Christmas with the Guam Merrells

Christmas in Guam with the Merrells--a quick run-down.
As most of you are starting Christmas Day, Kathy & I are finishing ours. It's been a good celebration.
Yesterday, we had guests for breakfast. Alex, Dani, Bekah, Micah, Isaiah, Selah, & Meleah. 9 people filled our apartment, but it was filled with fun. The kids went home to watch a movie--they also live on campus--so we actually had adult conversation for almost an hour. Prior to our guest's arriving, while Kathy finished the prep for breakfast, I took one of our students to the airport. We aren't sure this is the best thing for this student--going to the mainland to work for a semester--kind of shaky looking family connection there. Please pray. Kathy needed to practice some music, I put in a couple of hours on a campus maintenance project and we both did some last minute shopping. Last night Kathy and I both had part in our Guam church's candlelight service. Prior to the service there was a soup and bread supper. We enjoyed the meal and the program.

This morning we had a light breakfast on the beach, came home & opened presents, then went to some dear friends' house for a great meal at noon. I think there were 10 of us there. On the way home, we stopped at the Hyatt to see the decorations. That's a real gingerbread house. Then we spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

We miss those of you on the other side, but we had a good couple of days. We pray yours is good, as well.

Like the enlightened Scrooge, we are seeking to live in the Spirit of Christmas all year long.

H&K

Christmas Greeting

Christmas Greetings from the Merrells, The Guam Merrells, that is

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Howard & Kathy Merrell via mailchimpapp.net	8:31 PM (32 minutes ago)
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Welcome to H&K's mailing list. View this email in your browser Merry Christmas, Howard. We mentioned in our last note that we were planning to send a Christmas greeting. We decided to do something different and put together a  video. It's about the  right length for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Or, if you are in a warm place, like we are, a glass of iced tea. Our video comes with a free bonus. Felis Nabidat. That's Merry Christmas in Chamarro. Click on the picture to view our Christmas video. In case you didn't get a chance to look at it, yet, here is the link to the latest Tide's Currents, PIU's quarterly newsletter. By His Grace--the grace of Christmas, H&K Our mailing address is: Howard & Kathy Merrell 172 Kinney;s Road Mangilao GU 96913

Latest PIU Newsletter

Hi, Merry Christmas. We have plans to send out a Christmas communique, but right now I want to make you aware of latest edition of The Tide's Currents. Since this is what we do, I suppose you could say that in many ways this publication represents a ministry report from us. A couple of the articles are either by me, or directly about us. One article that I'm very pleased with is an interview between me and one of our instructors, Iotaka Choram. It will help you understand some of the cultural issues we have to deal with. Or maybe I should say it will help you understand some of the cultural issues that we force on others by our presence here. Either way, I think it will help you understand what we are about. A couple of real quick things: We will be on this side of the globe through the Holidays. By God's grace, we are enjoying good health. We are praying for those of you who are facing severe winter weather. Here is the link to the latest Tide's Currents. By His Grace, H&K

One Thing After Another, update 10/23/18

Hopefully, this ministry report will be more than a review of how the Merrells are doing. I really don't think our lives are all that different than the life of anyone who is seeking to live for Christ and eternity. Hopefully, you'll not only find out about how and what the Merrells are doing, but you'll also learn something about your own life.

It has been said that this life is just "one thing after another."

Indeed, and sometimes the things come faster than at other times. Life isn't like an action movie where enemies take turns attacking the good-guy. Sometimes they just all pile on. The syndrome isn't unique to missionary life, but it can be harder to deal with when you are away from familiar surroundings. I'll explain as I go along.

The last few weeks have been pretty intense. It looks like that pattern will continue for a while. That's OK. We aren't on vacation.

Most of you know that PIU is in the once-every-ten-year cycle of accreditation. Basically an accrediting agency, in our case the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), examines a school. If that school measures up the agency puts its stamp of approval on the school. This assures those applying to the school that it adheres to high standards in all areas of operation. In order for a college to participate in Department of Education financial aid programs, it must be accredited. In our case, Pell Grants are our biggest source of revenue. PIU has been accredited for more than fifteen years. Currently, that status is being reviewed. The process is much like the process of applying for accreditation and being accepted as an accredited school. If it were easy accreditation would be worthless.

Two aspects of accreditation have had particular impact on me, HM. The first step of the process is for the school to write a self-study. This deals with every aspect of the school's operation and must follow a prescribed format. Since PIU is functioning with a skeleton staff, a lot of the responsibility for writing this falls to me. I don't really mind. It is just something at which I have to persevere. The other trying aspect of reaccreditation is complicated, so I'll simply say that we need to have $86,000 in a reserve fund. This is money is above and beyond our regular operating cash-flow. At the beginning of August, we had $0.00 in this account. As I write it stands at $80,000. I have several assurances that it will be complete. I expect to celebrate before another week passes. Again, I remind you of my anorexic friend above. At present fundraising is my responsibility. We have worked hard to make this need known to those who might choose to partner with us. I thank God for the remarkable progress.

Things, little and huge, add to the busy-ness of life:

 

Small in the cosmic sense, but big to us, has been some work we needed to do on our vehicles. Not long after we arrived. we were given a 2005 Ford Focus. The car is not unlike me. It still runs pretty well, but it shows some signs of wear and tear. A friend did an AC transplant, we had motor mounts put in it, and I put brakes on the front. Almost a year ago I purchased a "beater" pickup. It had major front-end issues. A friend from church helped me (truth be told, he did the job and let me look like I was helping) rebuild the front end and put brakes and shocks all around. I also replaced the fuel filter on the little Nissan. Thankfully, it was back on the road before the little Ford developed a serious growl in the left-rear. You mechanics have already guessed it was a wheel bearing. I'm getting to be a frequent flyer with Rockauto, an online parts store that does deliveries to Guam. My VA buddies will be proud of me. The car spent a bit more than a week on jack stands in the backyard. Part of the process of fixing the car involved boiling the brake-drums. If you want to know "Why?" write back.
Praise the Lord, both vehicles are back in service.

The climate of Guam is hard on car finish. I have been planning for a while to do a paint job on the car. It won't be ready for a car show, but I think it will look better, hopefully, a lot better. My goal is to get it done by Thanksgiving.  Pray for Kathy. She really enjoys driving the car in its present leprous condition.

I'm glad the vehicles are running because I leave for a brief trip to Texas, this Saturday. I'll be attending the TRACS conference and making contact with potential supporters. Son, Chris, and Daughter-in-law Nancy are helping us keep this trip on a cost-cutter budget. Thanks, guys. I'll not only be able to visit with their family, but I hope to meet Christopher and Carrington--Chad's two oldest--for a meal. They still live in Northern Louisiana.

Under the heading of "Big-things":

A week ago we received the tragic news that Edward Hutapea, the husband of one of our board members, Siska Hutapea, died suddenly from a heart attack. Edward was only 48 years old, active, and the father of five children. We mourn with the Hutapea family. This family has a been an outstanding example of redeeming tragedy for the glory of God. The family asked that "in lieu of flowers" funds be donated to a special fund to be given to PIU in honor of Edward. $14,000 of the $80,000 I mentioned above came from this fund. It is an example of something Kathy and I experience often. We aren't worthy.




Pray for Kathy while I'm gone. Kathy is now working two days a week in the front office. She is becoming more comfortable with her first-lady status here on campus. Not only is she the first person people see when they come into our office on Tuesdays and Thursdays--fortunate visitors! She is also the campus hostess, errand runner, decorating constultant, informal counselor to the women students, and major encourager to the President. I am told she'll be teaching music, again, in the spring. Lately she has a helper. Esther Combs is the daughter of Administrative Assistant/Admissions Specialist/Prayer Partner to the President, and all around good guy, Joshua Combs. Esther enjoys hanging out with "Ms. Kathy." It is always good to see them stop by my office.

Here are some Praise & Prayer items:

* We are thankful for good health, good friends, and a lovely place to live.

* We are even thankful for vehicles that run with cold air that comes out of the dash.

* We are majorly thankful for the outstanding response to the fund-drive for the $86,000. 

* We have an outstanding group of people with whom we serve. 

* Pray for them

* In addition to the $86,000 (which I am confident will be in place in a matter of days), there are several other hurdles we need to overcome on our way to seeing our accreditation reaffirmed. The visiting team of inspectors will be here in March. Pray that we will be diligent between now and then.

* Pray that we will keep the eyes of our hearts on people. Jesus didn't die for programs or budgets. They are means to ends. People need the Lord. People need to be taught and discipled so that others will meet the Lord.

Thank you for partnering with us.

Howard & Kathy

A.C.T.S. Chapel

We have chapel twice a week at PIU.
Tuesdays are pretty conventional--announcements, prayer, worship music led by our praise team, and a message. Fridays the program varies, but it is generally more interactive.
Today's chapel was built around the A.C.T.S. model for prayer.
Alex Tavarez, our VP for Student Development gave an introduction.

There was a station for each of the letters in the A.C.T.S. pattern for prayer.

Students started out at one of the 4 stations, so not everyone followed the order in the acronym, but I'll share them in that order.

At the Adoration station there was a cross, a supply of cards, and some markers. When you look at the cross, of what do you think?

 Participants were instructed to write that on a card and pin it to the cross.

The praise team led in a song to let the groups know when it was time for the students to proceed to the next station.




At the Confession station, chairs were arranged around a small table with a container of bleach on it.  At this station students were invited to put a drop of red dye in the container. As they watched the red cloud vanish from the liquid, it reminded us of God's forgiveness and cleansing that comes after confession (1 John 1:9).


 The Thanksgiving station featured a white board with markers available to write that for which the participant is thankful. It was encouraging to see the board fill up. After chapel students were still lined up to add notes of thanksgiving.

We usually begin, and often end our prayers with Supplication. The station that reminded us about this aspect of prayer was simple, but effective. A place to sit, write our requests, and silently pray. The fact that our asking took place within visual range of our adoration, confession, and thanksgiving made it less of a "Gimme" time. The God Whom we adore--if we take time see His good gifts, in particular The GIFT--to Whom we confess our sins, in confidence of His forgiveness, and the one to Whom we offer thanks is the same God Who tells us to ask for our "daily bread" and to make our requests known.

I'm thankful to Scott Refilong, Alex Tavarez, and the rest of our chapel team for the great job they are doing. Yes, PIU is a school with books and classes, term papers and exams, but we are also a place where we foster the spiritual growth of our students. People with changed hearts will change the world. Find out more at piu.edu. We invite you to partner with us.

It's not directly about us, but it is what we do:

I just posted some videos to the Coffee with the President Youtube channel. The second has a fund-raising element.

Both were prompted by the recent storm, which turned out to be a "banana storm," one only strong enough to knock down banana trees and not much else.

It is sad that these bananas will not grow to maturity. How much sadder when young adults are denied the opportunity to become all they can be for the glory of God.

These videos aren't Oscar-worthy, but I hope you enjoy them.

We just uploaded two videos to the "Coffee with the President" Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c…/UCBK4ZyoB7ZkcHiJCJ6CaMoA/featured.
The first one, Post Mangkhut Report, part 1, https://youtu.be/UIM7L2HKvUk, features an impromptu interview about Mankhut with several PIU students, and some thoughts about the storm.

The second video, Post Mangkhut Report, part 2, is a continuation of the first one, including some lessons HM learned. It goes on to describe a critical financial need that represents a far greater threat to Pacific Islands University than did Mangkhut.

Since our videos are about the Typhoon that recently passed by Guam, let me use this opportunity to ask you to pray for the people in the Philippines who are being battered by a much stronger Mangkhut, and the people on the East Coast of the US, who are dealing with Florence.

In the same way that our students rallied together to deal with the Typhoon, we need all the supporters of PIU to come together to deal with a far greater threat.
Thanks for watching.

Find out more about Coffee with the President at http://piu.edu/coffee-with-the-president.

News from Pacific Islands University

Here is the latest edition of PIU's quarterly newsletter, The Tide's Currents.

Some pictures:

When we put together our recent Newsletter, The Tide's Currents, we noticed that we had a lot of pictures that many of you may not have seen, so we made a brief slideshow. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the people with whom we are privileged to work.

Life is Short

I apologize. STTA hasn't provided much to ponder recently. Today, though life--or I suppose I should day "death," got me to thinking. A friend of mine, a fellow pastor, about ten years younger than me died. My friend graduated from Pacific Islands University and served as the chair of our Board of Trastees, so I thought it my duty to let others know of Hiob's passing. I realize that most of you weren't Hiob Ngirachemoi's friend, as I was. Still, I think what I had to say about his passing might give you reason to think about life and death, and perhaps make better use of the former.   I only have a few minutes to write about my friend and colleague, Hiob. My time constraints, as Hiob's passing, remind me of the vapor-like fragility and brevity of ur time on earth. I am privileged to call Hiob, "My friend." That is a privilege that Hiob shared with many. As one who worked with him as well as enjoyed his friendship, I both enjoyed and was frustrated by Hiob's ability to focus in on the person in front of him. Sometimes that focus caused him to forget other things, but for the person who was the recipient of his attention, it was like a good satisfying meal--all you could want and more. In 2010, Hiob spent a day showing Kathy and me around the island of Babeldaob. We heard the story of how he broke, and almost lost, his arm when he was a boy. I also know that in spite of that stunted, misformed limb Hiob was a respectable athlete. It certainly didn't prevent him from doing what he wanted to do. Over the last couple of years when I talked to Hiob on the phone I would always ask him if he had been fishing. Fishing did his heart good. When Hiob showed me around his home island and then later when he took a group of us camping in the Rock Islands (one of Palau's treasures), Hiob's pride in, and love for, Palau was obvious. I once commented to someone else who knows Hiob, that he might be the most Palauan person I know. At the time of his death, Hiob was Pastor of Koror Evangelical Church, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Pacific Islands University, and involved in many other organizations. His counsel was sought by various leaders in Palau and beyond. Most significantly Hiob was wife to Leah and Daddy to Micah and Jireh. They are in California. Hiob had been traveling in the States when the illness that took him suddenly came on him. Please pray for those Pastor Hiob left behind. Pray for those who will be called on to speak at the services that honor him and point others to the Saviour Hiob loved. I look forward to the day when I will see a big smile, hear a hearty "Alli," and be engulfed in a hug from two big arms. There is a river of life in heaven. I don't see why there won't be fish to catch. I look forward to sitting next to my friend and catching a few while we catch up.  The picture above is of Hiob on the day eight years ago, when we toured his home. The one on the left is of the PIU Trustees at our last meeting. Often my parting words to people are, "Live for Jesus." Thinking of life's here-and-then-gone quality, those three words make all the more sense.   It's Something To Think About.

Prayer Update/Lot's of News, 6/9/18

Kathy and I serve as Liebenzell Mission USA missionaries (If you ask, I'll let you know how we got that strange name). About once a quarter LMUSA publishes a min-magazine, Live Ready. This edition features Pacific Islands University, where Kathy and I serve.

In my career as a pastor I noticed some trends in churches:

• An emphasis on church-planting--I am totally convinced in the primacy of the local church as
  
  God's tool for this time, and I believe that virtually all missions should result in planting of or strengthening local churches. However, I have observed that too often mission strategies seem to not recognize that churches in the USA, and other places with well-developed church infrastructure, ignore the fact that their church flourishes in an environment rich with Christian education, publishing houses, conferences, etc. yet the mission strategies they espouse seem to assume that churches in other places don't need any of that.
• A business model of missions that sees support for missions as investment--think owning shares in a company--with a demand for guaranteed results. Apart from God's sovereignty--something we believe and depend on but don't understand completely--working with people is always a risky business. Yet, churches often want visible, measurable results, and they want them quickly.
• An opportunity for laypersons to be involved in missions--the proliferation of  short-term missions is one outgrowth of this. The reality is, though, that many (most) missionary advances take place because of lifetimes of dedicated service. There is a great place for short-term missions, both LMUSA, and PIU benefit greatly from the contributions of short-termers, but we must not allow this trend to erode the church's commitment to those who go and stay, often doing non-glamorous tasks.

In my brief second career I have continued to observe these trends from a new perspective. As my comments above indicate, I don't totally disagree with these trends. I do see that too often they lead to short-sighted, inadequate strategies. Obviously, I'm biased, but I am convinced that providing high quality Christian education can be one of the keys to consolidating the progress of pioneer missionaries, and enabling mission fields to become regions from which new missionaries are sent to yet unreached places.

When you read this edition of Live Ready, you may think that Dr. Manana and I sat down and planned together what we were going to write. We didn't. It is just that we see the same needs in Africa and Micronesia. I hope that consensus opinion/observation will encourage you in prayer and in continued faithful support. You can be of great service to the work of PIU if you let your circle of friends and co-laborers know about the opportunity to invest in the future of potential leaders like those you will meet in the April-June 2018 Live Ready. Please refer them to the ongoing fundraising, friend-reaching, campaign, Coffee with the President. If you are in a position to do so, please present the opportunities at Pacific Islands University, piu.edu. to the mission committee (or other mission leadership) at your church. The contents of this mini-magazine would serve as a good introduction. I'm glad to share further with interested persons.

On a personal note:

I am writing this from my older son's living room in Rock Hill South Carolina. Kathy and I landed in Houston Texas May 9. We spent most of a week with our younger son's family in College Station, Texas. We were able to help them move from an apartment to a house, and help them get settled. We spent a couple of days in Sterlington, Louisiana, with Daughter-in-law Tanisha. Chad was already, here in Rock Hill. We helped Tanisha get ready for a moving sale, and then traveled to Covington, VA with a brief stop in Charlotte, where we saw Kathy's sister and family. We spent almost three weeks at our Virginia home. Our time has been full of doing various maintenance tasks, catching up with friends and supporters, riding my bike. and spending some time relaxing. Thanks to the internet, I've been able to stay in touch with colleagues at PIU. I head back toward Guam on June 13. I have a brief stop in California, an overnight in Hawaii, and a two day stop in the Republic of Marshall Islands. I arrive back in Guam on June 18. Kathy travels back on July 2-3. 

Praises: 

• My  friends and colleagues, Dave and Joyce Owen were able to fly to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit with their son's family. Dave made the trip with minimal swelling. I think you can see, they are happy. 

• Computer upgrades--PIU was recently awarded a $5,000 grant for upgrading our Study-Center computers. This will enable us to purchase six new laptops with up to date programming.
  
  In addition, Gateway Bible Church, Scotts Valley CA, has collected a number of computers much newer than we are currently using. A big part of my stop in California will be spent arranging transport for these units. I'm planning to take some with me on United. Thanks GBC!
• We sold our Honda Civic to one of our grandkids. We are selling our VA truck to a friend. It will be a blessing to us to no longer have to be concerned about them. Pray that they will be a blessing to their new owners.
• We praise the Lord for the support our mission shows, not only to us, but to PIU. The linked mini-magazine is an illustration of that support.
• We have a larger than average group of summer students.
• Kathy greatly enjoyed teaching music in the Spring Semester.
• By God's grace, PIU continues to function.
• We thank you and the Lord for faithful support, and prayer.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for a good group of new students in the fall.
• We are in the reaffirmation process for maintaining our accreditation. This is a difficult process in the best of times. With our short-staff, it is more so.
• One of our faculty members, Peter Knapp's, Mother-in-law, died suddenly. Peter, Robin, and their boys are traveling to be with family in New York state.
• I will be teaching a class in the second summer session, starting July 2.
• Pray for the numbers, budget and enrollment.
• Recent graduates are finding their way to "next." 
• Pray that I'll be able to make arrangements for the computers in CA, and that I'll have good contacts in the Marshalls.
• While here in SC, I had a meeting with the Seminary Dean at Columbia International University. This could be significant for the future of Pacific Islands Evangelical Seminary. Pray for wisdom and that God's will would be done.
• Page 10 of the mini-mag lists some of our personnel needs.

I know I'm forgetting some things. If you remember them, praise the Lord and pray for them as well.

By His Grace,

Howard and Kathy

PS: If you would like a print version of the Live Ready, mini-magazine. Contact Lisa Jones at LMUSA, ljones@liebenzellusa.org. She'll be glad to accommodate you.

Also, The picture at the top is our new prayer card. We are thankful to Mylene Combs, wife of Joshua, staff-member at PIU, for the nice picture. It was taken at Ypao Beach, on Guam. If you want a copy of our new card, let us know.