Andrew's Graduation!

Today was my last official Micronesia Ministry duty--and it was in Oklahoma!  One of my boys in my very first youth group (Saipan) who came to probably at least the first six or seven Catch the Wave youth retreats graduated from Army boot camp today.  (His parents even bought my old car back in Saipan.  His mom can be seen in Seaside Escape Ladies Retreat photos from earlier this summer.)

His story is complicated.  His parents are Filipino.  Donald (the dad) had a job working in Chuuk.  Salvi, the older brother, was born in Chuuk.  Chuuk is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia which is in free association with the US.  So the means that Salvi can come and go or work in the US almost as if he was born here.  But when Andrew was born, his mother was in the Philippines at the time.  The boys lived in Chuuk until ages 11 and 12 and then moved to Saipan.  They graduated HS in Saipan and went on to get associate's degrees in nursing.  But where Salvi can freely stay and get a job, this wasn't so for Andrew.  Andrew's "easiest" option was to join the military.

Since he wasn't a US citizen, his process is very complicated and takes forever.  So, while Andrew waited, he moved to Guam to finish a bachelor's in nursing.  Sometime this last semester, his time had come. (It had been over two years since he enlisted.)  He finished is upper level nursing classes three weeks early and shipped off to boot camp.  He only has two classes remaining to finish his degree, but those will have to wait.

Today, I drove the 2 1/2 hours to Lawton to be a part of his celebration. I met up with the Buchers. (Yes, you previously saw them in Saipan pics, but they are here for the summer.  Dave was Andrew's pastor in JH and HS.)  Salvi (older brother) now lives in Portland and flew in for the occasion.  What a fantastic time of catching up and celebrating!

You Just Thought I Was Done Blogging (aka Surgery)

I have always wanted to keep blogging when I return each summer. I use to blog almost daily when I lived overseas.  But…there were fewer people with internet over on that side of the world. Even if the names were made up (and the stories were real), someone would know I was talking about them, get mad and sue me for my dog. (Then they would realize my dog barked all night and give her back, but still….)

Since I have been home, I have been picking a lot of blackberries.  The wear-lots-of-clothes-because-they-are-thorny-and-there-are-snakes kind of blackberries. During my first picking on Monday morning, I got a thorn. Though I have had several thorns over the last few days, I have been unable to get that particular thorn out.  I’ve tried all the “home remedies” and needles. Finally, I decided I needed my dad to perform “surgery.” He was too busy for me to catch last night, so I went to bed convinced I would die from thorn-poisoning over night.  (I did wake up at 5am from it throbbing.)

So, at 9am I got brave enough to call to see if Dad was awake.   He had no problem grabbing a needle and digging in. I kept jerking which made him mad.  

"I can't help you if you keep pulling away," he complained.   

"But it hurts," I said.

"You better be glad I'm not your granddaddy. He used a knife and showed no mercy," Dad said.

Finally, he decided he needed a pop and a headache pill before he continued.  He gave me a piece of ice in the meantime to numb my hand.

When he came back, he said, “I know exactly how to get it out.”  He then grabbed my hand to start digging, BUT he stomped on my foot really hard and held it down.  Then he dug and said, “I got it.”  Sure enough…he distracted me long enough with my foot that he got the splinter out.

Note to self: find someone other than dad for my next surgery.

(I would also like to brag that I wrote this entire blog without my index, right finger…it still hurts.)

The Real Adventure Begins, Part 3

With only a few rough patches, the 12 hour flight to Houston could have been worse.  I sat by a really nice Japanese American lady who is married to a 777 pilot. (He was not flying our plane that day, but she has flown that route when he was flying.  How cool is that!?)  I chose the steak. (Because in  big seat, it's all about the food.)  It was wonderful.  I watched I Can Only Imagine, which I hadn't seen before.  It typically takes an entire movie for the first class five-course meal to be served.  At the conclusion of the meal/move, I decided to lay down to sleep. (Why do I always think I'm going to sleep? I tossed and turned. But I continued to thank God for the big seat, as I think I would have gone nuts...or made the people sitting next to me nuts...with all my fidgeting had I been in the back.)

After landing in Houston, my brother was texting me in customs that I wouldn't make Tulsa, and I needed to switch to OKC.  I figured I would try for the first Tulsa flight and maybe get lucky (like I did leaving Guam), and if not, I still had several OKC options for the evening.

When I got to Terminal B (after going through security a THIRD time.  Out the computer, iPad, projector, liquids. Off the coat and shoes. Grrr), I noticed there was no line at the information desk. I decided that was a great time to ask them about my luggage if I switched to OKC.  The lady was very helpful. She told me I was not making the Tulsa flight because it was weight-listed and no standbys would be allowed on. She also switched my flight to OKC for me.  And...she told me my luggage was going to Tulsa. There was nothing she could do about that. It was already loaded. 

Then the exiting part happened. The phone rang.  Terminal C was being evacuated for a bomb threat.  Terminal B was on standby.  The excitement was only for a few minutes as the threat was soon canceled.  (Thankfully.)

When I got to Terminal B, I remembered to text my friend Paul. (When I fly I always see what airports my brother and Paul will be in that day, in case they are where I am.)  Paul was in Houston, and Perry and I got to wait with him while we waited on our delayed flight!

I would say this is terrible picture of me...but then I remember I have had about 4 hours of sleep in the previous 60 hours!

I did make that flight to OKC.  (And my luggage did go to Tulsa.)  But for $500 and a big seat, a girl really couldn't complain!

The Real Adventure Begins, Part 2 (aka The Complexity of the Japanese Toilet)

We have already established this blogging season (and probably every blogging season) that I am not a fan of air travel.  Particularly, the being IN the air.  As we started our initial descent into Narita, the captain comes on and says that Air Traffic Control (ATC) has given them a hold pattern for about 15 minutes due to heavy traffic.  About 15 minutes later, the pilot says that ATC contacted them again and has asked them to keep the hold pattern for an additional 25 minutes. Seriously, I have to stay in the air for another 40 minutes!?  When we finally were cleared to land, the captain had to share that the weather conditions have deteriorated since we had been circling and the descent will be rather rough. Oh boy. 

Upon arrival I had to go back through security. Out the computer, iPad, projector, liquids and off the jacket and shoes. Grrrr.  Thankfully, I had a lounge pass. For the next 7 (or so if it took me lots of tries to get out of Narita) hours I could have free food and drinks and shower access.  Woo-hoo.  I was pleasantly surprised to see they had added a few things to the food spread....fresh fruit consisting mostly of kiwis and pineapple.  I am pretty sure I hate my free lounge pass way through the fruit. 

One of the most interesting things about Japan airports are the toilets.  Perhaps this is all over Japan? Check out the series of pictures for just one toilet...

In the end, I got to fly on the actual flight I had listed on, Narita to Houston. This shocked me as there were hardly any seats left. But they never filled and the standbys didn't build up either.  They were already boarding before I was handed a boarding pass.  10D--Business Class!!! Yummy food and a lay down bed/seat. I was so happy.  

The Real Adventure Begins, Part 1

Every summer is an adventure. But the REAL adventure is the journey to Francis, OK.  I typically fly to the islands on a reserved seat. (Usually this is on frequent flyer miles. Sadly, I had to bite the bullet and pay for an actual ticket this summer.)  Coming home, however, is a free for all.  It is a blessing (super reduced ticket price that sometimes comes with a big seat) and a curse (stress of not knowing when you will fly/getting bumped off flights/luggage that might go anywhere....)

Since my last event was July 4, I had considered flying on July 5.  But Maria ruined all of those plans with canceled flights and a closed airport.  Then it was just a wait and see.

The usual flights from Guam to Narita are daily at 7am, Noon, and 5pm.  This has not changed in years.  Then one evening I look at the flight schedule, and an added flight at 7:30 to Narita was going down the next morning with lots of open seats.  I packed up and decided to bolt. 

Since I rarely sleep before a flight, I checked about midnight.  They had suddenly reduced the number available seats by 40.  (Perhaps it was an added cargo flight or weight listed? I have no clue.  as I said, it wasn't a normal flight.  You couldn't even find it on the airline's website.)  This meant I was NOT getting on that plane. 

I decide to try to sleep for a few more hours and then make my final decision at 4am.  When I got up at 4am (after no sleep), my brother had sent an email to make the 7am flight.  I decided this was an answer to my prayer, since most of the sleepless hours were spent praying, "What do I do?"  Try for my listed flight? Switch to Okinawa? Stay in Guam a few more days and try the next week?  But since my brother NEVER pays attention to my flights or what is happening in the world, for him to speak was a "sign."  (I also thought he was crazy as that flight had been overbooked the night before. But...suddenly there were seats.  Okay, there were four available seats, and I would be #4 on standby.)

We left in mad dash to the airport.  The new flight was 30 minutes earlier than the previous flight.  Mr. Ticket Counter Guy said, "You know things don't look good."
 I said, "I know." Then I asked, "How many standbys?"
He said, "12. Do you know where you stand?"
I laughed and said, "Dead last, I'm sure." 
He said, "Remember, never give up until you see that plane taxi from the gate. You never know."

As I went through security and had to take out my laptop, and iPad, and projector, and liquids, as well as take off my coat and shoes, I groaned at the thought that I was mostly likely going to have to do this all over again the next day or the next week. 

Once through TSA (and I was repacked and redressed), I sat glued to the internet for updates.  It showed 7 available seats, 12 standbys.  One standby had never checked in. 

I don't know what happened.  All the passengers boarded.  They started working on standbys.  I watched them go down my list, handing out boarding pass after boarding pass.  Then they got to my name.  It seemed like a forever silence.  Finally, I hear, "Smith." Ahhhhh....the glorious sound of my name being called!  All of the sudden, Mr Ticket Counter Guy returned.  He was so happy I got on! (So was I!)

I noticed that I had row 20B. B means one thing on a 737...middle seat. Who cares!? I got on! (Thankfully, middle seat was an exit row, so there was lots of room...and I was by skinny people. ha ha)

I sat nervously for what seemed like forever until I heard the door closed. (I have been removed from two planes after receiving boarding passes.  I never considering myself safe until we back off from the gate.)  Ahhh, I could breath.  Now to fly through Typhoon Maria. :/

Maria

It's hard to believe that it has been about a week since Tropical Storm Maria came howling over Guam.  It is rare for a storm to make a direct hit over such a small island, but that is what it did during the night/morning of July 4-5.  The wind and rain beat against my window, and the power went out a couple of times.  Thankfully, it was "just a storm" and we didn't have any of the crazy impact that would later emerge when it eventually became Super Typhoon Maria. (It is still a typhoon, right off of Taipei.)  Here are a few pics I took during the storm....

Heavy rains outside of the grocery store. 

Ain't no storm gonna keep the tourists off the street! (or Perry and me)

I can see waves crashing on the reef!  

Seaside Escape: Guam

Today was my third and final ladies retreat of the summer.  My church in Oklahoma has been using a ladies retreat published by Group for the last few years.  After they have their retreat, they give me the left over materials as well as the curriculum and music CD.  Then I order more materials to what I estimate I might need.  I had no idea the Chuuk retreat would be such a hit.  I immediately knew that what I had ordered would not get me through Saipan and Guam.  I still really had no idea how many more books I would need, so as soon as I left Chuuk, I ordered 10 more books and had them shipped to Guam. (Side note: They arrived in SIX DAYS! That is almost impossible.)  After the ladies retreat in Saipan and with the books being shipped to Guam, I had enough supplies for 16 more people.

Guess how many people came to the ladies retreat today? You guessed it...16!  How perfect was that!?  I just applaud the dedication to those in the church in Micronesia.  These ladies came out to attend the retreat IN A TROPICAL STORM! Several had to take off to work to join us.  Others gave up their July 4 holiday to join us.  (But I guess there would have been no beach picnics today.)

Speaking of picnics...we had lots of amazing food today.  Coffee and muffins this morning. Jamaican Grill for lunch.  And a Cold Stone ice cream cake for mid-afternoon snack. Delicious. 

Naturalization Ceremony

Today may end up being one of the highlights of my summer.  I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the naturalization ceremony of one of my friend's from church.  Henry and his family came to Guam exactly one month after I left in 2008.  However, I have gotten to know the Abasta family over the last ten summers. I have had at least one kid in every Youth Retreat and VBS since they arrived. 

Before Guam, they had lived more than ten years in Saipan, so we also have mutual friends on that island.  The three daughters were born in Saipan, meaning they are US Citizens. However, Henry, his wife Glenda, and their oldest son were born in the Philippines.  On May 3, Glenda and Jem (the son) were sworn in as US citizens. Today was the day for Henry!  They were the first of the "4th of July" new citizens since this is Guam--where America's Day begins! 

There were three District Court Judges today instead of the usual one.  The district court judge from Puerto Rico was visiting and gave the key note address.  (I had to laugh inside when he was talking about our freedoms, and the newspaper reporter in front of me had gotten in trouble just a few minutes before for chewing gum. They were kind of strict in the court room--and this was a celebration. I can't imagine being on trial!)

US District Court of Guam

Inside the court room, once we were allowed to take photos.

Henry and Glenda, along with the three judges and the random lady in pink.

Homeland Security Police--just because I don't see that car every day.

Breaking News--Tropical Storm Warning is in Effect

According to National Weather Service for Guam:

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT...

.PREPAREDNESS/PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS...
SECURE LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS AND MAKE SURE CANOPIES ARE TAKEN DOWN OR
SECURELY FASTENED.

CHECK!  Now that we have secured things around here, I decided to enjoy the calm before the storm. 

Sunsets before a storm are always so great.  I didn't have time to drive to the ocean, so I climbed the roof.

Looking back at the clouds over my old apartment (the building in the distance).

Beach Morning

I decided to celebrate my brother's US birthday at the beach.  With a quick stop at Winchell's to get us the appropriate beach breakfast, Perry and I headed to Ben's Beach.  (This is my name for the beach, not the actual name for the beach.  I have no idea on the real name.)  This is the view as you walk down to the beach.

We arrived at about 8am.  So I decided to walk the entire beach along the Tumon Bay.  That took about 1 1/2 hours.  We had it mostly to ourselves.

However, we did encounter one crazy guy in the water. He yelled at me. (I assume it was me since I was the only female around.) "Hey lady. It's impolite to step on someone's slippers." (If you happen to have spent some time in Guam, please read that with the Chamorro accent. It makes it way better.) In case you're wondering, I didn't step on his slippers. 

Perry decided he was looking a little pale, so he caught some rays.  (Perry doesn't like sand, hence the grass.)

Another Day as Tourist

Two tourist days in a row...and three in a week.  Crazy!

After a great VBS Program followed by lunch, the pastor's family and I decided to play tourist. They had never roamed around the streets of Tumon (the tourist hub).  So we decided to go in to some of the high end shopping centers to see what all of the fuss was about. (Okay, if I'm being perfectly honest here, I felt it was my duty to show them where they could get all the free samples of chocolate, dried fruits, and coffee.)

We ended our adventure with the happiest little kiosk in Guam....Dole Whip.  I'm both sad and happy this wasn't here when I lived on island.  I probably would have been super duper fat.  It came in 2016, and I have had my fair share.

With everyone's bellies full from lunch...and free samples...and Dole Whip, we went home.  But I being the super tourist ditched everyone and headed out to Two Lover's Point to meet my friends for sunset.