The Word of the year.

I posted this over at "The View Through My Keyhole," but it applies here.

http://howardmerrell.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-nomination-for-2017-word-of-year.html

Thoughts on our almost one year anniversary on Guam.

This STTA has a missionary ring to it, so I thought I'd post it here, as well as over at Something to Think About.

It's been a while now.

I'm listening to the roosters crow in the early morning light on the day after Christmas.  I can pick and choose what I do today, but I know that soon my schedule will step back into the driver's seat. Some time early in January, when our one year anniversary of living here on Guam will come to pass, I'll likely be too busy to think much about it. So I'm taking time this morning to reflect on that coming marker on my calendar. I'm 67 years old, and  I've lived longer in this lovely little apartment on the campus of Pacific Islands University than any other place I've lived as an adult, except one. That sounds way more impressive if you don't know that Kathy lived in #1 place for more than 42 years. That doesn't leave much time for # 2 & #3. To say we have "put down roots" here would likely be an exaggeration and might belittle those who have invested so much more, though, to carry the image a bit farther, we are comfortable in the planter on the porch. For those four decades when my address was 2106 S. Carpenter Drive . . . (mail sent to that address still gets to us, by the way) I always tried to maintain the spirit of the old song, "This world is not my home. I'm just passing through." Now, in a sense, that homeless for Christ mentality is easier to maintain, but only in a sense. I find in me a kinship with Jonah, who came to regard the plant that shaded him as his in a particular and powerful sense. Usually, I have a pretty clear idea what I'm thinking about when I write "Something to Think About." This morning, not so much. I guess the best I can do, as I consider my anniversary of living in Mangilao Guam, is to share two things to think about, which might seem contradictory, but which I don't think are: Being transplanted is painful, for some more than others, we have a tendency to resist putting down roots--even in the pot on the porch--knowing that the next move is coming. Resist that self-protective urge. Be where you are. Nothing in the world is permanent. Jesus said of Himself, "Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head" (Luke 9:58). Do we think we are better than He? It's STTA (Something To Think About).

Children's Day 2017

One of the great things I get to do in my role as President of Pacific Islands University is hang out with some really sharp people.
Like Dr. Christel Wood, for instance. Dr. Wood has been teaching Education, and other courses for a long time, but she hasn't lost any of her enthusiasm. Every year, she and her students--another sharp group of people--hold Children's Day. This gives the students an opportunity to put to use what they learn in class, as well as reach out to kids in our community.

Here are some pictures Christel and I took of the most recent Children's Day.

The brain-trust at work: Zaloma, Jen, Andrew (in green), Jella, & Brianna.

The theme of the day was God is love.

We had more than 75 children in attendance.

The students were in charge of decorations.

 Jella & Restme doing their thing.

 Zaloma teaching.

"I know. I know!

Bible lessons, team times, good stuff.

 We didn't lack for enthusiasm

Matty leading he group.

Jones, & Jody join Matty to lead some music.

Dinnery offering cool drinks.

We finished off with a lunch.

I'm proud of our kids and our staff. It is one of the ways PIU is reaching out to our community.

December Newsletter:

From here on Guam we wish you a Merry Christmas.
Below is our latest Newsletter.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas from our little apartment on the lovely Island of Guam. As many of you know, for many years when people would ask if we were “going home for Christmas?” I’d reply, I live at home. Though we have a house in VA, and we miss our friends and family stateside, we are home. Howard took a major trip to the mainland at the end of October. The purpose was to attend PIU’s accreditation conference and make some other contacts, but he was able to visit Chris and Chad’s families, and even spend a few hours with Niece Audrey & Rob Chestnut and their family. He was also able to speak at Covington Bible, and Faith Baptist in Covington VA, and see a number of friends there. Kathy was at Covington Bible for the Missions weekend, and spent a lovely week with all our family, at Chad & Tanisha’s in LA. We were all together for Thanksgiving dinner. That’s me in the computer, under the map. Though we miss you, for now, this is home. We’ll be spending Christmas at this home.

If you haven’t gotten the latest news, scroll down on this blog, In the latest Tide’s Currents you’ll find the announcement about Howard’s appointment as President of PIU.

Kathy is involved with helping to disciple the student girls. She enjoys her “Mama Kat” status. She is active at the church we attend, Faith Presbyterian Christian Reformed. She plays piano and together with Howard helps lead music from time to time.  She teaches a Coffee Break-like women’s Bible study at our church and is involved in maintenance/decoration projects at PIU. She is currently painting the main office area. In addition to teaching, administering, fundraising, and helping with maintenance, Howard preaches once or twice a month. We have a lovely out-and-back walking route where we exercise several times a week.

People ask how things are going at Pacific Islands University. By God’s grace we are still functioning. We need more money, students, and staff. We have some serious infrastructure issues. Other than that, everything is good. It has been very encouraging to see the response to the Coffee with the President campaign, the fundraising initiative that we launched. We are praying for an even greater response. You can read about it at http://piu.edu/coffee-with-the-president-2.

When some folk find out about what we are doing, they respond with amazement. What is truly amazing is that people hear the glorious John 3:16 message of Christmas and yet go on living as if Christ’s coming really made no difference.

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Cor. 5:15, NLT)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, from Guam, where America’s day begins,

H&K

PS: if you haven't seen the video report of recent activities, click here.

Pictorial/video Report of Student Activity at PIU

Our November Tide's Currents newsletter is shorter than usual. When we sent it out we promised that we would supplement it with some more pictures. I had also promised Coffee with the President partners a video update. So to kill two birds with one stone (though here on Guam we are trying to preserve birds) here is a graphic report of some good things at PIU.
Enjoy!

For any who are considering becoming a Coffee with the President Partner, you can find out about the campaign here.

The Tide's Currents, PIU's November Newsletter.

You can scroll down and read The Tide's Currents, or click here for a better copy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee with the President

It is one of the reasons why PIU is worthy of support.
Read about our fundraising/friend-reaching campaign here.