Babies, BBQ, and Bugs

Just finished my first inpatient hospital week on the OB/Newborn service. Delivering babies without someone looking over your shoulder was weird...almost scary. Praise God no mishaps this last week:) Nothing beats ending a busy work week with a healthy dose of full court hoops. I haven't played in months. My body is paying for it today, but it was worth it:)

Brief comments on Curry Kebab. Good Indian food at Guam prices. Love the eggplant. Appreciate the toys for Max.

Brief comments on Chamorro Village. BBQ galore. Insulin resistance everywhere.

Brief comments on mosquitoes. Hate them.

Until next time...

"Home Coming"

Today, we bid goodbye to the military-issued loaner furniture we first received 19 days ago, which was the only furniture we've had since we moved into our home (besides Max's crib). Now all we have to sit on is the floor and toilets. :( Pity thee not, however, for the departure of someone else's couch simply heralds the coming of our own! (trumpets sounding.) The Navy housing office called the other day to inform us that the remainder of our household goods (which also happens to be the majority of our possessions!) had made it to Guam. Whether those goods survived and are in the same number of pieces as when they left sunny SoCal... that is another story which shall unfold itself tomorrow. And since Mike has inpatient hospital duty this week, Max and I will be directing the moving show ourselves. :o Prayers will be appreciated for a minimally-chaotic and rainless day!

After our things come in tomorrow, I think we'll start to feel settled in and finally call this place "home." To celebrate the coming of our very own stuff, we made plans to eat out for dinner tonight. The lack of a dining table and chairs also makes a good excuse not to cook! We're actually doing a double date (chaperoned by Max) with new friends Ken and Gizelle Lee (more on them and other Guam friends later). It's our first visit to Curry Kebab --the island's primary venue for Indian food-- and to Guam's weekly street-fair-esque tradition "Chamorro Village." Stay tuned for Mike's formal eval of the cuisine. ;)

Apologies for the pittence of pictures so far on the blog. We'll be able to download pix after our USB cord comes in with the movers tomorrow!

Get to Work!

We are at the end of week # 3 in Guam and I wanted to share with you the Navy side of things. Our primary objective (military talk) for coming to Guam is to fulfill my obligation to the Navy as a family physician. Without going into too much detail, this week marks the end of my first official work week...and boy it was a lesson in patience.

If there is one thing that the Navy teaches you, it's adaptability. I am told one thing ("take a few days off, get settled."), and then told another ("...oh someone called in sick, go ahead and start seeing patients."). Then the addendum ("...by the way, you don't have access to anyone's medical records yet...and you are on call this weekend."). And that sums up my less-than-ideal welcome to work. Hopefully I will get promoted from my current rank of "newbie".

As a new family physician serving in the United States Navy I am looking forward to exciting times. To say it in just one word, my goal here in Guam is growth. Growth as a husband, father, doctor, and Christian. I know the Lord has so much in store for me and my family.

Guam or bust!

A new chapter in the Mercado book has already begun, yesterday marking the end of week #2 for us as new Guamanians. On July 25, 2007, we embarked on a lengthy but safe flight from San Diego over the Pacific Ocean and across the International Dateline which concluded with an uneventful landing on the island of Guam at ~1am on July 27. (I think I sleep-walked off the plane.) Maxwell, now ~10 months old, handled the trip relatively well... unmedicated! ;) Within a few days we all were recovered from our jet lag, and Max has resumed his wonderfully convenient routine of 10-11hrs of continuous sleep every night!

The main reason we started this blog was to keep our beloved family and friends updated on our adventures in island life (and post pictures of Max, of course). But Mike & I thought it would also be a great tool for us, personally, to remind ourselves of how this move provides opportunities for spiritual growth. We recently started reading the book of Matthew for family worship, and it was during one of our worship times that we were inspired to use our blog in this way.

Matthew 14:22-32 tells of a unique meeting between Jesus and His disciples in the middle of a lake. It's pretty amazing that He walks on water to meet them. However, the true excitement comes when Christ invites Peter to step out of the boat and onto the water. I encourage you to read it for yourself. The passage does reveal Peter's strength and weakness of faith, but the point is that he exercised it. Today, Christ invites each of us to do the same. Whatever those "waters" may be (career, relationship, finances, health, church), take a step of faith in the direction that brings you closer to Christ and to where He is. We know that God's got a purpose for us here in Guam; you're welcome to join us as we venture out to discover what that is... and, in the meantime, maybe you'll find yours.

This is the story of the Mercado family's voyage ONTO THE WATER.