Uh Oh!! The Last One Fizzled. This One Won't!

Guam On Alert

"Banana Storm" is now in my vocabulary. That's what they are calling our present weather condition, a storm that evidently is strong enough to bring down the banana trees only. It should be upon us in full force in about six hours. We've got Spam! (Yes, the food...not the junk mail!)

The Wisdom of Age!

From our dedicated instructors to our administrators and talented staff, PIU is blessed with a great team of seasoned servants of God.

I "go to school" watching them handle the challenges that come with cross-cultural ministry. Some have been here in the Islands for almost 3o years. So, I find my place at their feet and just "sits and listens."

Seen here, Jeff Johnson, our local Lutheran shepherd :), connects so well with our students. He is one of a great team of supporting church leaders who enjoy investing in our students' lives as well.

The Energy of Youthfulness!

Basketball, Sportsdays, Shopping trips to K-Mart, Volleyball, Workdays...

Life on campus is never boring; God has blessed us with 112 college students and 7 in the Master's program which all means that our small campus is a busy place.

Fall Semester 2009!

Six weeks ago I arrived on Guam to find a quiet campus at PIU. A few of the staff were still on hand, a few students surfaced in the late morning hours to carry out summer work tasks.

A week and a half ago all that changed.

I now have to "hunt" for a parking spot as the campus is full of cars and people, all sharing the same experience of going from downpours to full-on sunshine several times a day. With around 112 undergrad students and 7 in the seminary program our parking lot is full. With 27 men and 33 women as resident students our dorms are VERY full. The basketball team had its first game this past Saturday, losing to a strong team with a good effort for our first court appearance.

I enjoy the change immensely.

RRW

I Live On Guam!

St. Louis is the gateway to the West in the great U.S. of A. Guam is the gateway to Micronesia. There are no great arches here to catch the eye, just the hustle and bustle of a diverse society comprised of many smaller communities.

I was given a package from a mother in my congregation in Palau to give to her daughter who is here on Guam. After calling the contact person and getting the street address for where to bring it, I arrived only to find no less than 3 homes attached to the single address; the homes were very small, all connected structurally, but disconnected relationally. The first two doors I knocked on had no idea who I was asking about. That situation of proximate strangers was ironic.

In a few weeks PIU will begin classes. It is our prayer and plan to move us from being a campus to being a community. Pray with us that our young men and women will see and feel what Christian Community is supposed to be.

RRW

Packing Bags and Boxes

Some of you know me well enough to know that when it comes to moving I have, at times, underestimated the feat before me. There are crowns awaiting those of you who smile at the previous confession...yes, crowns of precious metals and dazzling gemstones of such beauty!

We all learn (hopefully) from such past experiences, making needed changes along the way. The two main grocery stores in Koror smile now when I come in to collect those certain size boxes, just right for...books! I have many of these boxes now filled to capacity.

This past Wednesday night Koror Evangelical Church held a Farewell-Welcome dinner for Pastor Hiob, his family, and for yours truly. They come with energy and excitement as I will go with the same. It was a nice night with a steady summer breeze. These transitions are such a common piece of Island life; these dinners are regular and frequent. After five years as a pastor and sensei here in Koror it will be sad to close doors behind me, hand over keys, and head to the airport in a couple of weeks.

Like the Apostle Paul, I look forward already to return visits to a place where roots have grown deep and friends have grown close.