Tuesday

Steve & 'H' went to the farm about 9 to walk the boundary and make sure it was all marked well, and somewhat permanently.  Then 'H' will contact the local official in charge of that sort of thing to have him come out to 'survey' and give an owner's certificate.  No idea how long that will take.  I stayed 'home' to wash breakfast dishes, sweep, and boil water :-)

I decided to try and describe the road leading to the farm.  It starts out pretty good for Indonesian standards.  Too narrow for my liking, but that's my problem :-)  As we make our way out of town, passing shanties and rice paddies, we begin to wind our way up the mountain.  The road becomes even narrower.  Good thing most 'vehicles' are motorcycles!  There are a couple of literal u-turns where horns are sounded to make sure no one is coming from the other direction.  It would not be a pretty site if they were to meet at the turn.  Once we make it to the village closest to the farm, we begin to pick up passengers - generally the farm workers, but not all. What is interesting, at least to us, is that the road from the village to the farm has 3 high ranking officials living along it.  The 'governor', the secretary to the 'governor', and the police chief.  Once we get past their places, the road, as we know it, ends.  Now it is a mud track.  Twice a day the pickup drives up and down this track going out to find feed for the cows and bringing it back to throw over the fence.  (Hopefully, that will end or slow as the fences get done and the cows can be moved to different fields that have some pasture.)  At least once a day, the pickup drives the track for other purposes.  Combine that with the daily deluge, and you have a VERY muddy track with big holes - that are getting bigger.  Sometimes we slide sideways for several yards before righting and continuing.  Our boys would love it! 

Since the farm has water - and no one else around does - 'R' & 'H' are trying to swing a deal with the 'governor' to rock the road to the farm and bring electricity to it (it stops at his house) in exchange for water.  Currently, he has a water truck that is filled and kept at his house.  The goal is to convince him of the need for a larger pump that would enable water to be pumped to the village for use by those that live there and those that live on the surrounding 'farms', as well as him.  He doesn't have the authority to do much, but can present the need to higher officials under the 'community betterment' theme. Pray that comes to fruition in HIS time.  Currently, everyone catches rain water, and/or walks a steep trail to the river.  Those that use only rainwater start to lose their teeth  by 35-40 because of a lack of minerals in the water. 

Steve & 'H' came back around 1.  After a short, 20 min. siesta, we headed to the hardware store for some chain and locks for the new gates to the new pasture.  We arrived about 2 pm, chained and locked the gates, then let the cows into the new pasture.  Boy, were they happy!  I expect Sihite and the two boys that help him get feed twice each day, are happy too.  They should have a couple of days reprieve before starting that ritual again.  The next pasture should be fenced soon.  Work has begun on the cattle chute.  They didn't set the posts as Steve had instructed, but the cement was set, so we will see how it works. 

The young lady that 'H's wife had help with dinner last night, came back tonight and made us dinner.  It was so much better than a restaurant.  We even get a little vegetables! 

We bought 2 pineapples from Turbo today for our meals for the next 3-4 days.  They are so good!, and only cost us 25 cents each! 

Just got word that 'K' was moved out of ICU and was even allowed to walk to her room.  She is improving remarkably each day.