tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39852803479297332632024-02-19T12:18:03.731-05:00H&K’s Micronesian (and other) AdventuresHoward Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-59755435377272519652024-02-06T15:02:00.002-05:002024-02-06T15:02:44.682-05:00January Ministry Report:<p class="MsoNormal">Ministry Update from Howard and Kathy Merrell:<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">There are several things I need to share with you. You,
through your prayers, support and encouragement have a part in what we are
doing. We are thankful.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">December and January have been a busy two months:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Preparation for ministry in Zambia.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Christmas Service at Woodland Church, where I
serve as interim pastor and Kathy plays piano.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Christmas week with family in South Carolina.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">January 1-17, Africa, more below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Catching up, routine medical appointments, and regular
ministry schedule.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">It is a privilege to serve. Thanks for making it possible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t13" coordsize="21600,21600"
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My main purpose in going to Zambia was to visit, encourage and check up on our
LMUSA personnel</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJIV2qanc3JkLngYhpdWhZoAxGvnCqk4RtZQZkgVGR1aSHJjhZjoIu3pjkIEHTBXxnFwmZoC4ZaSlimfWBy3PR_mYBLykQofgAX9tdeMlKLqh62P1EuyNsCXpLERyR0I7K9MDz6PQA4TLUSWxCK0ZEq290Sswx191ARyiXXUGleolfogvJ_Nf-N7UnXI/s651/map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="651" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJIV2qanc3JkLngYhpdWhZoAxGvnCqk4RtZQZkgVGR1aSHJjhZjoIu3pjkIEHTBXxnFwmZoC4ZaSlimfWBy3PR_mYBLykQofgAX9tdeMlKLqh62P1EuyNsCXpLERyR0I7K9MDz6PQA4TLUSWxCK0ZEq290Sswx191ARyiXXUGleolfogvJ_Nf-N7UnXI/s320/map.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> there and minister in ways that are helpful to what they are
doing. I was in three locations of this lovely country.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p><br /><br /><a href="https://amanocs.org/"><b>Amano Christian
School, Chingola Zambia:</b></a><b> <br />
</b>We have two families who serve with LMUSA who are integral members
of the ACS team. <a href="https://liebenzellmission.org/give/mj-pflaum/">Martin
and Jovita Pflaum</a> and <a href="https://liebenzellmission.org/give/aa-anderson/">Aaron and Andrea
Anderson</a>. I actually arrived in Zambia on the same plane as the Pflaums.
They were returning from a furlough in the USA and Germany. <br />
In Zambia the school year starts in January. ACS holds a staff retreat right
before the start of the new school year. I was privileged to be the spiritual
life speaker of the on campus gathering. The two sessions centered on
attitude—specifically the </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeU5IpFL4B92kdlK8FOnDP2uRStdQkslZyCUjq31XEDMQVvXJ1wwp4pW_aJ19uPbzkghUDA3FIKVr8iJGDJamwpGF4eR1_FhkiqGorBhquBrwvJz2oGIC5Ke287sXowmJBuiMbdet0xNVr2xF5k_h2xeiSpkGydocx4lfYp2QEWWHN8-BFbypqB7CY2M/s4080/20240110_095242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeU5IpFL4B92kdlK8FOnDP2uRStdQkslZyCUjq31XEDMQVvXJ1wwp4pW_aJ19uPbzkghUDA3FIKVr8iJGDJamwpGF4eR1_FhkiqGorBhquBrwvJz2oGIC5Ke287sXowmJBuiMbdet0xNVr2xF5k_h2xeiSpkGydocx4lfYp2QEWWHN8-BFbypqB7CY2M/w423-h317/20240110_095242.jpg" title="The Guest House at Amano" width="423" /></a></div><br />Christ attitude--from the book of Philippians. I
interacted not only with the LMUSA personnel but with a number of staff
members. I was hoping to also meet the students and interact with them.
Unfortunately, the start of all the schools in Zambia was delayed because of a
cholera outbreak, mainly in the Capital, Lusaka. The delayed start date was
supposed to be yesterday, but the authorities have declared another two-week
delay. Pray for the staff there. They are doing online education. <br />
ACS is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to use teaching interest and
education for the Lord. Look at their <a href="https://amanocs.org/">website</a>,
or get in touch with me. I’ll introduce you to the right people. ACS is one of
the better schools in Zambia. The opportunity to impact the nation for Christ is
there. (The picture is the guest house where I stayed.)<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">From ACS I traveled to Kitwe, where <a href="https://liebenzellmission.org/give/fb-manana/">Francis and Beatrice
Manana</a> are involved with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Centre-for-Christian-Missions-100069589099439/">Center
for Christian Ministry University</a>. I was privileged to be the “mule” for
transporting about two suitcases full of computer parts that the school can
use. I enjoyed my time in the Manana’s home. Francis and Beatrice are examples
of the “internationality” of missions. They are Ugandans. They served several
years in church work near Washington DC and now are helping to raise up leaders
in Zambia.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">From there I went to Ndola, where I was the speaker at the
Zambia Baptist Association’s Leaders Conference. The theme of the conference
was, “Why Am I Hear?”—why am I in this position of leadership. In seven
messages and one Q&A, we explored that question. I thought we connected
well. Thanks, Kathy, for your support in helping me prepare. Eight sessions in
two days was a lot. I was aware of and encouraged by your prayers. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-Jasr1NPNdnadAF2g4iPu1At5MYRcBtX9gZZrgHUXRl9LPYW1MJORWh9RAmoILF6SmT2vSfQfdTaGBmRdEVg0kbqpnNY3rsAju1nOF98QmiLGBjDEzF3ubX0w9Y5oY96aFdVWqtwALfpwsIBKowJ9Q2BCk1aVMfgkYVE_2yZulC4nyTq6l9cK2h3jHM/s9216/IMG_20240112_125437_921%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6912" data-original-width="9216" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-Jasr1NPNdnadAF2g4iPu1At5MYRcBtX9gZZrgHUXRl9LPYW1MJORWh9RAmoILF6SmT2vSfQfdTaGBmRdEVg0kbqpnNY3rsAju1nOF98QmiLGBjDEzF3ubX0w9Y5oY96aFdVWqtwALfpwsIBKowJ9Q2BCk1aVMfgkYVE_2yZulC4nyTq6l9cK2h3jHM/w640-h480/IMG_20240112_125437_921%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Here are most of the attendees at the ZBA conference. They are holding their gift copies of Paul Seger's book on leadership. Thanks, Paul.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkqCza7mofI6xeSuGhcAMYKGY_dFmTvC_kcDlpfwqoJcm5P7XHNLjWAUHnbkWRTol19SSrpVpcfowpSo5VwTeenCRHZmNMQ6FClYel_lQxiHF_b6Xx4rMPkxiYnanvIoyfZe6bGT0Hv8K0Gw7v_8H024RJxP18kBFYAs0b9P4Ilu37OmF4tt3IE3I5co/s1280/IMG_20240114_110225_929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkqCza7mofI6xeSuGhcAMYKGY_dFmTvC_kcDlpfwqoJcm5P7XHNLjWAUHnbkWRTol19SSrpVpcfowpSo5VwTeenCRHZmNMQ6FClYel_lQxiHF_b6Xx4rMPkxiYnanvIoyfZe6bGT0Hv8K0Gw7v_8H024RJxP18kBFYAs0b9P4Ilu37OmF4tt3IE3I5co/s320/IMG_20240114_110225_929.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />After the conference
I stayed at the Liebenzell Guest House, Brita and H. P. Hertler, Africa field
leader for LM Germany, took good care of me. H. P. gave me a ride to Luanshya
Baptist Church, where I had my last ministry opportunity of the trip. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikB0J_Hr5MVsmpdLIFbnS44AfLq-0p15FN5HLLuWIzbDNj7cMmBM7i4bmDD87_z_r2JndENvcdZnThPRLQpaPQR1CEC4zBj8etpwh-xWmOfwNWY2acqfkjToAadpkphbV7aAJ1XhBazj-hAp8GfZMcdTDFpYBJF9kmYe35ze46iCWQ-VOgPk5zDhEoTUg/s1280/IMG_20240114_110456_289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikB0J_Hr5MVsmpdLIFbnS44AfLq-0p15FN5HLLuWIzbDNj7cMmBM7i4bmDD87_z_r2JndENvcdZnThPRLQpaPQR1CEC4zBj8etpwh-xWmOfwNWY2acqfkjToAadpkphbV7aAJ1XhBazj-hAp8GfZMcdTDFpYBJF9kmYe35ze46iCWQ-VOgPk5zDhEoTUg/s320/IMG_20240114_110456_289.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for helping us serve.
Check our <br />
<a href="https://micronesianadventure.blogspot.com/">missions blog</a> for more pictures.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">It is a
privilege to partner with you,<br />
H&K<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;">More pictures:</span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><b><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiJ6rrBumIUoziksmyQvz_-3Eoc5gMxRpHnevwGAofdq7Q-mZiXctgnWjl0WYL9A0bZZjudKXDR0fVskPCCqyNxLe1d8raflmen-WdyG43f_nmMyASJaBnuPRyRNMrpATa1Qqg2PHIqMkIpbH0cL5wsecaWq7alhGZS7xoGfYKVKFcOZgumvHy7Zkltc/s9216/IMG_20240111_160602_304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6912" data-original-width="9216" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiJ6rrBumIUoziksmyQvz_-3Eoc5gMxRpHnevwGAofdq7Q-mZiXctgnWjl0WYL9A0bZZjudKXDR0fVskPCCqyNxLe1d8raflmen-WdyG43f_nmMyASJaBnuPRyRNMrpATa1Qqg2PHIqMkIpbH0cL5wsecaWq7alhGZS7xoGfYKVKFcOZgumvHy7Zkltc/s320/IMG_20240111_160602_304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittEOiQj1wKToSNfHBzZt5Cv-MoUQMgytAwCYH96Jt5j3_X_qNML8xT9rOLTY4urT8qBKHB8LDGZG4b8F5NSghXhQo3mvvHhKopQ1P91ZcXgGdsO76NUH_V2iDDh1ctNacvjRQt5R_chCY1w_5ESqLmdLtHn6Y_UDA2DAvVWvvbcaP-oqyCYhLZIrPtW0/s9216/IMG_20240111_160602_304%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6912" data-original-width="9216" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittEOiQj1wKToSNfHBzZt5Cv-MoUQMgytAwCYH96Jt5j3_X_qNML8xT9rOLTY4urT8qBKHB8LDGZG4b8F5NSghXhQo3mvvHhKopQ1P91ZcXgGdsO76NUH_V2iDDh1ctNacvjRQt5R_chCY1w_5ESqLmdLtHn6Y_UDA2DAvVWvvbcaP-oqyCYhLZIrPtW0/s320/IMG_20240111_160602_304%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSASQKJjoumR4HUSmYUd28HZmkMnNDcP2hWsTxaVBAeCopCb8j1v6UcZVeeULiMYbfAQLMYGBc8uCBVKaz89uiOxkMInP8S4f-lf_JM1VMWq2KRAieGt-ARiJg09-0rBhPeo8q7-Ce0FA_n-Bdbz_jKQwQDo86jBKvZ9n6b3SuWHnYCxve5EL5e6mC6Cc/s9216/IMG_20240111_151133_524@-605978229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6912" data-original-width="9216" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSASQKJjoumR4HUSmYUd28HZmkMnNDcP2hWsTxaVBAeCopCb8j1v6UcZVeeULiMYbfAQLMYGBc8uCBVKaz89uiOxkMInP8S4f-lf_JM1VMWq2KRAieGt-ARiJg09-0rBhPeo8q7-Ce0FA_n-Bdbz_jKQwQDo86jBKvZ9n6b3SuWHnYCxve5EL5e6mC6Cc/s320/IMG_20240111_151133_524@-605978229.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s0dIV56AJ5nYkTI1LH-pYxiOXgVv_gxSLHGHW20Z3sumvtOeTRiBFmdkRviIbNCxjb8-1IQvjbHqYwcQAdLx_lgm7DVtCN49Bx2rk6k_Bx-rtTF70eyyp6TwJcY8T6ZvQxAW56XMIk4dmXn6i7tRoAnb5jGSRw3bHrqeQZISYeYnq1OWetJWeSFg4Ro/s4080/20240108_095710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s0dIV56AJ5nYkTI1LH-pYxiOXgVv_gxSLHGHW20Z3sumvtOeTRiBFmdkRviIbNCxjb8-1IQvjbHqYwcQAdLx_lgm7DVtCN49Bx2rk6k_Bx-rtTF70eyyp6TwJcY8T6ZvQxAW56XMIk4dmXn6i7tRoAnb5jGSRw3bHrqeQZISYeYnq1OWetJWeSFg4Ro/s320/20240108_095710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKijXqvvqicy0Abqd5QpDe_p9e6xrSRpqCrtDPJsazHKjV-m37pp6v3tMMq-x19AojcQzSCbfqvVJ40Ix7V8-7IMScRoOaBT-eSKY7g0I0yGrjfXtErYafyaKAubJGt6QfjAW64-SthI1N8uuxfruCSiI6PYa0yvaw_CHnH-8NYkrXBxVIN96otwdmKI/s1280/IMG-20240104-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKijXqvvqicy0Abqd5QpDe_p9e6xrSRpqCrtDPJsazHKjV-m37pp6v3tMMq-x19AojcQzSCbfqvVJ40Ix7V8-7IMScRoOaBT-eSKY7g0I0yGrjfXtErYafyaKAubJGt6QfjAW64-SthI1N8uuxfruCSiI6PYa0yvaw_CHnH-8NYkrXBxVIN96otwdmKI/s320/IMG-20240104-WA0000.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-ZgIaANc8n23PAR-OMCC3mgd83noSOMHO3q7iSJ4lyOgaq-Wi3_nipnyoc2lUIxI6WWT0HpeQz-mHBjs5cC4blRFzqezAA_NvXnSErH71wEfbieOcCHJZGZcWONS9flkk8JPGn7h9wg9GpYVGSa80Vcpfw2wotjG1z1HgZpDh0OQ3VwL9Z-tuY0Ji6U/s4080/20240105_133219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-ZgIaANc8n23PAR-OMCC3mgd83noSOMHO3q7iSJ4lyOgaq-Wi3_nipnyoc2lUIxI6WWT0HpeQz-mHBjs5cC4blRFzqezAA_NvXnSErH71wEfbieOcCHJZGZcWONS9flkk8JPGn7h9wg9GpYVGSa80Vcpfw2wotjG1z1HgZpDh0OQ3VwL9Z-tuY0Ji6U/s320/20240105_133219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></i></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #c00000; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-29658225631426126992024-01-24T09:18:00.002-05:002024-01-24T09:18:13.985-05:00Opportunities to make a difference:<p> I've been pretty busy since I got home from Zambia, last week.<br />Part of my business has been getting over jetlag. It actually went pretty well. My lost suitcase finally arrived on Monday.</p><p>So, stay tuned, I'll be putting together a complete report, soon.</p><p>In the meantime, let me remind you of what my main, missions-related job is. Basically, I'm a pastor to missionaries. While I did a lot of things in Zambia, my main purpose in going was to encourage the Liebenzell USA missionaries (and some partners) who serve there. What a privilege.</p><p>I get to rub shoulders, cyber-wise and in person, with really great people, "[people] of whom this world [is] not worthy" (paraphrase of Hebrews 11:38). Some of them are in need of support, others are involved in projects that have the potential to make a great difference. If you are looking for a way to invest in Great Commission ministry let me know. I can share some options.</p><p>By His Grace,</p><p>HM</p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-13076396679365733792024-01-12T08:58:00.000-05:002024-01-12T08:58:03.747-05:00A brief report from Zambia<p> I am nearing the end of my first trip to Africa. During the first part of my trip I was at the Amano Christian School in Chingola, Zambia. I may have a few pictures from there, but I haven't transferred them to my computer, yet, so, I'll just say that I was received very warmly. I enjoyed my time there speaking to the staff of the Amano Christian School in their Staff Retreat, starting off the 2024 school year. I also visited with LMUSA missionaries and other staff at the school. I'll get the pictures transferred when I can and tell you more about that end of my trip, later. </p><p>I would ask you to pray for Amano, and all of Zambia. I was supposed to actually visit classes and do dorm devotions after school started. However, a cholera outbreak, primarily in the capital city, Lusaka, delayed the start of all primary and secondary schools by 2 weeks.</p><p>I was pleased to spend time with Beatrice and Francis Manana in Kitwe. I briefly visited Center for Christian Ministry University, where Francis teaches. I dropped off my load of computer parts there, and enjoyed lunch with some of the staff. These parts will be combined with other components to make computers for CCMU students to write papers, etc.</p><p>Earlier today I finished the eight-session series I did with leaders in the Zambia Baptist Association, at their headquarters in Ndola. It was a marvelous experience. We worked together to answer the question, "Why am I here?"--here in this position of leadership.</p><p>You can find a few pictures of my time with ZBA folks, <a href="https://zbal2024.blogspot.com/2024/01/a-few-pictures-from-conference.html" target="_blank">here.</a></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-67898836468516690652023-12-30T07:09:00.002-05:002023-12-30T07:09:19.269-05:00A Quick Update on the Way Out the Door<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just read a report from one of the missionaries I'll be visiting with next. More in a moment, but for now, they mentioned the work it takes to balance family and work. Even as senior, empty-nester, "part-timers," Kathy & I have to work at that. Sometimes life is just full.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We got home, last night, from a wonderful visit with family in SC. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the way home we stopped at 2 stores to get a couple of items for two of the missionaries we'll see. The phone store was a zoo.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was able to rise early every day we were gone, except 1, and I worked while Kathy drove. I got my prep to a phase I can say it is "done." PTL. Thanks for your prayers.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have session handouts to print today, and packing, including all the "freight" I'm taking to others.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the morning we'll pack the car and head to church where I am interim pastor. After church, we'll head up to Kathy's brothers where we'll spend the night and then head to Dulles Airport Monday morning.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here is the schedule I know. There'll be a lot more worked in.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">10:00 AM 1/1, take of from Dulles for a 13 hour flight to Ethiopia. I arrive there 1/2.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">After a 4 hour flight I arrive in Zambia, just before noon.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">For the first part of my stay I'll be at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amanocs.org/&source=gmail&ust=1704023897461000&usg=AOvVaw1NUks3gO0cZNeA3KXH3jH_" href="https://amanocs.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Amano Christian School</a> in Chingola<br />1/4&5, I'll speak 2 times and lead 2 discussion times at ACS's staff retreat.<br /></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">1/10 I'll move to a fellow missionary's home in Kitwe.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">1/11&12 I'll speak 8 times at the Zambia Baptist Association Leadership Conf.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">1/14 I speak at Luanshya Baptist Church.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">1/16, 12:45 PM, I start home. One flight will make a stop in Zimbabwe and the other in Rome. I get back to Dulles, 8:00 AM, 1/17.</li></ul><div>About that family I just heard from. They are in need of support. In addition they are helping a Zambian family and an orphan college student. If you'd like to "meet" the Andersons, let me know, and I'll forward their letter. One of the items I bought, yesterday, is for the Andersons. If you'd like to make it a late Christmas present, let me know.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Also, please pray for Kathy, while I'm gone.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'll see you on the other side.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">By His Grace,</div><br clear="all" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><i><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Howard Merrell</b></span></i><div>LMUSA Missionary Care Associate</div><div>(540) 620-8429</div><div>2106 S Carpenter Drive</div><div>Covington VA 24426</div></div></div></div>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-2956508002026114512023-11-30T20:15:00.006-05:002023-11-30T20:15:56.419-05:00December News Letter<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VghyKoFvqQ_JQE2PxAJqCBmFzzx04OjfV61sVo-ysm27uJb3wdKV2c4Wa-zTSfiHkM9KRtvTlUC2w1vpPULap5WlEVevNCGKwzBciimENuy7G-o0510uXFlkXwF-8D1SSKEBL9KALKh05IdGI0aDHJuIqGOk5IkGh9dEXkI_AvZA1-NPwMcOSJwihgU/s960/TG%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VghyKoFvqQ_JQE2PxAJqCBmFzzx04OjfV61sVo-ysm27uJb3wdKV2c4Wa-zTSfiHkM9KRtvTlUC2w1vpPULap5WlEVevNCGKwzBciimENuy7G-o0510uXFlkXwF-8D1SSKEBL9KALKh05IdGI0aDHJuIqGOk5IkGh9dEXkI_AvZA1-NPwMcOSJwihgU/s320/TG%2023.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Chad's family with us at Falling <br />Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Partners,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m sitting out in my little 4 x 8 study. I’m taking a break
from preparing some messages to write to you. I’ll be sharing the messages I’m
working on in Zambia. I leave for my first trip to Africa on January 1. I’ll be
gone for a bit over two weeks. Here is my rough itinerary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>I</b> arrive at Ndola in Zambia on January 2.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>I’ll</b> go to Amano Christian School in Chingola to
check in with missionaries who serve there. I’ll also meet with some of the
students. I’ll share two messages and lead two follow-up sessions in the Amano
Staff Retreat. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"> </span><b>On</b> the 10th I’ll travel to Kitwe, where I’ll be
the guest of an LMUSA couple who serve at the Centre for Christian Missions
University. </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b> On</b> the11</span><sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> and 12</span><sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">, I’ll be speaking eight
times at the Zambia Baptist Association Leadership Conference. The theme of the
conference is, “Why am I here?” I.E., why has God given me this position of
leadership?</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> <b>
</b></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>On</b> the 14th I’ll speak at the Luanshya Baptist
Church.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> <b>
</b></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>I</b> begin the journey back on January 16.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition to preparing for the trip to Zambia, we continue
to speak into the lives of the missionaries who make up the LMUSA Family. I
lead a monthly Zoom meeting for missionaries and do some writing. Earlier this
month I traveled to New Jersey two times, once to represent Pacific Islands
University at a fundraising event and once for the Fall Board Meeting. Kathy is
still planning to travel to Guam; she’s waiting for the right timing. She’ll be
helping out and encouraging a single lady missionary, there. Watch for an
update.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please pray for our Global Ministries Director, Mike Branch.
Mike is on a medical leave undergoing treatment for CIDP, a rare but treatable
disease that attacks the nerve coating. To help cover for Mike, eight of us
missionaries are taking a measure of administrative oversight for a particular
area of the world. My sphere of interest is the USA, including USA territories.
The plan is for the arrangement to continue after Mike’s recovery. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->From the above you’ll notice some things to pray
about.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->You can see that, in particular with the new
administrative responsibilities, we’ll probably be doing some more traveling,
so please pray that our fund will remain funded. If you choose to invest in
what we are doing, see the link below. Our fund is only used to cover ministry
expenses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->One of our missionary families, who serve
stateside, is moving. Pray that it will be a good move.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A single missionary lady is dealing with an
attack of shingles. Pray that she recovers quickly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Thank the Lord, with us, for the reports of good
work that we hear about. <a href="https://www.liebenzellmission.org/giving-tuesday">Here is a sample</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Between now and January 17, when I arrive back
home, I’d appreciate you praying for me as I prepare, travel, minister, and
travel back. It’ll be a busy time. Please also pray for Kathy. She’ll be
keeping things going back here. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We thank the Lord for good health, for a great thanksgiving
with some of our family, and for you. You are here with me in my closet-study.
You’ll be traveling with me as I fly, as well as staying here with Kathy, and
you are part of our ministry of caring for those who share, as well as the
teaching, preaching, counseling, and encouraging I’ll do in Zambia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I probably won’t send another prayer letter until I get
back, so I’ll take this opportunity to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas.
The angel proclaimed, “[T]oday in the city of David there has been born for you
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” That proclamation still needs to go forth.
It is our privilege to work with and encourage those who are the proclaimers.
Thanks for standing with us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; color: red; font-family: "Brush Script MT"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Kathy &
Howard</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Brush Script MT"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PS: Merry Christmas<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Brush Script MT"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-90213305584905312722023-10-30T20:06:00.003-04:002023-10-30T20:06:44.162-04:00November Newsletter<p> Dear Partners in Ministry,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are days when the news I hear from the missionary
family, Kathy and I are privileged to work with, reminds me of the Book of Job.
Did you know that:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The parents and grandparents of missionaries die
at the same rate—1 each—as everyone else’s mom, dad, and grands?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Missionary kids get sick, like our kids?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Missionaries’ cars break down at inconvenient
times? (Trust me; I know about this one.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Ducks don’t line up just because someone has the
title of missionary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Unlike most of the rest of us, many missionaries
deal with all of the above, and a great many more things that regular folk are
only vaguely aware of.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx4CNyY8gt5VLHLE1IClmay7Zt_tsgfG9lRhwkYz4p_6nXlvNQinWXNs3eWzluWMwIRyuyRbJlguavTOa4nXJDjm-CbWPeBcy-36N8RJuag8tCVf77fLtfd0-zpAPll1Vd0P8QGq55mnnf255tZm0eu4Bmqs1ryx35S-OMdkp6yOqohfkaxiS2ZM7ZwQ/s872/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="777" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx4CNyY8gt5VLHLE1IClmay7Zt_tsgfG9lRhwkYz4p_6nXlvNQinWXNs3eWzluWMwIRyuyRbJlguavTOa4nXJDjm-CbWPeBcy-36N8RJuag8tCVf77fLtfd0-zpAPll1Vd0P8QGq55mnnf255tZm0eu4Bmqs1ryx35S-OMdkp6yOqohfkaxiS2ZM7ZwQ/w331-h371/Picture2.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br />Our goal as
Missionary Care Associates is to be listening ears, compassionate friends,
fellow grievers and rejoicers as the situation demands, someone who loves on
the MKs (missionary kids) and more. We want to be there for these dedicated
servants.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We greatly appreciate your prayers on our behalf.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->In our last prayer letter, we asked you to pray
for Kathy as she spoke at a women’s retreat in New Hampshire. The experience
went well. I heard good reports about her ministry. We are very thankful to two
dear friends for their help with logistics.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The recent death of a lovely friend and
fellow-servant reminded to not take the measure of health we have for granted.
Thanks for your part in that, through your prayers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Mike, my supervisor at LMUSA, whom I mentioned
in our last letter, continues to deal with weakness and tiredness. He is
seeking further medical counsel. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are several things going on right now and in the near
future in our ministry. Please pray with us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We are staying in touch with a life-long
missionary, one of the toughest, most caring, faithful missionaries--or just
anybody--that I’ve ever met. Our friend came perilously close to the “end of
the rope” recently. Kathy has carried most of the weight on this one. It will
likely involve a long trip for her sometime in the next six months. Please pray
for our associate. Ask God for wisdom for us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->All human organizations are made up of humans
with all our hang-ups and issues. Pray for the leaders in our mission as they
try to help us work smoother and more effectively. This should encourage you to
pray for them. Sometimes they listen to me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->I continue the simple practice of sending
birthday greetings (sometimes late) to all our missionaries (at least those who
let us know when their birthday is). On behalf of the mission, I send gifts to
the MKs. Pray that this simple act will help communicate, “You are loved.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->January 1, I’ll be flying to Zambia. It’ll be a
busy couple of weeks. We have several missionaries at Amano Christian School,
in Chingola. I’ll be doing what I did for decades, pastoral visitation, with
them and probably some other servants of our Lord. I’ll be the Spiritual Life
speaker at the staff training session before the new school term starts up.
I’ll be Uncle Howard to some kids.<br />
I’ve also been asked to be the speaker at the Zambia Baptist Association
Leaders Conference. One of our missionary couples works with this group. I’ve
been asked to address the question, “Why am I a leader?” I am to speak eight
times, five on one day and three the next. As of yet, I don’t even know exactly
how to ask you to pray. Just pray! Romans 8:26-27 is appropriate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx-acxBmXq1sR91ItMt8Gd9sOmWWaVFTjcKn-xHZV1WXDTiRFoYLgkPFzI3EfcvFNnR_bw_oyFr92JcJp1V8obMuW-PsVODddGABR3Zo-s_CK1e0xAdk52nNOtP9x5BgBOdCf-Biu-j2VA69p4HdZNj50UWlYatJp_6imHFE2MVeV_venss4BVqcGbhU/s933/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="933" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx-acxBmXq1sR91ItMt8Gd9sOmWWaVFTjcKn-xHZV1WXDTiRFoYLgkPFzI3EfcvFNnR_bw_oyFr92JcJp1V8obMuW-PsVODddGABR3Zo-s_CK1e0xAdk52nNOtP9x5BgBOdCf-Biu-j2VA69p4HdZNj50UWlYatJp_6imHFE2MVeV_venss4BVqcGbhU/w374-h348/Picture2.png" width="374" /></a></div><br />
<!--[endif]-->I’ll be making two trips to New Jersey in the
next couple of weeks. One as a presenter in a fundraising event. I’ll be
representing PIU. The other for the mission’s fall Board meeting.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your generous giving in the past has made these current
activities possible. Obviously, some of what I just mentioned will make a hit
on our account. I’d be out of line to compare myself with the Apostle Paul, but
I do consider you to be faithful supporters as were the folks in the Philippian
church.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid #4472C4 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #4472C4 1.0pt; margin-left: .6in; margin-right: .6in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #4472C4 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-alt: solid #4472C4 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 10.0pt 0in 10.0pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span class="MsoIntenseReference">You have done well to
share with us in our ministry . . .. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I
seek for the profit which increases to your account . . .. We have received what you have sent, a
fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply
all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians
4:14-19, personalized by hm )<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kathy & Howard<o:p></o:p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-31487992200426760832023-09-29T13:39:00.000-04:002023-09-29T13:39:44.459-04:00September Prayer Letter<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvXVfU8QqV3N6AyLA-pJqDpDfls7wHHH2ebgqOYjqJlkBcI1qrAAXEieGAspAm9D1MedZvQmVVKIjT9lmJrNvKicimhIVXvL_YccciRRXohKNGibC-ona0YVAxpuW7LAwOg7tZwQC7gIVqxcP285GlWdScFeGOvQtX9eXLRE8Bcv5RLSbzfNK1_n5Oio/s4032/IMG_1548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvXVfU8QqV3N6AyLA-pJqDpDfls7wHHH2ebgqOYjqJlkBcI1qrAAXEieGAspAm9D1MedZvQmVVKIjT9lmJrNvKicimhIVXvL_YccciRRXohKNGibC-ona0YVAxpuW7LAwOg7tZwQC7gIVqxcP285GlWdScFeGOvQtX9eXLRE8Bcv5RLSbzfNK1_n5Oio/s320/IMG_1548.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />How many times in a
week do you say something like, “I’m busy right now, I’ll get back to you
later.”? It’s a normal happening. Generally, we call or text back in a short
while. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When Kathy and I lived on Guam the time for us was about half-a-day
ahead of most of our family back in the States. Often “later” meant either they
or we were in bed, or at work or school. There were two windows of
communication, one in the morning, and one in the evening. Calling a grandchild
for their birthday or reaching out to a long-term friend for support could be
complicated—often frustrating. I won’t mention dealing with the IRS at 1:00 AM.
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s just one example of the many things that stress those
who live in another place, with a different culture, where “everybody” speaks a
strange language, and where the days and nights are all mixed up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Liebenzell USA appointed Kathy and me as Missionary Care
Associates to help ease the stress for missionaries serving in difficult
places. Quite often when I talk to one of “our” missionaries they will
apologize for not being at our monthly SMMM (Second Monday Missionary Meeting),
or not sending a thank you for a birthday present their child received. Kathy
or I always assure them that no apology is needed. We host the monthly
fellowship/prayer time, send gifts to MKs (missionary kids), and do the other
things we do to be a blessing, not create another obligation. Our goal is to
build a community of care. Missionaries are like the rest of us. We work better
when we have encouragement. Many of you have contributed to the fund that
allows us to encourage these valued servants. That encourages us. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are some reasons we are thankful, and some matters we
would appreciate you praying about. Not all of the following are directly
related to our work with LMUSA, but they represent who we are at this point in
life. Thanks for joining us in praise and prayer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We praise the Lord for the good health we enjoy.
We don’t take it for granted. Kathy is a dedicated walker. Over the last few
months, I’ve gotten back into regular biking. Thank you, Lord.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->My supervisor at the mission is Mike. Mike has
been diagnosed with Lyme disease. He is suffering with general fatigue and
weakness in his legs, particularly the right leg. Please pray for Mike.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It is fun to send birthday presents to the MKs
on behalf of the mission. Sometimes it is complicated. International mail is
expensive, often uncertain, and in at least one case nonexistent. Kindle books
sometime work, as does Amazon. Pray that we can find creative and wise ways to
bless the kids.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We are mostly past COVID in our day-to-day lives
in North America, for some of our missionary family the virus remains a nagging
problem. Sometimes it complicates travel. To vax or not can be a big issue.
Pray for wisdom.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->I’ll be traveling to Zambia in January. I’ll be
visiting with several missionary families, speaking at a staff training
gathering at an international Christian school, speaking at an English-speaking
church, and participating in a national church conference. It will be a full
two weeks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It’s likely, sometime in the next several months,
that Kathy will head back to Guam to help one of our missionary ladies finish
up a remodeling project, as well as encourage others. Pray for wisdom on this
decision.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We are seeking to encourage a young family who
are planning to go to Ecuador. If you, or your church are interested in
supporting a sharp couple, let me know. Please pray for Steven and Gwen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Kathy and I continue to minister on Sunday mornings
at a little church about forty miles from our home. Pray that we can help this
congregation get back on a firmer foundation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Kathy is speaking at a women’s conference in New
Hampshire, next month.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Our family is well. We are glad to see
significant ministry that comes from sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We are thankful that your past generosity is
enabling our current caring-for-missionaries ministry. Our current ministry
expenses are covered. We’ll keep you posted. If you have questions, get in
touch with us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are busy, but we welcome your contact. If we don’t pick
up the phone or answer an electronic communique right away, we will try to get
back to you. You have permission to bug us. We respond pretty well to good
natured nagging. As I rode my bike today, as I often am, I was impressed with
the beauty of God’s world. We hope you are enjoying your part of the world.
Look around in wonder and look up in thanks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kathy & Howard<o:p></o:p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-54625943086376142252023-06-07T08:26:00.001-04:002023-06-08T07:40:33.616-04:00A Brief Update on Damage and RECOVERY at PIU<p> This is the third post I've made since Typhoon Mawar clobbered Guam and, in particular, the campus of Pacific Islands University. </p><p><a href="https://micronesianadventure.blogspot.com/2023/05/of-you-have-heard-about-typhoon-mawar.html">Post 1</a></p><p><a href="https://micronesianadventure.blogspot.com/2023/06/an-update-on-aftermath-of-mawar-guam-piu.html">Post 2</a></p><p>A friend of mine, someone I worked with I was at PIU, recently posted about the University's efforts to recover. While the efforts so far are limited--understandably so--it is significant to see the move back in the right direction.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The campus now has running water.</li><li>Still no electricity on campus.</li><li>The lines that provide an internet connection are still down. The damage to the lines and wifi components on campus have yet to be assessed.</li><li>Phone service is spotty.</li><li>A contractor has been on campus to assess structural damage and give a preliminary estimate on the cost of repairs.</li><li>Cleaning up has been ongoing.</li><li>Temporary fixes have begun. Some of the loose remnants of the Classroom 2 roof structure have been removed, small holes in the roof are being temporarily patched. </li><li>The plan is to provide temporary coverings at critical places to prevent further damage and allow drying to begin.</li></ul><div>While these steps are limited, they are significant. All the work, thus far, has been done by volunteers, as I understand, primarily by University staff.</div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-size: 14.85px;"> Liebenzell Mission of the USA has set up a fund for bringing aid to PIU. I encourage you to visit </span><a href="https://www.liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/#typhoon" style="background-color: white; color: #105194; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/#typhoon</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-size: 14.85px;">. You will see instructions there as to how you can make a tax-deductable donation.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaBnYSVdI91keWzes_7m57Y5tM3ioYUxn4ZSTub9YZgJsXWXSni6fUqKXhIen2JvH_-ayJywogc63hHEOMawLgd8lrZhVbY1gcYLJxbzubMFG0v2LwFRnCGdeX_aSG1mUlv0G1C5X7tokKlPbSmC3UJx7MOZrBeDWlVcNymi1H54-Y7Ee8d6odLeyP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaBnYSVdI91keWzes_7m57Y5tM3ioYUxn4ZSTub9YZgJsXWXSni6fUqKXhIen2JvH_-ayJywogc63hHEOMawLgd8lrZhVbY1gcYLJxbzubMFG0v2LwFRnCGdeX_aSG1mUlv0G1C5X7tokKlPbSmC3UJx7MOZrBeDWlVcNymi1H54-Y7Ee8d6odLeyP" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE1E4B5RfKV5iFVwGfKLi99scnDMGZzJLaErXHILwbIY-vRErsBRZCuaIiHx0P8xbea8h8KoVe52axGAwu6WV7bKKgmBmxSNELT49h4OUDESH-5Cypr8hywbi8TbIN9_OCQvlVxzui4M5T_AembZPQUdFSeGdzt5GeYD_xnmoaVTQPSDVNAzoD3jE5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE1E4B5RfKV5iFVwGfKLi99scnDMGZzJLaErXHILwbIY-vRErsBRZCuaIiHx0P8xbea8h8KoVe52axGAwu6WV7bKKgmBmxSNELT49h4OUDESH-5Cypr8hywbi8TbIN9_OCQvlVxzui4M5T_AembZPQUdFSeGdzt5GeYD_xnmoaVTQPSDVNAzoD3jE5" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a new picture (6/8). Pray that the plastic sheeting will stay in place until real repairs can be made. Pray for funding for those repairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMoEfrquhYHPcw9zU8EGECqohys9WYvq3NkalBXLAkt9FTPm70Vb9hC_vbIgXFUNz4Td0k7D4YfnY6Ow16dgMHw4s50Bm_DfCpQGNjIsIhpXR1zqevGQ_RLsL3eyxsS-rMUOh2Rmd8T13Q2Fu_hmpMIVXVu2zejVRpw37b8b5SKG8955eVkYtbINt/s2048/plasticonroof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMoEfrquhYHPcw9zU8EGECqohys9WYvq3NkalBXLAkt9FTPm70Vb9hC_vbIgXFUNz4Td0k7D4YfnY6Ow16dgMHw4s50Bm_DfCpQGNjIsIhpXR1zqevGQ_RLsL3eyxsS-rMUOh2Rmd8T13Q2Fu_hmpMIVXVu2zejVRpw37b8b5SKG8955eVkYtbINt/w640-h482/plasticonroof.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture was taken when the job was in process. The rest of this section of the roof is now covered and the plastic smoothed out and weighted down. Pray that it lasts until real repairs can be made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-6635956143789076922023-06-05T12:52:00.004-04:002023-06-05T12:52:48.002-04:00An Update on the Aftermath of Mawar: Guam, & PIU<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxn9llLBwJYTx341LguGsY9PD7bJLPAlNcktW7QgFgblXzP2PjkGQ-52M3jZ2RlwyCbl7NozeRBAc48oD2vk4naHo-Ya6Kwcy0mY5p93dRAMtlUl4RYMU2D-ayaN7a310ExEw7G6xVuRdsADKwEjMRgWcy2aHckshy6jXWoBLz_nnKQYXxbTzJYeGZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1284" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxn9llLBwJYTx341LguGsY9PD7bJLPAlNcktW7QgFgblXzP2PjkGQ-52M3jZ2RlwyCbl7NozeRBAc48oD2vk4naHo-Ya6Kwcy0mY5p93dRAMtlUl4RYMU2D-ayaN7a310ExEw7G6xVuRdsADKwEjMRgWcy2aHckshy6jXWoBLz_nnKQYXxbTzJYeGZ=w400-h188" width="400" /></a></div><p>May 31, I posted about the devastation Typhoon Mawar wrought on the Pacific Islands University Campus. See <a href="https://micronesianadventure.blogspot.com/2023/05/of-you-have-heard-about-typhoon-mawar.html">here</a>. </p><p>I am taking a moment of your time, today, to give you an update.</p><p>Some time ago a major storm system, a derecho, hit the little community where I live. The power grid was seriously impacted. I remember seeing utility vehicles and crews from Florida and other far away places, that had come to repair the infrastructure.</p><p>Guam is 4,000 miles from Hawaii and twice that distance from the mainland. Bureaucratic, as well as</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb2KIxLFK7Z6cW_a-IAgXjYRBhGOwQmv7Nh7WTASdgjI_EVHGLOzvUvDvoA_2oB2HJYuWHmBih9cilYXd2YlOutWZFQnRwnkdg_D_X79hRDrR2Va90RCkoDjvLCvsIEqdRI-U8UdrpNURnUq7m1iwR8ZL2gSrosrd_RGLUKhKL_mxrRQzy3LFT_aTU" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="957" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb2KIxLFK7Z6cW_a-IAgXjYRBhGOwQmv7Nh7WTASdgjI_EVHGLOzvUvDvoA_2oB2HJYuWHmBih9cilYXd2YlOutWZFQnRwnkdg_D_X79hRDrR2Va90RCkoDjvLCvsIEqdRI-U8UdrpNURnUq7m1iwR8ZL2gSrosrd_RGLUKhKL_mxrRQzy3LFT_aTU=w187-h400" width="187" /></a></div><br /> economic and geographic hurdles have to be overcome to bring in help from off-island. In short, recovering from an event like Typhoon Mawar, stresses all available systems. It takes a while.<p></p><p>Even <a href="https://guamrecovery.com/" target="_blank">the site</a> that gives information about Guam recovery efforts is "Coming Soon."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Here are some anecdotal reports: <br /><br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>June 1, "Still don't have power, water or cell service.I can drive around and get cell service but trying not to waste gas." (a friend)</li><li>Today (keep in mind Guam is 14 hours ahead of EDST) the Pacific Daily News reported that "The Guam Power Authority utilities restoration passed the midway point as of 1 p.m. Monday, according to the latest update released by GPA."</li><li>From further away the Wishington Post reported 3 days ago, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">About half of the island remains without </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">water</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, and about 65% is without power. It may be weeks until the utilities are fully restored."</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The last I heard PIU is still part of the "doesn't have it yet," part of Guam.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I talked with PIU President, Iotaka Choram, a couple of days ago. He was at a car dealership using their signal. The school is trying to get some estimates on what repairs to the campus will cost. PIU is just one of many looking for such information. Through the kindness of a supporter of PIU, some of the staff has been able to set up an off-campus "office," where they have access to a cell signal and wifi. I'm expecting an update from that office, soon. I'll pass it on when I get it.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUMOfIP36nbdZKFC1RdYdj1KpJLTwLWGDfhdNrxR8BAacZc4TXCCBqUvuSB3TyN2aTW7wYu2f9oWqyEVppewSaGfVXTh6V8CExI24urvKSfwIR7a2f9qSLvCbFJ9z4YiVSMTuMCjlZyzE_XPJLadMt-wrblA8ybuHN0jr-_JgaganIQ59FqOKyqRQ-" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUMOfIP36nbdZKFC1RdYdj1KpJLTwLWGDfhdNrxR8BAacZc4TXCCBqUvuSB3TyN2aTW7wYu2f9oWqyEVppewSaGfVXTh6V8CExI24urvKSfwIR7a2f9qSLvCbFJ9z4YiVSMTuMCjlZyzE_XPJLadMt-wrblA8ybuHN0jr-_JgaganIQ59FqOKyqRQ-" width="186" /></a></div><br />Perhaps one indication of the current situation is that GovGuam is currently running ads to hire "Debris Inspectors."<p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The bottom line is I don't know much more today than I did when I wrote the last post.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I do know that the school is planning to continue offering "Acredited, Affordable, Accessible, Transformative, Christian" higher education to the people of Guam, Micronesia, and beyond. I don't have any information as to when the school plans to resume instruction.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I am convinced that the need for this kind of education in Micronesia and the Micronesian Diaspora is great.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I know that just about everyone associated with the school has a big job in front of them personally, as well as in regard to PIU. This picture of the roofless Classroom 2 is illustrative. Having begun to clean up, lets one see the damage more clearly. The corner hasn't been turned. It hasn't even been reached, yet.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I know that not only is the school damaged physically. It is shut down fiscally. No classes mea</span><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ns that the normal flow of income is cut off. </span></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMXyyfJGcKE13EFWAsGp26ZWYdWHEjTadFwa7KV3Okr5UzZGe2m3RL9hDm103Dt1QsJl9jhCbAA5rDTyFy11oav9GXTgnTUzPKhyRVnDud8LeQaPT0oIwBC-IINKw2sobm562s7tbyr8nbMFAUAMSAxWL-2nFUG4qxbdn28KC2YdCdzXoSPYsbkSdu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1284" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMXyyfJGcKE13EFWAsGp26ZWYdWHEjTadFwa7KV3Okr5UzZGe2m3RL9hDm103Dt1QsJl9jhCbAA5rDTyFy11oav9GXTgnTUzPKhyRVnDud8LeQaPT0oIwBC-IINKw2sobm562s7tbyr8nbMFAUAMSAxWL-2nFUG4qxbdn28KC2YdCdzXoSPYsbkSdu=w400-h188" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mentioned seeing trucks and crews from far away that came to my home area after a major disaster some years ago. In the case of Pacific Islands University, you and I are the help that needs to be on the way. Liebenzell Mission of the USA, a mission agency with a deep history of working with PIU, has set up a fund for bringing aid to this beleaguered, indeed clobbered school. I encourage you to visit <a href="https://www.liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/#typhoon">https://www.liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/#typhoon</a>. You will see instructions there as to how you can make a tax-deductable donation to help put the roof back on and students back in the classroom above.</div><br /><br /><p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-33602936616098828342023-05-31T11:47:00.001-04:002023-05-31T11:47:48.433-04:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAGx8mDhxNDPiWvcikK4wmLw_AccQ6bcVPoxoaUURYWhi_72sz5Yuj845pq0y9A9ZgPl2sznaR1YqHXWoH-_DyLnqsa9GluqM6Gi7QhkUqfotfnTdtSEzMCEumH8j6JeKG_I-rsIvS4MoJl9-bZfXimvnIOvqSy4WEUA4S0eFxzf30iZ2pb_csQoq/s1792/After%20Mawar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAGx8mDhxNDPiWvcikK4wmLw_AccQ6bcVPoxoaUURYWhi_72sz5Yuj845pq0y9A9ZgPl2sznaR1YqHXWoH-_DyLnqsa9GluqM6Gi7QhkUqfotfnTdtSEzMCEumH8j6JeKG_I-rsIvS4MoJl9-bZfXimvnIOvqSy4WEUA4S0eFxzf30iZ2pb_csQoq/s320/After%20Mawar2.jpg" width="148" /></a></div> Many of you have heard about Typhoon Mawar and the devastation it wrought on the US Territory of Guam. Knowing that Kathy and I lived on Guam and served at Pacific Islands University some of you have asked how the massive storm impacted the school.<p></p><p></p>The short answer is, "Badly!"<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The PIU campus was damaged. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>One classroom (classroom 2) is now roofless. While it is too soon to know about everything, it looks like all the contents of C2 are ruined. <br />Essential wifi-related cables were in that ceiling.</li><li>An adjacent classroom (C1b) has a hole in the roof, caused by the tearing away of the C2 roof. </li><li>The same thing happened to the roof of the Men's Dorm, which is on the other side of C2.</li><li>One of the fastest-growing lifeforms on Guam is mold. With things wet from Mawar exposed to periodic showers, and with no electricity for power drying aids like AC and/or fans, the mold has free reign. </li><li>Trees and other vegetation were destroyed or damaged. </li><li>You can get an idea of the power of the storm by looking at the name of the school on the campus<br /> pavilion--in many ways the heart of the campus. (picture below) One of the last things Kathy did on campus in the Spring of 2021 was to paint that lettering. It remained nice and bold until Mawar's pressure-washer-like wind and rain descended.</li><li>More than anything else, the people who make up PIU have been, and continue to be, drastically impacted. <br />More below:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVo4a96UNtArAbWp3ah_3oBKvRBsxPZr2bj-HWEytsPzaxDZefp9Rv-mmKEQNcl1E2eVH7P_8qtijszKTu_Xg-du3aSMLjMLeUNNSyENZWVJTX6VNysYy_jT09SIY7CTVShVgjDcs1gys7OR7QoTYsntU6xlwIkFTgk2porjYP6RELll9zBtSMlrx/s1040/After%20Mawar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVo4a96UNtArAbWp3ah_3oBKvRBsxPZr2bj-HWEytsPzaxDZefp9Rv-mmKEQNcl1E2eVH7P_8qtijszKTu_Xg-du3aSMLjMLeUNNSyENZWVJTX6VNysYy_jT09SIY7CTVShVgjDcs1gys7OR7QoTYsntU6xlwIkFTgk2porjYP6RELll9zBtSMlrx/s320/After%20Mawar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></li></ul><div>I just received an email from one resident of Guam. "Exactly one week ago we lost power and still do not have power. 26% of Guam has electricity now and 51% have water." Last night I tried to communicate with several friends and colleagues there (that's morning for them). I was unsuccessful on all but one attempt. One person responded by text, "My connection is bad." (Though to tell you the truth, I'm not sure whether that was a response to last night's attempt or a previous one. With the other attempts, I got "no service" indicators. One friend was able to call back. I'm glad that before our call was cut off I was able to hear that she is fine.<br />I have heard of waits of up to 8 hours in gas lines. Many churches are unable to meet.</div><div>One staff member I talked to, a couple of days ago--our call was interrupted 3 times--told me his parents' house was destroyed down to the foundation. Mom and dad are living with my friend's family in the apartment on campus where Kathy and I lived the last year we were there.<br />Though I'm half a world away, I sense that weariness has set in. The task is huge.</div><div><br /></div><div>PIU in particular has been in a precarious situation for some time. Obviously, the location of the school,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvK8kaM44jCNmYoc4BpdOOO8v6Az95ydECvOq1a9RVYfBCudflsmZcqWKHDWykEfuhG24KPrr2mgH5rVdD_c4jiA0EiIdQ4D0O6Z-060ZoDZhYAbm3qIJdOh-qPnQnMbHLHmzyc2lpsK_gHU6IHOAv30WwXQT3k1EA46KE97YoQFgkdCx2i502Jc5x" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="956" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvK8kaM44jCNmYoc4BpdOOO8v6Az95ydECvOq1a9RVYfBCudflsmZcqWKHDWykEfuhG24KPrr2mgH5rVdD_c4jiA0EiIdQ4D0O6Z-060ZoDZhYAbm3qIJdOh-qPnQnMbHLHmzyc2lpsK_gHU6IHOAv30WwXQT3k1EA46KE97YoQFgkdCx2i502Jc5x=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-Mawar kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> while optimal for serving the Micronesian communities, is in a place where Typhoons are fairly common. Mawar was more powerful than most, but the threat of a "big one" was always there. The metal roof on the main building had withstood several storms. We all knew, however, that it was vulnerable. That's why we always moved the residents of that building to more secure locations when storms came. The residents of the Men's dorm camped out in the concrete-roofed library during Mawar.<br />For the history of the school--certainly, while Kathy and I served there--PIU has done a lot with a little. Anyone, with any common sense at all, even from thousands of miles away can look at the <i><b>"lot that needs to be done"</b></i> and see that the <b>"little we have" </b>won't cut it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm waiting for further word from the current leadership of the school. I'll pass on more information when I have it. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime here is what you can do:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>By all means, <b>PRAY.<br /></b></li></ol><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>You can see much to pray about from the pictures and descriptions above.</li><li>In particular, pray for President Iotaka Choram, Vice President Delight Suda, and Board Chair, Cita Tomada. Important decisions are being made.</li><li>Pray for those young men who were moved from dorm to library, to, I'm not sure where. I just heard that the mold forced them to vacate the dorm again.</li><li>Other students who are likewise wondering, "What's next?"</li><li>The mom and dad I spoke of, are representative of many who don't have homes right now.</li><li>Pray that resources for repair and rebuilding will be available.</li><li>Pray for the spirits of those impacted. They need strength, endurance, and courage.</li></ul></ul> 2. You can<b> Give.</b></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Liebenzell Mission USA has a long relationship with Pacific Islands University. A fund exists at LMUSA, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/&source=gmail&ust=1685551016209000&usg=AOvVaw05-KfO2rsZhnrOv8ZFkDIs" href="https://liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://liebenzellmission.org/<wbr></wbr>give/piu/</a>, for gifts to PIU. You may choose to await further information, I understand. We'll pass it on ASAP. Or knowing already that the need will be great, you may choose to give now. Either way, or both, you can use this link, </div><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/&source=gmail&ust=1685551016209000&usg=AOvVaw05-KfO2rsZhnrOv8ZFkDIs" href="https://liebenzellmission.org/give/piu/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://liebenzellmission.org/<wbr></wbr>give/piu/</a>, to make your tax deductable gifts to this fund for PIU. If you choose, you can send a check--inlcude a note indicating it is for the PIU Fund--to LMUSA, PO Box 66, Schooleys Mountain, NJ 07870.</blockquote><p>Thank you,</p><p>Howard Merrell</p><p>Privileged to have served at PIU for 4.5 years. </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-55766551825756985432023-05-22T21:10:00.001-04:002023-05-22T21:10:38.170-04:00May 2023 Prayer Letter<p class="MsoHeader"><br /><!--[endif]--></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8eaadb; font-size: 14pt;">Howard & Kathy Merrell, </span><i style="color: #8eaadb; font-size: 14pt;">caring for those who are reaching.</i> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>Dear Partners,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In an effort to stay on the road, Kathy and I recently cheated.
We used two vehicles. We have been seeking to help a loved one whose spouse has
a serious medical condition. Kathy has been going to this loved one’s house—three
hours away—every four to six weeks to help out. I go sometimes. Last week we
left after the morning service at Woodland Church, where I am interim, and
drove there, me in the truck and Kathy in the car. She returned to Covington on
Tuesday in order to teach in ladies’ group on Wednesday (two sessions) and
teach her three piano students. Then she went from Covington to Rockhill SC to
look after our youngest grandchild, Ava, while Tanisha was in Ghana helping to
run a missions conference and Chad was in Louisiana speaking at a men’s
retreat. Meanwhile, I left from the loved one’s home and traveled to LMUSA Head
Quarters in New Jersey, to work on a project with Mike Branch, Global
Ministries Director, and take part in the Board meeting. Kathy got back home
Saturday afternoon. I arrived late that night. The next morning, we got to ride
together, <span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span>, as we went back to Woodland.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We thank the Lord for good health. We are keeping busy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Specifically in regard to our missions work, we continue to
offer pastoral care to our missionaries. Some of you are very much involved in
the missionary program of your church. Here are some numbers and facts that
should be of interest to you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A “big” sister mission, OMF, did research “. . .
data from 11 missionary organizations . . . between 2016 and 2018, these
organizations sent 1014 new missionaries to the field and saw 974 of their
missionaries leave . . ..” <span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">(</span><a href="https://omf.org/us/missionaries-get-lonely-too-its-contributing-to-missionary-attrition/"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">https://omf.org/us/missionaries-get-lonely-too-its-contributing-to-missionary-attrition/</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">)</span> That’s barely more than holding our own while
the world grows exponentially.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“[I]t is estimated that 1 career missionary in
20 . . . leaves the mission field . . . every year. . . 71% leave for preventable reasons.”<span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> (“Research and Data on Missionary Attrition
Worldwide,”</span><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cc4c65dd7819e7af1cad8d9/t/5d0a64c7a2492800011ced6c/1560962248075/Summary+Taylor%27s+article.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration-line: none;"> </span><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration-line: none;">here</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration-line: none;">)</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->This preventable attrition is pronounced during
the first term of missionary service.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not to overload you with web addresses, but to demonstrate
that this isn’t just coming from my gut, I’ll link one more <a href="https://www.alifeoverseas.com/closer-to-the-truth-about-current-missionary-attrition-an-initial-analysis-of-results/">article</a>.
BTW, my gut agrees. One of the leading reasons for leaving the field that this
article presents is “lack of missionary care.” It would seem that this lack is
most pronounced in small agencies, like LMUSA.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a place where <i>what we should do</i> coincides
with <i>what is useful</i>. Yes, we at LMUSA would like to address the
missionary attrition issue, but, more so, we want to simply care for the
missionaries who serve with us. They are people, bearers of the image of God, and
they are servants of our Lord. They deserve to be treated as such.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s not rocket science:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We try to pray for our missionaries and let them
know they are being prayed for.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We want each missionary to get a happy
birthday/anniversary greeting, and we want each missionary child to receive a
birthday gift.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We want to work with supporting churches to
explore ways to leverage church-based missionary care.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->LMUSA is small enough that I (HM) have a place
at the table. My boss, Global Ministries Director, Mike Branch is totally
behind efforts to provide better missionary care.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Likely some travel to places where missionaries
do their work is in my/our future.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Mike Branch and I are working on our onboarding
process. We want to work with missionary candidates in such a way that we
maximize their opportunity for success. We want them to survive, but more, we
want them to thrive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It has been said that concerning the Great Commission the
child of God can be either a goer, a sender, or a disobeyer. Somewhere between
the goer and sender there is a place for the missionary-carer. We are trying to
fit in that gap.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Personally, to you:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support.
While Kathy and I don’t draw a salary, your support covers our ministry
expenses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kathy and I have a fairly unique experience base when it
comes to missions. I was pastor of a small church that had/has a substantial
global impact. We were also missionaries in Palau and then Guam for about five
years. We have also been guests in the homes of several missionary families
around the world. We would love to use what God has entrusted to us in
missionary conferences, and other opportunities to promote Great Commission
ministry in general.<o:p></o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky32nfA-d0j6DZ0oYxF1Ng0a9zcgHo-NcaFHp3E8Z7WP8r1ZSLPeeb4HOFzoK32-rXx5kxCpgNrOZvZdCbf17Y9heWM7HQX62y3p7uMbBwjrauDXW76fFvljONM_PQQcKv3c9yFOPPeF13I44Cd0oO7Sd1YTUVWIUwJAU-0dagbmZHHVgn-B2VuEx/s1139/Andersons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1139" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky32nfA-d0j6DZ0oYxF1Ng0a9zcgHo-NcaFHp3E8Z7WP8r1ZSLPeeb4HOFzoK32-rXx5kxCpgNrOZvZdCbf17Y9heWM7HQX62y3p7uMbBwjrauDXW76fFvljONM_PQQcKv3c9yFOPPeF13I44Cd0oO7Sd1YTUVWIUwJAU-0dagbmZHHVgn-B2VuEx/w640-h480/Andersons.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">As part of the recent
Board Meeting Steven and Gwen Anderson (seated) were received as missionaries
with LMUSA. They are planning to serve with Kathy and Kevin Bruce, among the
Awa in Ecuador.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ll be in Texas with our son, Chris, and his family for
the next two weeks. We’ll still be on the grid, however, and, we’d love to hear from
you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Howard and Kathy<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">covbchm@gmail.com</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br />Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-76420984824278677972022-11-20T08:18:00.002-05:002022-11-20T08:18:50.144-05:00Introducing colleagues who are making a difference in a needy place. They are worthy of your support.<p> Those of you who follow this blog, keep up with us via email, or through other means know that Kathy and I are no longer in the Pacific. Part of our heart is still there, though. In our new role of helping the Liebenzell USA missionary family, we still have a vicarious function among the people of Micronesia. Seeing the pictures in <a href="https://mailchi.mp/9ea646519d16/the-houde-august-2022-newsletter-update-9063169?e=5cce755610">Gary and Dot Houde's email</a> touched my heart.</p><p>It was our privilege to work with Dot and Gary while we were serving at Pacific Islands University (PIU). In mid-life Gary and Dot left careers in the public-utility field and in education and prepared themselves to make a difference among people who needed an opportunity for Bible-based higher education. While they were in the preparation phase, they met Dr. Dave Owen, the third president of PIU (it was the sickness that led to his death that brought me to Guam). Dave recruited them for the work at PIU. The caring, humble spirit of the Houdes makes them a good match for working with the Micronesian people that PIU serves.</p><p>A few facts are in order:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Micronesia" means little islands. If you fly from Hawaii to the Philippines, you will pass over Micronesia. These tiny islands are spread over an area on the globe about the same size as the continental United States. yet the combined land mass is smaller than that of Rhode Island. </li><li>Guam, where Pacific Islands University is currently located, is the largest of these Islands. It and the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), just North of Guam, are under US control.</li><li>The population of the region is just over half-a-million. Close to half of that population live on Guam or in CNMI. </li><li>In my four+ years of working at PIU we worked with students from three of the four states of The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau, The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), and CNMI.</li><li>Chuuk, is the largest of the four states that make up FSM. The Chuukese are the largest of the people groups of Micronesia.</li><li>PIU started on one of the islands of Chuuk. The campus that was the home of PIU is currently the home of Faithwalk Christian College, a non-accredited institution.</li><li>The current leadership of PIU has a goal of re-establishing a presence in Chuuk. This is the goal behind much of what you read in the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/9ea646519d16/the-houde-august-2022-newsletter-update-9063169?e=5cce755610">Houde's letter.</a></li></ul><div>I realize that the above is complicated. In many ways the complication is due to the fact that this region, in the last four hundred years, was colonized by, often exploited, dominated, and fought over by the Spanish, Germans, Japanese, and the United States. Currently, the Chinese are seeking to gain a foothold there. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Micronesia-cultural-region-Pacific-Ocean/Contemporary-Micronesia">Here is an article</a> that gives further information.</div><div><br /></div><div>Micronesia, and the Micronesian communities that live in various places in the US are in great need of trained Christian leaders. The Houde's letter talks about that. I believe that PIU is an institution that God raised up to help this need. Gary and Dot are God's people using what God has given them to help meet this need. They are a good Great Commission investment.</div><div><br /></div><div>I encourage you to read the Houde's <a href="https://mailchi.mp/9ea646519d16/the-houde-august-2022-newsletter-update-9063169?e=5cce755610">latest letter</a>, communicate with them, or feel free to communicate with me about them. The Houdes have a donation portal on the LMUSA website. Click <a href="https://liebenzellmission.org/give/houde/">here</a>. I am praying that churches and individuals will partner with the Houdes to make a difference in this too often neglected part of the world. Let me know how I can help.</div><div><br /></div><div>By His Grace,</div><div>HM</div><p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-30698221649440208182022-11-06T07:52:00.002-05:002022-11-06T07:52:38.450-05:00Our November 2022, Prayer/News Letter<p align="center" class="MsoHeader" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 426.3pt right 6.5in; text-align: center;"><br /><!--[endif]--></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUoQE6J_jby6I-ONwkA_qF84CC67zfHwUpgX5LiC2QfNE9IBcs7o7_p348so9uo3-51mqIE6zgoS2GZGHCJE2dy-W5fRqGWWVjbp8lINLyQajtVSdRIhbP9n7GNRaXen6AVnjeKUIzc70z2cbIlFHhG2WvkzmVL9SGJtEkiRFurehpSFqB8_fVoIL/s663/LM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="663" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUoQE6J_jby6I-ONwkA_qF84CC67zfHwUpgX5LiC2QfNE9IBcs7o7_p348so9uo3-51mqIE6zgoS2GZGHCJE2dy-W5fRqGWWVjbp8lINLyQajtVSdRIhbP9n7GNRaXen6AVnjeKUIzc70z2cbIlFHhG2WvkzmVL9SGJtEkiRFurehpSFqB8_fVoIL/w178-h70/LM.png" width="178" /></a></div><span style="color: #8faadc; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Howard & Kathy Merrell, </span><i style="color: #8faadc; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">caring for those who
are reaching. <br /></i><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Dear Partners,</p><p>One of the words of advice that I give to young preachers is to “never start with an apology.” I’m going to contradict my advice as I start this letter.</p><p>I have been very negligent in communicating with you who are partnering with us in prayer and support. I’m sorry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy4qQuBCjDYC3MvrFQmZK7O_63ON-bG5t30PDvCS3_sn0k26cjmRemLwlEB1eE1C2ub140As0UkvrO9pBMeKYI7Smj9_kQ6mVXqPtt5LfBsb5VyiJSWK9nu9DgCVx8Q5Nft8hDRIC8WIE0jnLaG_lrWNXCADSpxZh89NarklNpsdJ2NJ5vTbA2A6/s917/Frolic%20by%20moonlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy4qQuBCjDYC3MvrFQmZK7O_63ON-bG5t30PDvCS3_sn0k26cjmRemLwlEB1eE1C2ub140As0UkvrO9pBMeKYI7Smj9_kQ6mVXqPtt5LfBsb5VyiJSWK9nu9DgCVx8Q5Nft8hDRIC8WIE0jnLaG_lrWNXCADSpxZh89NarklNpsdJ2NJ5vTbA2A6/s320/Frolic%20by%20moonlight.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Let me see if I can make up for my sorriness and bring you up to date on what is going on with the Merrells and this next phase of our ministry.</p><p>First: What have we been up to? We returned from Guam in May of 2021. Our ministry there was busy and full of challenges. Among other tasks was leading the school through the process that led to the renewal of PIU’s accreditation and managing all of the demands that came with COVID 19. I figured I was going to need some decompression time. Thus, a year and half project of rebuilding a vintage travel trailer. If you are interested in the project, check it out at https://68frolic.blogspot.com/. The more recent posts are about the big trip Kathy and I took in celebration of our 50th Anniversary. The earlier posts are about the trailer transformation.</p><p>As far as our member care ministry: I’ve been working with Mike Branch, LMUSA Global Ministries Director in maintaining regular communication with missionaries, including a monthly Zoom meeting with any of the missionary family who choose to join us. I’m working to get in a groove of reaching out to our missionaries and especially their kids, on birthdays and other special occasions. I continue to work with the LMUSA Board. One of my goals is to expand our internet-based connection as a means of encouraging missionaries. I, or we, will probably do some traveling to meet with our missionaries where they minister. I would also like to minister in churches, especially churches associated with LMUSA, but not limited to those. Missions is fundamentally the work of the local church. Helping churches have a heart for missions and a soft spot in their hearts for missionaries is something we want to do. Contact us if we can help. We don’t draw a salary from LMUSA. Any funds in our mission account will pay for travel expenses, gifts for LMUSA Missionary Kids, etc. I’ll let you know when a trip is being planned. You can get in touch with us with any questions you have about partnering with us financially in this member care ministry.</p><p>Howard & Kathy Merrell, caring for those who are reaching.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFb1LWQ01vs4AejQx0zZzOPI2U14SCr0emT2L55dImHE6Bkkwlc7fXBpiL8G9TEqSdSZkJ-IBmqgJrLNy1Jm8wpkIDO1zgvUNrjAaIxvV38BjDutxCinHgZZH4ayC3RhudyvVxMWzjOUz3tS0JvHVpAOw2mTl9KybR0cU2Q9M_Iv9QWWadJIUbI7b/s578/H&K%20Rushmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="578" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFb1LWQ01vs4AejQx0zZzOPI2U14SCr0emT2L55dImHE6Bkkwlc7fXBpiL8G9TEqSdSZkJ-IBmqgJrLNy1Jm8wpkIDO1zgvUNrjAaIxvV38BjDutxCinHgZZH4ayC3RhudyvVxMWzjOUz3tS0JvHVpAOw2mTl9KybR0cU2Q9M_Iv9QWWadJIUbI7b/s320/H&K%20Rushmore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Other ministry: Our work with Liebenzell is a part-time endeavor. In addition to that we are involved in our local church in teaching, music, and occasional preaching. I am currently involved in helping to fill the pulpit in a little church about 40 miles from Covington. We want this phase of our life to count for Christ. We appreciate you praying for us as the Lord brings us to your mind.<p></p><p>Nuts and bolts: You can call us at (540) 620-7077, Kathy; or (540) 620-8429, Howard. We get our email at covbchm@gmail.com, Howard; and Kathy at kmusiq@gmail.com. Our postal address is 2106 S Carpenter Drive, Covington VA 24426. You can make online donations to our fund at https://liebenzellmission.org/give/merrell/.</p><p>Thanks for your interest in our ministry and the work of the Lord around the world. We’d love to hear from you.</p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-38427625143901425502022-05-31T16:23:00.002-04:002022-05-31T16:27:43.053-04:00June 2022, A New Ministry Reaching Out By Helping Those Who Reach<p> Play a bit of Jeopardy with me for a moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UIMRTujS3p3zK01jnBcrkoCMBSo0bdA7V5B_TnpBE_yrsx_eQqeDVocCEJ0cTy0ubVXGgsZDEt1p8cfXg5qnS02edAxQt_A43NDd7m23cm_e_qfbGCBy4RWgXg-lxS8oM5jx0LP1o0Z2x8lr-PSuLEKqxHTO8xJsfeR7k8MFvsSDuuTxezphCe4N/s2048/3647%20(2).JPEG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UIMRTujS3p3zK01jnBcrkoCMBSo0bdA7V5B_TnpBE_yrsx_eQqeDVocCEJ0cTy0ubVXGgsZDEt1p8cfXg5qnS02edAxQt_A43NDd7m23cm_e_qfbGCBy4RWgXg-lxS8oM5jx0LP1o0Z2x8lr-PSuLEKqxHTO8xJsfeR7k8MFvsSDuuTxezphCe4N/s320/3647%20(2).JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is the answer: $300,000 +.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><br />
No, It’s not “What is the cost of a new house.”<br />
Nor, “What does the average professional athlete pay for a sports car?”<br />
It has nothing to do with medical bills.<br />
The question is: “What does it cost for a major corporation to place a higher
level employee in an overseas location?” The answer according to a survey of
half-a-dozen international corporations is, more than $300K. Let’s suppose that
this claim is double the real cost. Still, I find it jaw-dropping to consider
the upfront costs of placing a qualified person in an expat situation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Why should I care? Why do I even
bring it up?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It’s because mission agencies
place well qualified people in expat situations all the time. Even though we do
it much more economically than IBM or Exxon, it is still a huge investment that
should be protected.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Let’s take this a step further:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Missionaries aren’t projects or
mere investments. They are people created in God’s image, servants of the King
sent as ambassadors to needy and, yes, sometimes dangerous places, where they
can have a profound impact for time and eternity. They are people who fit in
the same category as Epaphroditus. Take time to meet him in Philippians
2:25-30; it’s worth the brief trip. They are people who should be “honored.” As
another passage put it—the application is mine—these are people “of whom the
world is not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">So what does this have to do with
a retired ministry couple named Kathy and Howard? Folk like this deserve to be
cared for. Caring for them makes sense in regard to the importance of pursuing
Great Commission ministry. The life that Kathy and I have lived gives us a
wealth of experience from which to draw in reaching out to this worthy group of
people. We can do that. We won’t be missionaries, at least not in the usual
meaning of the word, but we will be helping the missionaries of LMUSA hang in
there in the work to which the Lord has called them<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I have taken on a part-time role as
“Member-Care Associate” with Liebenzell Mission USA, the mission with we served
at Pacific Islands University. Here are a few particulars:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 40.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We aren’t seeking support for our living
expenses, though we have an account with LMUSA that will cover ministry related
traveling expenses, etc. If you want to help us with that, we can talk. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We very much appreciate your prayers. Like real
missionaries we’ll be sending out periodic updates on our work. If you would
like to be a part of our mailing list, either email or postal, let us know.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 40.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We hope to promote a culture of caring for
missionaries. We’d be glad to talk to you, or the leaders in your church, about
missions and/or caring for missionaries. We are open to ministering in various
venues.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps you have questions or
thoughts about what we are doing. If so, please send us a note. Our old PIU
email addresses don’t work anymore. HM’s
address is <a href="mailto:covbchm@gmail.com">covbchm@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:hmerrell@liebenzellusa.org">hmerrell@liebenzellusa.org</a>.
Kathy’s is <a href="mailto:kmusiq@gmail.com">kmusiq@gmail.com</a>. <b>We are putting together a new mailing list.
If you want to receive our updates, drop us a line.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">H&K Merrell</span><br />
<i>Helping to reach others by helping those who
reach<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></i></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-59417470221004757422021-12-23T09:32:00.000-05:002021-12-23T09:32:10.661-05:00Christmas Greetings and a "Six-month" Check-in<p> As we are in the final throes of Christmas preparation, we are about as "settled in" as well as we will be. Truth be told, we are resisting being too settled. Think, "This world is not my home. I'm just a passin' through."</p><p>We have a long history of sending out late Christmas greetings. Actually, we are earlier than usual this year. We plan to get them sent out today, 12/23. Below is the electronic version. It may actually get to you on time. On-time or late, our wishes for you are sincere.</p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Merry Christmas & Happy New
Year<br />
</span></b><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">From the
Merrells (now back in Covington VA)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE6k1ipJR4TxqkeaBJdI0811JMgT1VIlWMYo_kyn_a40swMVgUZJpxbUziCk9UzZeb_VIcfilvaZxww3_56a3sYeZVMAFrV1D3UaBbtAoHF-HqjdR5OU5Xl-ETCvdMqjTTLcrPg_hiRKHFORoXbKXocF2n8fs7EUaDjbNWTEp2ZziCtBNdsYOTOjz2=s824" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="824" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE6k1ipJR4TxqkeaBJdI0811JMgT1VIlWMYo_kyn_a40swMVgUZJpxbUziCk9UzZeb_VIcfilvaZxww3_56a3sYeZVMAFrV1D3UaBbtAoHF-HqjdR5OU5Xl-ETCvdMqjTTLcrPg_hiRKHFORoXbKXocF2n8fs7EUaDjbNWTEp2ZziCtBNdsYOTOjz2=s320" width="320" /></a>Let
me answer your question before you get it out; we aren’t ready for Christmas.</p><p class="MsoNormal">When I started this
letter on December 1 there was a poinsettia on the table, but little else had
been done in the way of decorations. It’s now the 16<sup>th</sup>. Getting
ready is still ongoing. The “What are we going to give . . . ?” conversation
continues. One reason for the delay in getting this letter out is Kathy and I
were involved in a church presentation, outreach, to our community that took
place last weekend. We invested a lot of time in it. Even now plans are still
in flux. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">But it’s OK.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimzS0X_z5-Q3qXpUXW9eK40yfOqEM8pqk-zyjJfOAzfuq81w2Rw1Jr9edfFFHLBRb6YEAfA-rpROMVXwgz2ramDA60UW_ep0R3lN61byXRhaINaXjkIcvr6TmmlRUkyto8GojIlG9Pr8_8kc0_zJtDLuNL8F52uJFtbh0CLBfLAUoJ4c_d_34lM4Ig=s960" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimzS0X_z5-Q3qXpUXW9eK40yfOqEM8pqk-zyjJfOAzfuq81w2Rw1Jr9edfFFHLBRb6YEAfA-rpROMVXwgz2ramDA60UW_ep0R3lN61byXRhaINaXjkIcvr6TmmlRUkyto8GojIlG9Pr8_8kc0_zJtDLuNL8F52uJFtbh0CLBfLAUoJ4c_d_34lM4Ig=s320" width="180" /></a>Since we arrived back in Covington in early May, life has
been full of adjustments. For one thing, we definitely have to dress differently. It’s good to be back home, but we miss Guam—Kathy
especially misses the islands now that the weather is turning cold. It is great
to be back closer to family—we have seen much more of our boys, their wives, and
grandkids—but we miss our friends on the other side. It was time for a
slowdown, but we don’t want to stop and after chilling for a while we are
figuring out what life in the new now looks like.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We continue to be grateful, even amazed, at the kindness and
generosity of our ministry partners who made it possible for us to serve in
Guam for almost four-and-a-half years. We are trying to get around to see as
many of you who worked with us as possible. We appreciate how so many of you
have inquired as to how we are doing now that we are back in the states. Thank
you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So,
where & how are the Merrells, and what is next?<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeQQI1Kg6kND5uaMl2fljJTNxK51pRGC8Da6jC4pDbSblsouWo7yyp6ShKukB2IeJILWWCEDsbq2xtHqmofWPE2gDVTnk51oeYl7B39xLQ9UpI4H8j1UgNY2LwqSznrlaOEaaFIK5kPpo8yMdygzAVh7EiEVQm8OPP5gVYTkjBaIp68ZlDq2DTBSMm=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2240" data-original-width="4608" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeQQI1Kg6kND5uaMl2fljJTNxK51pRGC8Da6jC4pDbSblsouWo7yyp6ShKukB2IeJILWWCEDsbq2xtHqmofWPE2gDVTnk51oeYl7B39xLQ9UpI4H8j1UgNY2LwqSznrlaOEaaFIK5kPpo8yMdygzAVh7EiEVQm8OPP5gVYTkjBaIp68ZlDq2DTBSMm=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />(Picture on left: We enjoyed meeting up with Mayson Red, a PIU alumnus, at the 80th-anniversary celebration of LMUSA. Mayson is in a missions prep program at LMUSA HQ.)<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are back in our house in Covington VA (2106 S. Carpenter Drive, Covington VA
24426). One of the things that has occupied especially Kathy has been catching
up on some repair and decorating needs.<br />
Likewise, we are still a part of Covington Bible Church. Kathy has begun to get
re-involved in music and spending time with some women, and Howard has preached
a couple of times and will be teaching a Sunday School class in the Spring. <br />
We are looking at wider ministry opportunities.<br />
Howard took on the project of rebuilding a fifty-three year-old travel trailer.
You can track his progress—or lack thereof—at <a href="https://68frolic.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">https: //68frolic.blogspot.com/</span></a>.
We want to take it on a big trip out west in the New Year.<br />
Our family is well. Chad pastors North Rock Hill Church in Rock Hill SC. He,
wife Tanisha, Kendal, and Ava live in Rock Hill. Christopher is in Monroe LA,
Carrington and husband Harrison Haley are in their new house in Provo Utah, and
Madeline and husband Sam Wilder are in Greenville SC. Kendal will be moving to
Boston early in the New Year for a three-month missions internship. Chris and
Nancy hold down the fort in College Station TX. Silas and Kira are still at
home—when they are home. Chris is now working with Hartwell University, a
startup, online school with a goal of placing teachers who love Jesus and
students in classrooms around the world. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">You can reach us online or by phone at <a href="mailto:covbchm@gmail.com">covbchm@gmail.com</a>, (540) 620 7015 (HM) or <a href="mailto:kmusiq@gmail.com">kmusiq@gmail.com</a>, (540) 620 7077 (KM). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As Kathy and I were getting ready for and participating in
that CBC Christmas event I mentioned we were impressed anew with the reality
and wonder of the incarnation. We are so thankful that God didn’t look down and
say, “Get everything ready and I’ll stop by.” Instead, in that incomprehensible
eternal-mindedness of our infinite God, He came in the person of God-the-Son to
make us ready to live with Him. We pray that your Christmas will be filled with
precious thoughts of God’s wonderful gift. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Kathy & Howard</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_sIvImm69IzjyxOCWoWZ8S98NauYI35InGTQchdT3iVkpU2sOfHXwfRw8UA3jxmCA8F7VrsyLfcPNM53ShBnL-iHfMpLXCHs8GDA47UcYtorQe-S_anDhug4vDPzfvdHnLuXb4VwBrZnXOHSaUT_00bD-9Tswu9J10qoL7_xstaqphK-ZSCitjaMp=s3936" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3936" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_sIvImm69IzjyxOCWoWZ8S98NauYI35InGTQchdT3iVkpU2sOfHXwfRw8UA3jxmCA8F7VrsyLfcPNM53ShBnL-iHfMpLXCHs8GDA47UcYtorQe-S_anDhug4vDPzfvdHnLuXb4VwBrZnXOHSaUT_00bD-9Tswu9J10qoL7_xstaqphK-ZSCitjaMp=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">With Chad’s family at Madeline’s wedding, August 7<br />(L t o R) Howard & Kathy, Harrison and Carrington Haley, Tanisha & Chad Merrell, Madeline and Sam Wilder, Ava, Kendal, Christopher, and Tanisha's parents, Wanda & Steve Lehman)</span></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-53653317772244758212021-04-28T16:00:00.001-04:002021-04-28T16:00:27.543-04:00The Reality of Leaving is Settling In.<p> The reality is setting in.</p><p>We are leaving in less than a week.</p><p>Some stuff that needs to get done, won't get done.</p><p>We are in a series of "last ones."</p><p>There will be little time for taking it easy until we sit down on the airplane. </p><p>We are thankful for all of you who pray.</p><p>We leave here the morning of May 5. We should be in Covington before bedtime May 5.</p><p>Saturday is my last day as President. Sunday will be our last day at our Guam church. I'm preaching.</p><p>We'll no longer use our PIU emails after we leave. Mine ongoing address is covbchm@gmail.com. Kathy's is kmusiq@gmail.com. We'll let you know our stateside phone #s when we get them. Postal mail, 2106 S Carpenter Drive, Covington VA.</p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-54517060089963766732021-04-20T15:49:00.001-04:002021-04-20T15:49:19.194-04:00Have We Done Any Good, Here?<p> Asking myself a habitual question:</p><p>Those of you who know me have heard me ask the question, "Have we done any good here?" I'll often pose the question at the end of a counseling session or a discussion/decision-making meeting. Most of the time I ask it to myself as much or more than to others.</p><p>Two things prompt me to ask the question this morning. </p><p></p><ol><li>Kathy and I are about two weeks away from ending a wonderful and unexpected season of our life. Since January of 2017 it has been our privilege to work with a wonderful group of people at <a href="https://piu.edu/">Pacific Islands University</a>. I'll tell you more in a minute, but, for now, know PIU is a Christian Liberal Studies and Bible college, reaching out to the People of Micronesia <i>(little islands).</i></li><li>Pacific Islanders, and Pacific Islands people seen as a group, have caught my eye in the news recently.</li></ol>One of the core values of PIU is <i>transformation. </i>We thoroughly believe in the life-changing force of the Good News of Jesus Christ. We have seen Gospel-motivated love melt hard hearts. In my short time here I have seen the intellectual, spiritual, motivational change take place in some of the young lives it has been my privilege to pour myself into. I come from an individualistic Western Culture. Most of my ancestors, just a few generations back, were hard-working farmers. I spent most of my adult life ministering in a little papermill town in a rural region of Virginia. Almost all of the people in the church where I ministered owned guns, many of them hunt with those guns. I've eaten hundreds of pounds of the venison they killed. Maybe they didn't pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, but their stories are filled with accounts of taking advantage of opportunities--sometimes slim--to improve their lot. Many built, with their own hands and those of family and neighbors, their own houses. They fixed their own cars and trucks. They made do, did without, and almost universally, made a better life for their kids and grandkids.<p></p><p>For the last four years I've worked among people who are much more communally minded. I've gotten upset, even angry, when I've seen young people full of promise held back by family--and it seems everybody is family--because the cultural norm is that one person, especially a young person, shouldn't get too far ahead of anyone else. I've also marveled at the safety net that these carefully respected relationships provide. I haven't lost my respect and admiration for the world I came from, and to which I will soon return, but I have a new and growing respect for the cultures I've been in for this season of life--a way of living that asks more, "What is good/right for us?" over merely, "What is best for me?"</p><p>Yesterday, I read a sad news story, that illustrates the challenges facing so many of the people of these tiny islands. Joe Enlet, a graduate of PIU, posted a link to <a href="https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/04/police-killing-of-micronesian-teen-in-hawaii-prompts-grief-and-questions/?fbclid=IwAR1df9WwtZXHd5cfJDlcvrK_OKDdPnU9F7mbvg-URh7QoHWkJO0GdJZ8sgs">the story of Iremamber Sykap</a>, a young Chuukese man who spent most of his life in Hawaii. It is the same story that is tearing at the fabric of American life in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Kenosha, to name just a few examples. The only difference is instead of a young black man being shot in an encounter with police, it is a young brown man. Then today, I saw a photo-op announcement on the news. Some people, desperately in need of taking the critical thinking class at PIU, blame Asians, as a group, and Pacific Islanders for the COVID-19 pandemic. The irony runs almost as deep as the tragedy. If you look at a list of places in the world that are COVID-free you'll find nations like Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of Marshall Islands on the list. Yet, it is true, that in many places where Micronesians live in diaspora their infection rate is higher, often far higher, than their neighbors. Dig a bit though and you find explanations that bear an uncanny resemblance to the life stories of my Virginia neighbors. These are folk who are trying to make a better life, in particular, a better for their children and grandchildren, in the face of daunting odds. As is the case with my ancestors, sometimes that journey to the next step up ain't pretty. My loyalty to the institution I'm privileged to work with, causes me to see a deeper irony. If that government task force that is being formed, would simply give PIU their coffee and doughnut budget, we'd actually do something. I know that because <i>we are already doing something.</i></p><p>You can get all the facts, figures, and results of studies you want and more. This morning I'm just speaking as a guy who unexpectedly found himself in a situation where he had an opportunity to make a difference, and who, by God's grace, has endeavored to do so. I'm also a guy who believes in this institution, PIU, and desires for it to prosper after I leave. I desire that, because I firmly believe that the prosperity of this tiny university, that serves the people of Micronesia is good for the people of Micronesia, the world, and the work of Christ. Specifically, here are some things I'd like to say. Really, what follows are bullet-points for further conversation:</p><p></p><ul><li>Micronesia is in great need of a new generation of capable leaders. Historically, geographically, culturally, PIU is in the right place to help fill that gap. Yes, this school has made mistakes in the past (Find me any person or institution who is actually doing something that hasn't made mistakes.). Let's get over it and get past it. Let's work together to solve the problems.</li><li>Micronesia is rapidly changing. Half of Micronesians don't live in Micronesia. Every young person in Micronesia, and many who aren't so young, are connected to the world by cellphone. The world of the West and East with all our issues is at the fingertips of these people who don't have the depth of coping mechanisms we have developled in the First World. Attempts to preserve a way of life that is no longer viable is futile, and not what needs to happen. There are marvelous aspects of the varied Micronesian cultures that ought to be preserved. But the young people PIU are working with live in and will live in a world vastly different than that of their parents and grandparents. <br />Those who say PIU isn't what it used to be, should thank the Lord. No, we aren't. We are helping young adults in the Twenty-first-Century, learn how to be Godly, productive citizens of this rapidly changing world. We do that by holding to that which is changeless.<br /></li><li>Micronesia has been evangelized. Those who think that means that the need for further missionary activity is no more, need to hang out here for a while. The great commission includes more than evangelism, though clearly, that is foundational. <br />Micronesia has a need for a new generation of trained leaders. <br />Opportunities in the Micronesian Diaspora are great.<br />Because of their mobility, and other assets, Micronesians could become a force for missionary expansion into unreached and under-reached areas of the world.</li></ul>As I read the sad story of Iremamber, I thought of a graduate of ours who lived and worked in Hawaii for a time. She reached out to at-risk youngsters in the Micronesian community, youngsters like Iremamber was, just a few years ago. I thought of another of our graduates who is working with people struggling with drug addiction in an area of the US Mainland where a significant community of Micronesians live. I thought about a couple of other graduates who are involved in crisis counseling with people in the court system, here on Guam. I thought of some of the students I'm privileged to work with every day, students from Chuuk, Yap, Palau, the Marshalls, and various Micronesian communities in diaspora. These young people give me hope. To produce another tragedy like the one that took place in Hawaii is easy. Just do nothing. To make a difference takes a lot of us working together, working hard.<p></p><p>So, have we done any good, here. I believe we have, we are, and by God's grace, PIU will continue to do so. The folk who will remain after I'm gone would love to hear from you. Write me and I'll pass your information along, hmerrell@piu.edu, after 5/5, covbchm@gmail.com.</p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-35351717357202165902021-04-09T17:39:00.003-04:002021-04-20T15:53:15.557-04:00Shingles, Porch Roofs, etc.<p> Some of you are aware that I, Howard, have been diagnosed to have shingles. Shingles is a disease that comes from a "resurfacing' of the varicella-zoster virus (vzv), the virus that causes chickenpox. When one gets over chickenpox the virus doesn't go away. It remains in one's body. In some people, mostly older folk, the virus will cause an episode of shingles. </p><p>Normally a shingles outbreak is extremely painful.</p><p>I have been working on a construction project, here at PIU. On May 1, we will dedicate the main building on the PIU campus in honor of my friend and predecessor, Dr. David Owen. You can read/hear more <a href="https://piuddomf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. We have been working to get as much of the refurbishing of the building done as possible before then. I've been rebuilding five "porch roofs" over the entrances on the front of the building.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGkG7REFczeZ-VI7BOsM9J_7Cpb34A34640dOeJjCFKKG8ekkaXxvEc7Fp2kQsuu5yiZDoYZNvyOXHWEWmoCgO9VsxmiE2NX-A9jMZpoudbjjXBOskOKDgPv9YjcLWkYwnt2CTrwd0Ls/s2783/MD-4538+Proof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2783" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGkG7REFczeZ-VI7BOsM9J_7Cpb34A34640dOeJjCFKKG8ekkaXxvEc7Fp2kQsuu5yiZDoYZNvyOXHWEWmoCgO9VsxmiE2NX-A9jMZpoudbjjXBOskOKDgPv9YjcLWkYwnt2CTrwd0Ls/s320/MD-4538+Proof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I pretty consistently wear safety glasses on such projects, but my adherence to this safety rule is not perfect, and the glasses don't do a complete job of keeping sawdust, etc. out, so when my left eye became irritated I figured it was from some crud in my eye. Further irritation, led me to believe I had an inflamed tear duct or some such. The sores that appeared around the eye concerned me enough that I went to an urgent care. The nurse-practitioner said almost immediately, "I think you have shingles." An ophthalmologist confirmed the diagnosis. He put me on an anti-viral med. </p><p>The good news--I've known enough people who have had shingles that I can say very good news--is that I have been mostly pain-free. When I woke up this morning the lesions were not even particularly tender when I touched them. I'm thankful. I know the course of this disease is not predictable, so I ask for continued prayer.</p><p>On a more important note, please pray for our finishing-up. The events of May1, graduation, and the dedication will be my last official presidential duties. We fly back to Virginia on May 5. We want to leave things in as good an order as possible. We want to be a blessing. The "Good Byes" have already begun. Kathy has a long list of things to get done before we leave.</p><p>Under the heading of "Nothing is ever as easy as it should be." our Board has been working hard to have my successor in place. They are working through complications as I write. Please pray for them.</p><p>If you scroll down on this blog, you will find Kathy and my latest newsletter. If you would like a copy of the "Tide's Currents," PIU's quarterly newsletter, write me at hmerrell@piu.edu, and I'll send you one. If you want a printed copy, be sure to include your mailing address.</p><p>(BTW, after May 5, we'll be using our old email addresses, Howard - covbchm@gmail.com, and Kathy - kmusiq@gmail.com. These addresses work now. Our postal address in Covington is 2106 S Carpenter Drive, Covington VA 24426. We'll let you know our phone number as soon as we get one.)</p><p>Thanks for partnering with us in this adventure.</p><p>H&K</p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-82989863820223930012021-03-25T18:55:00.005-04:002021-03-25T18:56:42.956-04:00MARCH 2021 NEWSLETTER<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRmnMXZdmB0kHtCCGx78ta536bK_rNoG0dXyOrG9jLIsU7G-o1rkAaK5Zt-hzH8C79Hv-OveiANIANxKForO9NSFrDkkL-ZYm9-dPsu0c4axAT6lnhaXmKGJ4w9HF0Un7Ip9XQGZH_G4/s897/Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="897" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRmnMXZdmB0kHtCCGx78ta536bK_rNoG0dXyOrG9jLIsU7G-o1rkAaK5Zt-hzH8C79Hv-OveiANIANxKForO9NSFrDkkL-ZYm9-dPsu0c4axAT6lnhaXmKGJ4w9HF0Un7Ip9XQGZH_G4/w400-h106/Map.png" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Partner,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTfwABVvUE7k-DlM9iwgNBkBezL4aqKCy-oMuW5gbUMIBv1Vxoz8_C2SjgfMPIlD9S02gTVyjWd8jNYRz4pAqy94SVKHkkxuIiSTOXaAkPP-R3R3OQEJr2iiiYVrsK_FnuiqeTNIWFjo/s1023/H%2526K.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTfwABVvUE7k-DlM9iwgNBkBezL4aqKCy-oMuW5gbUMIBv1Vxoz8_C2SjgfMPIlD9S02gTVyjWd8jNYRz4pAqy94SVKHkkxuIiSTOXaAkPP-R3R3OQEJr2iiiYVrsK_FnuiqeTNIWFjo/s320/H%2526K.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One way or another,
most of you can identify with the question, “What do we do now?”<br /><span style="background: black; border: 1pt none black; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 0pt; layout-grid-mode: line; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-border-alt: none black 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-font-width: 0%; padding: 0in;"> </span><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Career-wise, Kathy and I haven’t had to ask that question as
often as most of you. When we married in 1972, the answer was, “We move to
Pennsylvania so Howard can finish school.” In the Spring of 1973, we replied,
“We’ll take our two chairs (all the furniture we owned) and move to Virginia to
pastor the Covington Bible Church.” That wonderful ministry took up most of our
lives. We left fulltime pastoral ministry in the Spring of 2015, and were
settling into a semi-retirement—social security, short-term missions, and
various ministry opportunities—when the question was put to us with more
urgency.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja09intPtPOdlvSfyNM8O0g_SR5QYDAi9U7YJgNyw8dG5x2mqegUSEyhZNmJuOpOMTQJV5WfyYbiWkbI0nBRCZlzBOuBy1jNbP4fqMVF5KxUV8KYiCvlJKNFXA9T3I1PkAcmM_eVExBus/s1280/PIUDys.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja09intPtPOdlvSfyNM8O0g_SR5QYDAi9U7YJgNyw8dG5x2mqegUSEyhZNmJuOpOMTQJV5WfyYbiWkbI0nBRCZlzBOuBy1jNbP4fqMVF5KxUV8KYiCvlJKNFXA9T3I1PkAcmM_eVExBus/s320/PIUDys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br />It’s been over four
years, so I’ll remind you. We already had the tickets for our second four-month
ministry in Palau, when former President of PIU, Dave Owen called. He was sick.
We found out later it was cancer. Would we come to Guam instead of Palau, and
fill-in? Though we have visited the states at least yearly for the past four
years, 172 Kinney’s Road, Mangilao, Guam--the PIU campus--has been our home. We
have led, fundraised, taught, dealt with thousands of details, and sought to
pour our lives into the young lives that make up the student body of PIU. We “pastored”
the school through the traumatic first months when we didn’t know whether Dave
and Joyce would return, when we watched a beloved teacher die here on Guam,
when we dealt with the departure of key staff, and the Administration and Board
asked whether PIU could survive. We rolled up our sleeves and led and
encouraged the dedicated staff that remained in doing the self-study and other
work needed to accomplish the reaffirmation of our accreditation. Tough
decisions had to be made and the results dealt with. In partnership with
colleagues in Texas we began an online delivery of courses, with the goal of
placing teachers with a Biblical worldview in public school classrooms.
Further, our hope was/is that this would lead to an education major, that could
help transform schools in Micronesia. Like all new ventures, this demanded more
than we imagined. Then came the Novel Coronavirus. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDh794_HeSmKoIAmrQRp6_z2QnNTgf6CkUwtB-NwpH_MKn5zvm027DMedfIgPlOS2zO8FeV1Ngw3NeGP0LNHDbeLvMC6j45TbxUsMGQa3yjyfx9cTXv4mzRPE_RHRemsnHjWrmRk6yoA/s960/Jc%2526K.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDh794_HeSmKoIAmrQRp6_z2QnNTgf6CkUwtB-NwpH_MKn5zvm027DMedfIgPlOS2zO8FeV1Ngw3NeGP0LNHDbeLvMC6j45TbxUsMGQa3yjyfx9cTXv4mzRPE_RHRemsnHjWrmRk6yoA/s320/Jc%2526K.jpg" /></a></div><br />Like when this latest phase of our ministry started, we
already have our tickets for May 5. Four + years ago, we hit the ground running
and haven’t stopped yet. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The paragraph above describes the big things. In addition,
Kathy has taught Intro to Music, served as campus hostess, part-time
receptionist, mentored women students, counselled and loved on people, kept
house, and so much more. In the absence of a full-time maintenance director, I
have taken on various projects, repairs, and improvements. I’ve preached on
average a couple of times per month. I’ve taught two different Theology
classes, New Testament Survey, and Critical Thinking—on average, one class per
semester. Kathy has helped with music in our Guam church, and at least one
other church. Both of us were privileged to return to Palau on two occasions,
and I have been to the Republic of Marshall Islands, two of the four states of
the Federated States of Micronesia—Pohnpei, and Chuuk. In addition, I visited
various places in the USA on behalf of the school, and we were given a brief
but wonderful trip to the
Philippines. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UTpiHTsFSoHG5KLsychS2mBNY0Wb23NVae0lqe4nN2GdCnjV2EGPqcKSgDXr5mEfnnXIbaVmRFN-eYO48BiHrksOtwIKXtIo8ac17cpmkJFxuO37F1oVuLGIhFAD6KIKB0254uDhEFE/s785/K.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="785" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UTpiHTsFSoHG5KLsychS2mBNY0Wb23NVae0lqe4nN2GdCnjV2EGPqcKSgDXr5mEfnnXIbaVmRFN-eYO48BiHrksOtwIKXtIo8ac17cpmkJFxuO37F1oVuLGIhFAD6KIKB0254uDhEFE/s320/K.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Our last days on Guam are filled with getting things ready
for the next President—still unknown—finishing the classes we are teaching,
overseeing (and doing) some major--for us--campus improvements, while
continuing to deal with the day-to-day demands of service in a small school.
Oh, and we have to pack our suitcases. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, I come back to that question, “What do we do, now?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The short answer is--on May 5 we fly back to Virginia. We’ll
move back into our home in Covington. The longer answer is--there are some
things we know and others that aren’t clear yet. For now, I’ll just say--for
the first few months we’ll be spending some significant time decompressing.
We’ll get moved back in, get a car, spend time with family, etc. We also hope
to see as many of you as possible. We’ll tell you more in the future. We’ll be
involved in ministry, just not as intensely as the past few years. We plan to
maintain a relationship with Liebenzell Mission USA, though we don’t know exactly
what that will look like. I hope to take preaching opportunities that come up.
I have no doubt Kathy will occupy herself productively. As I say, we’ll keep
you posted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For most of my
ministry, I have served on the sending/supporting side of missions. For the
past six</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKh8SDFNv2RPV97OSlrw_Zjs5AMzpHI-rDl8IX4npvyGWQ96UCc6GyCVrOfPl9tV-LYlzHWnDQUOif-W_ehgcHVew90A_V_7vhvRyZ5tNv5zNfatrz8lFKJ_QVcOHBTRXEU_lD3hHifs/s960/Hbch.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKh8SDFNv2RPV97OSlrw_Zjs5AMzpHI-rDl8IX4npvyGWQ96UCc6GyCVrOfPl9tV-LYlzHWnDQUOif-W_ehgcHVew90A_V_7vhvRyZ5tNv5zNfatrz8lFKJ_QVcOHBTRXEU_lD3hHifs/s320/Hbch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> years, Kathy and I have been on the other side of the equation. We
have been regularly awed and consistently grateful for your faithfulness and
generosity. Our account with LMUSA has remained healthy. Between our Social
Security, the support you have given, and the reduced-cost housing we have
enjoyed on campus, we have been well cared for. Thank you.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our mission policy is that retiring missionaries, if their
account has the funds (and ours does) continue to receive their “salary” for
three months after they return. Since we are not leaving the mission, but plan
to undertake some part-time or periodic ministry with LMUSA, we want to keep
our fund open. The mission will pay us our full salary May through July. After
that our account will fund air fare and other expenses for mission related
ministry. We had accumulated enough frequent flyer miles that our tickets on
May 5 are free.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo2SmjRljTfgRhH1afGytBwmZzmAVJ8ci3vmSoi0wih0N1yj1krrxEfcbUebiuW7-RZK0y8AnLFvZZi3wrioeDbj5sjPKlw8568pn6daS1pR9qJLDWgvvs_9J6kPJxWI03NrTUFsiieo/s686/tracs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="686" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo2SmjRljTfgRhH1afGytBwmZzmAVJ8ci3vmSoi0wih0N1yj1krrxEfcbUebiuW7-RZK0y8AnLFvZZi3wrioeDbj5sjPKlw8568pn6daS1pR9qJLDWgvvs_9J6kPJxWI03NrTUFsiieo/s320/tracs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Since we will no
longer be active missionaries--putting my old, pastoral, missionary-sender hat on
for a moment—it wouldn’t be good stewardship for you to continue to support us.
Sometime in the near future, you should stop supporting us with your gifts. I
won’t presume to tell you what to do, but I will share a suggestion. LMUSA has
a fund labeled PIU. Visit <a href="https://www.liebenzellmission.org/">https://www.liebenzellmission.org/</a>
for more information. There are also several other PIU personnel who are
supported by giving through LMUSA. The website will give you information
concerning these opportunities and on how to contact the mission. There is also
a capital fundraising project I started, in honor of my friend and predecessor,
Dave Owen. See <a href="https://piuddomf.blogspot.com/">here</a>. If you are
interested and need our help, let us know. Kathy and I continue to stand behind
the work of PIU and LMUSA. Perhaps the Lord will guide you to pursue one of
those options. Whatever choice you make, Kathy and I want to make sure you know
how grateful we are for your investment in our lives, the future of Micronesia,
and the ministry of Pacific Islands University. Funds that remain in our fund will
continue to be there for expenses in regard to any future ministries we would
undertake with LMUSA. Exactly what that would be, we don’t know, but we have
already begun some discussions.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know this is long, but I shouldn’t finish without sharing
some specific reasons to praise and some requests for prayer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->One of our projects at PIU has been the
promotion of the Dr. Dave Owen Memorial Fund. Dave was my predecessor. He is
with the Lord, now. (That’s his wife, Joyce, with Kathy in one of the pictures
above.) While COVID put a stop to active fundraising, DDOMF has achieved more
than 25% of its goal. We have been able to use those funds to repair and paint
the roof, paint the exterior of the building, and engage in other improvements
(ongoing). Soon the Pavilion, a student gathering place, will have a new coat
of paint. (see <a href="https://piuddomf.blogspot.com/">https://piuddomf.blogspot.com/</a>)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Along the same line, on Graduation Weekend, May
1, we will have a ceremony to name PIU’s main building--the Ezra 7:10 building--in
Dave’s honor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5z5vYFa-1VJf50fBAee3o1xBNaspjp3nkJuE7JMdxuuGrEknTIeIKwzILw1NFaQGDevjCFFN-pMbHey5R3YAIdyWLMWs0mqmvY3jLvBqTm9_klPXo_M567RETWgegN1IXTrdS9Hsyzk/s486/girls.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="486" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5z5vYFa-1VJf50fBAee3o1xBNaspjp3nkJuE7JMdxuuGrEknTIeIKwzILw1NFaQGDevjCFFN-pMbHey5R3YAIdyWLMWs0mqmvY3jLvBqTm9_klPXo_M567RETWgegN1IXTrdS9Hsyzk/w400-h300/girls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><!--[endif]-->We are thankful that
we have been able to spend all this semester in a real classroom. We expect to
finish the semester that way.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>As we look back over
this venture we are extremely grateful for the great group of partners who pray
for and support us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->With the help of family and friends, we were
able to purchase a good used truck that is waiting for us in Covington.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We have been greatly encouraged and supported by
both our Guam church and CBC in Covington.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Having recently celebrated HM’s 71<sup>st</sup>
Birthday we don’t take our good health for granted. Thank you Lord.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYozROEqeb8p01-pr1r0tXLMsT9tz43jwP459E62XJsQAUkxu_uBe_HFoTOfkLqbUZCTsvTPOV07wFDKwBs22WmK0RNkHnYR0wDISA46nyAcENO5mm9XdoTjGm68unDdh2MxtbRfdKiA/s560/guys.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYozROEqeb8p01-pr1r0tXLMsT9tz43jwP459E62XJsQAUkxu_uBe_HFoTOfkLqbUZCTsvTPOV07wFDKwBs22WmK0RNkHnYR0wDISA46nyAcENO5mm9XdoTjGm68unDdh2MxtbRfdKiA/s320/guys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prayer Requests:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We want to finish well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We are leaving
behind a number of mentoring relationships. We praise the Lord and desire that
others will pick up these opportunities.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc1B7xgNeggwDd4L7ZoBPHmYwDmY-OPfeNrRnoZqeakNrLvks8KOjUFe56qgUzOhDS1ZTF43jG_DoiK5CUiuLfY3yckn8ugNTWUc5DeajVhjBzz8gzqXqfrMsgS3Xe_WYziDaKt4lZEk/s979/sign.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="979" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc1B7xgNeggwDd4L7ZoBPHmYwDmY-OPfeNrRnoZqeakNrLvks8KOjUFe56qgUzOhDS1ZTF43jG_DoiK5CUiuLfY3yckn8ugNTWUc5DeajVhjBzz8gzqXqfrMsgS3Xe_WYziDaKt4lZEk/w400-h293/sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The classes Howard has taught can easily be
covered other instructors. Not so, the music class Kathy taught. Pray for
wisdom for a replacement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It seems that recently many in our circle of
friends and colleagues have been <br />faced with health issues. Some have <br />died. Pray
for help, healing, and comfort.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We will leave PIU with a mix of emotions. We
will miss folk here. We <br />look forward to being nearer family and friends on the
mainland.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We need wisdom as we move on to what is next.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2GJwwFVzAU-CicOksVK5PpbTuDAMrizvx9r99uBXHO-g-gh2tvhV7sBFxvi9yW_jsHuahO7M4txXt2mhGZ9TqUYVMS9I8zYvokmtYfGTBAghiuxb9CG4ikiw1U8FzFXS2Io6GywZV8o/s719/HGR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="670" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2GJwwFVzAU-CicOksVK5PpbTuDAMrizvx9r99uBXHO-g-gh2tvhV7sBFxvi9yW_jsHuahO7M4txXt2mhGZ9TqUYVMS9I8zYvokmtYfGTBAghiuxb9CG4ikiw1U8FzFXS2Io6GywZV8o/w186-h200/HGR.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />Grateful for the privilege of serving,<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #323e4f; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Howard
& Kathy </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-46481001337517925812021-01-19T07:49:00.001-05:002021-01-19T07:49:20.089-05:00News from the Guam Merrells, a new semester<p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" id="m_7784706523342392539templateHeader" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat rgb(247, 247, 247); border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 45px; padding-top: 45px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7784706523342392539templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_7784706523342392539headerContainer" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 9px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="m_7784706523342392539mcnImage CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj6vQRqbujaMPesVgR3Lzt7gZ_BrFcMt22-fwgxB6P6gwhPv-kowE4dnxi6rRViXTNUNQ4sUAPI491iiRFTxeqBd86bXlAcC_HCcNbDSebhQgE3tnZONwWFE2nll7RRYAB-HtsxZLoLe8koh8nQRlcT1AkeEdeYS475iT_wRwy78_YdHyyvUoVcsnK89_4VnRKMyU-szQI1WWFO1GdtrHWOSUqc=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; display: inline !important; height: auto; max-width: 1366px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="564" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" id="m_7784706523342392539templateBody" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 45px; padding-top: 36px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7784706523342392539templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_7784706523342392539bodyContainer" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7784706523342392539mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_7784706523342392539mcnTextContent" style="color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">It is a big day for the Guam Merrells.<br />Yesterday, Monday, 1/18, was our first day of freedom from quarantine. When we arrived back on the island, the evening of the fourth, we were taken by bus to the quarantine facility. You would think we were dignitaries. Not only were we on our way to the island’s most expensive hotel, but our little caravan was accompanied by police--sirens, lights, and all. Intersections were blocked. It was a bit of overkill. On the sixth day, we were tested. The result was negative, so we went home, to serve another week of house arrest. It’s not something I want to repeat. It was infinitely more bearable because I was with Kathy. Still, like 2020, I’m glad I’m done with that.<br />Back to today, though. While many folk in other places are still seeing COVID-19 numbers worsen, things are better, here on Guam. Yesterday, we went to PCOR2 (Pandemic Condition of Readiness) 1 is the worst, 4 is best. The Governor also issued an Executive order that in-person instruction could begin yesterday. Most of our classes are either Tues. & Thur. or Wed. & Fri. So for the first time since early March, we’ll be meeting with students in the classroom. For our highly relational Micronesian students and old-school teachers like Kathy and me, that is a welcome relief. The start of a semester in our little school is always a big deal. This one is more than most. While Kathy and I were gone or quarantined, other staff were busy getting ready—temperature-check/<wbr></wbr>sanitation stations, social-distancing markings, training sessions, mitigation plans to be filed, etc. plus all the usual. In spite of the work-load, we are glad for this day to arrive.<br />For Kathy and me, this day has another significance. We face it with a mix of emotions. This is the last semester that we will serve on the ground here at PIU.<br />I usually try to be creative and clever with my newsletter writing. This one is about as plain as it can be. Forgive me, but it is all time will allow. The plainness is in no way an indication of our lack of appreciation for you. It doesn’t seem possible, but, thanks to you, we have been serving at PIU four years now. Thank you!<br />I will brighten up this, otherwise plain piece, with a picture.<br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhs3ANr_hkSnzzKKuMhs2xnAaLIgjNqi3baI51mTgB6wJcdHPPZRMeHxytN3dOJDbEWuz7_4F8AWrCSsHZjqOChN3De_TZVBDB7DtvL5by4FJdeWYgCbydmUswN1kZUBeEJwEBjavrvzyXKe1TLrHVnXvJzuVTk4OeuN-5LVM2lrLYwCqtyMSdE5uC9crTgNkQoN69yeZbjBv1YKhC261mn12Q5=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 373px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 555px;" tabindex="0" width="555" /></div><br />It is a reminder of a wonderful time we had over Christmas. Our whole family gathered at our elder son’s house in Rock Hill South Carolina. In the very front is Lucy, the granddog, with our youngest grandchild Ava (Chad’s). Left to right are: Chad & Tanisha, Harrison & Carrington Haley (Chad’s & the first married couple in that generation, they live in Utah) Kendal and Christopher (both Chad’s, Christopher lives in Louisiana) Kira (Chris’s) Me & Kathy, Silas (Chris’s), Madeline (Chad’s, Maddy is newly engaged. She and Sam are students a couple of hours from here, in Greenville SC), and Nancy & Chris (The Chris Merrells live in College Station Texas.) Two hemispheres, four states & a territory. I’m glad to say we are united not only as a family, in the usual sense, but as people who love and serve the Lord.<br /><br />Please join us in prayer and praise.<ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Praise the Lord for this new semester, our last one here.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">We still have some students who are tuning in via Zoom, etc. Pray for all the machinery to work well. Thank the Lord for those who have spent many hours getting it set up. Switching from all online to mostly in-person is more trouble than one would think.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">While things are improving on Guam, it looks like it will be a while before we see significant change in most of Micronesia. I read that <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://covingtonbiblechurch.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5591128bdb317a00ddfcefa64%26id%3D406f5f6b15%26e%3D5eee799519&source=gmail&ust=1611146853931000&usg=AFQjCNFTVtGG4zBziBn8Lo0T0023HagBOw" href="https://covingtonbiblechurch.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5591128bdb317a00ddfcefa64&id=406f5f6b15&e=5eee799519" style="color: #007c89;" target="_blank">Palau may be one of the first nations</a> in the world to achieve total vaccination. FSM with its many remote islands presents a greater challenge. The nations of Micronesia have kept COVID out by shutting down their borders. The combination of difficult access to healthcare and the severity of COVID-19, has rightly made the islanders afraid. Pray that they can transition to a post-COVID mode. (We all desire that, don’t we?) Making this transition is very important for PIU’s ongoing operation.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">On a personal note, I’ve never been to Yap, one of the states of the Federated States of Micronesia. I’d like to go there, to promote PIU before I move back to Virginia.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">I can’t say “what, why, or who?” but the last three weeks or so were a hard time of wrestling with some administrative difficulties. By God’s grace, I’m (I believe we’re) in a better place. Pray that I will support the fine people that are PIU with good leadership on this last lap of this assignment.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Pray for our Board as they continue the search for my replacement.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">Kathy is teaching Introduction to Music, and I’m teaching Pastoral Leadership this semester.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">The Dr. David Owen Memorial Fund, a capital fund campaign stalled because of COVID. The fund did have enough success that we are now having much-needed roof repair done.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px;">I hope your Christmas was a good one. Ours was wonderful. We spent about three weeks in the mainland. Eight days in the middle of that at our son’s home in South Carolina. All our family gathered there. It was a great time for the patriarch and his young wife.</li></ul>A new colleague observed that our school is a valuable resource for all of Micronesia. That’s a geographic region the same size as the Continental United States. The fewer than half-a-million who live there are matched by a diaspora that may be as big as the homeland, in terms of population. That is the community we serve. There is only one other accredited Christian College/University in this region, and the other school doesn’t focus on Micronesians. Guam is called, “The end of the spear.” We are the Western-most USA land. Our island has great strategic military importance. Likewise, PIU is in this strategic place as an outpost for training a new generation of leaders. Pray that this new semester will be the beginning of a new, good phase.<br />Thank you, for partnering with us so we could be here.<br />By His Grace,<br />K & H</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7784706523342392539mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; min-width: 100%; padding: 18px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" id="m_7784706523342392539templateFooter" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 63px; padding-top: 45px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7784706523342392539templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="m_7784706523342392539footerContainer" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 9px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding-left: 9px; padding-right: 9px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding-left: 9px; padding-right: 9px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; display: inline;"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 9px; padding-right: 10px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px 5px 9px;" valign="middle"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;" width=""><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px;" valign="middle" width="24"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://covingtonbiblechurch.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D5591128bdb317a00ddfcefa64%26id%3De484819435%26e%3D5eee799519&source=gmail&ust=1611146853931000&usg=AFQjCNGbWvJzCT68E5CtCH_ODcTroY7mWQ" href="https://covingtonbiblechurch.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5591128bdb317a00ddfcefa64&id=e484819435&e=5eee799519" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><img alt="Facebook" class="CToWUd" height="24" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjPK2fJC0xtRlEulE7nCtQTHGnlPQqbWokQQlcWXiSbeIgNVQMC4RsvyVw9HcXC9KrJ-szvra0HhKBTPnZe_8GW8weaD3MM9zpmtKT75DrQccucTBDUSlkB8BuXiUS3ZPYlDb8DHTHKksHcztbx4r86Bs8wriOgQyJICmY9eGiVca-532RZZyAzzl-ilomE8AvQKBSs=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" width="24" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-57128657678186782762020-11-25T02:47:00.001-05:002020-11-25T16:57:55.155-05:00News from the Guam Merrells, Thanksgiving Eve<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg889T1dTpbXe_wfVY52aPGDc8kqmmrHp8XbapUkCDhw6omBUT4SZjn_dw0UWweffYULD08Ci5WFQ3LNtEEZ2zzYhXQoAruvs2maCi4Smc7fIeQvtgrXdK1QleMHcki3f7GQznVZMtADOg/s934/sunset+banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="934" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg889T1dTpbXe_wfVY52aPGDc8kqmmrHp8XbapUkCDhw6omBUT4SZjn_dw0UWweffYULD08Ci5WFQ3LNtEEZ2zzYhXQoAruvs2maCi4Smc7fIeQvtgrXdK1QleMHcki3f7GQznVZMtADOg/w560-h103/sunset+banner.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Partner,</p><p class="MsoNormal">This morning (Tuesday 11/24) I felt my chair sway back and forth and watched the
computer monitor </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGdCikRjxR_WqO1bVMdN2EDe9zqFYSaliXmuKP_Lq1Fb-cYRP8Pq1MOaMqtd2reNKvx_JD5F0VoSAKmJJnUU0mlRoxI5EPK0w5L882ukOlbnY0siyXu2MtvzVhEvPIfTpD-M50SIX5uo/s960/96852306_171060164253656_5582392195471638528_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGdCikRjxR_WqO1bVMdN2EDe9zqFYSaliXmuKP_Lq1Fb-cYRP8Pq1MOaMqtd2reNKvx_JD5F0VoSAKmJJnUU0mlRoxI5EPK0w5L882ukOlbnY0siyXu2MtvzVhEvPIfTpD-M50SIX5uo/w192-h256/96852306_171060164253656_5582392195471638528_n.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />sway like I was riding in a car. The 5.3 quake was a reminder
that nothing in this world is really solid.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That is especially true with us mortals. In just over a
month, we will have been serving at PIU for four years. Last March I informed
my colleagues that we would be leaving Guam after the Spring Semester 2021. It
was our hope that a new President would be chosen by then. The Board of
Trustees has extended an offer to two fine candidates. Both have concluded,
after prayer and consulting with loved ones that PIU was not the place for them
to serve, at this time. Nevertheless, over the course of this tumultuous year, we have grown more sure that it is time for us to step out of this “temporary”
role.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwviw5w2BIxzaZAPCOuxwTiUT1iv_HiO_WIdmfneNPoejoIYhn_9RDLNZUlHR7qb3gKCrYYIY9muxucMstLuQE7v0wJ4jjouzZ3pE2VrfpU8PDwVSnX_6_42DPqqDNW0wj_ZxM9LB2FfY/s720/Lavern+%2526+Joy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwviw5w2BIxzaZAPCOuxwTiUT1iv_HiO_WIdmfneNPoejoIYhn_9RDLNZUlHR7qb3gKCrYYIY9muxucMstLuQE7v0wJ4jjouzZ3pE2VrfpU8PDwVSnX_6_42DPqqDNW0wj_ZxM9LB2FfY/s320/Lavern+%2526+Joy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right now our plans are to make a visit to Virginia and
South Carolina over Christmas. Our plans could change, but we plan to fly home
December 11, spend Christmas with all our family at Chad & Tanisha’s house,
and return to Guam on January 4. We’ll quarantine in a hotel, then in our
apartment. We’ll move back into 2106 S Carpenter in May. Already, our hearts
feel like the shifting earth I felt this morning.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">People ask us, “What’s next?” We don’t really know. We know
we’ll need to do some decompressing. I have a project planned, then we hope to
travel out West and see some sights we’ve never seen and some people we haven’t
seen for a while. We desire to remain useful in the Lord’s work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We greatly and humbly appreciate the support that you have
shown us. We never planned to be here in this role, yet the Lord led us a step
at a time. We’ll ask the mission to send you the standard communication they
send to supporters of “retiring” missionaries. I guess we are re-retirees! We have
some ideas about ways you can continue to invest in the work of PIU. If you ask, we’ll share.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please join us in praise and prayer:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIQYiC48N8DQ1GofltLmAatCaqURr1kB_pBOLABh6NRSjKtaenJwE9UDI7ySian9OM2uSt9GOCMUkWWmzT71_uckVuJsOISJGA7mK5f42s-5CVXc9NutZNZpVEr7EdoYHGDVO6N4ZR8w/s960/Easter+2020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="721" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIQYiC48N8DQ1GofltLmAatCaqURr1kB_pBOLABh6NRSjKtaenJwE9UDI7ySian9OM2uSt9GOCMUkWWmzT71_uckVuJsOISJGA7mK5f42s-5CVXc9NutZNZpVEr7EdoYHGDVO6N4ZR8w/w202-h269/Easter+2020.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We can’t say much, but I was recently privileged
to lead one of our students to the Lord. Kathy has regular opportunities for
mentoring the young women here. The wife of a newly married staff couple (a PIU
grad) and Kathy are good friends. We praise the Lord for opportunities to share
what we have with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will both be
teaching a class in the Spring Semester.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Our little campus community has, thus far, been
spared from Covid-19.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I hurt my finger while taking the top off of a
septic tank. It looked ugly at first, but it is healing nicely.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Pray for the Board as they search for the next President.<br /><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Since it looks like we’ll finish the academic
year without a new President the need for making decisions, some hard, has
intensified.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Some of our students have been “stuck” on Guam
since March. Most of that group haven’t been home this year. Mostly our
students stay on our little 3.5-acre campus. Pray that good things will happen
here, as well as in the lives of those whom we only see online.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Pray that we will finish well and that we’ll
start well on whatever is next.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We thank the Lord for you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">H&K</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***********************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“<i>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or
shadow due to change.</i>” (James 1:17, ESV) <o:p></o:p></p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-73554907913808932402020-09-28T07:31:00.012-04:002020-09-28T09:35:38.981-04:00What's Going on at PIU:<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO-GITgUG_l5pJhL1njJCpR-o0U4Kp0E80TKAl1343vTU-zFDT7zFv3wx7qAi4o4PqisczUO0LmwR3x3kytNsdTU6Mn9F5hLG40yTNuGjj1gOTAQVjhaxLcZQ4k7F29hDvzXP62mCb-w/s1280/sunset+banner.jpg"
style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "
><img
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data-original-height="720"
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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO-GITgUG_l5pJhL1njJCpR-o0U4Kp0E80TKAl1343vTU-zFDT7zFv3wx7qAi4o4PqisczUO0LmwR3x3kytNsdTU6Mn9F5hLG40yTNuGjj1gOTAQVjhaxLcZQ4k7F29hDvzXP62mCb-w/s400/sunset+banner.jpg"
/></a>
</div>
About once every three months we are supposed to publish a newsletter. We call
it the <i>Tide's Currents.</i> Covid and other assorted clogs in the
plumbing--some really do have to do with plumbing--have made us way late with
this one. For the same reasons it is a "mini" version. Still it gives an idea
what's going on here, and with the Guam Merrells. Enjoy. Oh, hey, there is a
picture in the TC of some students playing volleyball in the rain. Here is a
bigger version of the photo.
Click<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWsAtT1OTaQRbdE-UUJAOfnLG5uLV46B/view?usp=sharing"> HERE</a> to read the latest Tide's Currents.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbYc8AE6Vgae8U8SDk7T96LjnPmngVEDclZpSuKLhMrzLrY-wqPR4-9_1VnI0952kbQae8xenFmpQXHiXPAgUcEZevfCHwiKLys_RqLl0SymhbMqkteRStenVDQBAVw-JhAd1p1vkiLc/s1801/vb+in+the+rain+4.jpg"
style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "
><img
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data-original-height="1734"
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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbYc8AE6Vgae8U8SDk7T96LjnPmngVEDclZpSuKLhMrzLrY-wqPR4-9_1VnI0952kbQae8xenFmpQXHiXPAgUcEZevfCHwiKLys_RqLl0SymhbMqkteRStenVDQBAVw-JhAd1p1vkiLc/s600/vb+in+the+rain+4.jpg"
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</div>
Click <b>HERE<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWsAtT1OTaQRbdE-UUJAOfnLG5uLV46B/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"></a></b> to read this mini <i>Tide's Currents.</i>
>
to read the September Tide's Currents (mini edition).
Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-2764699027977548052020-08-14T20:18:00.006-04:002020-08-14T20:23:57.360-04:00A Celebration, PCOR 1, Praises and Prayer Requests from the Guam Merrells, 8/15/2020<p> I know that PCOR is a strange term to most of you. It is a very important term to residents of Guam. Let me explain.</p><p>COR stands for condition of readiness. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a>It is a term that is used in relation to typhoons (by the way we are entering into typhoon season). COR 4 is the normal, no-known-typhoon-threat, status. COR1 is when the wind is HOWLING, the rain is falling, the shutters are shut, and, quite likely, the power is out. Back in March our Governor added a "P" for pandemic to this acronym, as a system for making declarations about the state of affairs relating to the Novel Coronavirus. Right now, our island is living under PCOR 3. There are some restrictions, but if you wear a mask and follow the arrows, Xs, & signs on the floors, life is fairly normal.<p></p><p>COVID-19 numbers are very subject to varying interpretations (but this is a request for prayer, not an editorial, so I'll refrain from comment), but there has been a spike in new cases over the last week or so. Included in the "new positives" are the Governor, her son, and the Lieutenant Governor. Many of us residents of this lovely island expected some announcement, but most of us were not prepared for a PCOR1 declaration. It begins tonight at midnight. The news is that it will last for two weeks. </p><p>We were scheduled to start classes </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIXOP101YO02VJg94AJOF4DrV4ze6pmbkdPZD0ksZf8sVrrE4_v7_NfnE1T3KQtviZOpqjnwFsXkfOXfD8G6F6pWW3yHp0OM05cJljtcq2NWSjs6dGlzwMl3mvOmgTrREJ8Yoqx6pzWs/s225/download+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIXOP101YO02VJg94AJOF4DrV4ze6pmbkdPZD0ksZf8sVrrE4_v7_NfnE1T3KQtviZOpqjnwFsXkfOXfD8G6F6pWW3yHp0OM05cJljtcq2NWSjs6dGlzwMl3mvOmgTrREJ8Yoqx6pzWs/w351-h351/download+%25281%2529.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>on August 24. Our plan is to begin with students in the classroom, and online. It is a model that some of us used, Kathy included, to finish up the Spring Semester, when Corona first struck. This PCOR 1 announcement has forced us to push back our start date by a week. Whether we will be forced to make other changes remains to be seen. <p></p><p>Please pray for us:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Many of our students don't do well in a purely online environment. The reading load, the lack of full interaction with, and encouragement from, classmates, home situations that make doing classwork difficult, and the need for greater self-discipline in regard to scheduling are some of the factors. Some students who suffered through the end of Spring Semester and all of Summer Semester will simply elect to not take classes if online is the only option.<br />In short, it is important to us to be able to offer classes that are closer to a traditional classroom setting. </li><li>Even if no one is at fault, living in times of uncertainty takes a toll. The tendency is to look for someone to blame. Pray for the ability for staff, students, Kathy and I to hang in there, and not become bitter or whiny. The same frustration is likely true where you live. We are praying for you.</li><li>We are in the process of bringing new servants into our PIU Family. Pray for their integration in a difficult time.</li><li>Our Board of Trustees is working hard to identify the next President of PIU. Pray especially for the Presidential Search Committee. I am not a part of the committee, but I often meet with them, as a resource person.</li><li>I mentioned that it is the beginning of Typhoon season. I'm praying that we be spared one of the big storms.</li><li>PIU has received significant aid from the Department of Education. It has enabled us to keep our staff together and to pay them, to purchase significant computer related upgrades, and make up for some lost income. PTL!</li><li>As I write a group of potential students in Chuuk are getting ready to take the English placement test. Pray for new students who are in the pipeline, as well as returning students.</li><li>Another praise, some folk from our Guam church have been helping us with prep for the Fall Semester. Yesterday a lady from our church met with Kathy to clean one of our classrooms. Right now a family is out mowing and doing yard work.</li><li>Speaking of our Guam church. We are currently without a lead pastor. Several of us are in a rotation to fill the pulpit. When it is my turn I have been preaching a series from the long-past, <i>An Introduction to the Totally Awesome God. </i>Pray for us as we fill in preachers share God's word. </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamZhnaIXfCWy3uDH0PExt0ODtrvs-0tqS8uj2KCnsNhAKCQUsMsKCaunKZdC3o5_Og0d_-FPAn08_ee1XfINPcXsXvbmZ0AxIof_xV_Mm6zfC3lx08-5j6uf5jR2nmtcfg2Hn9UQNGes/s2048/20200812_122654.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamZhnaIXfCWy3uDH0PExt0ODtrvs-0tqS8uj2KCnsNhAKCQUsMsKCaunKZdC3o5_Og0d_-FPAn08_ee1XfINPcXsXvbmZ0AxIof_xV_Mm6zfC3lx08-5j6uf5jR2nmtcfg2Hn9UQNGes/w328-h246/20200812_122654.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><p><br /></p>By God's grace, Kathy and I are well. We celebrated our 48th Wedding Anniversary last Wednesday. We took a two day, one night vacation to celebrate. It was really nice. The picture is our view from across the pool.<p></p><p>Thanks for hanging in there with us.</p><p>By His Grace,</p><p>H&K</p>Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-88240599289759589192020-07-01T04:15:00.000-04:002020-07-01T17:27:58.765-04:00JULY 1 UPDATE FROM THE GUAM MERRELLS<br />
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Like most of you, we weren’t able to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">go</i> to church for most of this spring. Our Guam church provided<o:p></o:p></div>
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recorded messages. One morning the preacher
was one of our PIU graduates. He talked about the fact that, though we might not finish the
work we are doing, if it is God’s work, He <i>will </i>finish it (Philippians 1:6). As I listened to John, I was applying his message to the situation in which Kathy and I find ourselves.<br />
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Early in 2020, I, Howard, decided that I needed to set in
motion a plan to leave this role at PIU. From the beginning, January 2017, I
have known and made known that my position of leadership at PIU is a
battlefield appointment. Though the battle isn’t over, it has reached a
different phase. Kathy and I have been privileged to bring a measure of stability
to a difficult situation. I’ve been privileged to make and strengthen alliances
that should serve the school well into the future. We were able to work with a
team that accomplished the daunting task of the renewal of our accreditation
for ten years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve been privileged to invest
in the lives of some of the finest young adults in the world. It’s been good,
and still is. But, it is time to bring things to a close as far as my part is
concerned. PIU needs a leader to set the agenda and lead for the next 5-10
years or even beyond. At 70-years, I’m not that leader.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH-Fd1JOA3RaYzJOJZAzdvpEykGWH_ivPi7zVozGim0pGWt57abQRVepTxO8fUVqiQL8vdTP2pyE_X3Kt-KKhNR2V0GcfAP-KmiU9GPMM3XseQjlciDUQkORFPtjaGzAj7wkO1OZmt3I/s1600/Easter+2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="721" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH-Fd1JOA3RaYzJOJZAzdvpEykGWH_ivPi7zVozGim0pGWt57abQRVepTxO8fUVqiQL8vdTP2pyE_X3Kt-KKhNR2V0GcfAP-KmiU9GPMM3XseQjlciDUQkORFPtjaGzAj7wkO1OZmt3I/s200/Easter+2020.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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In March, just before
my birthday and about 5-minutes before the Coronavirus shut everything down, I
announced to the Board of Trustees (that’s who I report to) and to fellow
administrators here at PIU that I would be leaving my position as President of
PIU in May of 2021 and that we would be moving back to Virginia. I had a series
of announcements in mind so that by now my planned resignation would be
totally public. As viruses are wont to do, the Novel Coronavirus infected the
timeline. One of my concerns was not to allow my news to detract from
graduation. We really didn’t have one. We had planned to pass on the news
personally to many of you. We planned to do part of that while on a trip to the
mainland. We were supposed to be finishing that up about now. That didn’t <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->happen (more in a
moment) so, with the release of this letter, we are going public with this
news. We’ll be leaving at the end of the 2020-21 academic year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, how are we doing?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been hard, but by God’s grace it’s been good—at least
mostly.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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We are healthy. We eat well and exercise regularly. Thanks
to our partners who work with us our needs are met. We enjoy our fellowship
with our Guam church, small group, coworkers at PIU, and by long-distance our
family, partners, and friends around the world. 2020 has been full of
happenings and decisions with which we must deal. Our pastor and his wife, Tom
and Rose Van Engen, retired at the end of May. They are in their new home in
Illinois. The Van Engens are younger than we are. Their departure reminds us of
our age. In the early weeks of 2020, I struggled with our plans for the future.
Of course, COVID 19 came calling. We are very thankful that no one in the PIU
family has been infected, though some of us have been tested and there have
been infections within the close circles of some of our team. The sudden
changes and the need to make hard choices has been challenging. We had, and still have, some students who had nowhere to go. Together
with some students for whom it worked best to stay, they remain in the dorms.
Kathy and I and the Tavarez family live on campus. As Alex T. and I joked, we
became the wardens of the compound. Together we have had the responsibility for
the health and welfare of 30 (at the beginning) young lives. By God’s grace we have
made it thus far—though not without difficulties. I have often thought of this
phrase, that came up in my devotional reading, about the same time Corona
struck, “exhausted, yet keeping up the pursuit” (Judges 8:4). I would add, “By
God’s grace.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue;">How can you praise
with us and pray for us?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqg6oE8zeFGADtIoaD5-u-ErvrzAGoB-ZdJhY9EOWoidgqTbNglYQzAQeBufkfUKHkGLxMb0Lb4tbEH59FsYAkqMUO6cEfUI8HjECjySbshU8gFal8pNxnlMB_-KAmY1A4kD-Bsw1gWk/s1600/20200328_163722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqg6oE8zeFGADtIoaD5-u-ErvrzAGoB-ZdJhY9EOWoidgqTbNglYQzAQeBufkfUKHkGLxMb0Lb4tbEH59FsYAkqMUO6cEfUI8HjECjySbshU8gFal8pNxnlMB_-KAmY1A4kD-Bsw1gWk/s320/20200328_163722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Much of the economy in this region depends on
tourism. Here on Guam that has been completely shut down. Up until about a week
ago, the expectation was that things would begin to open up further, starting
tomorrow. An upturn in reported infections caused our Governor to reverse that
decision. There have been no visitors from Japan, Korea, or other places from
which tourists usually come. There won’t be for at least another month. From
business owners to dishwashers, has </span>devastated the economy.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Most of Micronesia simply closed their borders.
The President of Chuuk Senate, the Father of one of our teachers, has been
stuck here for three months. We have students who can’t get home. </span>Folk can’t
travel to attend funerals, or, in some cases, it has been impossible to
transport <br />bodies for burial (culturally, that is an important matter).</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">People’s lives change. There are always issues
in people’s lives. We, especially H. need wisdom.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Pray that the transition to the next president
will go well. We still don’t know who that <br />will be.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Pray for our transition into what will be next
for us.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We had been hoping to take a trip to the mainland
later in the summer. That is, almost for sure, cancelled. Perhaps Christmas
time.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></li>
<li>We rejoice—though sadly from afar—in milestones
in our grandchildren’s lives. Carrington is now the wife of Harrison Haley, and
a graduate of Louisiana Tech. The new family lives in Utah. Little sister,
Kendal, just graduated from Rock Hill High School. She was awarded a full
scholarship to her first two years of college. Three of our grands, Kendal,
Silas, and Kira are busy becoming drivers. No fenders have yet been bent.</li>
<li>PIU entered into a relationship with a group
from Texas called Hartwell Educators Institute. It should have both short-term
and long-term benefits for PIU. Getting it going takes a lot of work. Pray that
we can do that work well. We are constantly exploring ways to better serve the
Micronesian communities. Pray that I’ll have wisdom to know which conversations
are worth pursuing.</li>
<li>Kathy taught Music 201 to the college students ad piano to the three older Tavarez
children. They were able to do an online recital. Kathy has enjoyed working
with them.<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li>I was recently told by the President of TRACS,
our accrediting agency, that, for school like ours, the expectation is a 20-30%
reduction in student numbers this fall. Pray that we’ll be the exception. </li>
<li>Most of our students don’t thrive in an online environment.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLnBIbvIJk2sNUiaJSCzFvloBWz8rpgiRhx8HyW_NtatGyVhfUHb5trk4n0cpgSRqlQr-frhfDsQHJMRNynSLCJvOSLbyVWcj_CwysXcW9Aj_Lmo8DoabViXXmyHx-9yaSNeLP2AaF6c/s1600/20200315_174733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLnBIbvIJk2sNUiaJSCzFvloBWz8rpgiRhx8HyW_NtatGyVhfUHb5trk4n0cpgSRqlQr-frhfDsQHJMRNynSLCJvOSLbyVWcj_CwysXcW9Aj_Lmo8DoabViXXmyHx-9yaSNeLP2AaF6c/s320/20200315_174733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’m teaching two classes during the summer, both
online—all our classes are online, right now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We plan to start our Fall Semester with mostly
hybrid classes—there will be students in the classroom, masked and
six-feet-apart, and at the same time, there will be students online. It is a new
way of doing things for many of us. As far as I know, I’ll be teaching one
class. We sent our IT guy on a shopping trip to use some of our Higher
Education Emergency Relief money to beef up our digital capabilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray that we humans will also have our
capabilities beefed up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Liebenzell Mission USA is in the process of
appointing a new Director and team. Pray for Dr. Chris Matthews. We believe he
will do a good job.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are sorry that we
have been out of touch for so long. For the record, I think we have only been
to the beach three times this year. I’m not sure we have even gotten in the
water. Though we admit it has been a hard year, we are privileged to be here,
doing what we do. Thank you for standing with us to make it possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll finish with some family pictures, Kendal’s graduation
and a shot of Carrington and Harrison Haley with Tanisha and Chad<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6FX0HHSUy39e_SAqhxNIL0Upz655zTU_iqs_K3EMRfJTOObJ_RAHmgykXWRxQhzCEjCsbxbdLisvQJPNQh5gSVgzA9wwj7MmnUcuQEExhad-Kg0Yu1-R4yX7arkwBJN4xOsSw2iy1Qk/s1600/h%2526C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="960" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6FX0HHSUy39e_SAqhxNIL0Upz655zTU_iqs_K3EMRfJTOObJ_RAHmgykXWRxQhzCEjCsbxbdLisvQJPNQh5gSVgzA9wwj7MmnUcuQEExhad-Kg0Yu1-R4yX7arkwBJN4xOsSw2iy1Qk/s320/h%2526C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Howard & Kathy<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985280347929733263.post-12811041735399771802020-04-18T07:34:00.000-04:002020-07-01T17:37:43.025-04:00This Is Tough. God Is Good<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2ktiUqJ8cjTobGZClwgjyvSEm4U6EmOEpTFSSryi4SqcdKsnTfvuwWyXl5nTjozwpsnH9c5CjfW1u-_vIUO_iCd1cR1IjyRJMozDEBEVOyqV36fcqoZ7tEBeRhXpMgcGn23ps7nf9i8/s1600/sunset+banner+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="1500" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2ktiUqJ8cjTobGZClwgjyvSEm4U6EmOEpTFSSryi4SqcdKsnTfvuwWyXl5nTjozwpsnH9c5CjfW1u-_vIUO_iCd1cR1IjyRJMozDEBEVOyqV36fcqoZ7tEBeRhXpMgcGn23ps7nf9i8/s400/sunset+banner+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Like most of you, we weren’t able to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">go</i> to church for most of this spring. Our Guam church provided<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HHC_g-lkt30amTc9x2d1Lzq6q-weyHtTp2yRMA0mBlL3t_RcsSBupUo4L036igramOaq8AL72Weu80sQ3vEfS2rrer15z31RjWS4gIR3aGZRF14jQA13NTCaAqqvVCpsv9Nk2XB6WJU/s1600/96852306_171060164253656_5582392195471638528_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HHC_g-lkt30amTc9x2d1Lzq6q-weyHtTp2yRMA0mBlL3t_RcsSBupUo4L036igramOaq8AL72Weu80sQ3vEfS2rrer15z31RjWS4gIR3aGZRF14jQA13NTCaAqqvVCpsv9Nk2XB6WJU/s320/96852306_171060164253656_5582392195471638528_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
recorded messages. One morning the preacher
was one of our PIU graduates. He talked about the fact that, though we might not finish the
work we are doing, if it is God’s work, He <i>will </i>finish it (Philippians 1:6). As I listened to John, I was applying his message to the situation in which Kathy and I find ourselves.<br />
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Early in 2020, I, Howard, decided that I needed to set in
motion a plan to leave this role at PIU. From the beginning, January 2017, I
have known and made known that my position of leadership at PIU is a
battlefield appointment. Though the battle isn’t over, it has reached a
different phase. Kathy and I have been privileged to bring a measure of stability
to a difficult situation. I’ve been privileged to make and strengthen alliances
that should serve the school well into the future. We were able to work with a
team that accomplished the daunting task of the renewal of our accreditation
for ten years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve been privileged to invest
in the lives of some of the finest young adults in the world. It’s been good,
and still is. But, it is time to bring things to a close as far as my part is
concerned. PIU needs a leader to set the agenda and lead for the next 5-10
years or even beyond. At 70-years, I’m not that leader.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH-Fd1JOA3RaYzJOJZAzdvpEykGWH_ivPi7zVozGim0pGWt57abQRVepTxO8fUVqiQL8vdTP2pyE_X3Kt-KKhNR2V0GcfAP-KmiU9GPMM3XseQjlciDUQkORFPtjaGzAj7wkO1OZmt3I/s1600/Easter+2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="721" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH-Fd1JOA3RaYzJOJZAzdvpEykGWH_ivPi7zVozGim0pGWt57abQRVepTxO8fUVqiQL8vdTP2pyE_X3Kt-KKhNR2V0GcfAP-KmiU9GPMM3XseQjlciDUQkORFPtjaGzAj7wkO1OZmt3I/s200/Easter+2020.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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In March, just before
my birthday and about 5-minutes before the Coronavirus shut everything down, I
announced to the Board of Trustees (that’s who I report to) and to fellow
administrators here at PIU that I would be leaving my position as President of
PIU in May of 2021 and that we would be moving back to Virginia. I had a series
of announcements in mind so that by now my planned resignation would be
totally public. As viruses are wont to do, the Novel Coronavirus infected the
timeline. One of my concerns was not to allow my news to detract from
graduation. We really didn’t have one. We had planned to pass on the news
personally to many of you. We planned to do part of that while on a trip to the
mainland. We were supposed to be finishing that up about now. That didn’t <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->happen (more in a
moment) so, with the release of this letter, we are going public with this
news. We’ll be leaving at the end of the 2020-21 academic year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, how are we doing?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been hard, but by God’s grace it’s been good—at least
mostly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-zhvseT4k6bFyxPmJVy8rHb_e9eMpNlBLsbmHt2n4Q-hfExChB0p_sDjfdPpS2gbjrDHSkb17K6n1SaNsfDt2VER0QoznosD9lUqvuGZVGZd2QpqIurMogJMiDfPpkWmRDIzBVvE61I/s1600/20200121_182015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-zhvseT4k6bFyxPmJVy8rHb_e9eMpNlBLsbmHt2n4Q-hfExChB0p_sDjfdPpS2gbjrDHSkb17K6n1SaNsfDt2VER0QoznosD9lUqvuGZVGZd2QpqIurMogJMiDfPpkWmRDIzBVvE61I/s320/20200121_182015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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We are healthy. We eat well and exercise regularly. Thanks
to our partners who work with us our needs are met. We enjoy our fellowship
with our Guam church, small group, coworkers at PIU, and by long-distance our
family, partners, and friends around the world. 2020 has been full of
happenings and decisions with which we must deal. Our pastor and his wife, Tom
and Rose Van Engen, retired at the end of May. They are in their new home in
Illinois. The Van Engens are younger than we are. Their departure reminds us of
our age. In the early weeks of 2020, I struggled with our plans for the future.
Of course, COVID 19 came calling. We are very thankful that no one in the PIU
family has been infected, though some of us have been tested and there have
been infections within the close circles of some of our team. The sudden
changes and the need to make hard choices has been challenging. We had, and still have, some students who had nowhere to go. Together
with some students for whom it worked best to stay, they remain in the dorms.
Kathy and I and the Tavarez family live on campus. As Alex T. and I joked, we
became the wardens of the compound. Together we have had the responsibility for
the health and welfare of 30 (at the beginning) young lives. By God’s grace we have
made it thus far—though not without difficulties. I have often thought of this
phrase, that came up in my devotional reading, about the same time Corona
struck, “exhausted, yet keeping up the pursuit” (Judges 8:4). I would add, “By
God’s grace.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue;">How can you praise
with us and pray for us?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqg6oE8zeFGADtIoaD5-u-ErvrzAGoB-ZdJhY9EOWoidgqTbNglYQzAQeBufkfUKHkGLxMb0Lb4tbEH59FsYAkqMUO6cEfUI8HjECjySbshU8gFal8pNxnlMB_-KAmY1A4kD-Bsw1gWk/s1600/20200328_163722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqg6oE8zeFGADtIoaD5-u-ErvrzAGoB-ZdJhY9EOWoidgqTbNglYQzAQeBufkfUKHkGLxMb0Lb4tbEH59FsYAkqMUO6cEfUI8HjECjySbshU8gFal8pNxnlMB_-KAmY1A4kD-Bsw1gWk/s320/20200328_163722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Much of the economy in this region depends on
tourism. Here on Guam that has been completely shut down. Up until about a week
ago, the expectation was that things would begin to open up further, starting
tomorrow. An upturn in reported infections caused our Governor to reverse that
decision. There have been no visitors from Japan, Korea, or other places from
which tourists usually come. There won’t be for at least another month. From
business owners to dishwashers, has </span>devastated the economy.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Most of Micronesia simply closed their borders.
The President of Chuuk Senate, the Father of one of our teachers, has been
stuck here for three months. We have students who can’t get home. </span>Folk can’t
travel to attend funerals, or, in some cases, it has been impossible to
transport <br />bodies for burial (culturally, that is an important matter).</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">People’s lives change. There are always issues
in people’s lives. We, especially H. need wisdom.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Pray that the transition to the next president
will go well. We still don’t know who that <br />will be.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Pray for our transition into what will be next
for us.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We had been hoping to take a trip to the mainland
later in the summer. That is, almost for sure, cancelled. Perhaps Christmas
time.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></li>
<li>We rejoice—though sadly from afar—in milestones
in our grandchildren’s lives. Carrington is now the wife of Harrison Haley, and
a graduate of Louisiana Tech. The new family lives in Utah. Little sister,
Kendal, just graduated from Rock Hill High School. She was awarded a full
scholarship to her first two years of college. Three of our grands, Kendal,
Silas, and Kira are busy becoming drivers. No fenders have yet been bent.</li>
<li>PIU entered into a relationship with a group
from Texas called Hartwell Educators Institute. It should have both short-term
and long-term benefits for PIU. Getting it going takes a lot of work. Pray that
we can do that work well. We are constantly exploring ways to better serve the
Micronesian communities. Pray that I’ll have wisdom to know which conversations
are worth pursuing.</li>
<li>Kathy taught Music 201 to the college students and piano to the three older Tavarez
children. They were able to do an online recital. Kathy has enjoyed working
with them.<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li>I was recently told by the President of TRACS,
our accrediting agency, that, for school like ours, the expectation is a 20-30%
reduction in student numbers this fall. Pray that we’ll be the exception. </li>
<li>Most of our students don’t thrive in an online environment.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLnBIbvIJk2sNUiaJSCzFvloBWz8rpgiRhx8HyW_NtatGyVhfUHb5trk4n0cpgSRqlQr-frhfDsQHJMRNynSLCJvOSLbyVWcj_CwysXcW9Aj_Lmo8DoabViXXmyHx-9yaSNeLP2AaF6c/s1600/20200315_174733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLnBIbvIJk2sNUiaJSCzFvloBWz8rpgiRhx8HyW_NtatGyVhfUHb5trk4n0cpgSRqlQr-frhfDsQHJMRNynSLCJvOSLbyVWcj_CwysXcW9Aj_Lmo8DoabViXXmyHx-9yaSNeLP2AaF6c/s320/20200315_174733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’m teaching two classes during the summer, both
online—all our classes are online, right now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We plan to start our Fall Semester with mostly
hybrid classes—there will be students in the classroom, masked and
six-feet-apart, and at the same time, there will be students online. It is a new
way of doing things for many of us. As far as I know, I’ll be teaching one
class. We sent our IT guy on a shopping trip to use some of our Higher
Education Emergency Relief money to beef up our digital capabilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray that we humans will also have our
capabilities beefed up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Liebenzell Mission USA is in the process of
appointing a new Director and team. Pray for Dr. Chris Matthews. We believe he
will do a good job.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are sorry that we
have been out of touch for so long. For the record, I think we have only been
to the beach three times this year. I’m not sure we have even gotten in the
water. Though we admit it has been a hard year, we are privileged to be here,
doing what we do. Thank you for standing with us to make it possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll finish with some family pictures, Kendal’s graduation
and a shot of Carrington and Harrison Haley with Tanisha and Chad<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6FX0HHSUy39e_SAqhxNIL0Upz655zTU_iqs_K3EMRfJTOObJ_RAHmgykXWRxQhzCEjCsbxbdLisvQJPNQh5gSVgzA9wwj7MmnUcuQEExhad-Kg0Yu1-R4yX7arkwBJN4xOsSw2iy1Qk/s1600/h%2526C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="960" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6FX0HHSUy39e_SAqhxNIL0Upz655zTU_iqs_K3EMRfJTOObJ_RAHmgykXWRxQhzCEjCsbxbdLisvQJPNQh5gSVgzA9wwj7MmnUcuQEExhad-Kg0Yu1-R4yX7arkwBJN4xOsSw2iy1Qk/s320/h%2526C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By His Grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Howard & Kathy<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Howard Merrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09803269554170053972noreply@blogger.com0