Time flies by...

My stay in New Jersy is coming to a rapid end. And if I could come up with the one word that would best describe my time here, it will be: fun, amazing, lovely, heavenly, joy, marvelous, best, etc... wait...did I not say one word? well, I guess one word is not enough to describe it. What word would describe it? none. for none matter, but all do! But then my stay would have never been possible if it wasn't for the relationship that have developed along the way. I am and will always be eternally grateful for the people (family now) who have come up along side me and have been a "home" to me away from home. It is them who have made the best impact during my time here! This trip was worth it! Notice I am not talking about the church structures that I have seen nor the way American Christians do ministry, leave those until much later when school starts. I am talking about them, my family here in Schooley's Mt. The people that I have met, seen, hang out with. People who have invested their time in me...I've said this but I will do so again for it dear to me heart, I am greatly indepted. I am not the best of guest, I admit...but the grace that they have shown..ooh it shame even a tiny attempt on my part to say thank you...but nonetheless I will do so since thank you is the only way to say thank you in English, as far as I know....but in doing so I would add a chuukese concept to it. So I turn my attention now to my new found friends and family here at Schooley's Mt. Thank You! God alone can repay you for all the sacrfices that you have made on my behalf! (we, chuukese, invented that). God bless Liebenzell!

Chapels

My first experience of a Liebenzell Chapel actually had me do the sharing, and as always I got nervous... and I stammered and mumbled unintelligent words much of the time. So when I say that the liebenzell staff are very gracious, they ARE very gracious. They even had questions to asked me afterwards, which I am sure is a large part of their just being nice ;)

My second chapel experience, the preacher was from a ministry that strives to bring to the gospel to muslims. I have so much to talk about him and the work that he is involved in, but this is the internet and I might be endangering his life. So in brief, the talk centered on the spiritual blindness of Islam but that is only so that the power of God can be revealed, much like the story of the blind man and Jesus which was actually the verse that he used.

Such is what I am experiencing here...

Back from PA

I got back from PA safe and sound. I had lots of fun hanging out with Rob WATT. I spoke at Mountain View Church. Chris Eshleman, the pastor, came out to chuuk to teach a course for 3 weeks, that was 7 years ago. It was a wonder he still remembers me let alone all of the names of the students that he taught. So our conversation was mostly his reminiscing and me updating.
Sunday nite, I spoke to their youth group. I think it went well, but we can never be sure of heart issues. Rob thinks I did a good job. After youth group we rendezvous at a Burger King in Cooperstown, PA where Mike Galley took me back to Schooley's. The experience just keeps growing!

Rough Waters

Its been a week now since I wrote and the reason being at work with a full schedule. Here are some highlights of what happen to me:

#1) I went with Norman Dietch to a Charlie Schmitt seminar. He talked about the year of Jubilee, a 50th anniversary yearlong events of forgiveness and rebuilding. I had a chance to talk with him afterwards and as a result he gave me a book he wrote on bible doctrines. Its a very good simple book, setup in a Q&A format.

#2) I went fishing with Norman Dietch, again, at a lake. I caught a monster of a fish of about 3-4 inches. yep, inches!

coming up: 2hr drive to Rob Watt's place and a sunday service with Chris Eshelman.

Updates

It has been a long week! Coming back from VA last thursday, they, the "lieb" staff put me to work. I helped out at the Retreat Center working in the Kitchen and Dining Area. Then last Saturday I came over to the Guest House and worked there too, the whole day.

Yesterday, Sunday, I went with the Galleys to church at a United Methodist Church. I enjoyed it. The message was about being with God all the time. It was the idea of praying without ceasing, to have a "God-Consciousness." I think this church is the biggest that I've seen.

By the way, Norman Dietch picked me up at PA not Mike Galley and we stopped by at Cabella, world's famous outfitter store. And last night, we went to Liberty Corner at a Missions Conference. The speaker was a German Nun who was a missionary in Taiwan. She had never heard of PIBC but was interested in having short-term volunteers.

4th of July

The weather was nice today: not too hot, not too cold, like a Guamanian evening. In the picture, I am at an "All-American" dinner with friends. The outdoor "indulgency" was hosted by the Merrells. As you can see, we are enjoying the day and just having a blast. Some of the topic that cropped up: "Why is it that missionaries tend to joke alot about plumbing?" and "Did God before the foundation of earth preappointed Arminians?"

The other picture was taken later that night. Fireworks display! What are the odds of a Micronesia, to be specific, a Chuukese, celebrating US Independence Day in Covington, VA? If I am not mistaken, maybe I am the 1st Chuukese to ever set foot here. Tomorrow morning at 8, I will on my way back to New Jersy. I will change flight (car-ride) in Pennsylvannia. Mike Galley will take me back to Liebenzell.

updates

Hi everyone! One of the nerve wracking scary moment of my life had just passed. Nope, it was not this beautiful waterfall. It was speaking at the Evening fellowship at Covington Bible church, Howard Merrell's church. The neat part though was seeing familiar faces, one of which belongs to Anne Stinnette. She and her mom drove a two hour drive just to see me and, unknowingly, provided encouragment.

Earlier that day during Sunday School, I had a "talk" session with their youth group. The discussion centered around life, cultural changes, being grounded in the Word, and the Christian's response to society or, better put, what should the Christian's response be. The gist of it all is that a Christian should emulate as much as possible the very character of Jesus Christ. It is exactly a discussion that normally a bible-college guy, like me, should be engaged in every so often. later on this week: Fourth of July, and the long trip back to New "Jehsy."