Waiooooo Ethel! We Love You

A little over a week ago Ethel, my assistant Dean, learned of the death of her mother. This created a dilema since Ethel is the Philippines and she was here on a VISA extension. For her to go, would make it nearly impossible for her to come back. However after much thought and prayer, Ethel decided she needed to go and be with her family during this time. This gave us only two days to prepare for her leaving. Here the preaching class came and sang and shared scripture with Ethel in my apartment where we happened to be meeting at the time.

At Chapel Eric said a prayer for Ethel and her family.

The ladies had cake with Ethel after a combined devotion with the men.

Of course what send off would be complete without the traditional Marmar and Lei made by Evelyn.

Since everyone was so sad and no one wanted Ethel to go, many came to the airport to see her off.

We will miss Ethel but we wish her the best.

P.S. Waiooo is a Chuukese word - pronounced "Y - Oh".... It is an expression of sad longing and missing. A type of nostalgia. I don't really know of an english expression that translates or expresses a sentiment so exactly.

Micronesian Fair

Micronesia is an island chain made up of smaller island chains. They include the Island groups of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnepei, Korsari, Palau, and Marshall Islands. Each year on Guam they host a Micronesian Fair which has at least a both where people from each Island group can display and sell crafts and foods from their islands. These women are from Yap. They are weaving baskets.

These are traditional islander shelthers.

Here men dressed in traditional Chammoro (local natives of Guam) clothes roast a pig over a fire.

Throughout the day, they also had local bands play music for the crowds.

Pineapple Express

This pineapple is growing right around the corner from my apartment. Actually Brad rooted a top of a pineapple, he bought in the grocery store in a pot and now it is actually bearing fruit. It is so cute. I have never seen a pineapple on a bush before.... I think it is cool.

At the Car Wash

On October 18th, our Student Government organized a car wash in the parking lot of the Lutheran Church of Guam. The Students were raising money for their student activities this semester. Car Washes are one of the most popular fund raisers on Guam.

Here Alicia, Elilai, and Jayleen work on doing the windows and vacuuming the interior of the cars.

Giftleen, one of Chuukese students, helps rinse off one of the cars.

Meluat, who is from Palau, is having a good time helping.

You've Got to Be Kidding Me!

During the last week I have gotten most of the boxes I have mailed to myself right before I left Pennsylvania for Guam. Every day I opened my door and Brad seemed to leave another box by my door. The other day I recognized the box as one of the ones I had packed a bunch of text books that I ordered while I was in the states. I noticed that someone had added plastic packing straps and the box was slightly worn but that happens sometimes when it travels half way across the world.

Since they are for a class in Spring and this week was EXTREMELY busy (I will blog more about later), I did not open the box right away.

Tonight I finally got to open the box and to my surprise.... not only weren't they the text books that I am most certain I packed in that particular box but they are not even my books. It appears as if my box is not the only one that split apart and someone else got a box full of text books.

Please pray that the post office will be able to sort out this fiasco and I will be able to get the books I need before the spring semester.

Happy 50th Birthday Hiob

On October 11th, Hiob celebrated his 50th birthday. Hiob is our Dean of Men. (There must be something in the water here since his is the 3rd of 4 50th birthdays among the staff this year). We celebrated with him and our community group and had some delicious cake and ice cream.

Substituting Teachers

The last couple of Thursday and at least the next one. I will have been substituting for Hollie who is away to finish her last "in person" class for her master's degree. She is teaching Ministry Development which is the class I taught last semester. She has changed it a bit after some feed back from me. The class has to do with relationship development and character development and how it applies to ministry. She is using the book "Just Walk Across the Room" by Bill Hybels. Jeremiah is modeling the book for you.
Here are three ladies absolutely enthralled with me teaching.
Ginny is working hard to make sure she has gotten all the notes.

Dorm Devotions

There are group devotions 4 nights a week. Devotions are help Monday thru Thursday. Two nights a week we meet in a larger group with all the ladies. The other two nights the ladies meet together with the others in their dorm and take turn leading their own devotions. On the night that is not my day off, I like to stop in and participate with one of the two dorms. These pictures are taken by our student, Daisy, during devotions in the main dorm led by "The Evens". That is room 2, 4, 6, & 8.
We did group singing. Then they did some special numbers and a skit.
They even had a snack including a sandwhich, cake and cookies.
Here are the ladies from the main dorm posing for a picture after devotions in the living room of the main dorm.

Meet Daisy

This is one of our new students named, Daisy. She comes to us all the way from Texas. Although she from no particular mission agency, she considers herself a missionary. She lives in a section of Texas which has a high number of Palauans. She and her parents and members of her parents church came to Palau this summer to Gospel Days as part of a mission team. While there she met our mission team. Because she hopes to work in Micronesia someday as a teacher, she decided to come join us for classes. She fits in really well and it has been a joy to have her here. One day she decided to bless the female students she made them pancakes.
Looks like they enjoyed them.

Community Groups

One of the new things that happened this year is the start of community groups. All the students, including our commuting students, and our faculty and staff were broken down into groups with a mixture of each. The community groups each decide what they will do and when they will do it. It is for the purpose of building relationship, encouragement, support, and discipleship.
This past Sunday, the group I was in headed to the beach for a picnic and a time of devotion. Here Myu and Alicia are chilling as they enjoy their bar-b-que.
Meluat, who is from Palau, plays the guitar for us as we sing songs of praise to God as we watched the splendor of the sunset over the ocean. Another student not pictured, Keiny also led us in song.
Micah is also part of our group. He enjoyed the opportunity to swim in the ocean.
Doug and Hiob are both relaxing and chatting during our time together.

Happy Birthday August and September

I am trying to continue on the tradition of providing cake and ice cream once a month in honor of the birthdays that were that month. This time I have started enlisting student help. Here Maybellene and Chelsea help by making a sign honoring all the birthdays.
Mayumi takes a break as she is waiting for the cakes that she mixed to bake.
Alicia hangs out with my boyfriend after helping complete the poster.

The Lord Provides Showers of Blessings

I am not talking about the constant daily rain that we have had since I have been back. I am talking about a sweet little girl named Jireh-lyn. Over the summer she was adopted by Hiob, Dean of Men, and his wife, Leah. Jireh is actually a hebrew word for "provide". They had been praying that the Lord would provide them a daughter and this summer he did. During the week I returned, the staff and faculty had a baby shower for their new arrival.
Jireh-lyn checks out her gifts.
Here Mommy and daughter pose with their cake.
Here you can almost see her wings and halo, if you look hard enough.

Fall Ball

As I returned in mid September, the Basketball season was in full swing. As we don't have other colleges to with whom to compete, we play in a local Christian league which is mostly different church leagues but the main thing is just having fun. I was glad to resume my responsibility as team driver and cheer leader.
Here Raynard, one of our new students, takes a foul shot.
Here are some of our students who showed up to cheer.
Ethel, my assistant dean, Micah, Percia, and Lucy also have come to support the team.

Changes

One of the changes that occured this semester was in our chapel times. In the past, we had chapel for 30 minutes 4 days of the week. Now we have made changes and have chapel twice a week for an hour. Also we have a new worship team led by Hedrick. He is a PIBC graduate but has returned to begin his Master's Degree here.
Also during Chapel there was an action song, pictured here, a testimony, a special number, and a talk by Bill Wood on Spiritual gifts.

I'm Back

I arrived in Guam at 2AM Wednesday Sept 17th. Yet all these people still got up to welcome me and sing the welcome song for me. I was very excited to see everyone and to be back at school. They seemed excited to have me back as well.
They even decorated my apartment with balloons.
And found me "Mr. Right!" while I was away.

WaWa

Some people ask what I miss when I am living in Guam. There are lots of things - especially the people.... but some where on my list is Wawa. It is a mini-market chain on the east coast.
There are always good selections of food to grab on the go. Pre-made sandwiches, salads, cut fruits and veggies. In other word ... many healthy fast foods.
Of course they have the not so good for you foods as well.
And some of the best coffee available.
Finally they have authentic Philly soft pretzels.

What more could you want? Yes I miss Wawa.

Women of Faith

Before I left Pennsylvania to return to Guam, I had the priviledge to join some friends from my home church at a Women of Faith conference. This year the theme of the conference was "Infinite Grace". I have been to several of these conferences in the past. They have marvelous speakers, workship music, and drama.
These ladies are the worship team which leads us in music as we worship God before each teaching session.
These conferences are held in areanas all over the country. This areana I believe holds some where around 18,000 and it was full. When I get the opportunity to worship in a group this size - I feel that I get a little taste of heaven when we are all standing around the throne of Jesus.
Here are some of the lovely ladies at the church that I was able to sit with during the conference which lasted 2 days.

Unfortunately Guam is not big enough to host an event of this magnitude. I really wish I could have had some of my female students join me in this type of experience.