Rock n' Roll 6.7, Machine Gun?, Weddings, Cakes & Baptisms

Rock n' Roll

While at the office we did a little "Rock n' Roll" the other day. Not to music but to an earthquake.

I was in talking with the Assistants to the President and the place started to move around. My first thought was to look out the window to see if the construction workers were working on the wall like they were a few of months ago. The construction workers literally shook the electrical conduits off our solid concrete office walls.

We then watched Elder and Sister Guercio walk by and so we followed them outside to safety. The ground kept moving for about 30 seconds or so. This is the second earthquake we've felt on Guam. The US Geological Survey initially reported that the quake was 7.1 on the Richter scale and that the epicenter was about 27 miles Northwest of Guam. They later revised it to 6.7.

Luckily no damage and no threat of Tsunamis, even though Sister Martin took this picture while we were driving down the street.

Machine Gun?

Sister Martin's office printer sounds like a machine gun. Play this video and you'll hear what happens every time she turns on her printer. A new one is ordered but this definitely adds a little drama to our office work. I watch her sometimes close her eyes and grit her teeth, cringing when she gets ready to print.

Wedding/Baptism Combo

We had the opportunity to go to another wedding held in the Yigo Ward on Saturday. Sister Ta'ehia asked Sister Martin to make a cake for it several weeks ago.

She made it simple yet decorative. She kept it in the refrigerator over night because we were involved in the big Coastal Cleanup that morning (that story will be in our next blog).

The Sister Missionaries have been bride's maids at several weddings. They received special permission to do so. As they slowly marched in procession the hymn "Come Unto Jesus" was played.

It turned out to be a great missionary opportunity. President Zarbock spoke at the wedding reception and gave an inspired message that brought in the spirit to the wedding. At least four of their extended family/friends will be listening to the missionaries soon. Elder and Sister Hurst also said a few words as they taught the couple a family history lesson a few months ago.

Elder and Sister Hurst

The couple was baptized right after the wedding. When the groom came out of the water he cheered with joy.

Song by - Sister Ande, Sister Ta'ehia, Sister Rotuk

We then joined them for a lunch feast followed by other wedding reception songs, etc. They asked me, and I was grateful to have the opportunity to give the closing prayer.    

Baptism

It wasn't over yet. There were three more baptism programs that day but we only had time for one, so we went to the Barrigada ward. Elder Hunter baptized the 9 year old. Elder Rice gave a talk on the restoration and on Sunday, he did the new member confirmation and Gift of the Holy Ghost ordinance.

Another wonderful day including a tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we were so blessed to be a part of.

Taguan area ocean hike, Baptism and more

Not far from our apartment is the Taguan area. Before the people could build the Mangilao golf coarse they were required to build stairs down to the ocean so people could continue to have access.

Just starting out down the path - Sister Martin smiling

View of Taguan area and the ocean

It's quite a ways, about 1,000 steps, including a few hundred stairs. The concrete stairs and railings were quite nice.

The challenging part was the concrete inclined sidewalk, I mean slippery slide.

Slippery concrete path 

Leaves and other debris land on the concrete which makes it a challenge. Well, I made it most of the way down without incident when all at once both of my feet slipped out and I was on the ground.

Several minutes later I continued slowly down the hillside to the beautiful ocean.

Straight ahead along the ocean

We enjoyed walking along the ocean-side but the tide was just too high to reach the caves.

Looking back where we had walked - The tide and waves were a bit too high

Looks like Sister Martin needs a new hat

We looked for other paths across the sharp limestone rocks above but finally turned around and headed back.

Looking for another path above the surf

Later that day my body was quite sore at the baptism. It was another wonderful baptism. Elder Hunter baptized the new Chuukese member in the Chuukese language. (funny...my spell checker wants to change "Chuukese" word into "Cheesecake")

His companion, Elder Rice speaks thePohnpeian language, It doesn't matter what language is used. Even though we can't understand what is being said, we can feel the wonderful spirit while they are performing these ordinances through the true Priesthood of God and in the name of Jesus Christ.

Elder Hunter coaching the young man on how to hold his nose

Elder Hunter also did the confirmation blessing in Chuukese and Sister Kolima, our Chuukese Relief Society President, translated for Bishop Davis in the circle. Elder Hunter and Elder Rice tell us they have been teaching so many people. One of the challenges continues to be transportation from their homes to the church to attend meetings, which is required for someone who wants to be baptized. Our wonderful members that have vehicles, help transport a lot of people to church on Sunday mornings.

Sister Martin and I found a great restaurant call "Chopsticks". Bishop Davis and others had talked about it since we arrived about six months ago. Great Curry chicken, rice and salad. Sister Martin enjoyed the Teriyaki chicken, salad and Miso Shiru (soybean soup).

Chopsticks restaurant - notice the "Spam" napkin holder

Good, Better, Best--Never Let it Rest--Until Your Good is Better and Your Better is Best.

Sister Mika is one "fired up" missionary, always full of energy and enthusiasm. She learned the catchy "Good, Better, Best" phrase from her mom who repeated it often. It was also on one of her bookmarks from school in Australia. I think she said she was also a cheer leader in school.

Sister Mika and her colorful letters about to send home

Sister Martin taking a break for a picture with some of the great sister missionaries and a couple of member missionaries of the Micronesia Guam Mission.

Sister Ma'a, member, Sister Ande, Sister Davis, Sister Martin, Sister Alaalatoa, member

Elder Murdoch, Sister Rotuk, Sister Purcell, Elder Malais - All 3 except for Sister Rotuk are the Palau island leadership

Sister Kolima and Sister Ande

Monday is P-Day for the younger missionaries. We try to get work done that day but there is so much going on in the office that it slows us down. Nearly everyone played some basketball, then it started raining. Most of them didn't stop playing.

Fun in the rain

Some of the missionaries recently did a Clean-up service project.  

Is that Sister Ande with a machete?

Sister David, Elder Afualo, Sister Ta'ehia (another Sister's machete?), Elder Rice, Sister Rotuk, Sister Kolini

Another special baptism of a brother and sister.

Baptism last week - Elder Afualo and Elder McEwan

Family baptism on Saipan - Elder John, Elder Arcayan, Elder Holt, Elder Luong, Elder Lentz, Elder Samachy and others

More adventures. Sunday evening we took a nice drive over to Fort Santa Agueda and enjoyed some great views of Guam. Watching it change from sunset to darkness, and then the city lights began to illuminate. Fun evening.

Then for Family Home Evening the next night, we took the couples up to the same place.

Elder and Sister Guercio, our Nurse Specialist couple

We also explored some old Japanese Caves that were chiseled out by hand during WWII in the 40's.

I read the description on the plaque out front to everyone before we entered. 

I left off the part where it said, "Enter at your own risk".

Elder Reed, Elder Guerio, Sister Zarbock, Sister Martin, Elder Martin, Sister Reed

The caves are near the McDonalds and across the street from Yogurtland at the Agana Shopping Center.

Sister Guercio, Elder Guercio, Sister Martin, Sister Zarbock, President Zarbock

We ran into spiders and even a friendly cockroach or two or three or four....

Elder Guercio pointing to a nice sized cockroach, Sister Martin holding a light 

There was water dripping and splashing into small pools

These caves interconnected as we ventured into their depths.

Our Family Home evening adventure was about 1 1/2 hours, but I think we all had a fun little get-away. 

Old Spanish Bridge, Beautiful Sella Bay, Ancient Chamorro Latte stones and more Labor Day Weekend hikes

Sella Bay hike on Labor Day, Monday morning

View from the top, looking down to Sella Bay - just beginning our hike

I was told this bridge dates back 400-500 years

I was told these vegetation covered Latte stones date back at least 1,000 years

We made it down to Sella Bay

We also did a few more hikes on Saturday/P-Day August 30th.

Went to a Korean Airlines crash site and memorial

Then we went on a hike to Charlie Corn's memorial. He was Chinese, and I was told, Guam's first millionaire.

Our Group - Marthalina, Scott, Braydon, Lela, Sister Martin, Bishop Davis, and Elder Martin taking the picture

Glad we put on mosquito repellent - Wish we had a machete to hack down the sharp sword grass 

We arrived

Wow - Hundreds of Wild Orchids everywhere - Sister Martin likes them

More hiking in the water - Yes...this is the trail

After we got back to the truck we headed for Libugon, an old bombed out WWII radio station.

Bishop Davis almost got stuck in the mud - Marthalina, did you say you borrowed those white shoes from Sister Deeds? 

Looking for the trail - The vegetation grows so fast - This is the right pole

This is jungle hiking

Here it is - Looking for the Geo-cash

What a fun yet challenging set of hikes during Labor day weekend.

Now, back to the office by lunchtime to get some more work done. And we love seeing the younger missionaries on their P-day.