A great hike to Fonte Dam and Micronesia Christmas memories

The day after Christmas Bishop Davis invited ward members to "Hiking with the Bishop". There were 15 of us. He says he will probably do this often.

We hiked to Fonte Dam. A few months ago we came part way but had to tun back before reaching the lookout due to high water levels.

The dam was constructed in 1910 under Pres. Taft to supply water to Hagatna

Elder and Sister Hurst

Elder and Sister Guercio

Elder Martin and Elder Reed

Sister Martin at the look-out point

Arrived at the look out. It started to rain. Elder Reed exclaimed, "It's not rain it's Liquid Sunshine".

Picture at the top with the group minus one who was taking this picture.

 Heading back. Hold on, it's a little slippery.

Oh no, a wild orchid stem is broken.

Quite a fun hike with several of our new friends.


Christmas Memories...

These next three pictures President or Sister Zarbock took on Christmas eve. We enjoyed a couple's pot-luck dinner at the mission home.

President Zarbock, Elder Hurst, Elder Reed, Elder Thomas, Elder Martin, Elder Guercio

We were invited to a island style Christmas pot-luck lunch at Rose and Robert Laanan's home in Dededo. After eating, we shared our favorite Christmas.

A few of the couples went to the Hyatt for a Christmas breakfast.

After getting a little stir crazy, cooped up inside all day, Sister Martin said, "Let's go see the sunset". So we did. Sometimes we get so busy in life we don't take a little time to see and enjoy God's creations.

Looking forward to a "Happy New Year".

Livin' the Dream

Sister Martin and Elder Martin in front of a real ginger bread house at the Hyatt Hotel in Guam

As sad as we are, missing our family during this Christmas Season, we are happy and love serving in the office, serving the other missionaries, and serving the people in the Micronesia Guam Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

"Livin' the Dream" is one of the phrases President Zarbock likes to use referring to being on a full- time mission. It is. We have dreamed and planned of going on a full-time couple mission, all of our lives.

Like President Monson said, "As your circumstances allow", or "Make yourselves available for full- time missionary service". Here's the link to his 5 min. talk in 2010...As we meet together again

Our mission is currently short two CES senior couples. So, if you know anyone that desires full-time service in the Micronesia Guam Mission, the best mission in the world, Urdaneta, Philippines would be a close second, (where my sister and husband serve), please contact us or President Zarbock immediately.

If interested (or know someone to send this link to), click here to see Senior Missionary Opportunities.

More on "Livin' the Dream"

We showed you the Barrigada ward party but we also had a wonderful Guam Zone Missionary Christmas party. Elder and Sister Guercio decorated with Christmas lights and all of the missionaries brought food to share.

After the food we watched the movie, "Miracle". It was about the US Hockey Team's victory during the 1976 Olympics. Very motivational.

Right after the dinner we hurried over to a birthday party for one of the youth in our ward. Since she was turning 16, we watched a small video on dating by President Monson. She thanked everyone for coming and wanted to give something to us all. She bore her testimony to everyone and then sang "Oh Holy Night" while playing the ukulele. Many of the youth are amazing with good, strong values and standards.

Sister Martin took some pictures of Sister Mika, just transfered to Palau, and also Sister Misanale who just received their Christmas packages.

Tis' the season for more food. We went to a Chinese lunch buffet with Bishop Davis and Brother Batimana.

Some missionaries gave me this picture to post from a p-day activity visiting the old Japanese caves.

Some more missionary service projects. I didn't see the spider. 

We'll end with Elder Telona featuring a p-day solo.  

Christmas, farewells, welcomes, parties and more.

Our Christmas card (first time going paperless)...

We were working in the office as usual when all at once a big cockroach appeared, looking directly at me. Elder Hunter was standing there and saw him before I did. He went to grab him with no luck. It was on the loose. Sister Martin said, "I'm leaving the office while you take care of it." Later that day I was able to catch it. Another "normal" day in the office.

Last week we enjoyed witnessing two more young women getting baptized. They have been coming to church and to young women's meetings for months now. I think one was from Pohnpei. Sister Orrock just went home and Sister Baum just got transferred to Saipan.

Elder Afualo performed one of the baptisms

Sister Baum gave us a few pictures from a service. Makes us a little nervous how machetes are almost standard issue here.

Two awesome missionaries, Sister Orrock and Elder Baliling, wearing the tie, are going home, They finished their missions.

Many young missionaries were either being transferred or going home. Many pictures were taken.

Last week we had the Sisters over for dinner, how about Elder Kata, Elder McEwan, Elder Afualo? Teriyaki beef & chicken.

What would a missionary blog be without missionary shoes? Missionaries walk a lot. Elder Tafuna recently arrived to Guam from the islands of Chuuk. He said he was given some new shoes, while in Chuuk, but they were stolen, so back to the good old reliables. Nothing that a little duct tape can't repair.

Then he was given some other new shoes. Looking good. Hope these don't get stolen.

Here are a few pictures from our Barrigada ward Christmas party. I sang Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy with Bishop Bill Davis, Brother Dale West, and Brother Jonathan Valiente.

We like the words to this song about the lighthouse and the often forgotten lower lights. We all need to help our Savior rescue lost souls and keep the lower lights burning. Coral reefs or rocks can be catastrophic. Ship captains alter their course to align the lower lights with the main lighthouse light to miss these obstacles at night. Likewise, the Gospel of Jesus Christ points the way for us to true happiness on this earth and Eternal Life in the life to come.

We all enjoyed President Zarbock and his Banjo. Enjoy these videos.

Edelweiss featuring the Hague family

Elder Amatus and Elder Tafuna

Sister Martin and the Christmas pig

Elder Martin and the feast. Red rice is a standard item.

Elder Hatch. Oops. Caught Elder Kim with his mouth full

Elder Arcayan and Elder Tafuna

Sister Misanale and Sister Ta'ase

Elder Roberts and Elder Samachy

Elder Kim, Elder Stripling , Elder Bourne

President Zarbock, Sister Zarbock, Sister Reed, Elder Reed

Elder Herman and Elder Roberts

Everyone loved the entertainment, as you can tell.

Elder Plocher and Elder Barrus