Pagat Cave

The adventures just keep getting better! Last Saturday was Sidney's last Sabbath on Guam, so this final hike had to leave a lasting impression. We had no idea what the hike to Pagat Cave would have in store for us, but even people who had never been there said we should go. It wasn't until we met up with the rest of the group that we found out that there was a water component to this journey. That's OK. I can handle wet socks and shoes, I thought to myself, expecting a little wading reminiscent of our Shark Pit hike.

Well, we finally reached the entrance to the cave...

and descended down a rocky and slippery path...

to find this waiting for us:

The rest of our "hike" was by
candlelight,
flashlight,
and glow-sticks!


We were amused and awestruck to discover that the whole point of the Pagat Cave hike is the water! A natural "indoor" freshwater pool (supposedly clean enough to drink!), it was like an oasis from the heat and humidity that weighed on us with every rock and ledge that we overcame on the way to the cave. Kinda funny that everyone else that hiked alongside us knew exactly what was at the end of the trail...no wonder they were so enthusiastic!

There aren't many times in life that what I expect to be a minor inconvenience actually ends up being the very thing I am striving for. It makes me think about how we initially enter a relationship with God (often with a little hesitation), expecting that He's probably going to ask us to change a few things. Maybe give up certain habits or rearrange our priorities. And we anticipate those changes are going to be a burden, an inconvenience. But then, when we come to that point of change, we find ourselves desiring to change... wanting to leave behind the way life was without God. And as we continue to grow in our relationship with Him, that change, that transformation, becomes the very thing we hope for: a manifestation of Christ in us. That's sanctification.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Max: "Am I supposed to be this wet??"

Emerging as survivors, thoroughly refreshed by an indoor swim!

Heads or Tails

Well the "invitation" for Mike to go to Afghanistan for 15 months came around--again. This time the probability was a little less in his favor considering there were only 2 candidates to choose from. It was between Mike and our friend Ericka--fellow Camp Pendleton Residency graduate. And since no one volunteered (duh), the future was decided by a coin toss... literally! There's no such thing as "winning" or "losing" when it comes to watching your friends go through the fire instead of you. But as a wise king once said:

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven...
(see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

After what seemed to Mike the longest airtime a quarter's ever had, Ericka was told that she would be deployed and that Mike would be the alternate. God has been merciful towards us once again. We are, however, coming to realize that if the deployment trend continues as it has been, we as a family need to be prepared for when (not if) Mike does finally get deployed.

It's not easy to be reminded that your husband is "Property of the U.S. Navy", but what a comfort to remember that the real Owner of all created things, all time and space, is the same God that gave Himself to save us from our sins and give us a life that could never compare to anything this world has to offer.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Shark Pit

On the hiking trail again, we decided to pursue something with a more horizontal path. Unlike our last hike at 1000 Steps, however, this one required some "wading" skills. Low tide and cool waters actually made for a very refreshing trail and made me wish for even more water obstacles! The endpoint of the trail was the so-called "Shark Pit" which is an underwater drop-off in the midst of a reef, allegedly a place where sharks were once encountered. Along the way, we came across some intriguing critters who were chosen to exhibit to Max the wonder of God's creative power.

Pre-wading picture

Hermit the Crab

"2 are better than 1"

Tickle, tickle, Mr. Starfish!

"Wade in the water... Wade in the water, children..."

The location of the Shark Pit is indicated by the turquoise blue color
in the midst of the almost clear water.
Lucky Sid has 3 lifeguards supervising his swim!

Mission: Rota 2008

Our very first time leaving the island of Guam was for a higher purpose than pure leisure. We were on a mission--really! As brief as it was, this was our first mission trip as a family. Although it seems ironic that we would be leaving an area that much of the world already sees as a mission field, there are hundreds of tinier islands here in the Marianas that have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Guam's closest neighboring island of Rota is just 47 miles (20 minutes by plane) away and is an island where there is a great work to be done.

In mid-February, medical providers from the SDA Clinic started flying out to the island of Rota every weekend to give a series of lectures about healthy living. Health screenings for blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar were also performed at each meeting and tracked on a progress report for each individual who attended. This allowed people the opportunity to see how those health indicators changed over time as they put the health principles they learned (such as diet, exercise, temperance, etc.) into practice. Throughout the month of March, these health lectures were then supplemented by teachings of Biblical truths via Pastor Tony Moore's series on the travels of the apostle Paul.

I learned that Rota means "peace" in the Chamorro language, and peaceful it was. As soon as we stepped outside the airport, you couldn't help but breathe in a sense of calm and serenity. And the visual beauty that surrounded us during those 3 days paralleled the spiritual experience we partook of that weekend.

We took so many pictures, you'll have to click on the picture below to see them all.

Mission: Rota - March 2008

Here are some highlights:

All aboard!

Come one, come all!

Sunday morning health fair.
Student physician Sid took blood pressures for almost 2 hrs straight!

Mike and I counseled patients on their results of cholesterol and blood sugar testing.

Integrating faith and medicine

"Come, let us reason together..."
Sid discussing beliefs and convictions with a Muslim patient

12 year-old Juanita publicly declares her choice to follow Jesus Christ via baptism...
This is what it's all about.

Pastor and Mrs. Ondap (our gracious hosts!) with Pastor Tony Moore

Our final day together with the people of Rota