We have been taking the kids to Vacation Bible School at Saipan Community Church this week. The focus of study has been the fruits of the Spirit. They learned about the first five. I was laughing all the way home tonight because they kept reminding each other to show kindness. "You are not being kindness!!" (Sentence structure and inflection here are very interesting, but I won't bore you with all of my thoughts on that. I will save that discussion for my fellow English nerd, Summer.) I was struck by how simple the lessons of the Bible can be. Application can be as easy as sharing candy with your brothers and sisters, and yet we can also find life lessons that run deeper and deal with more difficult situations in the adult world.
The kids learned about peace on Wednesday. They learned that peace is doing your best and trusting God with the rest. Again, a thought easily applied to a child. Then, what I will assume was an angel, hit me over the head. I have been fretting since we decided to come about these Sunday morning worship services that we are supposed to do. The same lesson (even in its simplest form) applies to me! I can trust that God will use whatever timid attempt I am willing to give, as long as I do my best. Don't you just love the peace that comes with knowing it isn't all up to you?
I have also been thinking about how well God has provided for us while we have been here. Of course we have all of our basic needs covered: shelter, clothing, and food. We cannot think of anything else we need in these departments. (Although I am not going to lie, I am anxiously awaiting a package that contains some of Mom's cookies!!) God has also provided us with some things we were not expecting. We got to spend a lot of time with Dave and Helen Ann before they left. As a result, we feel like we can navigate the island as well as our duties for the church better. We feel more comfortable with this knowledge.
God has also provided us people to connect with via Dave and Helen Ann's friends. Before we left, I could not have imagined a group of friends more wonderful than our own. The circle of friends Dave and Helen Ann enjoy here put up good competition! We met Owen and Irene who run a christian shortwave radio station on the island. They make sure we know where everyone is meeting for lunch after church on Sundays. Owen has offered to take us hiking to Forbidden Island (don't worry it isn't as forbidden as it sounds!) He is also doing a remarkable job of filling in for my Grandpa's hugs that I have grown to miss in my absence from Lake O. Sam is a park ranger here and has also volunteered to take us on a hike or two. He and his wife have two girls that keep us entertained at lunch on Sundays. Of course, no one could replace the friends and family we have at home, but God's provision of these people has made our seperation easier.
On a mushy note, God has also provided me with a dependable and fun loving husband with whom to share this experience. It has been fun watching him play with the kiddos and listening as they speak so fondly of him when he is not around. I believe now more than ever that God knew what He was doing when He put us together in college. I am thankful for this opportunity that I may not have had the courage to enjoy had it not been for Randy's support. (This is the part where Wez would orchestrate a collective "Awwwwwww...")
That's all for now!!
P.S. Hi Mason!! Aunt Kimmie loves you!!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Booney stomping
We were feeling brave so this was our first booneystomping adventure without Pastor Dave. We didn't get lost and no one had to be carried out of the jungle so we consider it a big success! First we went to the top of Mt Tapacho, it was fairly easy considering we were able to drive to the top and then climb about 25 stairs to reach the peak. On top were some plaques explaining how Mt Tapacho was significant in WWII, not to mention the amazing view. We could could see all the major towns on the island, the airport, 3 neighboring islands, and a storm off the coast.
Here is our lovely Vanna White pointing out the storm:
Having built our confidence with something easy, we found our way to the secluded trailhead for the "Old Man by the Sea". This hike was more challenging but much cooler. As we made our way up and down the mountainside, ducking under thick "tanga tanga" - (funny word meaning brush) and trying not to slip down the muddy path, we saw several animals. Because "Booney chickens" are our biggest threat on this island (I am not kidding! There are no coyotes, snakes, lions, tigers, or bears...oh my!) we felt no hesitation in taking pictures and getting as close as we could. We saw some very adventurous hermit crabs, a big lizard eating a little lizard, some rats fighting in a tree, and a frog. They just send chills of fear down your spine...huh?
(Hermit crab on a stick!)
Hey Mason, can you find Aunt Kimmie?
This was about 3 ft. long
We proceeded on the path to meet up with the Old Man by the Sea. After taking some goofy pictures we started climbing around on the coral boulders and looking for sea shells. We found a few pretty ones but unfortunately all of the ones we really wanted were inhabited by hermit crabs. PETA would be proud as we did not evict them to take the shells for our own. Crabs have feelings too!!!
(almost. . . got it!)
(Stinky, stinky!!)
(The side of his face is really heavy!)
Here is our lovely Vanna White pointing out the storm:
Having built our confidence with something easy, we found our way to the secluded trailhead for the "Old Man by the Sea". This hike was more challenging but much cooler. As we made our way up and down the mountainside, ducking under thick "tanga tanga" - (funny word meaning brush) and trying not to slip down the muddy path, we saw several animals. Because "Booney chickens" are our biggest threat on this island (I am not kidding! There are no coyotes, snakes, lions, tigers, or bears...oh my!) we felt no hesitation in taking pictures and getting as close as we could. We saw some very adventurous hermit crabs, a big lizard eating a little lizard, some rats fighting in a tree, and a frog. They just send chills of fear down your spine...huh?
(Hermit crab on a stick!)
Hey Mason, can you find Aunt Kimmie?
This was about 3 ft. long
We proceeded on the path to meet up with the Old Man by the Sea. After taking some goofy pictures we started climbing around on the coral boulders and looking for sea shells. We found a few pretty ones but unfortunately all of the ones we really wanted were inhabited by hermit crabs. PETA would be proud as we did not evict them to take the shells for our own. Crabs have feelings too!!!
(almost. . . got it!)
(Stinky, stinky!!)
(The side of his face is really heavy!)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sharks, Oh my!
Happy Father's day to all!
For Father's day Pastor Dave planned a fishing trip for several families in the church. We had about 20 fathers and kiddos go with us. It was the first time deep sea fishing for both of us. We went out on a large pontoon boat with about 25 fishing poles posted around the outside of the boat. It's a pretty simple process. They have 2 hooks weighted down with a piece of rebar, you bait your hooks with squid and drop it down until it hits bottom. There was only one tricky part you have to hold your thumb over the line as it releases or it goes crazy and you end up with a big knot. So a couple fishing rods later, we began to figure it out. Everyone on board caught at least 1 fish and some people caught up to 4 fish. We stopped at about 4 different places and had pretty good luck at all the locations except the last one. No one caught anything, until we were pulling up our lines to head back. One of the crew was pulling up his line when he got a bite. His pole was in the shape of a U. Whenever someones line would get stuck they would say "You caught Saipan". So we assumed he had caught Saipan, but his line was coming up slowly. So we watched as he struggled to pull up about a 3 foot shark.
For Father's day Pastor Dave planned a fishing trip for several families in the church. We had about 20 fathers and kiddos go with us. It was the first time deep sea fishing for both of us. We went out on a large pontoon boat with about 25 fishing poles posted around the outside of the boat. It's a pretty simple process. They have 2 hooks weighted down with a piece of rebar, you bait your hooks with squid and drop it down until it hits bottom. There was only one tricky part you have to hold your thumb over the line as it releases or it goes crazy and you end up with a big knot. So a couple fishing rods later, we began to figure it out. Everyone on board caught at least 1 fish and some people caught up to 4 fish. We stopped at about 4 different places and had pretty good luck at all the locations except the last one. No one caught anything, until we were pulling up our lines to head back. One of the crew was pulling up his line when he got a bite. His pole was in the shape of a U. Whenever someones line would get stuck they would say "You caught Saipan". So we assumed he had caught Saipan, but his line was coming up slowly. So we watched as he struggled to pull up about a 3 foot shark.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
History of Saipan
We've learned in the past couple of days that this island had great significance in WWII. The Northern Marianas Islands acted as a protective barrier between the Allied Forces and Japan. Japan had control of Saipan and the other islands before the war and relied on their valuable positioning during the war. The battle of Saipan lasted 15 days and ended with a US victory over Japan. Once the islands were secure, that put the US in striking distance of the mainland of Japan. 18 months after the battle of Saipan the Enola Gay took off from the neighboring island Tinian to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Because of Japanese propaganda the local Chomorro and Carolinian people were convinced that life under the US administration would be worse than what they suffered under Japanese rule. As a result of that misconception thousands of natives jumped from what is now called Banzai and Suicide Cliffs. The remaining Japanese soldiers, holding themselves to their strict traditional code of honor, also took their own lives.
Our favorite story is that of about 20 shipwrecked men and one woman living on a remote island called Anatahan. Some of these men were Japanese soldiers placed on that island, others were civilians from a shipwrecked Japanese vessel. 5 years after WWII ended, the survivors were discovered and a rescue attempt was made. Only the woman was willing to leave at that time because the men could not be convinced that the war was over. A year later the rescue ships returned with letters from the Japanese government and their families describing the end of the war and pleading for the men to come home. This time the rescue attempt was successful and the remaining men were taken off of the island.
This has been your history lesson for the week. Enjoy the pictures!
Because of Japanese propaganda the local Chomorro and Carolinian people were convinced that life under the US administration would be worse than what they suffered under Japanese rule. As a result of that misconception thousands of natives jumped from what is now called Banzai and Suicide Cliffs. The remaining Japanese soldiers, holding themselves to their strict traditional code of honor, also took their own lives.
Our favorite story is that of about 20 shipwrecked men and one woman living on a remote island called Anatahan. Some of these men were Japanese soldiers placed on that island, others were civilians from a shipwrecked Japanese vessel. 5 years after WWII ended, the survivors were discovered and a rescue attempt was made. Only the woman was willing to leave at that time because the men could not be convinced that the war was over. A year later the rescue ships returned with letters from the Japanese government and their families describing the end of the war and pleading for the men to come home. This time the rescue attempt was successful and the remaining men were taken off of the island.
This has been your history lesson for the week. Enjoy the pictures!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
We've made it!
After very long and gloriously uneventful flight from OKC to Saipan, we are finally settled and over jet lag enough to blog. We started VBS on Monday. We have had between 25 and 35 kids so far. We are doing the same VBS that Lake O is doing. We are imagining an energetic, pregnant Summer entertaining the Lake O kids with her hip hop version of the VBS songs. The kids are sweet and adorable, we plan to bring at least 3 home with us. Congrats to the grandparents of the newly acquired pacific island grandchildren. Just kidding! Don't get your hopes up Nela, you're still not an aunt.
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