Wood working Signs

I have been making signs for my church which are given to people and families that leave Guam.  So many are in the military that are stationed here for 2 or 3 years and then transfer out somewhere else.  So, we are a transient church.  While people leave, new people arrive.  This is a picture of some of the signs I have been working on -- drying under a 100 watt light bulb.  Polyurithane just does not dry quickly in the humid air. 

Boonie Stopm to Tarzan Falls

A whole group of us hiked to Tarzan Falls.  It is classes as an "intermediate" "stomp" which is my limit.  This is the sign at the beginning of the trail.  Other than a couple of arrows in the jungle that didn't seem to point to the trail, the trail was marked in the usual manner -- plastic strips tied to branches.

There was a little rain that morning so the trail was a bit damp as we started out.  This caused mud to adhere to our shoes and we kept getting taller and taller.  By the time we returned, everything was as dry as if it never rained at all.  Here is a hiker trying to get shorter by removing some sticky muck from her shoes.  It didn't help much.

Here we are at the top of the falls.  Anne Stinnette wasn't sure there would be any water because it has been so dry but there is some!

That is muck I stepped in.  It was a boggy spot and my right leg sank to my knee.  I had mud on my shorts!  Both shoes are studies in muck.  I washed it off below the falls where there is swimming.  Anne asked me "Is your shoe still on your foot?"  It was but this was not a silly question.  I stepped in a bog up to my knee in Connecticut one time while picking elderberries.  My foot came out that time shoeless.  I reached down the hole and found my shoe, pulled it out with a slurp, tossed it up on the road and went barefoot while I finished my quest to pick elderberries.

This time, when I got home, the sneakers were still brown -- they are supposed to be black.  It may be permanent.

Water falling down the cliff.  I though the rock strata very interesting and beautiful.

Relaxing before the climb back to the top.

For me, climbing up is always easier than the climb down.  I think it took about half the time to get to the top including rests times at frequent intervals.  Naturally, the young folks with us were lounging around waiting for the us old folks to get to the top.

Dolphins

I had the opportunity to go on two boat trips to see Dolphins and do some snorkeling.  The ocean and the creatures that live there are such a testimony to God's creativity in the creatures he has made.  Dolphins show that God has a sense of fun.  Dolphins seem to like to have fun with the boats that visit -- or is it the hot dogs thrown overboard to attract them.

On May 15, 2010, was the first trip from which I took the videos below:



On June 5, 2010, I went again.  The dolphins were not as playful with another small boat with swimmers in the water.



This picture is from the boat.  You can see it looks like it's dry.  We are having a really dry season this year.  I hope the rains come soon.

Some of the group that went on the trip from Lutheran Church of Guam.  So many people signed up that it had to be split into Saturday and Sunday trips!  It was the same boat (The Scoobie Roo) for all the dolphin watching I have gone on.

Tim and Melody Plaxton had a great time too.

Our Captain

Spanish Steps boonie stop is to a beach between the cliffs.

Gray and green -- until it rains.

Baccalauriate Service on May 9, 2010 and Graduation May 10, 2010

Pacific Islands University had 19 graduates this year.  I am blessed to know a lot of them.  Some will be continuing education at PIU.  I will miss the students who will be entering ministry, additional education, or the business world.  The Baccalaureate service was organized and presented by the graduating students.



Graduation took place the next day but I only got one picture taken at the rehearsal because my camera memory card was sitting in my laptop at home, not in my camera.  It was a great ceremony which others presented on their blogs.

An Ypao beach sunset

I heard it was great to take a walk on the beach anywhere in the area of Ypao beach and up North (sort of).  These pictures are of the sunset on May 1, 2010

Farnswell fairwell program

On April 24th the Farnsworth family led a farewell programs.  The Farnsworths have been missionaries serving here at Pacific Islands University for a number of years but now they will be returning to the States and then on to Ecuador.  We will miss them all.  I took the Evangelism with Ned instructing last summer and got to know him better.  He is a man of God serving Him wherever he sends them. 

Here are some pictures from the program which was to glorify God and support the Voices of Micronesia who are touring the US states right now.

Ned playing the piano and singing a wonderful song.

Melody Plaxton blessed us with a song accompanied on his 12 string guitar.

I don't know this young man's name but he also blessed us with a song.

With Doug O'Meara on the bongos:

Here the whole Farnsworth family sing an action song:

And we also heard a song from the Voices of Micronesia group.  I really like to hear them sing.  I hope you have a chance to hear them. 

PIU Days

Every Spring, Pacific Islands University holds "PIU Days".  The staff, faculty, and students are split into 3 teams for games and worship.  Each team was in charge of evening worship on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.  This year, for the first time, the students organized all the activities and worship times including supplying the speakers.  It was great!

We started out with volley ball on Friday afternoon.  It got washed out a bit.  Dave Owen told me it wasn't rain because it was the "dry season" but it felt wet to me.  We had no other rain for the rest of the weekend.

More Volleyball.

The volleyball was a great spectator sport.

These are a few of the "Patience" team.

Running contests came first on Saturday.  I ran in the staff race and, as usual, came in dead last.  A couple of students thought I needed help and boosted my speed.  I wasn't out of breath.  I am just slooooooooow.  Bike riding gives me good lungs but doesn't make me run faster.  I am contemplating using my bicycle next hear.  Maybe the crowd won't recede in to the distance so quickly!

Tug of war is always one of the events eagerly participated in.

The other end of the rope.

My team HUPOMONE - Greek for perseverance with Ann Stinnette and Julie, a student.

It's not all serious!  Part of worship is presenting skits with a message.  That IS Ben wearing a Chuukeese skirt!

One of the students gave the message for the evening.

Witness team picture after worship.

Here are some video clips from all 3 days.  I did not get any of the worship that the team I was part of.  Sigh.....

A trip to Chuuk

The day after Roy left for home, I flew down to Weno, Chuuk.  The Pacific Islands University teaching facility is located in Mizpah High School.  I spent Friday - Sunday checking over the teaching facility laptops.  I was very welcomed by the friendly people of Chuuk.  I stayed at the Truk Stop Hotel.  Below is the dive pier complete with rainbow.

On Sunday I attended Logan Memorial Church which is meeting in Mizpah HS while the church building is being rebuilt.

The greatest problem I had with the work I was doing, was that power is only on in 4 hour blocks.  Some time ago, the backup generator for the island broke and they had been using both primary and backup generators for electricity.  Until the backup generator is fixed, it is rolling blackouts of 4 hours on and 4 hours off.  The very inventive people at Mizpah suggested I take the laptops back to the Truk Stop Hotel because they have their own generator.  That worked very well on Saturday and Sunday so that I was able to work on all of the laptops.

These two ladies took me to lunch at one of the resorts where I had the absolute best fish and chips I have ever had.  I am sure the fish were swimming in the Chuuk Lagoon only minutes before they were put in the deep fryer. 

A picture looking out into the lagoon.  Prior to my going to Weno, it had been very dry with dust everywhere.  (It was the dry season).  Prior to my arriving and while I was in Weno, there was a lot of rain.  The drought was over for the moment.

Another picture of the lagoon from the resort.  In this picture there are portions of one of the many Japanese ships sunk in the lagoon during WW II.

At the resort there was a pond with these fish swimming round and round in circles.  It has since occurred to me that maybe this is the source of the fish in my fish and chips.  Or, maybe they are just there to entertain the guests.  I don't know.

This is a beautiful picture of the hill accoss the main road in Weno.  As you can see it was misty and rainy.

This picture shows a slice of the road in Weno.  I had heard stories of the pot holes.  The portion you can see is actually in quite good condition.  There is no need for stop lights or speed limits.  The condition of the road dictates the maximum speed anyone can drive.

I had a great first visit in Chuuk.  It is truly the most remote place I have ever been.  Weno is not really a beautiful town but the nature there is very beautiful and the people I met are very nice and friendly.

My Brother Roy came to visit in March

Right off the plane after about 24 hours of travel from New York.  He missed bagage claim and had to go back through customs.  No wonder.....he was tired and baggage claim is off in a corner.

Anne took us on a "mid Island Tour".  Look at the philodendron draped down the cliff in front of man made caves carved out by the Chamaro as Japanese forced labor.  The philodendron is the same kind kept as house plants back in the states.

Roy and I at one of the stops on our tour.

WW II memorial panels.

Roy and I visited Ritidian Beach on the north end of Guam.

WW II memorial on a beach where the US began invading to re-take Guam.

One of the Cannons and the Spanish Fort which is in the southern part of Guam.

The Pacific Ocean crashing waves!