I John and the Power of Forgiveness

It's hard to believe I'm (Mike) already in my last week of teaching here. As much as this busy schedule has worn me out, it will be hard to leave this incredible experience. Last week we finished the last of the General Epistles (2 John, 3 John, and Jude) and today we begin the final stretch in the book of Revelation. I've had some experience in these books before, of course, but the experience of studying them to teach on the college level has caused me to gain new insights and depth in my own understanding of these books and their true power to transform.
Seeing the students learning something new that can have a direct impact on their lives is exciting. In the book of I John, we spent some time discussing what it means to live in light of forgiveness as a believer. The familiar verse "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins" I think too often falls on deaf ears. What is so profound about this simple verse is how much it says about God's grace by all that it doesn't say. It doesn't say that we need to perform acts of penance or work our way back into right fellowship. Here on Guam, there is a mountain with crosses at the top. Many religious people climb this mountain to reach these crosses, some beating themselves as they go, or crawling on their hands and knees.

How tragic, for professing believers, to think God would somehow take satisfaction from self-punishment. Scripture is clear, that for the believer in Christ, his sin is forever taken care of. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Jesus died to take care of our sin forever. Why is it then, that those of us who have been granted such forgiveness can't seem to accept it? John says that God is faithful and just to bring us new forgiveness and restored fellowship by nothing more than simple confession of our sin to him. The grace of God is what separates knowing Christ from all world religions that demand countless works and rituals to find some kind of peace. Peace is ours as believers, and its all because of God, who he is, and what he has done. Living in guilt, discouragement, and defeat is in no way consistent with the worldview we so adamantly claim to hold. If we as believers don't live in light of forgiveness, who will?

Our 3-Year Anniversary!

Our anniversary fell on a Wednesday so I planned the evening of our actual anniversary and Mike took care of our plans for the weekend. On Wednesday after class I took Mike to Two Lover's Point (Click here for the legend of Two Lover's Point), for a walk on the beach at sunset, and then out to eat.
On Friday night after class, Mike surprised me by taking me to the Hilton and out to eat at Outback Steakhouse (thanks to Mike's mom for the gift card). We had such a great time. It was like a tropical vacation only 30 minutes away. The hotel and all of its amenities were beautiful. They had infinity pools that overlooked the ocean, and torches to provide light at night. On Saturday, we spent the day swimming at the Hilton and snorkeling in the ocean. On the way home, we got ice cream thanks to Jen and Sarah who gave us a gift card.
To view all photos CLICK HERE.

Island Tour

Anne and Steve, two missionaries that work for PIU, took us on a tour of the whole island last weekend. From our homes in Northern Guam, we headed south along the west coast to the southern tip and then back up the east coast. We stopped at amazing sights along the way, including caves, WWII memorials, and the first protestant church on Guam. We stood at the edge of the Marianas Trench, rode a carabao, and even saw the tallest mountain in the world (depending on how you measure it)! Mount Lam Lam on Guam is the tallest, because its base starts at the bottom of the Marianas Trench, seven miles deep, and reaches aprox. 1000 feet above sea level. We had a great time and learned many interesting facts that help us understand more of Guam's history and culture.

Slide Show of Island Tour
(click here to view full size)

Update from Libby

My class is going very well. I am learning a lot about teaching, especially teaching students of different cultures. On the one hand, my Asian students tend to be highly motivated and hard working. On the other hand, my local islanders tend to be extremely laid back and I am having trouble getting them to be responsible and take their education seriously. This is obviously a generalization. However, the two cultures clash consistently.

Last week, we discussed common word parts from Latin and Greek that show up often in English. Tomorrow, they have a test on the most common ones. Currently, I am teaching the students how to use context to determine the meaning of unknown words they come across when they read. Since it is such a small class, we are able to get a lot done and I am able to provide the students with individual assistance.

Please pray for one of my students who is not a Christian. This student knows a lot about Christianity as well as many other religions, but he does not believe in God. He is open to listening and is taking the basic Bible section of the English program. His English is very low, so pray for understanding of what he hears. I am so grateful that he is here and he chose PIU for his English training due to the low tuition costs.

In addition to teaching daily, I have also been able to put my graphic design training to use. I really enjoy deigning and wanted to see if I could be of any help to PIU. They were very excited for the offer and have already put me to work on their website and creating a flyer about their school.

Last week I was able to meet up with a friend who I graduated from college with. She is here teaching 6th grade at Christian school on Guam. What are the chances? It was very strange, but wonderful, knowing someone on this tiny island that is located across the world from our homes.

We have about 2 more weeks left here. I hope your summer is going well so far. Thank you for keeping up with our trip. We can't wait to fill you in on all the details.

Love, Libby

Shark's Hole

more info to come...

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL PHOTOS!

6/22/10

I (Mike) have just begun my second week of class. It’s been a ton of work, but it has been even more rewarding. We just finished the book of Hebrews on Monday (after a total of 10 hours of lecture and discussion), so we’ve covered a lot of great material, as well as some of the most difficult passages in the New Testament. Somehow we got through it, and hopefully made some sense out of it! My students continue to impress me with their insight, thoughtful questions, and an overriding passion for learning Scripture. It’s an amazing experience to see the “lights come on” when the students grasp a new truth or idea. Seeing them take a lesson learned from class, and apply it to their future ministries is incredible. I have 8 students in my class, who represent 5 different cultures! So for those of you who have supported us through giving and/or prayer, be assured God is using you to help these students learn and apply God’s Word, thus increasing their effectiveness in future ministries to the people of Guam, Chuuk, Palau, the Martial Islands, and China. And that's just my class.

It’s been an honor to serve here at Pacific Islands University. Getting to know the administration, faculty, and staff these past weeks, it’s clear that God is really doing something special here. They’re truly providing an excellent, biblical education to students of so many nations and cultures, providing opportunities for them that otherwise would not be available. They have a vision for the future, looking ahead to a growing student body, more programs, and a greater impact worldwide, so it’s a privilege to be a small part in what’s going on here.

Please keep me and my students in prayer. Tomorrow we begin the book of James, so we face many practical issues, and some very challenging. Please pray that I would be effective in teaching Scripture in a way that meets the needs of my students, especially in light of the challenges of doing all this in a cross-cultural environment.

God is good.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Gun Beach

A Morning Full of Snorkeling and Hiking - never have we seen such amazing sites in our lives - the beautiful colors of coral and fish. I wish all my family and friends could have been there to see it. Huge hermit-crabs walking along the path in the jungle - coconut, banana, and mango trees everywhere.

Libby's First Three Days of Teaching

I have just finished my 3rd day of teaching and I love it!

I have five students; three of which are college-age and desire to start at the Bible College in the fall but do not have high enough English scores for acceptance. The other two are in their mid-40's and are new on Guam and speak very little English - they desire to improve their English so they can get a job on the island. Two of my students are from China, two are from Chuuk (a neighboring Micronesian island), and the other is from Taiwan. Hence, three speak Mandarin and two speak Chuukese (I never knew the island had their own language) as their native language.

The program I am teaching in has four sections and many outside activities. The students are busy from 8:30a - 9p, with some breaks. On Fridays, the teachers take the students on field trips around the island to practice their English and sight see. The four class sections include: grammar and writing, academic and workplace expectations, basic Bible knowledge and western culture, and my class which is "reading." My class focus is on improving reading comprehension and listening skills, developing reading strategies, improving pronunciation (reading aloud skills), and building vocabulary.

Going into my first day of teaching I was intimidated, but once I started teaching I was put at ease by my students' great questions and eagerness to learn. I found it a bit of a challenge working with the two vastly different groups; one group needing very basic skills and the other needing college prep skills. After the first day, however, I am learning to adjust. The students are so much fun. XuaYung, who speaks very little English, has such a funny personality. So far I have taught lessons on pronunciation, including sentence stress and the basic rhythm of English. You should hear them now - they sound beautiful :)

Thank you so much for your prayers! It is a great blessing to be involved with such a wonderful ministry this summer. Please continue to pray for my teaching as well as my students.

Love and miss you. Libby

*Photo: Lynn Lin, student from Taiwan

Mangilao Trail

300 Steps Through the Jungle



















Less than a five minute drive from campus is a trail-head that leads through the jungle down to a beautiful oasis. A group of us from PIU hiked this on our 2nd day on Guam. It was breathtaking to say the least. Even though the humidity was at about 100% and banana spiders were everywhere, it was well worth it :) To see more photos, CLICK HERE.

Chamorro Village

  

The first night of being on Guam, some people from PIU took us to Chamorro Village. It gave us a glimpse into the island's culture, lifestyle, and cuisine. We saw local dancing and ate local food.

To view photos CLICK HERE. 

Narita, Japan Photos

Click HERE to view our photos on Picasa of Japan, where you can comment and rate them.

Layover in Tokyo

    

We opted for a 7 hour layover in Japan, after the 14 hour flight from Newark Airport. We were exhausted from the flight, and had to lug around our carry-on bags, but we’re so glad we did it. After going through customs and buying a train ticket, we got off in Narita, and spent the day sight-seeing. First we walked up and down the city streets, looking in some of the shops that sold local wares and souvenirs. The people were incredibly gracious and friendly. Everything seemed a little slower and relaxed compared to the crazy fast paced city life we’re used to. Next, we made our way down to the Narita Temple, which was truly one of the most impressive things we’ve ever seen. Vast temple buildings surrounded by acres of monuments, streams, and pathways. It was so peaceful it was hard to imagine having to get back to the airport. On our way back, we stopped at a Japanese noodle shop and the food was amazing. Back to the airport to sleep on chairs for an hour until the 3-hour flight to Guam…

 

We are here!!

We arrived safely in Guam about 2 hours ago. It is currently Wed, June 9 at 3:30 am. After about 30 hours of travel, we made it. We were greeted at the airport by 8 people from Pacific Islands University, including 3 students, who made us a welcome poster. Thank you for your prayers for safe travel. We are exhausted... so we will write more after getting some rest. 

June 7 - July 19, 2010 

Libby and I are thrilled for the opportunity to serve as teachers in Guam this summer. Through much prayer and consideration, we are convinced that God would have us take part in this ministry. While teaching the Bible in any situation is a worthy endeavor, we feel particularly drawn to Pacific Islands University for its unique opportunity. PIU is truly in a strategic location, neighboring so many countries in need of the gospel. Therefore the students in our classes will represent a wide range of countries, including Micronesia, China, and Taiwan, and together will go out to make a difference for Christ all over the world. While we are faced with a great responsibility, we are honored to be able to have a part in the education that will prepare them for a lifetime of fruitful ministry.

We would ask you to be in prayer for us. Some specific ways you can be praying include…

• Adequate preparation for teaching
• Securing jobs for when we return home
• Safety in travel
• Development of relationships with our students
• Ability to be successful in teaching students of various cultures and languages
• Wisdom in discerning the specific needs of each student
• Holy Spirit's equipping us to help students grow in their knowledge of and relationship with God

Course Descriptions from PIU Catalog

BNEW 301 General Epistles - A survey of the last nine books of the New Testament including the practical book of James, the theological letter to the Hebrews, the letters of Peter and John, and the apocalyptic book of Revelation. This class begins Monday, June 14 and runs five weeks through Friday, July 16. Instructor: Mike Stroh

ENGL 81R English Reading - This class focuses on developing the vocabulary and skills necessary to read newspapers, menus, labels, written directions in simple technical manuals and/or employee manuals, and (eventually) college textbooks. This course is part of the Certificate in Basic English Program. It includes English “immersion” instruction for students with non-passing TOEFL scores. This program, which runs all day, Monday through Friday, is intended to help students to improve their English for college or employment purposes. Instructor: Libby Stroh

Interesting Facts about Guam

• It is a territory owned by the United States 
• Guam is about 30 miles long and about 8 miles wide 
• To drive from the southern end by Cocos Island to Ritidian at the northern end takes about two hours
• It is the largest of the 607 Micronesian islands