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!

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!

1000 Steps

This Sabbath afternoon, we ventured outdoors and finally went on our first "hike" on Guam! OK, so this particular picture reveals that the trail has several sets of steps with handrails... but for good reason!! The trail is a downward path that descends along the side of a ~150-foot cliff thriving with tropical foliage.

Mike & Ken took on the fatherly responsibility of bearing the weight of the little ones. What would we do without "Baby Bjorn"?? I must say that Mike had the most challenging workout having to carry an extra 20 lbs. and almost guessing where to place his feet! Thanks to Ken, we found out where NOT to step. :)

After the first 10 min of walking over broken steps and through overgrown bushes, we started to doubt whether the hike was such a good idea... especially since there were rain clouds following us all along the car drive to the path! When we caught a glimpse of the ocean over the trees, though, we were encouraged to press on and find out what awaited us at the end of the hike.

Ah, finally! Back on "level" ground. The ground that led to the water was actually a bed of coral rock with beautiful plant life and, believe it or not, pine trees! Greeted by the ocean spray and cool winds, I almost felt like I was back in Dana Pt., CA... it felt good to have a little taste of home.

The Baby Bjorn club

We made it!

The Pacific coast... thousands of miles from home.

Shaded by papaya trees

Despite the multiple mosquito bites and painfully sore legs, we were thankful that we didn't pass up the opportunity to see such majestic beauty. It was another reminder of how the path to Heaven, though arduous and daunting, allows us to enter into something more glorious than we ever imagined.