Managaha Island Campout & Eagle Rays

I love camping on the beach! I really look forward to the SDA School's yearly retreat to Managaha Island with the kids. Managaha Island is just a quick 15 minute ferry ride away from Saipan.





Every time we come out here we ALWAYS say we need to come out more often. It's just really peaceful and beautiful out here.
The times that we did camp out here we were the only ones on the island besides the security guards. Where else in the world can you have a whole island to yourselves?!





The kids set up their tents on two sides of the Pavilion. The boys are on one side and the girls are on the other. I felt like I was in junior high again! Amy and I ended up sharing a tent. It rained sporadically throughout the night. We didn't have the right tarp to cover our tent so we ended up a little wet in the morning. We still slept better than we both expected.





Our tents were lined up right along the shoreline close enough to hear the waves crash at night. Like our tree decorations?!







I woke up early on Sabbath morning for a sunrise walk on the beach. Sometimes I think I must be crazy to leave all this beauty and my life here behind. I'm trying to savor the time I have left here. Life is simple and so meaningful out here.

Some of the best memories of my childhood were from my school days. My mom worked really hard as a nurse to put my brother, sister, and I through SDA private school for all twelve years at Loma Linda Academy. At every SDA school we have something called a Week of Prayer. The school schedule is modified to accomadate a special hour in the day that focuses on God. This past week was Saipan SDA's week of prayer.





Jammed together under the Pavilion we would listen to Rikki and Joy jam on their guitars as we sang praise songs to start our worship service.










All week long I heard about a pastor coming out from Florida to preach to the kids. When I arrived I introduced myself to him. We looked at each other and he said " I think we've met before!" I didn't recognize him at first because the last time I had seen him was in junior high. His brother, Greg, was my classmate and Glenn was my younger sister, Gin's, classmate. Small world!

Pastor Glenn talked about how he never thought God would call him to a Pastor. He said, "I wanted to be a dentist, but I never could pass Chemistry!" Funny how you plan your life out but God has something better and greater than you could ever imagine. I really feel that Glenn touched these kids lives. Towards the end of his sermon he invited those who wanted to give their lives to Christ. Many of these kids wanted to give their lives to Christ. Glen currently is a pastor at the SDA Church in Miami, Florida. We hope that he can come visit us again someday.







Amy planned a lot of the team building activities for the kids. She's currently the preschool director and has been a real blessing to us. She's so creative and you can really tell how passionate she is about teaching and being around kids. Here's a picture of Amy and Rikki setting up for a game called Shadow Charades! This was fun. Here's some pictures of some bible stories the kids were trying to act. I just love abstract art!





Creation! God creating the world.
















Jesus hanging on the cross.


The Israelites worshiping the Golden Calf before Moses came down and broke the Ten Commandments.



Some snapshots of the SDA teachers and the kids cooking our lunch.






































Pastor Glenn and me

















The funniest kid, Noah and his mom, Carol Paez.



During down time I walked over to the dock because I heard a rumor that you could spot Eagle Rays from the dock right before sunset and just after sunrise. Its true! I saw these three Eagle Rays around 7 am Saturday morning just hanging out around the dock! I wanted to jump in the water to get a better picture but I didn't have my underwater housing with me=( I'm really excited to see them because there's a good chance I'll see them again at the dive site Eagle Ray City on President's day weekend!






Here's a bird's eye view of the three Eagle Rays!






And to top off the camping trip I went snorkeling! I spotted an eel and tons of fish! Just love how the water is like 82 degrees=) Ahh, what a great weekend!

Real Christian Theater-Scene 1

My one year anniversary of living in Saipan is coming up next week! I have really maximized my time spent here in Saipan. Since I have decided to renew my contract for another year I have been trying to figure out what I could do differently with my time this upcoming year.



Perhaps my only regret from this past year is not spending as much time with the Youth as I could have. I have to be honest and say that I never really had an interest in working closely with the youth before. I love them but I usually gravitated working more with the adults. But things have changed over summer break. Funny how God works. The youth have won over my heart while teaching Youth Sabbath School. Needless to say, I am hooked on my kids and they bring me great joy whenever I am around them.



Real Christian Theater is starting their 8th season in Saipan and is under the direction of Sean Maycock. They are a group of talented and creative kids passionate about drama, real life, and a real God. What I love about this group is that we don't just do "churchy skits" but we focus on real life issues that the youth may experience these days like peer pressure, drugs, a broken family, disappointments, goals . . . All the kids had to audition for their parts. This year is new younger crew with the exception of one veteran, Xian Xian. This past weekend we spent together at a place called Matura on Navy Hill for our team building retreat for two days.





It was a chance for us to get to know each other better and for us to outline our goals as a team. Co-directors Mai and Vero led out in the devotionals. We played team buidling games togethe and performed skits in different groups. From the age of 9 to the age of thirty something, each team member brings a truly unique detail to the group. I feel that God will use them in a way that we never could imagine. We will be performing at the different schools in Saipan and at Street market. Our final trip will be to Palau in May 08 to perform at the schools over there. I will be helping out with props and set design as well as acting alittle bit. I am so excited about this upcoming year! Stay tuned for upcoming peformances =)

Hungry

This is what my heart has been looking for. This is what my soul has been needing. I think of prayer sessions at church in the middle of the week as "soul food". I think about wholeness and health as three aspects: body, mind, and soul. Its been a constant struggle for me because when one aspect is deficient, I feel a loss of balance. Whenever I feel a loss of balance my focus starts to shift else where and anxiety creeps in.

I feed my body with food, my mind with His word, but what do you feed your soul with? How do you heal a broken and wounded soul? Prayer and fellowship with those who are going through the same thing I am going through has been a real blessing to me and is helping me grow spiritually.

Tonight we paired up into twos and prayed with each other about our pain, worries, and hopes. I feel God restoring my heart and my life.

Easter Sunday Clean Up

Beautify CNMI's partner, The Friends Of The Mariana Islands (FMI), led the cleanup on Sunday morning of Isa Drive between the Botanical Garden in Papago and Northern Marianas College in Fina Sisu. Here are some pictures!

Missy and I woke up really early to join the clean up Sunday morning. It was really warm this morning and it was a long walk! Its okay though because all the honking from drivers who supported FMI and the ocean view made my day.

I have joined the group FMI because I really believe that if you are a part of a group that shares the same passion and same goals, your commitment to serve will be more consistent and stronger. I hope that everyone in the CNMI will consider joining The Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) group. We always have a good time together and alot of laughs!

I have realized that Its really not just about the clean ups. Its about building new friendships and making a difference together here in Saipan. I consider myself lucky because I have made some really good friends by joining this group.

Thank you to everyone who came out and Happy Easter!

Participants included: FMI, Rep. Cinta Kaipat, Gus Kaipat, The Kaipat Clan, MINA, SDA Church

Community Service w/ Beautify CNMI

On Sunday the SDA Women's Ministry, Pathfinders, and other church members joined the community to help clean up the Garapan Tourist District. There are more pictures of the cleanup on Beautify CNMI's blog. Thanks to everyone who woke up early and came to support! =)

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.

Women's Ministry: Clothing Drive/Beautify CNMI cleanup

Britnig found playing cards.

Go Pathfinders!=)

Grant picking up our trash bags.

SDA Church Members with Gus and Cinta

Clever John picking up trash from the gutter.

Taking a break

Women's Ministry sorting out clothes for Philippine Typhoon victims.


I can't explain how amazing it feels to be part of a church family that is active and willing to give up a couple of hours of their Sunday to volunteer. I really feel blessed with the church's support and enthusiasm to work together with the rest of the community to help better Saipan. The Women's Ministry led out in two events this weekend. We had a clothing drive for the typhoon victims for the Philippines. The clothes were sorted out this weekend and will be shipped this month. On Sunday, the SDA Church, School, and Dental Clinic joined Beautify CNMI for a roadside cleanup of the Garapan Tourist District. Over 30 of us helped out! We plan to help out the first Sunday of every month.

Britni was picking up cigarette buds along the gutter and didn't realize some idiot had just tossed a fresh burning one out his car window . . . she picked it up and it burned her glove=( But don't worry, she's okay. Humm, disgusting finds today: a dead rat. It was a beautiful sunny day and some of the jams I was listening on my nano ipod while picking up trash: Stir it up (Bob Marley), In a little while (U2), Dynamite (Jamiroquai) . . . Thank you everyone for showing up! You know I love you, right?! =)