Rare Day Off

It was a rare day off where we were actually able to go out and do some exploring and playing. So we took a mini hike from Gun Beach to a semi-secluded beach. As usual it was a beautiful day near Tuman bay.

Part-Time Commuter Volunteer Workers at Bethel

Over the past few weeks we've had the privilege of working as part-time commuter volunteer workers at the Guam Bethel Branch. We enjoyed helping the International Kingdom Hall Construction crews with the remodeling work occurring at the Branch. So we've become experts at sanding, priming & painting cabinets and shutters. :)

Knee deep in cabinetry work

Brennan installing the new cabinets

Alan from the island of Majuro helping with the tile

Excitement with the arrival of the construction crew truck from Majuro

Stefany the certified sander

Russel telling the cabinet who is boss

Happily sanding some shutters

Bethel lunch is always tasty (its the best restaurant on the island)

One of the best tasting Tiramisu's that i've ever had!!!

Happily painting

Wow is Sister Collier strong!

Scibetta digging for basketball gold

New Bible Students First Meeting & Bethel Tour

Stefany has been blessed with many bible studies and more importantly she's had the privilege of teaching young and old about Jehovah's purpose for a paradise earth that is made possible because of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. To see peoples face light up when they learn from the bible that Jehovah has a purpose for them and for them to see several scriptures in their own bible of how all of the problems we are experiencing today will be a thing of the past is just priceless.





Stefany has been studying the bible with Cathysha for a couple of weeks and this picture was captured when she came to our meeting for the first time. She is only 13 and she's creeping towards being the same height as Stefany (5-10) who is wearing heels in this picture.

Cathysha is from the island of Pohnpei which is part of Micronesia. She speaks Pohnpein, Palauan and English. In addition to their bible study, Stefany is helping Cathysha to memorize the books of the bible in order. She just finished reciting the first 10 books and she decided to impress us by adding on a few more books at the end. :)

On 1-6-13 she surprised us when we went to pick her up. She was sitting there with her friend who was also nicely dressed. She invited her neighbor friend (Julyann) to join us and she thoroughly enjoyed the meeting and everything she learned.



Stefany and I have been working as Part-Time Commuter Bethelites for the past month at the Guam Bethel facility. Because of doing this volunteer work we have had the privilege of having lunch with the full-time volunteers at the Guam branch. So this past week we were thrilled that Cathysha was able to join us for lunch and she was given a tour a the Guam branch. This tour gave her a good overview of the worldwide work/preaching/teaching of Jehovah Witnesses in over 400 languages.

Robynn from Palau drove Cathysha to the Branch, Cathysha and Stefany

Makopa or Mountain Apple or Fruit from a Wax Jambu Fruit Tree anyone?

We have been introduced to fruits, vegetables and a variety of dishes that we have never seen, heard of or could even imagine. Its truly amazing what grows in the trees, in the jungle and just alongside the road. We will probably create a separate blog post with just pictures and descriptions of some of the most unique, tasty and beautiful fruits and vegetables that we've had here in Micronesia.



Some descriptions of Makopa (Philippine term of this apple like fruit) can be found on these websites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syzygium_samarangense
 http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Makopa

Nice woman in the middle with hat

 We were out in our ministry and I met this nice man and his wife who've generously given us red & pink plumeria branches to grow and just recently they took us on a Makopa picking fest in their yard. They have a large Wax Jambu fruit tree that is just blooming with Makopa's or mountain apples.

 He insisted on us taking several Makopa's because he said otherwise they will just fall to the ground and rot.

Makopa's are very crisp, refreshing and light...yum

His first tie and brief case (or meeting bag)

A couple of weeks ago I have the privilege of giving a young person (Manny) his first tie. Him and his entire family have been studying the bible and they are at every meeting. One day he told me that the reason why he doesn't wear a tie is because he's never had one. So its easy to figure out what was going on in my brain after he told me this. So the following week I showed up with a few ties. He had a hard time comprehending that these ties were for him to keep! He thought I was just showing him some ties in a bag and wanted him to try them on. After clearing up the confusion and calming down from his excitement, I began the interesting process of trying to teach him how to tie a tie. Its harder than I thought it would be. I just automatically tie the knot. After a couple of comical attempts we finally were able to complete the project. :)

Russel confusing Manny on how to make a knot

Manny is learning despite the confusion

He's getting it...now adjust for proper length

We are almost there

He said that he doesn't tuck in his shirt because his clothes are too small. He has the biggest smile at each meeting and he sits in the front row at every meeting.

Almost there

His first attempt at making a knot! Not bad. He did it again and got it to the proper length.

Soon I will have pics of Manny with his new meeting bag or brief case. He now puts his bible, bible study aids and meeting materials in his new bag. It was another occasion where it took a minute to help him appreciate that the bag was a gift for him and I was not just getting his opinion of the bag. :)



Here is a beautiful picture of Stefany with Manny's sisters.