The good news is Perry has made it BACK to the continental United States!
The bad news is he is being held in a chicken pen until the ransom is paid.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
My reply to Perry's letter...
Dear Perry,
I'm SO SORRY I left you in Saipan. I miss you so much. But, I feel like your services could be greatly utilized during these trying times in Saipan.
If it helps, I've had a small taste of what you are going through. We had some flooding here in OK over the last two months. Therefore, each rain (even the small ones) are crazy! Two nights ago, we had about 8 inches of rain at my house. I woke and there was no internet. This often happens during the rain. It was only out about 48 hours. Then I went to call my parents...and there was no phone. (I discovered today, my line was washed down the creek. Monday I should have a phone again.) I started to run my bath, and there was no water.
And just to top things off, I decided since I had felt miserable all week, I'd stop by the doc. A shot in the hiney and an antibiotic later, I will take that torture to be my punishment for leaving you behind.
On the bright side, think of all the money you're saving since you can use your credit cards! Wait...you use my credit cards. Think of all the money I'm saving! :)
Miss you!
Laura
I'm SO SORRY I left you in Saipan. I miss you so much. But, I feel like your services could be greatly utilized during these trying times in Saipan.
If it helps, I've had a small taste of what you are going through. We had some flooding here in OK over the last two months. Therefore, each rain (even the small ones) are crazy! Two nights ago, we had about 8 inches of rain at my house. I woke and there was no internet. This often happens during the rain. It was only out about 48 hours. Then I went to call my parents...and there was no phone. (I discovered today, my line was washed down the creek. Monday I should have a phone again.) I started to run my bath, and there was no water.
And just to top things off, I decided since I had felt miserable all week, I'd stop by the doc. A shot in the hiney and an antibiotic later, I will take that torture to be my punishment for leaving you behind.
On the bright side, think of all the money you're saving since you can use your credit cards! Wait...you use my credit cards. Think of all the money I'm saving! :)
Miss you!
Laura
A Rushed Exit Back to Oklahoma!
I'm getting really good at rushed escapes from the islands. I had just came home from a perfect Saipan day (that means: pedicure, Thai House, massage, and spa) and decided to do the usual...check email, facebook, and flight status.
Flights were not looking good for when I had planned to fly. Well, I could have gotten home, but I wanted to come home in the big seats. I kept checking future dates, and for some freak reason I clicked the next day and it was wide open. Twenty-one first class seats were still available from Narita to Denver and I would be #8 on standby. It was fairly promising. (However, when flying standby, NOTHING is promising.)
I shared with the pastor about the flights and then the next days flight was open and he said he'd go for it. So at 4pm, I decided to leave the island at 8:30pm and say goodbye to paradise.
However, I still had to get off Saipan and back to Guam...and I had a supper planned with the college girls. The flight that night was booked according to the website. There was no purchasing tickets. But I could tell on my login there were some seats left, so the flight was probably weight-listed. I decided to try. If I got out, I should have a nice seat home. If I didn't get out, I had four more days in Saipan. Win-win situation! (Once at the airport, it is when I realized, I didn't have Perry with me. I actually was sick for a moment.)
By the next morning, I was on my long journey home. The flight from Guam to Narita was good. I sat next to one of the heads of ESL for Guam Public School System. We talked education for a lot of the flight. After my arrival in Japan (and going through 2nd airport security), I had seven hours to kill at the airport. Thankfully, I had a Club pass, so I bummed Japanese food and drinks...was able to get a nice shower...tried to sleep in the floor...and ate some more. I also did a little shopping remembering some chocolate my dad liked that a (are you ready for this) Filipino friend from Japan had given me in Costa Rica. :)
As I hoped, I got to fly in the big seats. Even better, I was on the 787 "Dreamliner" where the "big seats" make into beds! And even better...the big seat next to me was empty! I wish everyone could experience that luxury once in their lives. The flight attendants are actually nice. The food is actually really good. So amazing. After the food which I will take you through...
As I said, after the food....
I stretched out to sleep. HA! It doesn't matter what my circumstance (good or bad), sleep never cometh on a plane. But at least I was comfortable. After landing in Denver (and going through 3rd airport security), the real fun began.
There was no way I was making the first flight to Tulsa. (This is one of the prices paid instead of the high prices in tickets...the not making the flight "prices".) But I was fairly confident in getting home that day because the last two flights were empty. However, by the grace of God, I was issued a boarding pass! Of course, last year I was issued a boarding pass and they pulled me off the plane.
We took off and after about five minutes I noticed we weren't ascending like I thought we should. I also noticed the plane wasn't as cool as it should be. About 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot says they had a something-something-something which translated to be they couldn't pressurize the cabin meaning they had to stay under 10,000 feet and they couldn't cool the cabin, so we would be going back. (I knew I was going to be pulled off the plane!)
After arrive BACK in Denver, we waited about an hour. The pilot came out to tell us that they fixed the plane, BUT that the airport was just closed due to lightening. He ended with, "And by the way, Tulsa Air Traffic Control tower has been evacuated due to fire so we probably couldn't have landed anyway." Immediately after he stopped talking, everyone's cell phones started going crazy. Tornado. Great, there was a tornado in the area, but we were actually sitting across from the tornado shelter, so I wasn't too worried. I was still convinced, they were pulling me off the flight.
Well, we did eventually get back on that plane. They even let me keep my board pass. And we were able to land in Tulsa (because Kansas City took over the ATC Tower). And my 30+ hour journey was over!
Flights were not looking good for when I had planned to fly. Well, I could have gotten home, but I wanted to come home in the big seats. I kept checking future dates, and for some freak reason I clicked the next day and it was wide open. Twenty-one first class seats were still available from Narita to Denver and I would be #8 on standby. It was fairly promising. (However, when flying standby, NOTHING is promising.)
I shared with the pastor about the flights and then the next days flight was open and he said he'd go for it. So at 4pm, I decided to leave the island at 8:30pm and say goodbye to paradise.
However, I still had to get off Saipan and back to Guam...and I had a supper planned with the college girls. The flight that night was booked according to the website. There was no purchasing tickets. But I could tell on my login there were some seats left, so the flight was probably weight-listed. I decided to try. If I got out, I should have a nice seat home. If I didn't get out, I had four more days in Saipan. Win-win situation! (Once at the airport, it is when I realized, I didn't have Perry with me. I actually was sick for a moment.)
By the next morning, I was on my long journey home. The flight from Guam to Narita was good. I sat next to one of the heads of ESL for Guam Public School System. We talked education for a lot of the flight. After my arrival in Japan (and going through 2nd airport security), I had seven hours to kill at the airport. Thankfully, I had a Club pass, so I bummed Japanese food and drinks...was able to get a nice shower...tried to sleep in the floor...and ate some more. I also did a little shopping remembering some chocolate my dad liked that a (are you ready for this) Filipino friend from Japan had given me in Costa Rica. :)
As I hoped, I got to fly in the big seats. Even better, I was on the 787 "Dreamliner" where the "big seats" make into beds! And even better...the big seat next to me was empty! I wish everyone could experience that luxury once in their lives. The flight attendants are actually nice. The food is actually really good. So amazing. After the food which I will take you through...
 |
| None of those packaged nuts in the big seats. |
 |
| This was the best garlic bread I have ever said. I can't believe I'm saying that either. |
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| The third round...Asian appetizers. |
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| My steak with mushroom sauce. I skipped the next course which was cheese, crackers, and grapes. |
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| Dessert: ice cream sundae. They had a cart with toppings I could choose from! |
 |
| And a pic of the "big seats." |
As I said, after the food....
I stretched out to sleep. HA! It doesn't matter what my circumstance (good or bad), sleep never cometh on a plane. But at least I was comfortable. After landing in Denver (and going through 3rd airport security), the real fun began.
There was no way I was making the first flight to Tulsa. (This is one of the prices paid instead of the high prices in tickets...the not making the flight "prices".) But I was fairly confident in getting home that day because the last two flights were empty. However, by the grace of God, I was issued a boarding pass! Of course, last year I was issued a boarding pass and they pulled me off the plane.
We took off and after about five minutes I noticed we weren't ascending like I thought we should. I also noticed the plane wasn't as cool as it should be. About 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot says they had a something-something-something which translated to be they couldn't pressurize the cabin meaning they had to stay under 10,000 feet and they couldn't cool the cabin, so we would be going back. (I knew I was going to be pulled off the plane!)
After arrive BACK in Denver, we waited about an hour. The pilot came out to tell us that they fixed the plane, BUT that the airport was just closed due to lightening. He ended with, "And by the way, Tulsa Air Traffic Control tower has been evacuated due to fire so we probably couldn't have landed anyway." Immediately after he stopped talking, everyone's cell phones started going crazy. Tornado. Great, there was a tornado in the area, but we were actually sitting across from the tornado shelter, so I wasn't too worried. I was still convinced, they were pulling me off the flight.
Well, we did eventually get back on that plane. They even let me keep my board pass. And we were able to land in Tulsa (because Kansas City took over the ATC Tower). And my 30+ hour journey was over!
Perry's Post
Dear Laura,
How could you leave me in Saipan? I know you left in such a rush, but you do not understand all that I'm currently going through. A couple of days ago, the lone undersea fiber-optic cable connecting Saipan (and the rest of the CNMI--Tinian, Rota) to the rest of the world BROKE.
This means I can't make phone calls (from landlines or cell phones). There is no internet. (You're probably wondering how I am even posting this message. I borrowed a friend's satellite phone.) There are no credit cards...bank cards...or ATMS working. Flights are grounded. Saipan just went totally off the grid. And from the typhoon that hit earlier this week, we don't have city water (meaning we are relaying on rain water and bottled drinking water).
Do you plan to rescue me? Can you send a boat? A helicopter? A space shuttle? You could be blogging all kinds of lies about me right now and how would I know so I can't check the internet? Sigh.
Even though you left me, I do still miss you. I'll miss the band students. Maybe you'll rescue me before this year's band trip.
Love,
Perry
How could you leave me in Saipan? I know you left in such a rush, but you do not understand all that I'm currently going through. A couple of days ago, the lone undersea fiber-optic cable connecting Saipan (and the rest of the CNMI--Tinian, Rota) to the rest of the world BROKE.
This means I can't make phone calls (from landlines or cell phones). There is no internet. (You're probably wondering how I am even posting this message. I borrowed a friend's satellite phone.) There are no credit cards...bank cards...or ATMS working. Flights are grounded. Saipan just went totally off the grid. And from the typhoon that hit earlier this week, we don't have city water (meaning we are relaying on rain water and bottled drinking water).
Do you plan to rescue me? Can you send a boat? A helicopter? A space shuttle? You could be blogging all kinds of lies about me right now and how would I know so I can't check the internet? Sigh.
Even though you left me, I do still miss you. I'll miss the band students. Maybe you'll rescue me before this year's band trip.
Love,
Perry
Roach Room Make Over!
My friend MaKenzie will be moving to Guam in a few weeks to help with the church for the next year. She will have the grand honor of living in the Roach Room (as I so affectionately named it). Perry and I worked really hard to rid it of the roaches...and to update it just a bit.
Before...
And now, check out the newly "updated" Roach Room. The furniture was rearranged. The roaches murdered and swept away. And a few homey touches to help MaKenzie feels like she has a little living space...I hope. :)
This still isn't the Hyatt, but hopefully it will make her next 11 months a bit more comfortable and giver her a head start as she makes it her own room. I just can't believe I didn't do this seven years ago! :)
Before...
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| The bathroom....the rug was kind of stuck to the floor.... |
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| The closet/kitchen? |
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| My fuzzy orange blanket. |
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| Another view. |
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| Baby roaches that were under the dresser. |
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| A view of the ceiling.... |
And now, check out the newly "updated" Roach Room. The furniture was rearranged. The roaches murdered and swept away. And a few homey touches to help MaKenzie feels like she has a little living space...I hope. :)
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| A sitting area...with CARPET! (Carpet is such an island luxury.) |
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| The bed is in its new place with a new bedspread, another carpet, and a matching lamp. |
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| The closet kitchen got a few organizing things and an island-style clothes hamper. (And if you look closely, there's a gift waiting on MaKenzie.) |
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| New bathmats (one you can't see) and a new medicine cabinet. The old one needed burned. |
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| The bathroom is so tiny, but I added some shelving to try to add a bit more room. |
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| Here's a front view of the sitting area. (This is where the bed was in the before pics.) |
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| Maybe a ceiling fan will help cool off a very warm room! |
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| And if you know MaK like I do, you'll know she will appreciate the new bars on the windows! |
Friday, July 3, 2015
Saipan Catch the Wave
I have said it many times, but Saipan is the happiest place
on earth. I love the people…the food…the flowers…the lazy
river…the ocean views…and…this year’s youth retreat!
Our event included similar sessions as Guam (Catch the Wave
of Full Armor, Catch the Wave of Value, and Catch the Wave of Purity). We had some games, watched a couple
inspiration movies, and went to a local waterpark. We lots of yummy food including Indian Tacos
to celebrate my roots and pizza (because can you really have a youth event
without pizza?).
I’m on a ridiculously slow connection, which is one reason I
haven’t posted sooner. (This event
happened almost two weeks ago!)
Thursday, June 25, 2015
The Rest of VBS
Perry and I have gotten lazy reporting on Micronesia Adventures. I'm sure you have all been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear the rest of the VBS report. We had 54 kids come to VBS (and probably 30 workers throughout the week). I LOVE island VBS food....island soups and tuna or egg salad sandwiches every night. And on the special nights...pancit and lumpia. You just don't get that kind of food at VBS in OK.
Here we are waiting on VBS to start. We have to do multiple van runs to get all the kids there, so we have kids as much as an hour early!
Here we are waiting on VBS to start. We have to do multiple van runs to get all the kids there, so we have kids as much as an hour early!
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| Obviously, you HAVE to have Bible stories at VBS! |
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| Everyone loves crafts!!! |
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| And food! (We get island donuts this night with our soup & sandwich) |
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| The kinder class is waiting on everyone to arrive for their pictures |
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| Perry wants you to know if you look VERY closely, he is hanging (literally) in the front row. |
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Beach Sunset Picnic
Tonight was a fabulous night. I went with my friend Kathy and her kids (and a few more we picked up on the way) for an evening of swimming, sunset, and food on the beach.
Here we are...ready to EAT. We had a little bit of fried chicken, red rice, salad, and cookies to go with our ants. Nothing like a little extra protein. (Perry said he preferred eating ants.)
Perry and I decided we'd have a little photo shoot while we waited on the sunset.
Island sunsets....always different and never gets old! :)
The drive back from the beach was hilarious. We decided to greet tourists in their native tongue. We used all the words we could muster in Japanese, Korean, and Russian (and Spanish, though I'm not exactly sure why).
Overall, it was a fun night and will probably go down as one of the highlights of my summer. Nothing better than spending time with friends and a platypus on the beach!
Here we are...ready to EAT. We had a little bit of fried chicken, red rice, salad, and cookies to go with our ants. Nothing like a little extra protein. (Perry said he preferred eating ants.)
Perry and I decided we'd have a little photo shoot while we waited on the sunset.
Island sunsets....always different and never gets old! :)
The drive back from the beach was hilarious. We decided to greet tourists in their native tongue. We used all the words we could muster in Japanese, Korean, and Russian (and Spanish, though I'm not exactly sure why).
Overall, it was a fun night and will probably go down as one of the highlights of my summer. Nothing better than spending time with friends and a platypus on the beach!
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Perry Wants an Airport Adventure Too!
I wonder if I could arrange Perry to have an airport adventure?
http://www.news9.com/story/29353740/airport-employee-takes-boys-lost-stuffed-tiger-on-adventure
http://www.news9.com/story/29353740/airport-employee-takes-boys-lost-stuffed-tiger-on-adventure
Naughty Platypus
I hadn't blogged in a few days because Perry has been kind of naughty.
It looks like Perry takes after me in being "part monkey."
However, we have had lots of fun the last couple of days. Besides VBS (which I will blog about later...and when I say later, I don't mean in the next few hours), we have been to Jeff's Pirate Cove....
....a Micronesia Festival....
....and had a photo session...
We apologize for the two previous pictures. My photographer will be enrolling in classes soon. :)
Monday, June 15, 2015
VBS--Day 1
This year marks the tenth anniversary of directing Vacation Bible School in Guam. Though it has come with more challenges than usual, the smiles on the kids faces is priceless.
Weird Animals: Where Jesus' Love is One-of-a-Kind is this year's theme. (Some of you may think, "No, that's last year's theme." Since I fund most of the decorations, crafts, etc myself or with donations of others, I have found it it is much more efficient to use someone's year-old VBS and then buy crafts and decorations on clearance! It works out in a great way, because two more churches--Guam & Saipan--have the opportunity to benefit from the VBS. Thank you Sara Frakes for sending me your old VBS to use! The crazy part, is this is the about the fifth year I have borrowed a VBS. And every single year, there is one teacher's book missing: the Bible stories book. How weird is that?)
Here's my weird animals habitat...
And here we are hanging out before the festivities began!
Weird Animals: Where Jesus' Love is One-of-a-Kind is this year's theme. (Some of you may think, "No, that's last year's theme." Since I fund most of the decorations, crafts, etc myself or with donations of others, I have found it it is much more efficient to use someone's year-old VBS and then buy crafts and decorations on clearance! It works out in a great way, because two more churches--Guam & Saipan--have the opportunity to benefit from the VBS. Thank you Sara Frakes for sending me your old VBS to use! The crazy part, is this is the about the fifth year I have borrowed a VBS. And every single year, there is one teacher's book missing: the Bible stories book. How weird is that?)
Here's my weird animals habitat...
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