9 OCT.

Up early again. Arrive at the hanger at 6:30 AM. Preflight and install the floats again, our destination is the island of Taliabu on the western edge of the Malucus. The Malucus have been the scene of much Christian persecution. I am to meet missionary Darryl Palmer. I have one old coordinate where there used to be an abandoned airstrip and a description of a village south of that position where Darryl will be. To be honest I am a bit nervous. I will fly 3 hours to a place I have never been before and that is still somewhat possibly hostile. But this is what we came to Indonesia to do. I take some time before take off to pray and commit the flight to the Lord. HCM lifts again and turns east into the rising sun again at 7:30 AM.

We land at 9 AM in the little town of Luwuk on the eastern edge of Sulawesi. The airstrip runs parallel to the water line. It is quite pretty with the coconut palms swaying along the waters edge. The beauty belies the fact that many Christians had to flee this area about 3 years ago for fear of their lives. I purchase fuel, fill everything as high as I can. I need to cross 1 hour of open ocean and find the village and return without refueling. 10 AM we are off again “feet wet” as soon as we lift off.

10:15 find what appears the checkpoints I was told to look for the village of Taliabu.Land in a marked soccer field. See a lone white person. He walks toward the helicopter as I shut down. As I get out, I have to fight the urge to say, "Livingston I presume" after the famous words uttered by Stanley after his epic search for missionary pioneer Dr. David Livingston. It is Darryl and I am at the right place. Praise the Lord. I receive bad news that the boat that is supposed to deliver the water tanks that I am sling load in has not arrived. We begin a waiting vigil that lasts till the next day at noon. We finally get word on the 10th of October that instead of sailing a day early from Manado the ship sailed a day late. We are now in a time crunch in that we have to return to Palu without moving in the water tanks for the clean water project for the village. We are both quite disappointed, but that goes with live here in Indonesia. Things rarely happen on time.

Taliabu village (Wai Miah) is relatively new as the original village was destroyed in an earthquake a few years ago and sent a tidal wave ashore the killed hundreds if people living along the shore line. On my flight in I saw many washed out homes. The area is still unsettled a bit politically from what I understand. The people are thrilled we came as it had been over 3 years I think since Darryl could visit his village, the scripture is still not finished and a new church building needs to be put up. 12 Noon on the 10th we realize that the transfers won’t take place this trip.

We load up and head west toward Palu. Fuel in Luwuk again. We make a stop in Simpang village to drop off a trundle or foot powered sewing machine for a lady evangelist named Ibu Chaine working with one of my favorite peoples, the Kuhama Mau in the mountains there of Sulawesi. We almost did not make it in, there were heavy cloud buildups all around and I had to make an almost verticle descent through a hole in the clouds to the heli pad. She worked for a few years in Taliabu but had moved on to this work. I think she had given up hope of seeing her little sewing machine again. She is thrilled when we touch down and unload. Her friends in Taliabu send her offerings of Bananas also. She had some really nice fruit juice waiting for us. It was so good after along day.

By 3:30 PM we are airborne again heading east to Palu. Once again we arrive as the sun is just starting to touch the tops of the western ranges. As I cool the engines for shut down I reflect and thank God for his goodness and protection over these last 2 days. We traveled far and took some risks for the sake of the ministry. After shutting down I greet missionaries Steve Rosengren and Ed Casteel. We will be teammates for 6 days starting in the morning. We will be moving from village to village as we work with the Wana people. I remove the floats and put HCM to bed for the night. 10 PM lay dawn to sleep, my back is really bothering me tonight.