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!

Military retirement

In February I attended the retirement ceremony Wes Willand who was one of the members of my church.  It was a very impressive, formal, ceremony.

Guam Bugs

It is a fact of life that anyone on Guam WILL encounter the friendly cochroach.  This is how I like to find them -- lying on their back with feet in air.  My finger gives you an idea of the size of a Guam cockroach.