Guam Sunsets

I have been riding my new bicycle around the UOG (University of Guam) campus and have seen some pretty nice sunsets and cloud formations. Last week I took my camera every evening and took pictures of the sunset. This is the result:

Sunday, May 24, 2009


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009


Saturday, May 30, 2009

It had been raining but it sure looks like a grass fire to me. Of course, it may not have rained where the smoke was.


A different sort sunset with rain in the area.


Sunday, May 31, 2009

What do I do at PIBC

The Lord has showered me with blessings here at PIBC. I can think of no other words for it. Teachings in patience and all of the people I have worked with have been so patient and kind -- even when I make things that used to work not work anymore. This has happened more than once.

Sometimes it seems like I work on anything that plugs in a wall: PC's, laptops, the phone system, the fax machine, the network, and overhead projectors, PC projectors, printers, copiers needing toners and drums. It really makes this job interesting. Although a lot of what I do I forget about soon afterward, there are a few projects I will not soon forget.

In Feb/Mar of 2008, I visited PIBC for 3 weeks to work on computer issues and to find out if I should come back more permanently. While I was here, the network connection from the Study Center to the PIBC office area just quit working one morning. Electronic equipment seem to do this regularly in this tough on electronic equipment location. The network cable was wired through conduits around the building (a very long way). In order to get the office back up on the Internet quickly, a wirless router was installed using a network cable wasn't being used at the moment.

The office was running on using wireless internet exclusively for over a year. It became evident that the office computers really need to be hardwired for shared data (I have received quite a number of comments about "SlowBooks" or "NoBooks"). Now Tim Plaxton has installed Cat 5 cables to the 4 most important PCs to network together and it then took a few hours to put the cable ends. Now I am told they have "FastBooks" and the Internet is quicker and more reliable.

Below is a picture of the entire office network hardware except for the cable modem. It consists of a wireless router, the 16 port switch, and a fan (this is Guam which is very tropical) to keep things cool.

Another project that has helped or Internet access is moving the MCV Cable from an office at the other end of the Administration/Classroom building to the office area. It is a long project that I will not soon forget.

A long time ago, MCV Cable was installed. At the time PIBC had the choice of underground conduit installation or overhead. Alas, the decision was made to go overhead (which was cheaper). This resulted in the pictures in my previous post showing the wire draped over roofs and sagging in the middle. MCV came and discovered a conduit that went to the utility pole where they needed it. I'm not sure why it was put there in the first place but it was empty!
It took a while before MCV came back because it was the dry season and there have been grass fires. MCV needed to fix service for folks with no service before working on projects like ours. One day they arrived and put new cable through the conduit and a couple of days later it was hooked up and working. I spent a quick half hour swapping the router and connection points and we were back up and running with really great service from MCV pictured below.



Then there is the project to move the Study Center which is called on campus the "Dinex". Tim did his part of stringing Cat 5 cable with very long ends at my request because I was just lea ring how to put the ends on. I got the first half all hitched up and most of the updates done. Then one of the brand new pieces of equipment (a wireless router) ceased to work. Progress was dead in the water for weeks. Finally I got the new wireless router and every started working again.



Unfortunately, weeks had past. I had to start all over with the windows updates and other updates. Yesterday I found out that Microsoft released Vista Service Pack 2!!! Now I have to go back and update everything again.

The route used to get Internet to the Dinex is very interesting (to me anyway). The Dinex is built from 3 shipping containers. Therefore, it is literally a tin can. Wireless doesn't penetrate. For my cell phone to work, I usually put it on a window sill.

Here is a diagram of the route to the internet connection in the library. After getting the replacement wireless router, I made sure it stays cool. It is sitting on a cooling rack with a fan blowing on it.

We also have GTA telephone and DSL. GTA was extremely helpful helping me determine that what was wrong with our DSL was the wireless router. It has been a very reliable system to work with except in the past week or so we have had sporadic problems with multiple phone numbers and DSL as well. I understand work was being done out on the main "back road" which seems to have disrupted our service in a weird fashion. So far, today, everything seems to be back to normal.

Living on Guam is an adventure and lesson in patience. I was so used to California where things pretty much worked with great regularity. TV, internet, power, telephones. Here, most of the time utilities are reliably on but then again mysteriously things go wacky. For several weeks the power went off for 5 - 10 minutes just about every day. Now I haven't lost power for a couple of weeks. The Lord is really teaching me things about myself -- to rely on Him because a lot of times relying on me just doesn't do any good. Another ongoing lesson is working with godly people on a daily basis -- there really is a difference.

Now I am going to post this now without going over it yet again.

PIBC Graduation

It has been a busy couple of weeks culminating in Commencement exercises today.

Sonny Kenbaroy gave the valditorian speach. I have had the joy of getting to know Sonny in the last couple of months as he has been about the office and working with him to create graduation invitations for the seniors.

The graduation speaker was Chief Obaklechol Kuniwo Nakamura from Palau. He served in the Palau public service for many years including two terms as the President of the Republic of Palau. He has served in numerous public capacities and is currently a businessman and consultant. In addition, he is Chief Obaklechol, the first ranking chief of Ngerchol Hamlet in Peleliu State. By virtue of his title he is a member of the Peleliu State Legislature.

He gave a great speach encouraging the students in Christian service and living and insight into some of the problems they will encounter as Christians in Micronesia. It was a very interesting and informative speach to me as I learn about Micronesian cultures.

Micronesian's really know how to honor the graduates with colorful lei's. I really enjoyed running around snapping some pictures of the graduates.



Sonny is getting married next Sunday to the lovely lady.

Parking Lot Cat Update

I am sorry to say that when I took the parking lot cat to the vet because he was looking so ill, that he had full blown feline AIDS. He was suffering, so I had him put to sleep.

The vet I took Parking Lot Cat told me he did an informal survey catching feral cats and testing them for FIV and 50% tested positive. So, if you live on Guam, I would urge you to get your cat inoculated if your cat goes outside.

Parking Lot Cat was so ill that I did not really get to know his personality. I bet he would have made a great pet. He was fixed. So, he was someone's cat sometime and he was used to people.

Parking Lot Cat

I have been feeding a cat that lives in our parking lot. Obviously he/she had a home at some point because I was able to pick him/her up within 5 minutes of getting close enough to touch. Skin and bones. Must have been abandoned. I have been feeding him kitten food because it has more protein and he has started to gain weight.

I have been feeding him kitten food because it has more protein and he has started to gain weight. I believe it is a fixed male. There is a lot of Siamese in the local cat population. He has the blue eyes and markings in the right place but the markings are of a tiger. He also has the Siamese voice.

It is interesting that the dog population has a lot of Corgie in it. There are a lot of short legged dogs running around. Rather comical to see what looks like a german shepherd with short legs.

A Simple Job goes Guamish

It was a simple request. Move where the MCV (our local cable company) internet comes into Pacific Islands Bible College from Classroom 2 to the main office area. That way, if there is a problem, a class will not need to be interrupted in order to fix the problem.

Doesn't seem so complicated, does it. I called MCV and they didn't think it would be complicated. So, the install truck came out and there things get complicated and Guam-ish (there a saying here OOG (Only on Guam)). Not only is the cable not the correct cable, it takes a really wild route across campus. The new target for the connection is represented by a red X. It doesn't seem that far between the old spot and the new -- just the women's dorm in between.
1) The cable comes from the pole through 2 palm trees which have grown together since the cable was installed.


2) To the first on campus residence.

3) Over the second campus residence.

4) Over the large classroom and instructor offices area.

5) Along the outside wall of the instructor office area.

6) Down the wall and through the wall into the office in Classroom 2 (which used to be the Study Center).So, the end of the story for now is -- nothing was done to move the service. The palm trees need to be trimmed and I think they are going to be running all new wire. I will be making another appointment to move the service when the palm trees are trimmed.

PIBC Days

I had heard and seen pictures about PIBC Days. This is a weekend to celebrate the founding of PIBC. The students and staff are split into 3 teams -- this year Love, Faith, and Purity. Each team was responsible for the evening programs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. During the days there were fun and games.

There was basketball, volleyball, sprinting and other games.

Friday afternoon started with men's basketball with women's volleyball later. On Friday evening the Purity team was in charge of the evening program.

A skit with a message.

On Saturday there were 50 and 100 meter dashes. I almost got run over taking this clip.

I actually took part in the 50m Dash for faculty and staff. As I chugged along in last place, this picture was taken for me. I did make it to the finish line quite some time after the pack!!!!!
I was part of the Love (Agape) team which was in charge of the Satruday night program. And Faith team was in charge of the Sunday evening program. The Faith team put on a skit that was so funny! In fact, all 3 teams did.