Great News!

Just this morning we got word from Immigration that Jens and Karin's Visas were approved. They must now go and sign the paper work. At this time, they plan to be back in Guam in about 3 weeks. Wahoo!

There's Music In the Air!

One exciting and unexpected piece of news happened this week. One of the member of one of the local Korean Churches donated 10 new guitars and a piano to our school along with weekly music lessons. So far the students seem excited. I saw three of this afternoon playing the guitars on campus. Those in classes are supposed to spend 30 minutes a day practicing. Although some of them can play most Micronesians learn to play by ear and don't read music. I am looking forward to watching the students grow in this area.

One Down 14 to go.

It is Friday around dinner time. The classes are over for the week. One Down 14 to go. It was an extremely busy week but it looks like we have made it through for the most part.

On my "day off", I attended the first session of the class I am team teaching with Melody Plaxton on Research and Study Skills. It is a group of about 22 students. I think it went pretty well. I had my first chance to teach this class on Thursday. I got to go over some time management concepts including setting goals, creating a weekly to do list and a term calendar. Time management is something that is counter cultural to Micronesians so it will be interesting to see how much of it sticks. Melody and I are passionate about working with these students to give them some skills to do well in college. It is sad to see quite a few with great potential struggle in their classes in large part to not knowing how to manage their time.

Before I got to teach that class, I started teaching my Ministry Development class which is all about relationships and character development and how it relates to ministry. I spent most of my day off and Wednesday morning preparing for the class.

Before class I decided to iron my shirt. Shortly after I plugged in my iron, I saw an ant colony climbing out of my steam spout. Gross and Weird all at the same time.

Friday I continue to take a group of students to purchase food for the students to have their weekend meals.

Tomorrow night we will have a barbque/party to welcome the students back. It should be fun but there is much work to do to get food ready for about 100 people (students plus staff/facutly and their families).

This week had been very hard also because a number of students who are not able to meet their financial obligations have chosen to leave or at least move off campus. It is sad to see any student go without them finishing because we know that they don't often come back once they leave. Those that move off campus end up living with family and often have so many other family obligations like babysitting, and driving family members around that they often fail academically. Please pray that God would raise up the money needed for several of the students who are in jeopardy of having to leave school due to finances. Pray also for those who will be living off campus that they would be able to be disciplined to finish their work.

Registration Day

Today was registartion day for classes. Besides registration, they go through the process of determining how much financial aid that they will receive, determining how they are going to pay their tuition, and receive their books. It is a busy day in the office.

I had a list of things to do. However, there was a knock at my door at 10am. Laura, who was supposed to be working in the office was sick. They needed my help with handing out textbooks and collecting payments. I worked almost the entire day in the office until it was time for me to run a trip to Kmart.

On Tuesday is my day off. I will probably have to work on getting some of the things done that I didn't get done today. Such is life. The first couple weeks of the semester is always extremely busy.

Anyway....tomorrow is another day.

Happy Birthday Joyce

Today January 21st is Joyce's 50th Birthday. Since she had classes on her birthday, the staff and faculty and friends decided to desend on her house on Sunday night and bring her a surprise party. The snake on the cake is a depiction of one of the many Brown Tree Snakes on our island. Unklike me, Joyce loves snakes and has a competition with one of the students to see who can catch and kill the most snakes.

Once Again We Begin

Starting on Thursday night (although technically they were not supposed to come back until Friday), the students started arriving. It is good to have them back, they add such energy and life to the campus. Yet even as they come we are still on mach speed preparing for the semester.

Turns out last week I was discussing the situation of academic probation with the Dean of Academics. I had offered to meet with them and do academic coaching which I did throughout my internship at Eastern University. However, being optional, no one took me up on my offer. Consequently a number of people failed out last semester. This semester we have an even higher number of people which will be put on academic probation. We were discussing our options in how we can help these students and hopefully have a higher percent of retention the following semester.

Finally after throwing it around for a week, Melody Plaxton, and I decided to team teach a class on study skills. Melody will teach on Tuesdays and I will teach on Thursdays. Looks like we are going on another wild ride this semester. Since this was added last minutes Melody put together a book using information from the internet to use in our class.

Time management will also be emphasized. I created a calendar/planner which we will use throughout class. Not only is it a difficult discipline to develop, it is counter cultural for Micronesians.

Besides the fact that we already have a lot on our plates I think Melody and I are both excited and passionate about this class. (Of course that could all change after Tuesday.)

So much for not teaching again while being Dean. Not only am I teaching I am managing some of Hollie's responsibilities and still driving.

Today is Sunday and a bit of the calm before the storm.

Hopefully my memory card from Walmart will show up soon so I can post new pictures.

Time Keeps on Ticking, Ticking Into the Future

Time flys when you are having fun. There have been many things that have been a lot of fun over break but also during the last couple weeks we have been getting ready for the students to return.

It seems that we have dropped to about 53 on campus students instead of 63 on campus students. (Plus of course a number of commuting students I do not know). Some students have finished in December. Others unfortunately did not pass academic requirements. Some have chosen to move on for completely different reasons. Every semester is completely different so it will be fun to see this semester plays out for me and for PIBC.

I will be teaching a class but only a one credit pass fail class called Ministry Development which has a bit of Relationship development and Character Development. I am really looking forward to it. Although I still have to figure out what I am and am not going to cover in the class. Generally I know but specifically I am not quite sure yet.

Today at the Faculty meeting, Melody and I discussed team teaching a study skills class. It seems to be desperately needed by some, especially those who will end up on Academic probation after last semester and freshmen.

The thought of adding another responsibility right now seems a bit much although it is something I really see that is needed. We are praying and trying to decide if it is doable.

Two more days until the students start returning. Five more days until classes start.

I destroyed yet another memory card for my camera. So I am waiting for one to come from good old reliable Walmart. Fortunately the prices are falling on them. I tell you this because it may be another week or so until I am able to take more pictures for my blog.

Girls with Guns!

Here are some of the Liebenzell USA women missionaries with Laura Peters and we are looking tough with our mini-marshmello shooters.
Joyce demonstrates the perfect shot.
Even Amelia wants a turn.
Unfortunately there was one casualty.

Watt is going on?

After a six month furlough in Pennsylvania. Rob Watt was passing through Guam on his way back to Palau where he will continue to teach for PIBC and preach at the Koror Evangelical Church. I just arrived back from his apartment in Palau. Of course, we are always looking for a reason for a party so the Plaxton's hosted a dinner.

Their daughter Erin is also soon leaving for Palau to begin her second semester of teaching at Bethiana High School. Here she is with Stella. The two became friends when Erin and Melody spent a semester here about 3 years ago.

Here are some people just chilling after dinner.
With a few others at the table.
The cat which was a rescued boonie cat loved all the attention she was getting.

Dolphins Pacific

On our last day in Palau we went to a place called Dolphins Pacific. It is on one of the Rock Islands right off Koror. A Japenese man founded this place with 8 bottle nosed dolphins he rescued. It was founded with his 3 children, 2 of them being handicaped in mind. They train the dolphins to do tricks including bringing a leaf which has fallen into the pool to the trainer to receive a fish. This cleans the pool but also eating leaves are bad for the dolphins.


As part of the experience we could have a kiss or a handshake from the dolphin. They would not let us have our cameras for that part. We also were able to pet them on their stomach, back, and tounge. Since Micah was too afraid for the kiss or handshake, the trainer was kind enough to let him throw the dolphin a fish.
At the end the trainer had the Dolphin do some jumping for us. I really loved our time there. I have always been facinated by dolphins.... and I still am.... they are amazing creatures.

Palau - Babeldaob

Babeldaob is the biggest island of Palau. It also holds the Capital which was modeled after the US Capital Building. This is relatively new since Palau only got it's independence from the US in October 1994. The government seems to do a really good job at keeping the island clean and building tourism. This is the island from which Hiob originally came. Hiob, Leah, and Micah took us for a tour of the island on January 2nd. It is very scenic with dense jungles and mountains. Of course being an island it is also surrounded by plenty of water.

This is part of Bethiana High School (pronounced B-Tanya) This is a girls' Christian High School from which we often get students.
Micah found a huge pile of sand to play in while Hiob and Leah were showing us around.

We hiked to this gorgeous waterfall. It was not an easy hike but well worth it.
Several parts of the hike you have to walk in the stream. Sometimes I felt if it weren't for the Palm trees that it was a bit like some of the woods in Pennsylvania.
Hiob's friends made us lunch in the middle of the journey. A bunch of delicious seafood and other local foods. Yum! Thanks Betty and Julian!
This is called a Bai or a Men's house. It was built a long time ago. It is built without the use of nails. The Cheifs of the village still have meetings in this house.
This is a shot from inside the Men's house.

This is left over from the Japanese occupation of Palau. It is a cable car tower. They would mine Boxite in the mountain, send it by cable car to the dock.
A statue of a warrior in Ngiwal.
A statue picturing the legend of the Breadfruit tree.
A momument to all those who died during World War II while fighting in Palau.
Me.... Just in case you forgot. :o)

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words.... Or less...

One of the popular items in Palau are storyboards. They are carved out of wood and tell one of the legends of the Palaun culture. This one tells the story that originally there were only two islands in Palau. Then the one lady had this baby who became huge and everyone in the village had to feed him. They got tired of feeding him and so they asked the Mom if they could kill him. One day they brought wood around him and started a fire. They baby died and fell over and pieces of his body formed the other islands of Palau. That is one of many legends. This is my favorite depiction of it.
Carving story boards is one of the skills they teach the prisioners in Palau. They then sell them in the "Prisioner's Gift Shop". Most of the money that is made is give to the prisioner when he gets out so that he will have a skill and a bit of money to start over after he leaves prision.
Here are some of the examples of their work.
Since the larger ones can be quiet pricey - I picked a small one as a rememberance of my trip to Palau.
Hiob thought I should bring the big one in the middle of this picture home for my Dad but all I could afford was this picture. :0)

Palau - Koror

The main place we stayed while in Palau was Rob Watt's apartment. Rob is a fellow Liebenzell USA missionary who works at the PIBC Palau teaching facility. It was just our luck that he was in the states and allowed us to use his apartment and his car while he was gone. Besides the flat tire and the dead battery, the car (one with the door open) was very useful. Although the island is not as big as Guam, there are definately places too far to walk. Another tricky thing about the car is that it is a used car from Japan. The steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car even though you drive on the same side of the road that you do in the US.
Our Living Room.... Although not pictured - the kitchen also was very handy since we did not have to go out for all our meals.
This is the Etpison Museum. It has all kinds of display on the culture of Palau and the rest of Micronesia.
This was one of the displays in the museum displaying some fo the cultural dress.
Here is a mural on the outside of the building. Where's Laura?

In Koror, we also met up with Hiob, Leah, and Micah. Hiob is the Dean of Men at PIBC. He is Palauan. Leah is his wife and Micah is their son. He was working with the Palauan Evangelical Church over break and they took time out of their busy schedule to show Laura and I around some of the Island.
One of the places that Hiob took us was the aquarium. Aparently there are more than 1500 types of fish and marine life in the waters of Palau. This is extremely high compared to most other people which is why it is famous for diving.
This is a Jellyfish. On one of the islands in Palau they have a lake which is full of Jellyfish called Jellyfish lake. You can take a long hike and swim there among the Jellyfish. This particular type of Jellyfish does NOT sting. We settled for seeing the Jellyfish only in the aquarium.
In Koror there are quite a few restaraunts.... although there are no fast food chains. We treated ourselves on several occasions by trying some of ones with good reputations, including this Indian restaraunt called "The Taj" and a Mexican restaraunt called Bandidos.
This is Koror Evangelical Church. Classes for the PIBC teaching facility are held here. Rob Watt, the teaching facility coordinator, also preaches here at the English Speaking Service. Hiob was preaching here over Christmas break.

New Year's Day

On New Year's Day, we had a quiet day. Most of the Island was shut down. One thing we did was visit with Mesikt and Emeraech. Emeraech graduated from PIBC this past May with her AA. She is currently teaching at a Kindergarten in the neighborhood which we were staying.
The other thing we did was go snorkling. We didn't have a boat so we decided just to try to find a place on the main island. We tried Long Island Beach park. We did not see many fish in the sea grass and the water was kind of murky so we tried this place. We were the only one's there. When we told the locals about it - they chuckled but they would not share what was so bad about it. It looks nice enough.
When we returned from Palau we were told by some fellow PIBC'ers who lived in Palau that this park is next to the Sewage treatment plant. I thought I was a bit stinky when I finished, but such is life. We showered and survived and saw some nice fish in the process.

Sashimi Instructions

1. Put the Tuna on the Hook.

2. Place the Fish on the Boat
3. Put the Fish on the Plate in Small Pieces.