Upon leaving Abemama on Friday we didn't have favorable winds. But as we made our way South and West of Nonouti the winds slowly changed their direction from the North and we were able to stay on the same tack all the way to Tabiteuea. Total travel time was 30 hours. We caught one jack fish in the night. The weather was flawless and the seas mostly calm.

Saturday at 1200 we arrived and prepared the boat for anchoring, ate some lunch, launched the dinghy and took Atan and his grandmother into shore. We asked Atan to spread the word that we had arrived and we hoped it would reach the SDA church and the pastor. We didn't have transportation to go anywhere so we went back to Caelestis for the day to relax.

Sunday morning we saw the arrival of a cargo ship about 2 miles off our stern and it was soon ferrying in supplies for N Tabiteuea. It was about 8am when we heard some talking and a boat approaching. One of the tenders from the cargo ship had brought out Peter, the local pastor, to our boat to find out if we were who he though we were. Sure enough, the word had spread and we had been found. Peter came aboard, we finished breakfast and made ready to go into the island for the day.

We were invited to go to the farwell picnic being held for the team of students that have been here working with the pastor and the campaign effiorts of the SDA church. One of the challenges for the day was getting us to the picnic. Peter rented two motorbikes for 24 hours for us. It was a very generous gesture on his part so we could get to the picnic. The picnic was on the South end of N. Tabiteuea. There were new and current church members present for the festivities. Children, adults, and older folks all played games around a sand pit. Everyone got dirty and didn't mind it one bit. By the end of the day many of the kids had painted their faces with charcoal, chasing the girls around, tackling them and painting them as well.

Shortly after 4pm the truck arrived to take everyone back to their homes. We needed to get back to the boat before dark and it was a long ride back to the dinghy. It was going to be close. We arrived at the dinghy just as it was getting dark and by the time we got back to Caelestis the sun had set and it was virtually dark. The end of a very memorable day had been reached.

It is now Monday morning and today we had originally planned to depart for Tarawa with the team. Those plans might change today. Peter had received a letter from a small island just south of N. Tabiteuea inviting him and the singing group of students to visit for a day. The island can only be reached at high tide and the boat ride can be purchased for $70. We told Peter we didn't have a set schedule and can stay for a few more days if the team would like to go and visit this island. We were also told that the nurse on this small island is an adventist. So our visit to Tabiteuea might be extended a bit, which we don't mind at all.