Exit strategy

The beginning of the end is most certainly upon us. This past week has been focused on the initial steps of our transition. Somehow it is already Friday of yet another week. The weeks are absolutely flying.

Julia (the Kenyan chick) during her first go at Beep Bop

Sad as I am to start the process of bowing out of here, some pieces of the puzzle have come together relatively easily to help the transition flow smoothly. Last week our church council hired someone to fill my position as youth director. I'm really excited for Julia to come on board. She has worked with the families of our church before during one of our programs last fall, so she's not a completely new face around here. It's the right time in her career to take an opportunity like this, and I know she's going to do great things for the program. She was the first person to respond to the position when we posted it on a couple of local Facebook pages. We didn't even have to advertise and we filled the job with our first candidate. Sounds like an answer to prayer to me.

This week I also met up with someone who's interested in taking over the Fresh Factor blog after I leave. I heard about this person through my friend Megan from church. Megan's friend made a comment in passing that she loves the Fresh Factor and would like to write for that blog one day. Megan said, "Funny you should say that. I know the girl who writes it and she's leaving soon." We met at her home over homemade mango banana smoothies to talk details. I couldn't think of a more perfect person to continue the column. This lady even makes her own coconut milk. I actually think she's more qualified to write the blog than I am.

Golf with the new guys

Nick has continued doing turnover with his replacement at work as well. A guy moved here in May who will be taking over his job. Crazy thing is that this same guy lived across the walkway from us in our apartment complex in Coronado while he was going through training. I got a message from him back in January saying he was coming out here after his deployment. And here he is, our old neighbor who we watched become a team guy, stepping into Nick's shoes. Nick has already cleaned his desk and packed up his gear storage in anticipation of the movers coming.

Yes, the movers are coming. I keep looking around at our cozy living room setup and blinking in disbelief that it will all disappear in about 10 days.

Our living room grew a putting green

I know we will set it all up in our new place and it will look lovely there. But it won't have this backdrop of blue skies and palm trees swaying in the breeze through the window. We also have pinned down the day on the calendar during the last week of September when we'll board a plane, writing the last sentences of the final chapter of this very special story. We still have a good six weeks left, but just knowing that day is getting closer makes me cringe a little.

Our new house... Wait... where are the palm trees?!

As easily as our exit has been so far, our entrance to Virginia Beach is strangely already coming together as well. As in, we already found a place to rent through friends, from friends, right down the street from friends. Nick and I have both been in several of the units in this neighborhood before. They are very new and really nice. It won't have a yard (no mowing), but it has enough space for my one requirement... an herb garden. It also has a garage where we will be setting up our crossfit gym. I have been in touch with several friends in the area, and I'm excited to reunite with so many people we already know.

It was exactly a year ago this week that Nick came home with the news that Virginia Beach, not Coronado, may be the best next step for us. I spent the next few weeks, months moping about the change in plans. One year later, I find myself finally getting excited to be moving there. There are a few loose ends to tie up still. I haven't decided what I am going to do with Peyt's Island just yet. And I still have no idea what awaits me in terms of what I will be doing in my new place. But I have learned not to worry about such details. As the exit strategy continues rolling and the weeks keep flying, I'm doing my best not to get ahead of the calendar... to stay present in the present... to hold on to island time and float along in paradise as long as I can.

Summer Youth Group

Thought I would take a break from the trip-visitor-local produce cycle I've gotten myself into and share some other stuff I've been up to this summer on Guam. Leading the youth group at our church has been a big part of that. With the kids out of school, we've taken on game nights, movie nights, bowling, Vacation Bible School, and even a slumberparty! Here are a few pictures from our summer gatherings:

 Real-life Angry Birds! 

Bonus points: No windows were broken so there was no angry church council.

 Getting ready to play our favorite game... an LCG original...

 Beep bop! It's kind of like freeze tag in the dark... but 10 million times more awesome.

The kids ninjas around here take it pretty seriously...

Unfortunately, summer also means going away parties. We said goodbye to Cheyenne (bottom right) right after school got out in June. But don't worry, we sent her off properly with a girls group slumberparty. Mr. Nick was in Japan so we had the whole house to ourselves!

Therefore... an epic Footloose dance party ensued

as did a raid of Ms. Peyton's closet and Halloween costume box :) 

Turns out you never outgrow the fun of playing dress up into the wee hours of the morning!

 You do outgrow your ability to stay up until 5a.m. I only made it to THREE. These girls were passed out with the light on... on the tile floor... until 10 when someone's mom showed up. Slumberparty success!


Hard to say goodbye to this girl though. Cheyenne went on both Manila trips with us. Together we have witnessed miracles. After learning to love Guam, she will finish high school in Arkansas.

 Our youth helped out with Vacation Bible School

The kids had fun on their desert journey (though personally I prefer the jungle)...

Another day, another island sunset. No biggie...

 

Four of our youth are in their middle school band, so our youth group went to see them one night, then came back to our house (down the street from the school) for dinner and games in the neighborhood.

Summer in Guam is the perfect time for frozen yogurt outings... and general goofing off.

 This week we had one more big youth group gathering to play our favorite game, Beep Bop. This time several of the youth requested Mr. Nick to come and be one of the boppers. I don't know what they were thinking. He bops really hard.

It was also Coleman's going away party. His family went on the Manila trip with us in April. In fact, Coleman went on every trip I have planned here. He's an awesome leader among the youth and one of those personalities that will be impossible to replace around here. I have loved getting to know all of the Nelsons. They leave on Sunday to move to New Mexico. And like every family that passes through the revolving door of our church, they leave a huge hole.

Thankfully, as our seasoned families leave island for their new orders, new families are showing up. And there won't be any more going away parties for several weeks. In fact, now that we have said our goodbyes to the Nelsons, the next goodbye on the table for our church is actually... us.

Saipan Retreat!

This week I took a group of 10 teenagers and 6 adults from the Lutheran Church of Guam 90 miles north to the small but beautiful island of Saipan. We had a great time! Here are some of the highlights

 Just landed in Saipan!

 First thing we noticed different from Guam... Flame trees are in bloom everywhere. 

(PS... I did not take this picture while driving... Travis did).

 Within 30 seconds of arriving at our accommodations, the kids had a game of Spoons going.

 Our first order of business was to tour the island, starting with a 20-minute movie at the National Park Center about the incredible WWII history on Saipan. We learned about the Japanese occupation, the American liberation, and the sad stories of the Suicide and Bonzai cliffs.

 Our next stop was to Bird Island on the east (Pacific) side of the island.

 Girls are awesome

 Next we drove to the top of the Suicide Cliffs, where thousands of local families jumped to their deaths shortly after the Japanese were defeated. They were told the Americans would take them as slaves :(

 Looking over the steep drop...

 Another difference between Saipan and Guam... no snakes, which means awesome birds! We were all captivated by their beautiful singing. Here Tammy Jo is bird watching.

We headed to Memorial Park for what turned out to be one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen!

 I posted this picture on Facebook and could not believe how much attention it got... apparently other people were as captivated as we were. Simply incredible!


After a late night playing some of our favorite games (paper telephone and mafia!), we took some time to chill and reflect on the beach with morning devotionals (and journaling!). 

You can see the island of Tinian in the distance 

(where the A-bomb took off from heading to Hiroshima).

 Then it was off to the Wave Jungle Waterpark at Saipan World Resort. No one's excited...

 

 Introducing the "toilet bowl," the kids' favorite ride... slide around a few times until it spits you out into a pool below.

Toilet bowl ninja

 

Splat

 

 Water slide time!

A nice ocean view from the top of the slide tower... go Malia!

Hanging out in the wave pool... this was a tough picture to get with all the bobbing

Waterpark Olympics... who can do a handstand the longest 

(does this picture say summer vacation or what??)

Chicken fight!!! As you can see, no one had any fun at the waterpark.

 After our fun day in the sun, we did a little shopping... and we found Saipanda!

We drove back to the Bonzai Cliffs to watch the sunset. Everyone crowded around when the girls spotted a sea turtle in the ocean below!

 Not sure which is more gorgeous... the sunset or these sweet smiles :)

 Guys being goofy... shocking

 The wall of sisterhood

 Crafting into the wee hours of the morning!

After another late night of fun and games, we did our beachside devotionals, then a small service project... a beach clean-up!

 Saving the world, one Pringles can at a time (and yes, Travis's shirt really says that... oh Travis).

There was no shortage of trash to pick up (sadly)

Not bad for 15 minutes of work. 

Then it was all fun and games at the beach and an easy 35-minute flight home.

Gator Girls! I have converted some fans :)

My favorite parts of the trip? Here goes!

 Gorgeous red flame trees everywhere you look

Games galore! And kids (and adults!) who know how to have fun.

 Hanging out with these guys (thank you for all your help!!!)

Introducing Jamaica to a new land. She is 15 and this was her first time to leave Guam!

And finally, a sunset that could stop time.

"I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8

So hard to believe the sun is setting on this incredible role I have found myself in here. It has been a heaping dose of Vitamin F (friendships, fun, faith, etc.). Thankfully I still have a few good months left. You better believe I will be soaking in every minute.