Guam
Last week was full of unexpected difficulty. Now, as promised, I will blog a bit about Guam and the Philippines.
After a 10 hour flight to Tokyo, we boarded a 3 hour flight from Tokyo to Guam. Japanese vacationers filled the plane. We soon learned that Guam is Japan’s Hawaii, Guam is where many Japanese go to spend a week vacationing under the sun and in the water.
We began our time in Guam in the water. I took the picture above at a secluded beach where our host took us snorkeling. After hiking 1-2 miles down the coastline we had the ocean to ourselves, it was just the four of us snorkeling in the Philippine Sea.
During the hike we learned more about Guam.
Guam is a territory of the United States. Though just 30 miles long and 4 miles wide, Guam is the largest island in Micronesia. Guam’s present population of about 180,000 is expected to double over the next 5 years because of the American military buildup.
Guam holds a strategic, prominent position in Micronesia, making the work of Pacific Islands University incredibly significant…
My mother’s side of the family is from Rota. We have many relatives from Guam.
I’m really quite blown away that you are involved in taking the gospel over there. My wife discovered some baptist cousins of mine that are Baptist over there. They were very glad to talk to us. It’s a Catholic stronghold over there and they say it’s not easy to be Protestant. There’s a bit of a stigma attached to not being Catholic so the resistance is difficult. Believe me, I’ve had long conversations with my mother (cultural Catholic) about this. And don’t you dare say anything bad about the traditions. I have an uncle that I talked to who is interested in learning more about Christianity in general. I’m sure there are many that haven’t gone deeper than the traditions.
I’m in the South Bay, San Jose, helping out with a Church plant (www.veritascc.org). I might make it back to Rota one day for vacation (or gospel ministry) ;) . I’ll probably inherit land over there. Heck, my mother’s side of the family practically owns the island. The Ataligs and Maglonia’s; did you run into any? :)
BTW, the church plant I’m helping out with is through West Hills Community church and the NorCal network. Mike Burchfield is the senior pastor there and Brad Keller is our church planter. Please send people here if you know any in our area. We can use some help! I’m actually planning to add some info to the website explaining why join a church plant, our goals to be gospel centered, discipeling, biblical sound, reformed and reforming, and more. So sorry if the website doesn’t knock your socks off right now. :)
Hi. I was born in the Philippines . I am looking for my 2 half sisters living in Guam. My father, Lorenzo Lacuesta was from the Philippines who migrated to Guam and married a Guam lady. They had 2 daughters. When Lorenzo Lacuesta first wife from Guam died, he went back to the philippines and married my mother Elena Mansano. I am the youngest of the 8 siblings from the Philippines. Unfortunately my father died in 1978 while I was still young and we didn’t have any communications with my half sisters from Guam after my father dead. I remember one of their name is something like Conching. I would be glad to receive any emails from them if they are still in Guam. Thank you for your help.
