Excellent article on Micronesian Emigration and some follow-up thoughts about what PIU is doing:

Karyn Sorenson is a part-time missionary to Micronesians, both in their native islands and in the diaspora. She is a full-time advocate for the people of Micronesia. As I write she is holding conferences among some Micronesian communities in the Northwest of the US Mainland.
Karyn recently posted this excellent article about the problem of and, even more so, the problems faced by Micronesians who exercise their right to emigrate to the United States.

The article is fairly long, but it does a good job of describing an issue that everyone who is familiar with Micronesia recognizes. Here is a line that jumped out at me. A Micronesian spokesperson says,

“The only resource we have is people. In order to have a dynamic, well-producing economy, you need healthy people and educated people — human capital. We don’t have diamond mines or oil or gas.”

People, that is the business that we are in at PIU.

One of the questions that is frequently asked about what we are doing at Pacific Islands University is, "How many of your graduates go back to their home areas to work among their own people?"

 It's an excellent question. The answer is, "A great many." 

But that doesn't tell the whole story. The article points out that about 30% of the population of the nations that are part of the Compact of Free Association (a treaty with the USA that allows Micronesians to enter the USA without restriction) have emigrated to the USA. Large numbers of Micronesians are in Guam and Hawaii. Their range of settlement, however, goes far beyond those islands. I'm far from being an expert, but I am aware, off the top my head, of Micronesian communities in California, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, Kansas, Alaska, and Arizona. At least for the first couple of generations, these communities maintain their Micronesia-ness. Graduates from PIU are not only ministering in the nations of Micronesia but in Micronesian communities around the world. Again, without really thinking about it, I am aware of a very capable pastor in California, a social worker in the same region, a teacher's aid working with Micronesian immigrant children in Hawaii, and a number of pastors, and other professionals, working with Micronesians here in Guam. All of them are PIU alumnae.

As I read the article, I was struck with the obvious need. And, I also felt a bit of satisfaction in my heart. We are providing Micronesians an opportunity to get an education that they need. We are willing to see them not merely as students who have been denied some of the opportunities that many of us take for granted, but as children of God with infinite value. We are willing to go the extra mile to make education accessible for them. As well, we are imparting a Biblical worldview. Part of what that worldview teaches is, when I am given something, I am to share. That's a place where Micronesian culture has it right.

Coffee with the President

It is one of the reasons why PIU is worthy of support.
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