Hafa Adai #15

Wow! Exactly 2 years ago today Brad arrived on Guam (Cheryl followed
10 days later). As we reflect on these past 2 years we are amazed at
God's goodness and guidance -- providing us with everything we need,
including the Lord's daily power, friends in the journey, and
satisfying kingdom work.

There is a slight lull in the storm right now. We've been back
on-island for about three weeks after six great weeks in the States.
And we've got a few weeks to go before the fall semester starts.


HERE IS A BIT OF NEWS:

• Brad celebrated the anniversary of his arrival with a 2 a.m. run to
the airport this morning to help welcome PIBC's newest visiting staff
members -- Larry and Sharon Brock. Larry went to seminary after he
retired from a career in chemical engineering, graduated in June, and
will be teaching Bible at PIBC this semester. We have several areas
where Sharon will be able to plug-in and help. The school depends on
missionaries and volunteers from around the world.

• Last semester a student who needed a little extra help lived with
us. This semester Kent, our #2 son, and now a university graduate,
will be living with us. He is coming as a volunteer to teach in our
English as a Second Language program and will work with students who
need academic tutoring in other areas. We're quite excited to have him
here. :-)

• Cheryl continues to work in the PIBC office; her current special
projects are preparing the student financial records for the upcoming
semester, and long-range system-wide financial planning.

• She is often working on new worship songs in her head and then at
the keyboard and computer. Some have been added to the Camino Merced
Music website -- CaminoMercedMusic.com

• In addition, Cheryl is still working for pay 15 hours a week as the
secretary at the Guam United Methodist Church (this boosts our mission
budget). And as a volunteer she also helps oversee the finances at the
Lutheran Church of Guam, the congregation which has been our on-island
church family.

• This fall Brad will be teaching a class which aims at helping
students do theological and missional assessments of the various
religious movements which are active in the islands -- including
groups which are often labeled as cults. He will also be teaching
Spiritual Formation and has invited English professor Suzanne Bratcher
to collaborate with him. The goal is to develop additional language
skills through the journaling that has already been a part of that
class. In other words, through collaboration we're hoping to "kill two
birds with one stone."

• Brad spends a good portion of his time with administrative
assignments for the school and handling the various crises that come
with being the school's vice president of academic affairs. We are not
only in the process of renewing the school's accreditation but we are
also consolidating the operation in Chuuk State (FSM) onto one site,
developing a plan to bring Hawai'i Theological Seminary into the PIBC
family, and are restructuring PIBC so that it is more like a small
university than a traditional Bible college.

• PIBC is starting a graduate-level Master of Arts in Religion program
this fall, the first step in the launch of a seminary that will give
local church leaders an opportunity to develop advanced ministry
skills and critical thinking without having to leave the islands. Eric
Sorenson, one of the other Covenant Project Missionaries at PIBC, is
the dean of that program.


PARTNERSHIP

It was a joy to see so many of our supporters this summer and to share
even briefly about the ways that your investment in God's work in this
part of the world is bearing fruit. Thank you for your encouragement,
your prayers, and your financial support. We know that we are here
because of the sacrifices and the gifts of others. At times we feel
overwhelmed by your generosity and are humbled by your trust.

We have lost some supporters as personal financial situations change.
So we continue to seek new support. If you would like to support the
ministry you can send a check or commitment response to:

PM Support for Boydstons
Department of World Mission
Evangelical Covenant Church
5101 N Francisco Ave
Chicago IL 60625-3676 USA

Checks should be made out to the "Evangelical Covenant Church" with
the clear designation "for the support of Brad & Cheryl Boydston." If
possible print and include this .pdf form.


PRAYER REQUESTS

We have the names of all of our ministry partners on 3x5 cards and we
regularly and systematically pray for all of you. Let us know if there
are specific ways that we should pray. Please:

• pray for the situation in Chuuk (aka Truk). The consolidation of the
operation there is not understood very well locally and has been a
source of tension. Chuuk is very poor economically and people feel
that the consolidation is a major set-back in their development. Pray
that the Chuukese would catch a vision for how this plan will actually
strengthen the education students will receive.

• pray for the students who are preparing to be a part of PIBC this
school year. There are students still deciding if they can attend
school. Many of their decisions are financial in nature.

• pray for our dear friend and colleague Melissa Heck. Melissa is a
Liebenzell USA missionary, serving on the Guam campus as dean of
women. She returned to the States this summer to raise additional
support. But her time and energy were diverted to family issues, as
her father became ill, and died a few weeks ago. She is planning to
return to Guam in mid-September but still needs to raise support. Pray
for God's provision and peace in this stressful time.

• pray for our missionary staff and those enroute to Micronesia. We'll
be making multiple runs to the airport this week and next to welcome
new and returning PIBC team members.


OPPORTUNITIES

• We need someone with institutional cooking experience who could come
to Guam for a year or two as a short-term missionary to cook during
the week for our 60-70 residential students.

• We need a mission team willing to raise funds for, and then to come
construct, a new fence around the campus. Depending on the size of the
team it could take from 2 to 3 weeks to complete the project.

• Thinking long term, PIBC is going to need additional teachers, with
appropriate masters degrees, who can teach education, Bible, theology,
and practical ministry classes. It often takes people 12-24 months to
raise support and prepare for a transition.

Thank you for your partnership!


COMMUNICATION

• Check the current time on Guam before calling --
worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_GU.aspx

• Call us on our cell phones! Brad -- 671-988-4252. Cheryl -- 671-988-4243.

• Our Stateside phone number 602-903-5085 feeds to our voicemail box.

• Skype us -- BradBoydston or seespleez

• Guam address & phone:
Pacific Islands Bible College
PO Box 22619
GMF, GU 96921-2619 USA
Office phone -- 671-734-1812

• Email us -- Brad@Boydston.us or Cheryl@Boydston.us


ABOUT THIS HAFA ADAI
Hafa Adai is Chamorro for hello. If you would like to receive
Hafa Adai by email contactl Brad at brad@boydston.us.