No Rain
It should be the rainy season on the tropical island of Halmahera. Unlike the northern hemisphere the tropical regions do not have four seasons–the tropics have wet and dry seasons. Halmahera is on the equator, set between Sulawesi and Irian Jaya, two larger island regions of east Indonesia. This year has been dry and concerns are growing. This is the island we know as the destination of Christopher Columbus–these are the famed Spice Islands. The island is very productive because of a great climate and fertile soil. The lack of rain has contributed to recent fires.
The flights have been canceled for six days, so far, due to the smoke from area fires. The airstrip is obstructed by smoke, making it too dangerous to land. We have teams and staff who have their travel plans changed. The biggest concern we have is for the farming communities. The people work hard for their farms to produce the crops they need to survive. We are praying for the rain to come soon.