An even greater dilemma in Sumba is the hunger. Everyone is short of food. Even though the rainy season has come earlier this year and the crops had looked fair for the area, a locust plague has destroyed any hopes of a good harvest. The locusts come in clouds, millions upon millions. The Sommers have seen areas where entire crops of corn and rice have been thoroughly eaten these insects. The first passing through of the locusts leaves the corn barren of their leaves, therefore allowing the small cobs of unripe corn to turn bitter. Terrible stomach pains and extended bouts of diarrhea result if this corn is eaten. If the locusts return, as they often do, they eat the corn stalk to the ground. Most people do not have enough seed to replant their crop because many have eaten what was left. Corn seed is very expensive to buy in Sumba so replenishing the supply is virtually out of the question. As a result, many people must go into the forests and search out edible roots and leaves. Bill and Marion are visited by countless children on a daily basis who walk for miles to get a slice of bread, a meal, clean water and a vitamin pill. One thing the Sommers find amazing is that no matter where they stop their vehicle to hand out bags of rice or corn, people will come, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere. The Sommers are currently working with UNICEF who is going to send packages of protein powder to the village. These packages were originally meant for expecting mothers (and there are many) and their babies up to 6 months. However, the hunger and malnutrition is greatest among children from 2-15 years of age. Therefore, UNICEF is trying to develop a program that will help the Sommers feed these children.

Part of the Sommers' daily routine is dealing with the many health problems. Many children have pinkeye, which spreads very quickly due to the flies and the fact that the children rub their eyes with dirty hands. Marion is busy administering eye-drops which clears up the problem in a matter of days. Many children are neglected and seldom washed. This naturally results in poor general health among the very young. Marion has set up a weekly program of washing the children's hair to try to get rid of the lice which infests most people. At the same time she is trying to teach them the value of hygiene and various other life skills which will hopefully result in an overall improvement in the quality of their lives. The Sommers are also often involved in various medical emergencies. On one occasion they were asked to take a young girl with a very large, ugly boil on her cheek, to a clinic 25 km (three hours) away. The girl's mouth was distorted and her eye was nearly closed. She had been to the nurse who told her that she had no tools to open the sore and sent her home without any medication. The Sommers took the girl to the clinic and she is now doing very well. Sadly, many children like her, die. In Sumba, childbearing can often be a matter of life and death. The Sommers were again called when a woman was experiencing labour complications which the nurse and midwife were unfamiliar with. Seeing that the conditions in which this baby was to be born were extremely filthy, the Sommers advised that she be taken to the hospital. Even though both mother and baby would likely die, the nurse and midwife refused to move the woman. After an hour of argument they finally agreed and went along on the 70 km journey which resulted in the birth of a healthy baby boy.

Education in Sumba is a very undeveloped and chaotic system. Although World Vision has made the local school bigger, it is still small, compared to North American standards. It consists of four rooms equipped with blackboards, books, pens, etc… The children currently sit on the cement floor in dingy classrooms. Staffing the school is the primary problem. Teachers generally show up when they feel up to it and then disappear for great lengths of time, leaving the primary responsibilities to Ika and Christina, two of the Sommers' helpers. The erratic attendance of the teachers carries over to the students, who also come and go when it pleases them. There are 60 children enrolled across 6 grades and most of these children (grades 4-6 and older) cannot read, write or even do simple mathematical operations. Most of the children do not even know how old they are or when their birthday is. Bill, Marion and their two helpers have taken it upon themselves, to teach approximately 15 children lessons in math, reading, writing etc. three times a week. Although the children do learn quickly by repetition, they have great difficulty in reasoning things out.

Another area of concern for the Sommers is the family life of the Sumabanese. Some men have as many as 5 wives and many slave wives. Many of these women end up running away, often leaving their children behind. These children may go to other relatives or are simply given to people who want them.