PIU Days–Field Games

Saturday morning we hit the field for a morning of games and fellowship. Thank you Bayview Baptist Church for letting us use your field. It was a very breezy day but the rain from Tropical Storm Bavi held off to give us a cool, dry day to play our games. We also enjoyed a good lunch together from Jamaican Grill. Here are a few pictures of the Game day.

The “flour war” teams were pumped up and ready to face each other

The Owen grandkids managed to enjoy themselves too

Lunch was great even though the wind made sure that a lot of it hit the ground. Nailynn (left), StuCo president, had a good handle on the event

3 Way soccer was a very popular game

The egg tossers lined up

A great effort in the tug ‘o’ war

And then volleyball in the evening at PIU

Guam in Condition 2

Guam is now in Condition of Readiness 2 for tropical storm level winds. According to the latest article in the Pacific Daily News this means that “tropical storm force winds are anticipated within 24 hours.” We are also under a typhoon watch which means that typhoon force winds (75 mph) are possible. What I am hearing seems likely is that we will see 40 mph winds some time this afternoon and then 60-65 mph winds tonight or in the very early Monday morning hours. My flight to Chuuk leaves at 8.20 am on Monday. It will be interesting to see what happens there.

At PIU we are playing it safe and preparing the campus for a possible typhoon. The boys are sheltered in the concrete roofed dorm. The ladies will take refuge with the PIU student life staff – sounds like a big slumber party. Sadly, all PIU Days activities, and all other school activities, are cancelled for Sunday. We will let people know as soon as we can what we will be doing for Monday activities.

Stay Safe!

PIU Days – Team Coal

This year the first team to present their program was Team Coal. The theme for the Coal team comes from Isaiah 6.6 and the focus of the program was the holiness of God and the access to that holiness that we have through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The skit (a performance of a scene from Les Miserables) and sermon highlighted this theme. Team Coal did a great job with fun games, beautiful music, energetic dancing and a meaningful message. It was a great start to a weekend of programs. I wish I had more pictures but my phone battery went dead at the start of the program.I did snatch a few photos off of some of the students’ Facebook pages.

You can see the theme here and some good-sounding singers

Team Coal made an energetic entrance

Ukulele solo and a scene from Les Miserables

PIU Days Opening Activities

PIU Days 2015 began as Guam prepares to face tropical storm Bavi. However, though the breeze was brisk, Friday afternoon was sunny and bright; a perfect way to begin the festivities. In morning chapel, I talked a little about the history of the school, the alumni that provide the legacy of PIU and the importance of celebrating what God has done for PIU and for the many lives it has touched. Then we prepared for the day with a time of prayer. Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the founding of the school and the 25th anniversary of the Guam campus and the board and the whole PIU family will gather in a special PIU Days celebration in 2016. But, for this year we celebrate year 39 and 24 – also significant. Scott,left, has done a good job coordinating the activities. The three teams - Coals, Vines and Bones – are ready for sports, fun and ministry action.

We began with the PIU family in a big circle for singing and prayer on the court. Then came the first traditional activity (one of my favorites): the team cheer….

The vines began with poetry and dancing

The bones performed a spectacular dance to go with their cheer

The spectators were loving it

Team Coal finished the cheers with a very creative song and dance number

This was followed by a basketball game between the bones and vines as the coals prepared for the evening presentation

Possible Typhoon Headed Toward Guam

I would ask for your prayers. According to the latest Pacific Daily News article Guam is “in the crosshairs of the center of Tropical Storm Bavi” and will go on tropical storm watch later today. The weather service also says that “residents should prepare for a lower end typhoon.”   This weekend is the PIU Days celebration and we have several PIU staff headed toward other islands to recruit students. I will be headed to Chuuk, Pohnpei, Majuro and Hawaii over 9 days starting next Monday. I am praying that my flights are not cancelled. We appreciate prayers for Guam and Micronesia as we face this tropical storm or possible typhoon.

Family Time in San Diego

After our time at Biola we drove down to Matt’s house in San Diego for a couple more days of family time. It was beautiful and warm there and we took advantage of that at the parks and in the back yard. We also enjoyed the opportunity to get all six grandchildren together for a few more pictures. One especially fun afternoon included a day at a local “dinosaur” park followed by dinner at the Soup Plantation. Please indulge me as I post a few more pictures.

I had to have a couple of pictures with my granddaughter in 49er shirts

There were some rock climbing adventures

We tried to get a serious picture under the tree

We finished the evening with ice cream and video games