Tuesday 20th - Transition day!

Did I tell you that Masta and David have many friends??

When we were in the airport waiting for our flight to Sumba, some of the team members had noticed an ad for a place to ride elephants. David says "My friend owns that place" and proceeded to call him to schedule a visit. He called and told us that instead of the normal $34 entry fee (Which was the Indonesian price - tourist price is $59!) that he would let us in for $17.00 because of the work that we were doing on Sumba! He made the arrangements then for us to go on the 20th.
Masta had a friend from church that arranged 2 vehicles for us to take us. We got to the park - it ended up being a huge animal park with great shows with the animals, plus a tram/bus that went through the animals habitats, so they were up close and personal! Of course we got our pics with a tiger, plus rode the elephants. (Who would guess that elephants actually have very bony backs???)
On the way back Masta also had a friend (Will wonders never cease!) that could get us really cheap prices on silver. (Silver is very cheap in Denpasar - this was reallly cheap!) We stopped by to check it out. Sam, Gary and I were getting very thirsty after a long day spent walking through the park. We started walking down the street to find a place to buy water. There was nothing around - there were many different shops, but no restaraunts. We kept walking and by this time were really parched. I finally stopped and asked a fellow in front of his shop if he knew where we could find water. He said that he had some, and I thought maybe he had personal water that we could buy, which we would have been greatful to do. (Please remember that this is a culture where you bargain for everything, and that a tip is expected for almost everything.)
We went into a small room in his shop and from a small fridge produced 3 waters. (The kind you get on the plane with a foil top and straw.) He said "Free", and I told him that we would like to pay him, but he insisted that it was free. What a neat blessing and kindness from him!
Then we went to pick up Masta's sons - she and David live with his mother and three boys - Dave Ray, Aaron and Nathan. We got to see their home and also give out the gifts from home for their family that we had left at their home. She gave us some neat bags to take home.
We went back to the hotel, had dinner and got another good nights rest!

While we were traveling back and resting, Clay, Luke, David, Chuck, Pastor Elias and the people at Merry Danos were completing the project that we had begun with them. See note below from Clay's blog:

For us we continued at Merry Dano’s home water project and completed three tanks, one being the slow sand, bio film filter. We also rebuilt her well casing as the stone was badly crumbled and one side just above ground level. We then shopped and purchased a gasoline engine water pump that will allow them to fill the primary storage tank from the well when the water table is good.
We filled the sand filter with stone and sand and was able to fill it with the pump so that the bacterial film layer will begin to develop.This takes a month to create the film which is about 1 inch thick, consisting of bacteria that is anaerobic, it eats pathogens as they slowly pass through it. Compare it to the good bacteria in your stomach.

Great to have the project complete!