Mexican in Guam?

I went to a Mexican restaurant called Caliente with my friends, two of whom are my students, Friday after chapel. My fish taco was amazing, and they even had Tapatio and a salsa bar. Heaven! By the way, I love these ladies

=)

adjusting

AHHHHHHHHhhahahahhaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Conversational English Breakfast

Joyce and I combined our classes today, hers ESL and mine remedial English, for a conversational breakfast.

She made pancakes, rice, and cut up a watermelon and I brought in cookies and eggs and spam. Lisa, our librarian, brought in some drinks (Joyce did, too) and we all got to play games that required us to talk to one another about interesting things about ourselves.

Before we started playing, Lisa read two children's books out loud to promote reading to one another as a good way to practice reading and language skills.

It was really cool to hang with our classes this morning while working on something that they struggle with. Please pray for encouragement with our students so that they won't be afraid to speak up and communicate with us. They are a lot better in this than they think =)

my favorite karabao

Here's the video...watch the end!

getting out

Two of my students and I took off last week for lunch at the Micronesia Mall. I think these girls are awesome and it's been so cool connecting with them. They are in both of my classes but I look at them as my sisters. I've had an awesome time so far getting to know the girls here so far :)

One cool thing- our birthdays fall in the months of May, June, and July. We'll all be here this summer to celebrate together.

Karabao

My roommate and I were driving back from snorkeling in some bomb holes when we saw this walking down the side of the road. Like my friend Liza says, "things that make you go hmmmm."

Spiritual Emphasis Retreat

I am really excited about this past Thursday and Friday for PIU. We took two days out of our schedule to attend a Spiritual Emphasis Retreat, which is something that the school does every year. I am blessed to be a member of the Student Life Team, so I also had a small hand in planning it alongside Melissa, Rob, and Kalvin. I can't say I saw much of them this retreat as I was having a great time with the students (while they were working really hard to make sure everyone's needs were taken care of and everything was going smoothly), but I know we will all be able to connect on it this coming week.

Here's a little of what our retreat was about:
-Fellowship (with students and staff)
-Food (yum!)
-Photographer...a great one
-Games, day and night
-Matt Augee
-Cabbage
-Rain
-Sleeping on Cement, with an ocean view
-Spam (not sure if this one can go with the "food" category)
-Bonding with great people
-Egg cracking
-Rugburn
-Sling shots
-Legos
-Snowball fight
-Worship
-China vs. Chuuk
-Bayview
-Great views

-and thankfully and prayerfully, Christ

Thank you God for this retreat. Thank you for the time you allowed us to spend with each other while we experienced fellowship and worship above and beyond what we experience in every day life. I pray for all of the students, staff, and myself to continue growing in our bonds, as we take off our chains. Please continue to bless us and pray for us. In Your name, Amen.

Check this blog out

So these two dudes, Dan and Matt, are here on campus doing some work with and for us. I will write more about them and post some pictures...but for a quick and awesome preview, check Dan's work out HERE.

You may notice places I've been and things I've blogged about, the students and faculty, a cute little bunny, and even...me. He does amazing work- enjoy!

Spelling Bee

Even though we're in a college class, my English 91 students participated in a spelling bee. Words included difficult words like "judgment, restaurant, acknowledge, definitely" and even one "f-a-l-l-i-n-g-i-n-l-o-v-e" which I didn't give but was spelled in place of another word. Hmmm...they crack me up. Any excuse to learn, bond, and play games is good for me.

Smile ><>

half of the rainbow coming down over the bay....and like for Noah, a smile

I have to admit that this past week has been pretty hard for me. I have felt a little discouraged and have been struggling with missing my friends and my family. Even though I didn't get to spend too much time with my family back home, I was a lot closer. The smallness of the island has gotten to me and reality has set in. Thankfully, God gave me an overseas family immediately...and even before I arrived. This past week, I got to meet my dad's coworker Pat's family, where 6 out of the 10 siblings live on the island...and each has kids around my age, and they all have cousins...and lo and behold I now have another extended family of 20 people and counting. I only remember a few names, but I'm working on it. I went to Pat's sister Ann's home for lunch after church today for bbq beef (and pork) sandwiches. When I got there, I was the first person...seeing as I came on time, and people here run late for the most part. This really worked to my advantage. Ann was squeezing fresh lemonade from lemons on her tree. When she finished, we went outside to see all of their fruit and flowers. Talk about tropical....she showed me bananas, mango trees, green lemons, breadfruit (local), and coconuts. The flowers included birds of paradise, plumeria, and other local flowers. Ann, her husband, and one of their sons picked bananas and lemons for me to take home. Then, Ann made fresh smoothies (which I've been praying for for 3+ weeks now) out of all of their local fruits. We ate the best sandwiches ever, I got to talk to the family (and get to know them better), and tried some new things like pickled papaya. I left their home feeling really fulfilled and happy. On my drive back, overlooking the reef, was a huge rainbow...from beginning in the jungle to ending over the ocean. We were having a sunshower and I didn't even notice. The joy and renewal that I feel right now is indescribable, but I know it's because of prayer on my part and from my friends and family. I know I am blessed to be here, and couldn't be more thankful for God's provisions in friends, family, and comforts.

James 4

I have been learning that I can't put a time limit on things....who knows what God's plan is?



(NLT) 13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Life in Guam

This is what I thought my life would be like on Guam-




A nice little hut = cheap rent with a view!




+ a church right next door



Ahh, coconut milk...good with rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner





Come back, dinner!


My Micronesian husband and transportation (transportation is not for dinner)



Well...OK, so It is beautiful out here, and there's a lot of unique island culture and activities that are foreign to me, but my life is very similar to what it was in the states. I get up, go to work, and carry out normal activities. I am excited that I am excited, however, to have the option of enjoying island life and culture from time to time :)

Chuukese Church

T'nel and some of the guys performing a skit. The first time I saw this done it made me a little emotional. God's love for us can be acted out and understood in any language.



Some of the ladies and me

I got to attend a Baptist church on the south side of the island today with students from PIU and UOG (Univ. of Guam). It was so much fun. A sweet girl, Maureen, gave me a mumu to wear to church with the rest of the girls in one of my favorite colors. The group did a skit, sang some songs, and we heard two testimonies. I love these people and can't wait to get involved with more activities like this. Not to mention, the drive down there was fun, interesting, and had fantastic views. God knew what He was doing when He made this place :)