It's a Difficult Place

Chuuk is a difficult place. Full of poverty.  Education is not valued. There is no motivation to work. Suicide rate among kids is ridiculous. The amount of alcohol consumed is unreal.  You drive down the roads after dark, it seems everyone is drunk.  Fights. Rock throwing. Theft.   

Here's the front door of the hospital.  Not really where you want to go.  There's a joke among my friends: they prescribe two things, Tylenol and amoxicillin. 

This is the common look for a store.  They are located all over, as most people don't have cars to drive.

The skirts you see hanging above are the local dress. I wore these a lot when I lived on the island.  Every once in a while, I see them in US.  I stalk those people down until I find out where they are from. 😂

Not a great picture, but there is ONE chain store in the state of Chuuk...Ace Hardware. (If you look closely, you can see the Ace sign.)  But imagine all the prices are at least double what you're used to. (Then remember, minimum wage is $1.25/hr.)

Can't forget about the port since there are islands all over, and boats are a big deal.

And here's the airport. One gate. One flight a day.  (And....guess who did not get the memo you don't have to take your shoes off when going through TSA?) 

There is a public school system and many private schools.  (Catholic, SDA, a couple of protestant schools).  This is a picture of one of the Christian schools.  I wasn't able to snag pictures of the other schools. 

 

Here's where the cars go to die. There are so many...just lining the roads. 

And what would a drive be with a pig?

I could show you pictures of the houses...or all the trash.  It's sad.  But you've now seen the nice buildings, so I think you can imagine.  

Pray for the churches in Chuuk.  It is a very difficult place to minister.  Many islands.  Many obstacles.