Warm Welcome

July 2016 was the start of our time in Guam. After finishing up our stay in Chuuk we arrived to Guam and we were warmly greeted by the Chuukese Congregation. We arrived on a late Tuesday afternoon just in time to make the meeting with the Circuit Overseer. We surprised many with our arrival, but were very excited to see us.

Shortly after our arrival we were invited for a welcome diner party and other invites to enjoy the beach.

With plenty of support in the ministry we got right back to the field. We have many out all week with some enjoying early morning witnessing at the local flea market and conducting Bible Studies to late in the evening. With all the time being spent in the ministry and with so much support it was very difficult for us to even look for an apartment. Our apartment hunting was another story for another post. But we are very happy to be with our new congregation here in Guam. The congregation is made up of 34 publishers, 4 elders and 10 pioneers. On average we have about 70 attending each of our meetings with many families attending together.

Up to this point the ministry is very good and much different from our time in Chuuk due to the fact that  there is less family and clan pressure being away from their country.

Public Witnessing at the flea market.

Beautiful night for a welcome dinner party.

Kathleen, Mia & Jeff photo bombing.

Mayboline & Mia with Kathleen

The view of the outside theater for a

Local history show and performance.

Jeff & Kayla Head, (Newly weds)

Joining us at the local show.

Pictures from the show.

Now official Guamanians.

Some members of the congregation.

Front and Center - Teriann

Congregation picnic.

Westin Pool Side,

Branch Visit 2016 Second Addition

In April 0f 2016 the islands of Chuuk and Ponphei were invited to attend the Branch visit to Guam with Brother Ralph Walls. (See earlier post.) These are special occasions for many reasons, but now more so with only being invited to attend every 3 years. During this time there would also be a week long school for elders. 

It was a great time being able to see our friends from the different islands and receiving the spiritual encouragement from being with so many brothers and sisters. Before to Guam arriving we had been in contact with the branch office about a possible move or change in our assignment. There  was some thought that we may have been moved to Majuro, in the Marshall islands. However, at the end of the week long school we were informed that we would be moved to Guam to assist with the Chuukese congregation. 

What exciting news!

Yet we had to keep this news to ourselves since we were still in Guam for another week and did not wan the brothers and sisters in Chuuk to hear the news other than from ourselves. But we managed to do so…. We had a great time exploring Guam and spending time with our friends, now knowing we would return soon and would say goodbye to Chuuk.

Ready for school.

During the branch visit.

Our our way to Ague Cove.

Our crew.

Overlooking Ague Cove.

Amazing!

Ague Cove

The return hike.

A little R&R at just one of the many resorts.

Where to Begin

As you know it has been sometime since we posted anything. A lot has happened before and since our Pizza night in Chuuk. We have been to Guam, Korea, Pennsylvania, back to Korea and now in Guam. Back in January of 2016 leaving the states after spending time with our families, in Florida and Pennsylvania, we arrived safely back in Chuuk after a 2 day delay because of United airlines. We landed in Guam on a Tuesday evening for our flight out early Wednesday morning. However arriving at the airport around 6:00 a.m. we found out that they were overbooked on their flight. So we took the chance for some vouchers and were promised a relief flight later sometime Wednesday evening. As promised we left Guam later that day, but it was scheduled to stop at Ponphei to pick up stranded passengers from Tuesday. Yes we flew over Chuuk and straight to Ponphei. It was a very rough landing as the plane landed very hard because of some strong winds. 

They were able to load the stranded passengers including our Circuit Overseer who was on his way to Chuuk for the upcoming Circuit Assembly. It was to be a short 1 and some flight to Chuuk. However as we approached Chuuk and toward the runway the plane began to fly upwards, we were thinking that it just overflew the runway and would turn around, but we just returned to Guam. What a fun 6 hour field trip! We are still not sure what happened, but we had many theories about the condition of the plane and so forth. The airline attendant even offered to buy us drinks. We were a little nervous watching all of them figure out what to do. We still do not have the whole story but it was a long night non the less. We were not put into a hotel, but stayed at the airport all night until our flight out early Thursday morning arriving in Chuuk just in time for our rehearsals for the Circuit Assembly. 

The reason we are mentioning this event is because there was a series of events that changed our life here in Micronesia. However before the changes began we were able to enjoy one last outing in Chuuk after our Circuit Assembly and the very exhausting return to Chuuk. More details to come.

The island of Fonomu is just one of the many picnic island of Chuuk.

Looking back to Moen.

Fonomu

Our crew for the day.

Pizza Night

The right lighting.

Recently there was a nice going away party for everyone leaving Chuuk this month. (Cylen David & her family, Us.) About a month ago a real pizza oven was built in the back yard of the Remote Translation Office/Home. Nothing compares to pizza made in the traditional ovens. Even though it rained through most of the night we still made the best of it. We sang, played a few games and of course we ate pizza until we couldn't eat anymore. It was a great evening with friends as we get ready to move on!

Heating the oven.

Umbrella cooking.

Time to cook the pizza. 

The perfect pizza!

Branch Visit 2016

Back in the end of April we were invited to attend the Branch Visit. During which they held the School For Christian Elders. We enjoyed associating with the many Brothers and Sisters in Guam for two weeks. We had Brothers who attend the school from 5 different islands. (Yap, Palau, Guam, Ponphei, & Chuuk)

Family Portrait from Branch Visit.

During our trip not only did we thoroughly enjoy the visit of the Branch Representative. Brother Ralph Walls, we also were informed of our moving to Guam to assist with the local Chuukese Congregation. We are very excited about the new assignment, but will also miss the friends we have in Chuuk. 

Upon returning we have been busy in packing and simplifying our lives again. Each moves brings about another opportunity to reorganize. However in going through and scanning our pictures I  stumbled upon a great picture of Kathleen and her friend Gina while they were visiting the Hoover Dam. It is great going through things and coming upon some great old and new treasures.

We will be leaving for Guam on June 28th.

TRUE LUXURY

While in the ministry we came across a new definition for luxury. A bathroom with a refreshing view of the ocean in serene natural surroundings. I think we all sat there contemplating the situation and wondering if it relieved the anxious moments for many with the view of the ocean. Anyways we hope you enjoy the surroundings and view as well.

Graduation - Chuukese Style

Over the many years we have been here in Chuuk we have seen a lot of different customs and traditions. However last week we attended our first graduation here in Chuuk. For many schools they have graduation celebrations for 8th graders and seniors. For many eight grade is all the education they will receive. We understand the need to have a ceremony for the eight grade students, but not a two hour program featuring singing, speeches, and more speeches. Mostly to thank everyone for being in attendance. 

Yet we still were not prepared for what happened after the ceremony. We didn't know what to think when we saw the celebration that followed. The parents and families of the students made headdresses out of money and each one that followed was more elaborate than the first. In the meantime the students were given things from necklaces made of candy bars to balloons and whatever you can expect to find on a small island. And as if it were a political campaign some of the students were met with posters and picket board announcing their success. As we head to Guam this will be one of our last memories here in Chuuk we will be sure to cherish or one just difficult to forget. 

Close-up view:
Crown of Money

MUUMUU - The Land of

Before we were engaged to be married we had a discussion about muumuus and my complete disdain for the form of clothing. The reason for that is long and unimportant at this point. So before we married she agreed that she would never wear a muumuu. Yet what happens? We move to the land of the living muumuu! I have come to except that where we live Kathleen has to sport a muumuu from time to time, and yes she makes a muumuu look acceptable. Still not my favorite. 

But the other day walking out of the Remote Translation Office can you guess what I found? Yes a large number of muumuus hanging on the clothes line. So many I just had to take a picture as they dried in the sunlight. Still not my first choice when it comes to Women's attire. But it made for a nice picture.