Preparation

Perry and I generally hit the island running with immediate obligations.  This year I did have three glorious days before I had to officially do something.  But during those days, I needed to prep for Saipan VBS.  Though I just did the VBS, I didn't teach the Bible stories and in Saipan it's sort of a mesh of music, videos, Bible stories, memory.  All that to say, I wasn't totally free to lollygag. 

Before I took off from Tulsa, I noticed a little weather looming over the Pacific. It wasn't even a tropical depression yet, much less a storm. So I didn't worry too much.  At some point over the Pacific, I received a message from the Saipan pastor sending me a graphic and wondering if I had a wiggle room to postpone VBS a week.  (Thanks Elon for messaging at 38,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean!) Though I can't see images when flying, I knew whatever was sent probably wasn't good. By the time I landed in Japan, VBS was postponed one week.  In theory, that gave me lollygagging time when I got to Guam.

But by the time I reached Guam, all the experts were calling for a typhoon (and most likely super typhoon) to fall between Guam and Pagan.  Guam is the southern most Mariana island and Pagan being the northern most of the Marianas.  There's not a lot a girl can do at 11pm after no sleep. But by the next day, craziness ensued.  

I had a couple of priorities (beach, phone, food) but then the serious stuff began.  And when you see sandbags at the hotel your swimming at, you know it's getting serious. 

I started doing the things...food, water, batteries, candles, lighters, matches....but I just wanted something solar.  I had the feeling this was going to be crazy.  I had to come home for a few minutes (mostly out of sheer exhaustion.  I was up 30 hours...slept 5...and now I'm preparing for doom.)  I did a search to see if Home Depot had a solar power supply in stock.  Website said they did.  But when I arrived at Home Depot, the parking lot said other wise.  Picture with me the most nightmarish black Friday scene you have ever witnessed.  Now multiply that times 100.  Bam...Home Depot Guam a couple of days before a storm.  The parking lot is bigger than my home town's lot.  Every spot was filled. There was a traffic jam getting in and a traffic jam leaving.  Inside, baskets were overflowing.  Needless to say, nothing solar. :(

Defeated, I returned home.  As I was getting out of my car someone drove up.  One of the church ladies.  Soon another one drove up.  I think they were worried I'd get on a plane and leave island. ha ha  (Trust me, I have considered it.)

On my second day of preparations, I again had priorities.  Beach.  Pool. Water

But then I decided to make a second trip to Kmart. Maybe there was a hidden item I missed the day before.  Hidden item!?  It's like they went to the dungeon and pulled out all things typhoon!  (I did learn tonight from a former youth who worked at Kmart that they indeed have a warehouse with all things typhoon stored. Except for the good stuff like a generator.) It was like Christmas.  A couple of battery lights here. Some batteries there.  And a solar light with a USB charger.  Woohoo!  (Kmart was also mass craziness. But I don't know if it was so much getting all the typhoon supplies or because Friday is $6 hot and ready large pizzas at Little Caesars. Seriously, the line goes to the back of the store. I waited in it once for youth pizzas years ago.  Never again.)

 

Perry and I celebrated my solar find with Spam Fried Rice!