08.22.15 US Navy Seabees building projects

The Seabees keep busy on the island. They are almost finished with the new stairs at the hospital and now waiting to get outdoor stain. They also are repairing the seawall damaged by the typhoon. A lot of progress has been made on both projects. The sailors all seem to be rather enjoying themselves. A lot of them from the last group took diving lessons, I don't think this group has had that much free time so far.

Little Reina was at the hospital with her sitting and she came to visit me. Here she is with HM1 Alex Leemauck in front of the new steps. Alex has three children and two dogs at home in Mississippi with his wife.

 

 

 Work at the seawall. It is pretty hot and humid.

 

 

 

 

08.22.15 Update on the green boat men. Good new

Went to visit the men with some fresh local vegetables. They are happy as they have food - the immigration office brought them food as well. Thank you to the US Navy Seabees for the funds for the food for today.

We thought we were all set with the food/work program that was to start on Monday, but there may be a wrinkle in that. I think we still need permission from national and I don't think any one has asked them again lately.

But I did speak to one of the chiefs and he will start the ball rolling to possibly get the men settled in a village until placement somewhere can be made. The idea is one man per village and he will help with basic work and be fed in return. This idea has been floated for a while but now it is being brought to the chiefs. Thank you Cyril for agreeing to help. He said he will b e in touch iwht me on Monday after he contacts the office.

The wheels turn slowly but perhaps they are turning in the right direction. We still need donations.
The men remain healthy, the nurse from PH went to see them yesterday as a part of the health review and had no problems to report.

And a friend Ashley is writing an article on the policies of FSM on immigration and hope that this will increase awreness of their plight. They are telling me their stories - in my humble opinion, this is really human trafficking. The men were made the promise of a legal immigration to another country so they had no idea that these agents were frauds. They told me they were shown pictures of yachts like for cruises that would take them to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and they were shocked to see the small little green boat. And some men asked to be released and were refused. I wonder what was the real destination - the agents made money and someone was going to receive them or where they just going to be left stranded somewhere? We all know Yap was not the final destination.

Keep them in your prayers - please. Help increase the awareness and plight of the men by whatever connections you have. Please do not forget them. And we will continue to work here to be certain they are treated humanely, with kindness and respect.

08.20.15 Good news for the green boat men

It has been a very busy week with a lot of meetings but they are paying off. Today I met with the new Assistant Attorney General, whom I see as an ally in getting more sustainable support for the men. No doubt  the governor contacted the AG's office and things are moving. Starting next week, a work food program will start so food will not be as big of a concern. Supplementation will still be helpful (yes, we still need donations and thank you to Stephanis S for the substantial contribution) and the men will still need to be provided with basic supplies. But we are on the right track once again. The Seabees will give me their weekly donation and we will have enough food through the weekend. What a relief for all concerned.

08.19.15 Breast cancer survivors

This is a note to Mrs. Marsha S who donated some items for breast cancer survivors. I met one such lady at Mass at the prison and gave her the box. She will distribute to those in need. In this  small island where everyone knows everyone, this is the most efficient way of getting things to the communities and people in need.Thank you again.

08.19.15 Improvements for the green boat men

Wrote to and did receive a response from the UNHCR (UN refugee agency) who was unaware of  the conditions, and promised to look into the matter. Also met with the governor and lt gov about the refugees this week. We discussed living conditions, need for food and a sustainable plan until a plan is in place to move the men to a more permanent environment - wherever that  may be. We discussed that Yap was not their intended destination and how refugees just want a better life - they do not  want tobe a burden on other people or organizations. We talked about living conditions for some of the men at home. It was a good conversation and the governor in particular was willing to see what more could be done.

Today the men said they have enough food for the week, which is a major step forward. A while ago I heard stories that they were to be included in the feeding plan for the prisoners, which would also guarantee food on a daily basis. And the idea that has been floated around for some time, that the men be placed in a village - one refugee per village - is starting to be discussed more often. We talked about  the men working for their food - which they are willing to do - as one alternative to living on the dock and waiting for someone to assist them. So it seems like some things are pulling together - a health task force and a plan for food that may be sustainable.
 

08.15.15 Alorinda arrives

Most of you are aware that a super typhoon slammed into Saipan. Saipan is a US territory in the Northern Marianna Islands and is located north of Guam. The island was devastated.

Apparently this barge was dislodged from its dock and was found floating on the ocean north of Yap. It was towed to the dock (sadly in front of my window blocking my view) and now there is a "discussion" over who owns it - the private individual or the State. My vote - send it back to Saipan. It is theirs. But of course, no one asked for my opinion!

Unfortunately Saipan is online to be hit with another major storm, if not typhoon strength winds. They are evacuating residents to Guam while they can. Last night flights were having a hard time landing in Guam and were diverted to Yap as well as the military base - for some reason it is easier to land there. We are having a lot if rain and hot and humid weather, but no typhoon warnings.

Here is the escapee barge. It was full of red dirt and it is very rusty. Interesting enough, Yap needs a boat like this to get supplies out to the outer islands for the construction following the super typhoon Maysak.

After a busy day of running and playing, he takes a nap on my pillow. The life of my dog. Eat. Play. Sleep.

 

08.16.15. Saturday night in Colonia

We had our usual Saturday night - me and my buddy Shorty. I like to take him for a long walk around the lagoon, then up the stone pathway and a big hill for a good workout for hi, Then he nicely sleeps through Mass on my feet. But as we left the door, it started to rain, then rain very hard. So we only made it to the park with the traditional men's houses where we stood under a roof for a while. Then as we started to walk, and we could have done half the lagoon and the stone pathway, Shorty finds food. Lots of it. And it is impossible to lure him away from food. So he was pretty much full of energy when we got to Church, but was still rather well behaved.

We went to the Waterfront Inn, I brought snacks (they have no food) and we had a beverage and watched the reflection of the setting sun. The Inn faces East. Shorty found a passage under the porch so he went to play in the lagoon for a while and I enjoyed a little quite time following one very hectic week. There is almost nothing to do on most weekends in Yap, sometimes the quiet is refreshing.

The Waterfront Inn is next to the Mnuw, separated by the seawall damaged by the typhoon. The Seabees will start repairs on it next week.

Here is the Mnuw at night, taken from the Waterfront Inn. They are showing a movie about the manta rays. One can sit at Waterfront Inn in the back garden and watch the shows. And still have peace and quiet. This is one of my favorite spots on the island.

 

08.16.15 Green boat men update

We had our weekly visit this morning, even though we visit during the week, this is our sacrosanct visit. We brought supplies for them courtesy of the US Navy Seabees and the Yap State Public Health stff. They are always appreciative of what anyone donates. One local man also came this morning with a bag of rice.

It is very sad to hear the men talking to the police this morning. They again were out of food. No one agency is providing them with  rice or vegtables or any other staple, so without the generosity of the people mentioned they would be starving. We have on our hands here a pending humanitarian crisis if no one steps up to help and it is impossible to get any international agency involvevd. I have tried several and I will continue to try to get help. We must keep in mind that they will continue to receive medical care at the hospital. The director gave her word. We need another organization to step up and provide food and essential supplies.

And the crown funding website is still open for any donations. (rockethub.com  "Green boat men fund").

We had a good talk this morning, I did let them know that there are people who care and people who help provide them with food and other items. They are holding together well as a unit. And on the good new side, there are no major illnesses and no disease outbreaks.

It poured down rain when we were visiting. But it is a warm rain, even when we are soaked it is not cold, so sometimes we just walk in the rain. I wear my blue poncho (always a crowd pleaser as I do not think anyone else has one) in the down pours but didn't have it handy today. So the pictures are a bit foggy.

Here are a few of the men. The rest were uner the shelter and out of the rain. We had a good talk this morning. I do feel very bad that they are in this situation - they are really very nice and just victims of a scam. Shorty, Hope and Princess Ali the pup joined the men for the pictures!

 

08.15.15 Cut once ..............

.................. measute twice. Words I certainly have lived by.

The US Navy Seabees are almost finished with the new stairs. And the military is still buzzing us from the air.

The Seabees are really a great bunch ofmen and women. Their next project will be to repair the sea wall in between Mnuw and the Waterfront Inn.

Here they are hard at work at the hospital. We shold be very proud of our men and women in the service. They have all been polite and would make everyone proud.

Melissa's son Zachary. He is going into the 7th grade. Very nice young man, very polite and very smart. He shared with me his snacks and played with Shorty, too.

Here is the medic Alex.

Nice guy, likes football and Shorty.

Shorty is never far from my side. He is sleeping against my leg as I was watching the construction.

He's keeping an eye on the "soldiers". The kids are in awe of them. Later in the afternoon when I was going home ran after me to let me know the soldiers were almost done. He is such a nice little boy.

 

08.15.15 A sincere Thank you to Public Health Staff

Once again, we are told that the green boat men are without food. This time they have no rice either. Ivan, our coordinator for the TB/Hansen Disease program started a collection drive "A Penny for the refugees". He collected $51.00. That is a lot of pennies! My hat's off to him taking the initiative. Naty, one of the nurses on the health task force is also taking the initiative to get the chiefs involved again. One of our former PH staff is a chief, and she is going to invite him to meet with us to think of a few options that are permissible by law. There are a lot of good ideas, we need to have a few local people, like Ivan, Naty and others, to move this along for the men. It is not good to have so many young and able men just sitting and waiting for something to happen.

The food will last them a few meals. I bought a lot of local vegetables and a treat of coffee and tea. But 34 people is a lot to feed.

On Sunday I will get them food from the Seabees. Every little bit helps. Here is hoping the Chiefs have been updated on the situation soon. I was told that it is their culture to help those washed upon their shores. In the past, prior to good navigation or perhaps as a result of the weather, canoes washed up on different shores by luck or accident. It is customary to help them. These men "washed up" here by accident or luck and we are hoping the chiefs extend them the courtesy of this local custom.

BTW, they loved the pasta and are reading the books. And you all would be surprised and how their English is improving.