The Storm Miracle - MLC and Senior Couples Arriving

It was Tuesday evening and the first two couples were supposed to arrive from the outer island of Pohnpei. We were tracking their flight and noticed some strange delay notices posted by United. The first one that caught my eye was the following:

Really?...Snow and Ice Removal Difficulties in 89 degree weather?

Then another reason popped up. Traffic control conditions? There's only one plane per day at this airport.

We finally noticed that the plane arrived in Chuuk, but then another reason for the delay came on.

You never know what to expect with plane travel in Micronesia. Last week at the Chuuk airport, they ran out of gas, and the week before their gas pump broke down. Sometimes, they just fly over and bypass Chuuk for various reasons like this.

We noticed several storms brewing out in the pacific. Typhoon Chan-Hom was forecasted to hit Guam last Saturday night. But that's when many Senior Couples and most of the young missionaries were scheduled to fly in for two different events/conferences. If they arrived before the typhoon hit, everyone would have to stay in their apartments or hotels until it passed.

Many began to pray that the storm would not cancel both events.

Then the storm did a strange thing that I haven't seen before. It first picked up to typhoon strength, but then started to stall and slow down out in the ocean. The typhoon became a tropical storm and then changed directions slightly north. The storm passed by and now has gained typhoon strength on its way to Okinawa and Taiwan area.

Nothing was canceled.

We wondered what just happened.

In the Mission Leadership Council meeting on Sunday with the Zone Leaders, President Zarbock said we had just witnessed a miracle with the typhoon. He was right...and the conferences went as planned.

Senior Couples arriving from the outer islands. Enjoying dinners with them. They are all wonderful people to associate with.

Furstenaus, us, Thomases, Guercios and Hedgpeths at Papa's Restaurant

You may notice I'm wearing a baseball cap. Well, it's to hold a gauze patch on the back of my head for about a week. I fell backwards on the asphalt in the church parking lot playing a little volleyball. Getting better every day.

Proffits and Guercios. Sister Martin taking the pictures 

Eliasons, Furstenaus, Hedgpeths, Reeds, Thomases, Hardys, Gercios and us at Benii's Japanese Restaurant

Sister Hardy and Sister Thomas
Little bowl-Big Bowl

Hursts, us, Proffitts and Brimhalls

Sunset view from Papa's Restaurant in Guam

Parable of the Star Sand

It has been fun to see the Star Sand on two different beaches so far, here in Guam. One source on Coco's island and the other on Tarague beach.

Looking at the "Star Sand" and how they are different from the rest, made me think of God and His majesty and great plan for all of us, and how each of us are unique and special to Him. Other thoughts reminded me of one of my favorite songs called "He Sent His Son", where God asks us to, "Live Like His Son". In doing this it usually means that we stand out different from the rest.

We gathered up some of this sand and put it in small bottles.

We decided to send these bottles of sand to our children and grandchildren. I wrote this poem to go with it, with some great help from Sister Martin.

Close-up of Star Sand mixed in with the rest

Pictures of two grandchildren checking out the Star Sand. (Thanks Debbie for posting the video)

"At Sunset's Close One Summer's Eve..."

Office classics, Missionaries, Menenggon Memorial and Father's Day

We enjoy and are blessed with so many experiences while serving in the office. Here's a few from the past couple of weeks:

The younger missionaries finished their Zone Meeting then dropped in for a few minutes...

Elder Matalolo - that looks serious

Sister Aviata in the background just received her Chuukese Language Mastery booklet to learn. Sister Misinale buying postage from Sister Martin. Her letter got returned needing more postage. The young missionaries always ask us how much to send a letter to somewhere.

Sister Misinale and Sister Aviata

Yes...Sister Aviata is excited to learn Chuukese - "Ran Annim" means "Hello"

Received this letter, returned in the mail to the mission office the other day, postmarked "8 Nov 2013". It was a letter sent by the previous Office couple missionaries, Elder and Sister Prince. I emailed Elder Prince on it and his response was "That's a Classic".

Over 1 1/2 years in the postal system before they returned this letter.

You can never be in a hurry in Micronesia.

People often ask if we've seen a package for them from the states, that is delayed. I ask them to tell me what their tracking says. Whenever it says "Richmond, CA" on the USPS tracking, we know it's on the slow boat. It takes from 5 to 7 weeks to arrive in Guam and a few extra weeks for the outer islands.

We've been tracking two bikes we sent to Yap Island about two months ago. They finally arrived. They were on sale at Kmart for only $94.00 each + $68.00 for the slow boat shipping each.  

Elder Roque, Elder Roberts and Elder Mott checking out the new, low maintenance red cruiser bikes for Yap. 

Another classic example of Micronesia is communication challenges. For example, in the office we have back-up Wi-Fi box we plug in, just in case our GTA internet stops working. This happens almost once a week. 

Dropped off some leftover curry to the Mangilao Sisters while they were cooking a hamburger sauce to go over rice.

Sister Kichiro and Sister Kuau making dinner

The Sisters said they had been fasting. They had a member helping them teach that day who was fasting with them. What an example of exact obedience since they are not supposed to have others in their apartments.

They ate dinner with the member outside on the balcony.

Looks like they are going to try my curry with their dinner right now.

Vehicle Challenges are ongoing for missionary cars.

Where did that bolt go that helps hold the bumper tight for this Yaris? Gotta keep 'em on the road.

During the last couple of months, we bought 6 tires for Guam cars, 8 tires to Chuuk, 4 tires to Palau, 16 tires to Pohnpei, 6 tires to Yap, and just received a 4 tire order for Kosrae. 44 tires. People sometimes ask if I'm in the tire business and I say, "Yes".

New LT 10 ply truck tires bound for Chuuk

Sister Martin and Elder Martin on our way to the post office to ship 4 tires to Chuuk and 2 tires to Palau

I started using USPS "Click and Ship" recently and was able to create our own shipping labels on our printer. Then the postal truck picks them up and it's done. This was a huge time saver. But then their system quit working out here and so we're back to taking them to the post office and filling out the customs forms by hand. We are crazy busy and we love it.

We always get strange looks with all of the tires at the post office, and sometimes at the tire store. Sometimes we can get into conversations about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We try to tell them that we are sending these tires to the outer islands to keep those missionary cars going, so they can continue spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For Family Home Evening the other night, Elder and Sister Guercio took us on a little field trip to some of Guam's historical sites.

We started at The Father Duenas Catholic School for Boys in Mangilao, not far from where we buy our weekly groceries.

Elder and Sister Martin in front of a statue of Father Duenas, a religious leader
during WWII in Guam. He was killed by the Japanese in 1944.

Elder and Sister Guercio

Next we drove down near Yona, Guam to a Menenggon memorial. This was the site of a WWII concentration camp where most of Guam natives/Chomorros were forced to go, just before the US forces re-captured Guam.

Sister Guercio telling us about the memorial

This was their water source. Now people jump and play in this pond.

Sister Martin took my picture after our Stake conference on Father's Day. Some of the wards handed out treats to Father's. We heard some great faith promoting messages that strengthened our testimonies. We know that God lives and loves each of us.

Sister Martin bought me this cool purple tie for Father's Day 

"Happy Father's Day" to my dad and all the other dad's out there.

Jam Session at the Farewell Party for Drew Burton

Brother and Sister Burton, left, Drew Burton, center, his sister, and then Jamie

Paul and Tami Burton invited the Barrigada Ward to their home to say "good-bye" to Drew. Their son Drew is leaving Guam to go to BYU Provo. We had a hard time finding their home. After returning home, we noticed they put full directions on the Barrigada Ward Facebook page.

It was good to share this time with their family and the many other ward members who came.

 The Hague family and Kaela

 Sister Tosie and Sister Sam

Sister Siren and her granddaughter

Bishop Davis and others were playing their Ukulele and Guitars. I hadn't played Guitar for a long time. I played and sang an Afterglow song that I love called, "Thou Shalt Love the Lord Thy God". It was fun.

Then they handed me Kaela's Uke and I started playing a few songs I learned by Larry Rivera of Kauai, Hawaii. One was "Puka Road", and the other was called "Hele on to Kauai". Bishop Davis, who is from Molokai, Hawaii joined in and it became fun a little Jam Session. Even though I couldn't remember all the chords I used to know, it was still fun.

The ward members are great. I appreciate their example to me. Sister Martin and I feel so blessed to be able to attend their meetings and participate in their ward family activities while serving here in Guam.