Sigua Falls

Sigua Falls is apparently one of the hardest hikes on Guam, but it was amazing and doable for the group that went. We started out as a big group and ended up coming back in small groups by the time everyone climbed their way out and made their way back.

I haven't had this much fun on a hike in a long time. Sarah, one of our new teachers, and I recently made friends with a group of people from Bayview church from a previous hike to Tarzan Falls. They graciously agreed to lead the Sigua hike on Memorial Day, which was amazing.

After starting off at 7:30 a.m., we took about an hour, give or take, to make it to the waterfall. We all had a chance to jump off the falls a few times and swim around. After two near death experiences, the hot sun, and a bunch of other people coming down into the area, we seemed to have enough excitement for the afternoon and made our way back up. The hike back was incredible although we were exhausted. We still made it, and all had enough energy to play games at the house later on in the evening.

I'm so thankful for new, cool friends, especially as I was thinking that the summer wouldn't be as productive or adventerous as the rest of the year was. It turns out that it's even better.

Other Great Skype Moments

I also get to talk with my mom, and when visiting, my sister. Did I ever mention that I love this kind of technology?

Skype is GREAT!

 

This is my Dad, representing Guam all the way from Auburn, Ca. Next to him is my step mom, Mary, who was the mastermind behind Skype on their computer. I love being able to chat with my family face to face even though I'm so far away. I miss them so much- especially at this time. I believe I took this picture a little while after I heard the news about my grandfather (my dad's dad). We were able to talk a little more and wound up on our favorite topic- food. It helps me go through difficult times when I can see my family's faces and gauge how they are dealing with difficult things, too. When they are positive and smiling, how can I not be? I am so thankful for technology and how it can be used to maintain and strengthen relationships even over long distances.

things that make you go hmmm?

 

I have been trying to kill time before going to the airport, and stumbled upon this wonderful picture of me at an ATM machine a few weeks ago. It was about 8 something in the morning and a group of us had just finished snorkeling. I had to stop at the bank, but because of a massive amount of rain right after snorkeling and not enough time to get situated with my clothing, I ended up in my twister towel, sarong, and, who knows what. It was falling off, too, but I managed to kind of keep it together. Look at that guy's face. What is he even thinking? I look'a glorious mess.

exhausted

I've been doing this about four times already and absolutely love it. Tonight was challenging and off, plus the water wasn't the smoothest, but I am absolutely loving this sport. I can't wait to paddle again on Thursday....Sunday....Tuesday..... and maybe for my birthday, I'll get a professional massage (yeah my shoulders are hurting!).

Another day on Guam...satisfied watching the sunset while sitting on the ocean in a canoe.

GNO

I've been having some pretty fun Girls' Night Outs (GNOs) with friends and student friends since summer break hit. Tonight, some of us went to see Letters to Juliet (which was not bad) and spent some time wandering around the mall and our local grocery store. Tomorrow I have a planned jog on the beach with a friend, and grocery shopping with these girls right before. I'm thinking one of our activities is just going to have to be lounging around a hotel lobby and riding the elevators. We're so overdue for cheap entertainment and relaxation, but we'll schedule it in. Tomorrow's Monday and these ladies have to work at 6 a.m. As for me, I'm sleeping in.

Saturday afternoon, all of the students on campus, plus Rob, Stephanie, and myself (and Luzzy) went to Shark's Hole. It's kind of a hike, it's kind of a stroll on the beach, and there really isn't a "hole" but a spot in the ocean that people like to swim to when the current isn't horrible, but, it is always an amazing walk. Here's a pic of Steph and myself as we were halfway through. I wear the same thing every time I go to that place...apparently (really, check my facebook pictures. If I am in that shirt, I am somewhere around Shark's Hole). The current was almost non existent and all of the girls swam out to the coral in the hole and had a great time checking it out while the guys stayed close to the beach. It was a really great day.

This morning, we paddled out past Shark's Hole, and en route saw many manta rays, a sea turtle, a rainbow (that we canoed under) and a small pod of dolphins. It was definitely worth getting up early. Actually, most things on Guam are worth getting up early for if you want to do them right- otherwise, without the grace of clouds and shade, we'd all bake. I am really thankful for the opportunities to experience Guam like this- it's such a beautiful island.

paddling

 

This is what I started doing this past week and I love it! I am joining an outrigger canoe paddling team that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at sunset and Sundays at 6am. Basically, I get two sunsets and some great workouts in at the same time. The coach is great and the teams are nice and hard working. I have only been twice but I've been looking for something like this for a while now (since I haven't kayaked in so long!). I'll post my own pics and more info as I learn how to spell the team name.

new

My good friend was watching parents explain to their toddler where Guam is on the globe. "Guam is over here, by Japan..."

What?! We're by JAPAN?

Yep. We are. We're by Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Australia, Korea... that's where I LIVE.

Two semesters down, and almost a full year here, I'm now left to my own devices (for the most part.)

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm . . . lonely. I can't believe that I feel this way. I've lived so far from my family for so long, and I've made amazing friends out here, but as I think back to California I realize that it took me about 6 years to make some of my closest friends. Half the time I didn't even know Christ. I've been on Guam for >1 year and I have Christ, and close friends, but I'm trying to make sense of it all. I'm still coming out of shock from what I've experienced, learned, grown in, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I don't miss the drama of so. Cal. I don't miss not feeling good enough for my environment. I don't miss knowing that I should be somewhere else but not knowing where. I like being where I'm supposed to be, but, now that the waters have calmed, I am learning to find myself.

It's hard. I don't recommend it. And, after these few months of figuring that mess out, I'll most likely be back in the states for about a month. Just thinking about it makes me feel crazy.

I stumbled upon Hebrews 6:19-20, which says "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf."

 

I have so much hope in what God will do with me that I often find myself at peace in the midst of uncertainty. He has always provided for me, and continues to provide. I am blessed beyond belief, but I still struggle in my direction. Tonight, I took a long walk on the beach-fronts of Hotel Row with two good friends. The sunset at low tide, silhouettes of rowing teams on the textured ocean of hot pink, purple, blue, and then gray,  allowed for me a moment to welcome myself to a whole new world, just as I did when I arrived here. I'm ready to be introduced to the next part, whatever that may be.

Mornings

I have spent my last few days going to sleep early, waking up early, eating high protein/veggie, low sugar/fats, and just adjusting to my new schedule. It has been a weird adjustment! I feel like I have to detox from the past semester. A lot of things are not happening the way I thought they would, but it's cool because I know there's a great plan for me.

I need to get used to the quiet, alone time. I need to read scripture more (I'm doing ok with NT, but I don't know where to go in the OT aside from Psalms, Ecclesiastes, etc...) I need to write more, organize my finances, get out to the beach, go jogging, go to the gym...all of the things I've been "putting off" the last few months.

I'm thankful for the quiet time, and not having many plans, but I know that in order for me to see what's in store for me I need to keep up this pattern. I read Matthew 6-7 today and I think it's a good place to start.

growing...Christmas and summer

 

Some of my close friends are gone, and I miss them! There is so much about this past year that has changed me, shaped me, grown me...and I miss the people who have been part of it.

And....I will never, ever forget this moment on New Years Eve:

Pray for them while they're in the states, like Jayleen, Meyou, and Leeman  (pictured) and the rest of VOM. I know you're having an amazing time.

Opportunities

My friend Elisa forwarded an email with pictures of a woman holding out her hand with a small cup of hummingbird food, and many hummingbirds landing on her to eat. Most of us couldn't imagine something so delicate yet quick trusting us enough to come near us or eat off of us, but it happened for this woman and that's pretty cool.

It reminded me of two instances where I also got to hold hummingbirds. The first time, I was around 9 or so, and one got stuck in our porch screen in Louisiana. It couldn't free its beak loose from the porch so I grabbed it and pulled it out. I think I was pretty fearless when it came to animals, especially birds. Now I don't think I'd want to touch a wild bird, especially one so little. Anyway, it let me free it, and then I let it go.

The second time I held one was in Sedona, AZ when it hopped in through our window one evening. I was about 14 or 15, and I had gone to sleep early that night because I was sick. My dad woke me up to tell me that a little bird was hopping in and out of our window, and when I went to see it, it hopped right into my hand.

As I look back on those experiences, I can see that I got to be part of something amazing. At the time, I didn't really think about what a privilege it was to hold those little guys. I just went with what felt right. One needed to be freed, and one was out of it's mind but still needed a hand back outside. These experiences blessed me with opportunities to feel that kind of connection with something otherwise untouchable. I think about the things I pray for right now, and how some of them seem so fragile, untouchable, or unobtainable. However, when I think about the ways God has given me those things before, I am comforted knowing that I can be blessed with even the most delicate situations, and that my responses and actions can be based on what is best for the other and not for myself. I am praying that I can keep this perspective, look away from my own wants, and anticipate the beautiful things that are to come.

Why me, sometimes? I probably won't know, but I am excited to be chosen, when I am chosen.

Wild Dolphins

 

These are wild spinner dolphins- we saw them while we were out boating around the island. It was really cool to be able to be on a boat, looking at Guam, and stumbling upon these great animals. They were so playful and adorable! I might get to go back and see them around my birthday with a group from church. But, now that I know where they play, I might just drive down into the area, park at the shore, and look out on the ocean for them. Seeing animals like this in the wild is always an amazing experience, no matter how many times it's happened before.

My Week in Pictures

 

To me, these each speak a thousand words.

Graduation

And....check out Melody's Blog for graduation!

Mine is to come...

Baccalaureate

I couldn't have done it better- click here to see our President Dave Owen's blog on the PIU Baccalaureate

Grad stuff to come!

growth.

I would be lying if I didn't say I was struggling in almost every area of my life right now. At the beginning of the semester, I knew it was going to be difficult for me. I knew I would grow so much and that it would be a painful process, but nonetheless God's been using everything in my life. One of the things I'm learning about is culture. What is Christ's culture? What are the strongholds in our own culture that keep us from seeing His culture. What are the issues in my own life that keep me from being the way He wants me to be?

One of the things I've dealt with this year regards "English" culture. I used to be so judgmental of people's grammar, the way they write, the slang they use. Even though there are some things that still do bother me, I often wonder about what bother's God. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God." I believe that we fall short in our community when we don't take the opportunities to come alongside of our peers and help them in their education, especially in lines of encouragement. I know that I especially fall short when it comes to doing my work for His glory. I'd rather be doing something else. Even in my teaching, I often wonder about how I fall short with my students. I am upset with the ways a lot of their school systems fell short with them. I can't do anything about that now, but I want to make the most of it now.

This Post Secret is something I might have agreed with a few years ago, but now, I couldn't. I want so badly to know what my students are saying, to concentrate on their thoughts, and let the mechanics of it come in second (even though, academically, it has to be a close second). Can I constantly give my best even when I feel completely discouraged like this professor?



There are other things, too.  My family, my friends, the people I interact with daily, my bills, my tithing, the way I drive, how I talk to people and whether or not I look after people? Even right now, I'm supposed to be stopping by my little girl (the one I tutor)'s science fair...and I'm not even dressed yet. I have so much on my plate, but that's my fault. When I feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and frustrated with my transgressions, I am completely undermining what Christ did when He died on the cross for me, and even then I am upset with myself for not being more faithful and trusting. Why the cycle sometimes? How do I break through all of this and be at my best even when my world is in disarray? I think I need prayer, and I need to pray.

summer

I feel like I have hope for my summer that doesn't just rely on when I get to go home, or on me waiting for information on what I'm supposed to be doing this summer. There's so much going on, but I have peace in my heart about it all now (for the most part).

Mango Picking

We are in mango season! Although I've recently found out that (I think) I am allergic to the blossoms, mangoes themselves are still my favorite fruit. Anyway, spontaneously, Daisy, Leeman, and I drove down to the southern part of Guam to look for these guys. We found a huge tree full of them across the street from a cemetery.


Lee climbed up the tree and dropped them down into bags that Daisy held out. I just ran around picking them up off of the ground. Then I climbed up on the car and grabbed some higher ones. We probably got about 10 pounds of mangoes, at least.

Out here, they eat mangoes green with kool aid, salt, soy sauce, and other stuff. I'm ok with that- but when they ripen they are the best! We ate a few on the drive home.