Hafa Adai #9

From our most recent email letter -- sent today:

Greetings from Guam where life is great and the generosity of God is
noticed daily!

UPDATE

• We're now living in the condo that we purchased in the village of
Mangilao, just 3.3 miles from the Pacific Islands Bible College
campus. We painted the whole interior and finally moved in about five
weeks ago. That doesn't mean that all the boxes are unpacked or that
we know where everything is. But we're making progress daily -- and
that feels good. We posted some pictures on our blog on March 11th.
Take the tour so you can see what fun awaits when you come for a
visit! Guam.Boydston.us

• While you're on the blog read about Tim and Melody Plaxton from
Placerville, California, who are trying to get to Guam to serve at
PIBC. They're the focus of our post on March 8th.

• Eric (Covenant pastor from the San Francisco Bay Area) and Karyn
(marriage and family counselor) Sorenson, who are in the process of
raising support to join the PIBC staff this summer, have now raised
over 50% of their support. They will be the second set of Covenant
missionaries serving on the Guam/Micronesia mission front.

• There are all kinds of opportunities here for short-term and
longer-term service. We need teachers (English, computer skills,
theology, ministry skills...). We need IT help. We could use
additional assistance with maintenance. If you know of anyone who
might be open to traveling halfway around the world to serve in a new
context let us know. Perhaps you're looking for a place to do a
sabbatical. Sometimes we host mission teams from the States and
Germany. Pray for those who are being called to serve.

• While the mainland is experiencing significant seasonal change at
this point winter never arrives on Guam and we've got more of the
same-old same-old. It's very difficult for the weather report writer
to come up with something new for each typical tropical day. Here's a
sample from the newspaper a couple of weeks ago:

Sunday -- Mostly sunny. High 87, Low 75

Monday -- Mainly clear. High 87, Low 75

Tuesday -- Partial sunshine. High 86, Low 75

Wednesday -- Intervals of clouds and sun. High 87, Low 74

Thursday -- Times of clouds and sun. High 85, Low 75

• Cheryl has been able to help catch up a lot of the backlogged
bookkeeping at PIBC. She will also be helping take notes at the
campus board mtg at the end of the month.

• Brad's classes are going well this semester. If is fun to see so
many of the students developing into fine preachers and leaders. The
soteriology class is more of a challenge because students on the
islands are not taught critical thinking skills in their school
systems. So it is difficult to get them to really think about the
subject matter critically and then to get them to communicate their
thinking. But these kinds of skills are more and more essential as we
prepare people to serve in contexts where a more globalized culture is
rapidly encroaching on their isolated worlds. There is a cultural
tsunami that is headed toward the islands -- even now the world of
Internet and Hollywood-via-DVD is having a destabilizing effect. Our
role is to help them prepare for living and leading in a "smaller"
world.

• Not all of the students who come to study at PIBC Guam are healthy.
There are major problems on the islands that affect everyone in one
way or another. Steve Stinnette, our Guam campus director, told us the
other day that 15% of our PIBC students are known to be alcoholics.
Many of them start drinking when they are 11 or 12 and by the time
they get to college they are thoroughly addicted physically and
emotionally. Then they feel great shame over a situation in which they
feel like they have no control. We're able to work with most. We've
had to exercise some tough love and send some home. It's always sad
when that happens. Pray for our students.

• In our spare time we've been leading a small group in the Alpha
Course at the Lutheran Church of Guam. That's been an amazing
experience on the other end of the Guam cultural spectrum. Other than
ourselves, everyone in our group is on-island because of some kind of
military connection -- enlisted, dependents, military contractors...
There are at least four women in our little Alpha group of 10 who are
experiencing some kind of spiritual awakening -- either encountering
Christ for the first time or returning to a walk with him. We're
grateful to be a part of what God is doing through the Alpha Course.
Pray that as the course wraps up next week, those who have started on
a new path will continue on.

• We started raising support 12 months ago. To date just over $70,000
has been contributed. We know that some people have made major
sacrifices to help us serve here. We know, too, that there are people
who have intended to participate but have for whatever reason been
unable to do so. As God provides we know that you'll have a chance to
join in. But don't be anxious over it. Thank you for what you can do
to help keep our account balance at a healthy level! We really do
appreciate the consistent support from our financial partners.

• Keep in touch. Let us know if there is any way that we can be of
service or assistance to you. It is fun to receive notes and email. We
have written the names of all of our prayer and ministry partners on
3x5 cards. It's a great joy to systematically pray for you on regular
basis.