What Any Parent Would Want...

Last night, we received a phone call from one of our Bible students. She was sitting outside because, in her words, her kids had been driving her nuts. She made dinner for them and went outside. They are quite a noisy bunch, so when they became very quiet, she peeked in the window to see what they were up to. All of the food was in front of them. They were speaking in a low voice, "Are you ready?" "Yes, I'm ready." "Are you ready?" "Yes, I'm ready." Then the four of them said a prayer together and then they began eating.

The oldest is 11 and the youngest is 5.

Over the Moon

Last Saturday night, December 10-11, we had a lunar eclipse. The night was clear. As the moon became fully eclipsed, it turned a burnt red color. Amazing!!

Return Visit of a Different Kind

Since 1991, Ron's mom has been trying to get this cottonwood tree cut down. During the last typhoon (1991), it's limbs went crazy, blowing around the yard hitting windows, windshields and anything they could hit. No one would cut it down. They were afraid the tree would hit her home.

A brother visiting from South Africa went along with John on Ron's Bible study. Ron was showing him the yard. The brother mentioned that he used to be a lumberjack and volunteered to help out! So, a week or so ago, Anton and John made a housecall and this tree was dropped in less than an hour. Alda's precious cactus just caught a breeze as the tree passed by. She is overjoyed!! 

Cribbage Comes to Guam

This Little Piggy...

Pigs come into one of our friends' yard and root around for bugs. Sometimes they don't get to leave.

Pig Crossing

Raw fish from a van in the middle of nowhere? No, thanks.

Where's the Beanstalk?

Derrick holding snake beans

Memories of Old Home

There are many scenic places in Guam for wedding photos to be taken. We happened to be at the beach when this couple came to take photos. It reminded me of all the wedding photos taken on and under the Brooklyn Bridge...you never know what may be in the background of those photos. Perhaps a few of these kinds of shots wound up in their album!...... 

The photographer took a photo of Ednes with the bride and groom. When we left the beach much later, it was the same time the wedding party was leaving their venue. The bride and groom waved fondly to Ednes.

Dear Ones

Aren't they a beautiful family?! They've just had a new arrival that we're looking forward to knowing.

For those of you in the US, the red lips on mom and dad are from chewing betel nut. This is a habit that is as hard to quit as smoking. It is easily accessible, since you can pick betel nut off of betel nut palms.

We're not sure if this is another variety of carabao or if this guy is just elderly.

Little Plants

Last night, four young people attended the meeting without their parents. Some have been attending for a while. One, who is 17 has come to about 5 meetings and has just finished chapter one in the Bible Teach book. The 12 year old boy who sat in on the personal study with the 17 year old on Wednesday night, attended for the first time.

In the Service Meeting, we were discussing the article on watering seeds in the Kingdom Ministry. The last paragraph talks about the joy received and the fruitage that can be produced. The 17 year old nudged me and asked if that had ever happened to me---I smiled and pointed to each of the kids.

On the way home, she told me she had been reading the Young People Ask books. She said, "It's like, WOW! They make me think."

Getting to Know You

Victoria and Zak are listening to funy sounds on her phone. Making friends can be so much fun.

Local Art

This is an example of a skirt made in Chuuk. The islands are full of folks who are amazing artists and artisans. From weaving cloth, sewing, drawing, carving and weaving baskets and other items, this area is full of wonderful things seen everyday. This lady was in a doctor's office...in other words, this is everyday wear. We'll be posting more local art.

Chuukese Language Group

This is the Chuukese language group.

This was the translators' last meeting on Guam before returning to Chuuk. They have been such an encouragement to our students and to us.

Please notice a tall, blond sister on the left side of this photo. When she got to her home from our morning meeting, she had three messages on her answering machine from the lady that is standing just to her left saying that she really wanted to attend the meeting in the Chuukese language. She had only studied one time. So Kym picked her up and stayed with her during the meeting. After the meeting, the student recognized her auntie, the sister in the wheelchair right in front of her. They were so happy to see each other. They hugged and hugged. It had been over ten years since their last visit.

This is Tetfi's family who attended the meeting. Last Sunday, two more came, making an even 10 persons in her family attending the meetings. There are four more that are studying. Hopefully, we'll see them coming soon! She is enjoying the blessings that come from sharing your faith with others.

Papaya King

Our Young Folks

This is the majority of the young ones in our congregation. Aren't they a lovely group?

Monday Nights

This is right before Susan and Pete's study. The girls were expecting quite a group to show up! And a group usually does appear. Sasa, Susan and Pete's daughter, is on the left. Aureen is on the right. We begin studying between 5:30 and 6 pm in the light. By the time we leave, we are looking at each other through the dim light of one lone light bulb above their front door and slapping mosquitos off of each other. It brings a real since of togetherness! 

Sasa and Aureen love having their picture taken, looking at the picture in the camera to see how it turned out, then posing for another. We did this at least a bazillion times this evening!

You'll notice two people sitting in the distance behind the girls. That's Aureen's grandparents. Her grandmother, Mercy, joined us for part of the study this week. She and her husband are now having their own study. They make the fourth family that lives in these apartments to study with us. 

I thought we should mention that Sasa's unusual haircut is a self-styled masterpiece!

Sasa and Aureen were having their own Bible study while Susan and Pete's study was going on. We're not sure who was teaching who, but we are quite sure that they do not like snakes! They were squealing in 'terror' everytime they turned to this page.

On the pages that have food pictured on them, they pretend to give us all a bit of it. We've been fed manna, some of the fruit from the Promised Land, and a loaf and fish from Jesus.

Guam Taxi Service

We followed these kids down the street for a while. We can't believe they stayed up long enough for us to get the camera ready!

Special Assembly Day

Tetfi and her sister-in-law sent me outside to find Noel and John. They said they were visiting under a tree. This wasn't exactly what I was expecting to find! 

Noel was meditating on what he had heard during the morning session. He and John had a lively discussion during lunch. They could be heard conversing during the session too. Noel wants to make sure he is understanding the scriptures being read and what is being said. He's been studying for three weeks (that's about 9 or 10 times) and had attended one meeting prior to the assembly.  

Marbelta under a very cool tree. 

Making new friends...Tetfi, her sister-in-law, Erensia, and her daughter, Marbelta, enjoyed visiting a bit with Louise. She just got back from seeing elephants in Africa. They loved hearing one of her experiences there. 

Tetfina has been busy sharing with others what she's been learning. As a result, Erensia and her husband, Noel, have begun studying. Tetfina got to experience the joy of seeing someone she invited to the assembly attend with her.

MarJean and Jancy

Jancy's mom is studying with a sister in our congregation. These two girls have become fast friends. They are both so cheerful and love to smile. 

Ann, Megan and Kayelani 

Kevin, Adrian and Jimmy

Adrian spent an evening with us and the six boys when they were staying with us. He's their new best friend! 

Whenever we're trying to leave an assembly or a meeting, this is usually what we find MarJean doing. She loves to help out.