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.

Enjoyable times with the people of Micronesia

We've had very memorable moments conducting bible studies with a variety of people with different circumstances and from various islands. Recently a friend of ours (Kinohi) went back to Hawaii and he asked us if we could take over a study he started with Diego & Surly. They are one of the sweetest, kindest and most generous people you will meet.

Our first time meeting Surly (far left), her son and little cousin

This home is on a street called Takano. Jehovah has blessed us with many great experiences on this street. We like to refer to this street as "our street" to the friends. Stefany and Jasmine are teaching the bible with some younger ones at their home on Takano street.

The young ones that Jasmine and Stefany were studying with are captured in this picture. They love to discuss the stories in the Bible Story book.

Well one day we were in the process of documenting all of the businesses in the area so that we can create business territories in order preach to all of the business people. As we were driving, we saw a very small hut/shack/building that just had an OPEN sign in the window. So we decided to just stop and find out what they are selling and if its a business we should add to the territory. This very nice woman came out to greet us and she has been running a food stand for 4 years. It started as just a hot dog stand but it has grown to a pretty busy lunch plate business for the workers in the area. We told her why we were in the area and that we were trying to reach all of the business people to share a bible message with them. She was so thrilled to hear how we have volunteered our time to teach people the bible. She apologized for not having enough food for all of us because she only makes enough for her normal lunch customers and they call in advance. We explained that we were ok because we didn't stop for the food. Well she INSISTED that we sit at her picnic table and she started to fry up some mighty tasty fried chicken, steamed rice (Finadene on the side...kinda like Chamorro soy sauce), corn and drinks. She was so sweet and she just kept bringing the very tasty food out to us. She sat down with us and we talked for awhile about the bibles message of hope and how Jehovah will bring an end to all of the problems that mankind is experiencing (we gave her the Would You Like To Know The Truth Tract). I forgot to mention that before stopping at this last business, we were already talking about what we were going to have for 

lunch! Thank you Jehovah. 

Nice woman, Robynn and Stefany and tasty dish

Mhay, Russel, Robynn and generous woman with her Truth Tract

Thelma relaxing in the hammock

After a wonderful day in the ministry we love to relax in the hammock and talk story. This is the home of the Castillejos family that hosts the meeting for the field ministry a couple of days each week.

Robynn rocking her momma (Thelma) to sleep