It’s five o’clock in the morning and Guam sleeps on a pleasantly humid Sunday morning. In a few hours we will head to church. The San Diego we (Sam, my hubby, and Rachelle, my friend and intern) left Friday morning is already humming on a beautiful Saturday morning. I can’t wait for the house to get going and to see what God has in store for us today.
God Appointments
Do you believe in God appointments? Yes, that’s how I call what some refer to as coincidences or serendipity.
Two years ago I was invited to speak at the TRACS Conference in North Carolina–a complete surprise. I knew only two people from TRACS, Dr. Paul Boatner (TRACS President) and Mary Boatner (his wife). They would be too busy with the conference to ease the mild anxiety that tends to come over me when I enter a banquet hall full of people I don’t know. So there I was, awkwardly looking for a seat at a table with friendly faces when a nice man said, “I am very familiar with your school,” as he read my name tag. In the next few minutes I found out that he was David Owen, President of Pacific Islands University (PIU), from Guam and the father of our very own Matt Owen, System’s Librarian at San Diego Christian College and Southern California Seminary. That’s where the Guam connection began.
Over the next few months, David invited me to work with PIU. A year later I conducted PIU’s faculty in-service training via Skype. Now we are here to serve them. I know this much so far: We’ll take part in a Story Crafting Conference (for which I brought over 4000 story tracts), share our story with various audiences, and serve PIU in any way we can. Sam will be busy speaking to men’s groups. Rachelle will be tutoring writing students and helping PIU’s library. We come prepared to bless others… but what I know for sure is that God will bless us more. How? That’s what I can’t wait to find out because He never ceases to amaze me! But I have a feeling that much of that blessing will come from the stories we will hear and capture.
Praising Him Today
- I praise God for His goodness preparing the way that brought us here. From San Diego to Los Angeles to Honolulu to Guam — 18 hours of travel that could not have gone smoother. Everyone who has been praying for us: your faithful words to our Lord have been honored and have delivered us safely.
Praise the Lord - We praise God for the Owens’ hospitality. We arrived to their lovely home at 9 PM (3 AM, a day earlier in San Diego) to enjoy refreshing conversation. ”We will keep you up till 10 PM so you don’t wake up at 2 AM” they said. We got a Pacific Islands geography lesson and an update on everything Guam and PIU.
Praise the Lord - I praise God for the stamina and energy to start the day for Him. I’m showered, dressed, and ready to go… but I must let the rest of the gang wake up first. So I thought it would be a good idea to start “The Guam Chronicles.”
Praise the Lord - And on behalf of Sam and Rachelle, I praise God that football parties and a big Super Bowl party have been included in the agenda–an early Happy Birthday gift for Mr. Sam!
Our Prayer Today
The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him … Exodus 5:2
If you want to keep up with what’s going on with us on this side of the Pacific, this is where the updates will be posted. You can subscribe to my blog using the form on the right and have the updates come to your inbox automatically.
May God bless your day.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Maria, I spent 4 years on Guam. 2 in the Navy building those houses you see on the bases. Then 2 teaching at Tumon High (now John Kennedy) teaching Physics, and at the college teaching Trig. Two of our children were born there.
Tracy, our oldest, needed to get a birth cert. and asked me to go with her to Guam to get it. That was 3 yrs ago. A lot changed in 42 years. I loved Guam.
Thanks for all of your help here at SDCC.
Your friend, Ron James
Maria, as I’ve learned from you & Sam already — that filtering any fear, and all the fun, through Christ… for His glory, your students’ edification, and your own obedience… will make this mission trip a total success!
I’m praying for your continued success!!
What a great opportunity for you guys! Have an awesome time. We will be praying for you!
Oh, I didn’t know that! Sure enjoying Guam. And you are very welcome. I miss seeing all of prof friends on a daily basis.
Thank you, Kent! I appreciate you words and prayers.
Thank you, Marg. I miss seeing your happy face
One hundred fold…you know what I mean!