July 1    Yobana comes third in the initial count of election by 100 votes.  Unfortunately there will now be a play off between top two as no one got mandatory 30% of vote to get Leadership.   I picked up repaired surf board and organized ride to Sibolga tomorrow in charter car 800,000 rupiah.  While walking up road to home with surfboard under arm, past police station, the policeman yelled out, "Where are you going?”   This is a common greeting in Indonesia.    We said our address and behold they volunteered to take us there in the police truck.   They were standing in front of, when they said, "Just to prove, the police are not all bad”.  That night we met new volunteer Katie from England, Medical Student.

July 2    The charter minibus got lost trying to find the house we are staying in, but eventually we connected, and drove the long day trip to Sibolga to arrive there at 10 pm after the ferry had left around 8 pm.   There is no day ferry tomorrow.  We stay at Hotel Wisata for 750,000 rupiah and plan to catch ferry next night.

July 3   No turbo ferry today.   We wait until overnight ferry, 200,000 rupiah per person for a cabin that accommodated Katie’s surf board as well as another person, Real car leasing man - going to Nias.

July 4   Arrived Gunung Sitoli at 0830 hrs to find Sister Yulita who is minding the keys to the ambulance, had left for Sibloga for a week!!! Oh No!! However while waiting for the church service to end - trying to figure out another way - Sister Klara came and helped us look for the keys in the usual place of storage – without success.   After church one of the girl boarders came and brought us the keys and off we went.   It was after midday so lunch at Miga Beach, and onto Sorake to Manuel's Losmen arriving 7 pm.

July 5   Today we visit Dinas Perhubungan (Aviation Department) told that the Kepala (Head) back tomorrow - appointment made for 8 am tomorrow.   Next we visit  Dinas Kesehatan (Health Department) Told the Kepala (Head) would be back tomorrow – made appointment for 10am tomorrow.
Next we visited Melioni’s family village at Hilionaha where Melioni was a little frightened by the quickly gathered crowd surrounding the ambulance and her. However we were able to make an appointment for Melioni’s   Parents  and I  to see the Lawyer the following afternoon.

July 6   Today we meet Kepala Dinas Perhubungan - we need fresh letter of support,
from Pulau Tello Camat before he will do anything.   We go straight to the wharf - no boats to Tello today. Next appointment Dinas Kesehatan - Yes! - They could help but they need the Head to sign the letter and he will be in Jakarta until Friday afternoon!!! Oh well. The Lawyer said that he can organize birth certificate and travel documents for Melioni but this will take a week!!    Cost US$200 cash, negotiated to US$150.  He asked, "Do you love Melioni?”  - negotiating the price. We took Melionis Parents for lunch. It was great to be away from the village crowd – for them to have quality time together, before I took them back to Hilionaha.

 July 7    Today we all catch ferry at 10 am to go to Tello to get new letter of support from Camat.   The ferry departure delayed until 12midday - we arrived after 6 hours, too late to get paperwork we needed that night.  Hopefully we can arrange it in the morning before catching the ferry for the 6 hour return trip.   A meal at Fitri's then Benghoks where we arrived to find only a small "monkey mess”.   Going to sleep...we hoped there would be a boat back to Teluk Dalam in the morning.