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Still Critical In Sumatra

I thought you'd enjoy reading the most recent update about the PACTEC internet cafés operating in Sumatra:

Mark and Jon Blomberg arrived in Meulaboh a month ago and dug right into the work with enthusiasm. They have been working on installing the long-range wireless system to link several remote sites - which will hopefully include the MAF guys at the airport. They ran into a glitch when the 18v power supply for the antenna on the 90' tower wasn't adequate, and had to wait for a hand-carry to take out a 24v power supply. Since Tranzeo did not have the needed power supply in stock I had a 'fun' day searching for 24v power supplies with the required specifications and eventually found a workable unit in an electronics store in San Bernardino. It was an amazing place - like the wrecking yard of electronics equipment - but with new stuff too.

Mark and Catherine Nonhoff did a fantastic job in Banda Aceh during the month of May. Since May was 'power supply challenge month', the power supply on the netmodem at Banda Aceh decided to fail and the entire cafe came to a screeching halt. This was complicated by the fact that Bill Clinton was scheduled to be in Banda Aceh at precisely the time the system went down, and OFDA (who funds the cafe) was in a flap about that. Mark Nonhoff saved the day by dissecting the power supply and using certain components along with several 12 volt truck batteries to power the Netmodem. Mark - YOU ARE THE MAN !!!

Getting the new Netmodem power supply out there was another challenge. Thankfully Mark Blomberg found a hand carry with Samaritan's Purse of Canada, and we were able to overnight the power supply and a spare Netmodem to Phil Wilson in Seattle, who drove up to Vancouver, BC and handed off the Netmodem to the SP man who had a brief layover in Vancouver airport. Many thanks to Phil and the SP Canada office staff who went out of their way to help us.

Mark Blomberg is up at Banda Aceh for a week until Phil and Erin Wilson arrive. Phil and Erin, along with 14 month-old Caitlyn, are enroute to Sumatra as I write. Phil will manage the Banda Aceh cafe through the end of July and Erin will help with accounting and some documentation projects. This is a return trip for Phil, who was there in March, but will be the first time for Erin and Caitlyn. Please pray for them as they adjust to life as a family in BA.

Patar Daniel and Reza Fikri have been two of our faithful Sumatran staff since we opened the cafe in Banda Aceh. They are quick learners and are now able to assist in operating the BA cafe. Patar is currently down at Meualboh for a few weeks, assisting with the wireless installations.

Air Serv is in the process of negotiating with a number of NGOs that are willing to help fund the Meulaboh cafe after June. Since there are no working phones or internet providers in Meulaboh, the cafe is critical for the organizations who are working there.

We continue to receive much appreciation from the users of our service in Sumatra. The cafes and our staff have been a blessing to many, and they in turn have been blessed by their participation in this project.