good" water cleaning or bathing with it. Sister Brock was with us and she very sweetly made it clear that they could use it for everything! You can't waste this water. The people said they were no longer putting sugar in their water to make it taste better. And no more boiling water to clean it.
The others went to the actual desalination plant to not only see how well it was functioning, but to do more training with the local people on how to maintain the equipment.
Keith interviewing the nurses aide at the medical clinic
Sister Brock and I waving to some children
Young girl getting water
Carrying water
The girl on the back is about 4 years old.
Inside the desalination plant
These were our accommodations for the night.
They are called buias (boo-yah)
We stayed in the one on the left
Going into our buia.
Inside the buia.
They brought in a pad and sheets and a mosquito net,
Actually, it was comfortable.
We chartered a plane to fly us from Beru to Onotoa because there is only one flight per week in/out of each island. A 2 night visit vs a 14 night visit.
On the chartered flight. Regina is holding the camera
We were greeted by the island council at the airport.
More coconut water-yum
She danced for us. Lovely.
These islands are so beautiful. So peaceful and quiet.
It was the same routine at Onotoa as it was in Beru. A celebration with food and a Q/A about the desalination unit. Keith and I stayed behind to talk to the people, while the others visited the plant. The nurse who runs the medical clinic there was sharp! She taught them all to use the desalinated water for everything. They have had a significant drop in diarrhea and skin rashes. It's only been a month, but she said she can "see" a difference in their skin. One older gentleman said he had more energy since drinking the desalinated water. This community's well had become so brackish and salty that they were having to travel quite a ways to other wells to get their water. Just like in Beru, the biggest problem is getting the water to everyone on the island. The plant is too far away for many people to use. There are some very smart people working on that problem as we speak.
Some of the "mwaneabas" can be quite low and difficult
for us old people to get in and out of.
Better do your yoga.
Uraia talking to the nurse. Her name is Anee.
She served as translator for us.
What a beautiful smile.
Getting water from the Onotoa desalination plant
The "hotel" on Onotoa
Sister Brock and me just talking
Kiribati has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
In my opinion of course.
We met that night with the small branch for a short lesson and a meal. Such a sweet experience. The members there are so faithful and you can't help but fall in love with them. The branch president and his wife are both return missionaries.
Kiribati version of Pot Luck.
The problem is: you don't know how long the food has been sitting out unrefrigerated.
You learn to choose wisely.
It's tradition:
First the honored guest eat.
Then the men eat.
Then the women and children eat.
Too shy to wave hello.
We left the following morning to go back to Tarawa. What an amazing experience. So happy we were invited to join.
The whole gang at the Onotoa airport
typical Kiribati luggage - bags and boxes
It takes two to fly the plane
Tarawa from the plane. Home Sweet Home
I apologize for the photo dump. But let's be honest, it could have been a lot worse.
One of the things I have learned is to be grateful for the small things like clean water to drink. And children and grandchildren who did not die of dysentery.
FEAR is" What if"
FAITH is "Even if"
Love to all of you!!
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