Why Not Tri ?

I woke up to gray skies and rain this morning. Instead of sleeping in and curling up in bed I opted to participate in a mini triathlon this morning. I think it’s the last race before Xterra comes to Saipan. I headed out to meet up with Ken & Crystal at 6:45 am. We met all the other race competitors at Pau Pau Beach for registration and briefing. Brad was also there.

This morning was the first time I felt really cold in Saipan. It was windy and rainy. Standing in the rain and getting soaked almost made me regret waking up so early. But that all changed when I met the other race competitors! I really dig their energy at 7 am. It just feels good to be around active people who are really passionate about competition and sports. I also think they’re pretty hardcore especially since the weather was crappy. Rain or shine the race is still on.



I think the highlight before the race was that I met a guy named Louie (Hi Louie!) who read my “it’s gross, neh!” blog entry about flossing. As I passed him he said, “I’ve been flossing ever since I read your blog entry!” =) You don’t know how happy that makes me feel! That I could actually have some impact on someone! I was laughing and was kind of surprised he knew me from my blog. I just never thought meeting people online could be so amazing!



Ken is quite the athlete and did the whole race on his own. Crystal and I formed a three- man team with Dr. “B”. Crystal swam a couple of laps around the dock at Pau Pau Beach. It looked like a tough swim because they were swimming against the current. She did really well and kept up with the guys. During the first lap a couple of guys were horse playing around the dock. They stood up and did a dolphin dive in the middle of the race. I believe Brad in Paradise was one of them.

After the swim, they had a chicken dance content to see which biker would get a thirty second lead from all the rest! Russ from the Mariana’s eye institute won and as he was jetting away in his bike he had this mad funny laugh like he was saying see ya suckers! I was laughing at him! They biked from Pau Pau Beach towards the grotto to Bird Island. After he came up the hill he tagged me and off I went into the jungle.



I did the Laderan Tangke Trail run. Keep in mind this is the first time I have ever ran a trail. It was pretty challenging for me! It was rainy and all the stones were slippery. I was scrambling in the jungle climbing over rocks, branches, and hills trying to follow the flour marks on the ground. I was trying my best not to wipe out or twist an ankle. What a workout! Though I might have strained my knee I was just happy I finished the trail run. Its set! I want to train for the Xterra tri next year. This year would be too soon=)

Thanks Crystal for the pics!

More Of Him In My Life

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 KJV

The campout at Managaha Island with the Seventh-day Adventist church and school couldn't have come at a better time than this weekend. I guess you could say it has been a long week for me. I get so busy with my schedule and extracurricular activities that my spiritual walk suffers. Sometimes I put off my daily devotionals and than by the time I know it . . . the end of the day has come.




Giving up a couple of years of my life to work for God and the church out here in Saipan has been a real blessing for me. I feel my heart and my life changing as God continues to show and teach me new things. I can't explain enough how far I have come from a year ago. I just look back and see how much my faith and walk has grown in Him. God is really blessing me out here in Saipan.

The SDA elementary school has a yearly campout at Managaha Island and has invited the SDA Church to be a part of the festivities. Ken, Crystal, and I took a ferry ride to Managaha island after work on Friday. We set up camp and helped the kids make our potluck dinner. We made corn on the cob, veggie skewers, chicken bbq, salad . . . the kids were really great about helping out.




After dinner Grant led out in vespers on the beach. All the kids were lined up and he told the kids they had 45 seconds to run and find a stone. The kids took off in a heart beat and came back in 45 seconds to fall in line. Grant than said to the kids to pretend that the stone is a problem, a grudge, a fear, a habit that they are holding onto and to throw that stone into the ocean. So one by one the kids threw their stone into the ocean. Throwing their stones into the ocean represents us giving our burdens and handing them to Jesus. Letting go and letting Jesus take care of my burdens has really made a difference in my life. When there is no way out or when things seem impossible . . . God always provides a way out, another path.

On Sabbath, we had church outdoors! What better way to feel closer to God to be out in His creation. For church we had split up into four different groups and we performed skits about why we think God is powerful. The first group did a skit about the story of little David and the giant Goliath. How God can give man strength to overcome obstacles and problems bigger than himself. The second skit was about How Jesus had the power to heal the sick. How He is a life giver. Our skit was how about how Moses parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape the egyptians. How God can provide a way out when things seem impossible.

I just really had a great time this weekend. This weekend reminded me how much more of Him I need in my life.