New Islanders

It has been a while since I have updated this.  I think we are finally over the jet lag but who really knows.  We were waking up around 4am the first few nights and taking naps around 4pm until bed time.  We no longer need those naps, we do still go to bed early between 9 and 10pm.

Greg spent most of last weekend doing in processing.  I don't think that is done, but we have a doctor and a place to stay so those are good things.  He is going to see the doctor this morning his smashed finger nail doesn't seem quite right it is not attached in the back anymore but looks weird in the front.  While he is there he will also be asking about his ear which has not popped since our plane ride here.

I have spent most of my time learning about where things are on base and volunteering at the local animal shelter (G.A.I.N. Guam Animals In Need).  I have also learned to drive stick much more smoothly.  We got Greg's car the 3rd day we were here and he lets me use it during the day.  The first day we had it I had told him I felt like I should practice on my own so he said to drop him off and practice.  It is kinda fun once you get it.  The commissary and the BX are interesting places here.  The commissary has everything frozen for its journey here so checking bread sometimes ends up in wet cold hands.  The BX seems bigger here than at Andrews, but I don't know if there is a home traditions. 

Driftwood down from the beach on base

House hunting has been interesting we have been working with Martin who is a retired Marine.  He knows all the ins and outs and takes us to the houses.  Finding the houses here is not that easy.  Road signs do not mean a whole lot and sometimes roads turn into side dirt roads that are not labeled at all.  Greg keeps calling Guam a 1st world country with 3rd world charm.  You will drive down the main road and see some shops and then see some jungle then what can only be described as a Burkina stand ( I have yet to get a good pic of this, but when I do it will be up).  Anyway side note on the traveling to and from houses.  We looked at houses from the center of the island the whole way north which is where base is.  It is hard to decide where to live because you hear things like well crime is there, but this is so far, and traffic is so terrible.  We decided we should probably live closer so that it will be easy to work out and go shopping on base.  So we have mostly been looking in the Yigo area.  It is actually pronounced Gigo.  We will look at 3 more houses today and then we need to make a decision.

Our Beach on Base

A second car needs to be bought so that I can get around the island when Greg is at work.  We looked at a rockin' truck yesterday.  It was a '90 Toyota Hilux.  It has a 3in lift, some serious off roading tires, and a nice stereo system all for $3000.  You ask well why didn't you buy it.  Well it was definitely a boonie truck and it was very rusted and certain things in the truck worked and didn't.  It would have passed inspection, because here they just check the important stuff like brakes and lights.  Greg couldn't see us buying that one.  I think that with the price range we have we won't find much nicer than that with 4 wheel drive.  We shall see if we change our minds and want it we can ask if it is still around.  The wife of the guy who was selling the truck is a nurse on Andersen so Greg will probably run into her at work when she gets back from leave.  It would be easy enough to find out about the truck that way.

Church on Sunday was great.  We went to Christ's Bible Fellowship, which is located center of the island,  we were warmly greeted by all sorts of people of different ages.  We were invited to their outreach concert that night in the park with Jamie Jamgochian (famous for being a part of Modest is Hottest).  It was cool it poured at one point and that is how I met Lani.  She shared her umbrella with us and we got to talking.  She has all sorts of connections, because they have lived on the island for 16 years with her family.  It was nice to get connected.  I can't wait to go back again this Sunday and meet more people.

Prayer Requests:

• Our focus on God
• House hunting
• Car buying
• Good, new relationships to form