Voices of Micronesia Tour

The Voices of Micronesia, PIU's traveling team, has been touring throughout California most of the summer and has been visiting churches and other venues to promote the ministry of Pacific Islands Bible College. This week they made the long trek to Texas to continue their presentations. Their program consists of Island worship songs and dance, testimonies, and skits. If you have been reading this blog, you have already met each student on the the team. Also accompanying the team are 6 PIU staff: our president, Dave Owen and his wife Joyce, Eric Sorenson, Dean of the Seminary, and his wife Karyn, and Delight and Evelyn Suda. It is our prayer that the Lord will use this team to encourage churches that have been supporting PIU or PIU faculty and staff; present the power of the risen Christ, recruit potential faculty, staff and students (including current Stateside Micronesians), and develop donor relationships for the school for on going capital improvements.

We have received nothing but positive responses from these presentations. Many have said that if they had known the quality of the presentations were going to be as good as they are, they would have made sure even more people were there. It has also been a growing experience for our students as they learn to live and travel together and to adjust to the many different families they have been graciously housed by along the way.

One opportunity they were given was to sing in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, to the street people. This was a very eye opening experience for all as homelessness is not something that is seen in Micronesia. They also got to spend time sharing the gospel one on one with those in the crowd.
One of the team's goals is to bring the Gospel back to those who have sent it to them. A skit is a good way to make a point with few words and in a way that transcends cultural barriers
Here Delight Suda, PIU's financial aid officer, shares his testimony at a church in Susanville, Ca.
The stick dances of Micronesia are a work of precision and tell a story. Our students have adapted these dances for use in proclaiming the Gospel.
Worship dance is a favorite for our women. These's are a combination of sign language and "hula" style Micronesian dance.
In Santa Cruz the team was given an opportunity to be on local television. Her Kita is sharing her testimony.
Another donor made it possible for the team to record a CD. Here they are in the recording studio.
Grace Baptist Church of Salado, Texas. The home church of PIU's assistant dean of women, Daisy Murdock donated the use of their church van for the summer. In fact, 2 church members drove it from Texas to LA in May when the team arrived in the States. This church also ministers to a large group of Palauans that live in the Salado & Killeen area.

For all but 2, this was the first time our students had seen snow. In fact, the day they were taken to the mountains in northern California it was snowing! Many a picture was taken of their first romp in the snow. They also made a snow creation, but couldn't be called a snowman.

Pray that the long term benefits from this trip will be worked out in the lives of these students for years to come. Pray also that PIU's support base will also increase.

Graduation Day - May 10, 2010

Graduation Day is a day of celebration at PIU. This year graduation was held at Faith Presbyterian Church and friends and family gathered to rejoice with our graduates and thank God for His faithfulness in their lives. 8 Associate of Arts Degrees and 11 Bachelor of Arts Degrees were earned this year. As the graduates gathered to enter, Dr. Bill Wood, current faculty member and former President of PIBC, used his musical talent to provided the prelude music. Faculty marched in and were seated and then Ned Farnsworth, faculty and Student Life team member, presented the graduates by playing "Pomp & Circumstance".
Board member and former academic dean, Mary Johnson, gave the invocation and Rob Watt, VP of Student Life greet all and was our master of ceremony. Steve Stinnette was given the privilege of introducing long time friend Mrs. Kiki Stinnett, as the guest speaker. Kiki is a member of the PIU Advisory Board and President of the Chuuk Women's Council as well as being a successful businesswoman. She and Steve have affectionately called each other "cousin" for many years. KiKi is married to the only other Stinnett(e) in Micronesia - a transplant like us from Virginia. Kiki challenged our students to make a difference in their islands for Christ through whatever avenue of employment they found themselves in. She spoke from her heart to theirs as no one else could do.

The valedictorian, Doug O'Meara shared his thought with us and then diplomas were awarded. Afterward, Dr. David Owen, PIU President presented his challenge to the students. Below our graduates have just turned their tassels and are preparing to present their class song.

Iotaka Choram, faculty member, gave the benediction and Ned Farnsworth played the recessional and postlude. All gather outside for refreshments and then the fun begins. Friends and family deck our graduates with leis and gifts until they are hidden beneath them. Here are Chelsea Phillip (Saludatorian) and Doug O'Meara (Valedictorian) posing with the start of their stash of leis. Chelsea was the student speaker at the Baccalaureate service the day before and did and excellent job!

Breathing can become a problem as the leis are piled higher and higher. Pictured below are Dave Souleng, Maybellene Marar, Miury Marar, and Alicia Pedros.

Our graduates go on to many things - some work in their island churches, one young man is taking steps to take the Gospel to some of the still unreached islands of Micronesia, some are teachers, others get government jobs, some are going on for further schooling such as seminary or nursing, some stay at PIU and join our staff. Several alumni have heard God's call to go to other countries with the Gospel and are awaiting His timing. Pray that they will be faithful to use what God has entrusted to them. They are among the most educated in all of Micronesia and with that comes great responsibility before God and man.

If you have prayed for us over the years or for the school you have had a part in the lives of these students. Thank you! More than few of PIU's current students are the children of those we saw accept Christ as Savior more than 30 years ago. Our God truly does not let His Word return void without accomplishing what He sent it to do. (Isaiah 55:11)

Accreditation Renewed

In order to provide the best education and training for those who come to PIU, we take seriously the necessity of meeting accreditation standards. This is an ongoing process, but this last year was our accreditation review. Lots of hard work, by the whole team was rewarded with the letter being held by Dave Owen, our President. He came to the front office to share the good news with the office staff. Delight (pictured here with Dave) and the rest of us cheered the good new... PIU has been granted 10 years of accreditation. This does not mean we coast for the next 10 years. It means we keep trusting the Lord as to how we can provide what is needed to best prepare Micronesians, Asians, and others the Lord brings us for the harvest field of the kingdom of God.

Meet Voices of Micronesa #15 Jaynee Sam and this weeks schedule

This last week they did a presentation at Pasadena at the School of World Missions, Grace Evangelical Free Church and several other churches. They also put in lots and lots of practice time to refine each of their presentations. Now the traveling begins. Here is the schedule for this week:

May 23: Morning Service at Ocean Hills Covenant Church in Santa Barbara
May 24: 7.00 PM Community Center in San Luis Obispo (I can give you directions if you email me at dowen@piu.edu)
May 25: Staying in Castro Valley
May 26: Driving up to Susanville California
May 27: Activities and Practice
May 28-29: Palauan Conference, Susanville, all day
May 30: Morning and Evening Service - 1st Baptist Church Susanville

If someone you or someone you know is near any of these locations, we encourage you to find your way to one of these presentations. You won't be disappointed. Please be praying as they head out on the first of many long road trips for the summer. If you want to follow the team day by day check out the link to Dave & Joyce Owen's blog and that of Meluat Meluat in our links list to the right.

This is also the last in our series introducing our VoM Team Members. So last and youngest, but definitely a very important team member let me introduce you to ...

Jaynee Sam
Home: Kuttu island Chuuk FSM
Age: 18 years old, 3rd year student in Biblical Studies, minor in Teaching English as a Second Language
Jaynee's brother Charles is a member of the team. Jaynee is one of our ukulele players.

Jayne was born in Weno, the capital of Chuuk, but was raised on Kuttu. She was raised mostly by her aunt because her parents moved around a lot. Her dad was a teacher. Her dad was also the pastor of the church and is an alumni of MIBS. She has 3 brothers and 2 sisters. All of them have been PIBC/PIU students except the youngest who is still in high school. Her favorite thing to do on Kuttu was swim, especially when it was raining, and walk from
island to island at low tide. She also likes to take peaceful canoe rides around the island.

She was taught about Jesus and knew about him from childhood. She thought she was a Christian because she was a pastor’s daughter and pretended to be a Christian to please her father. This continued until she attended Berea Christian High School. At Berea she learned that relationship with Christ was by faith, not by works or birth. On February 27, 2007, at a retreat, when MIBS grad Steioshy Manuel preached a sermon about “pretending to be a Christian,” Jaynee realized she was lying to herself and needed to trust in Christ to forgive her sin and give her eternal life.


From preparing for this trip, “I have learned to trust God more and be patient in waiting for him to answer prayer. I didn’t think I could afford to come but now, here I am!” "I get worried about getting my needs met and it is hard to wait for God’s perfect timing." PIU is the place where I have grown in my spiritual life. I try to practice in my life what I learn in class and my PIU family encourages me to be more like Christ and participate in ministry."

Jaynee would like to continue her education after PIU to study in the medical field and hopes to be a medical missionary to wherever God calls her.

Meet the Voices of Micronesia #14 - Erten William

Meet the Voices of Micronesia #14 - Erten William

The team is already in LA California and have already completed two performances.

Their upcoming schedule this week is as follows....
Monday: All day practice at Grace EV Free (We are working on our one hour program)
Tuesday AM: Trip to the Getty Museum and Lunch at the Park
Tuesday PM: Performance at the School of World Missions in Pasadena
Wednesday: All day practice at Grace EV Free, 1/2 of the team will make a presentation about Micronesia for a high school geography class
Thursday: All day practice at Grace EV Free, Part of the team will participate in an inner city ministry in the afternoon
Friday: All day practice at Grace EV Free
Saturday: Leave for Santa Barbara for Sunday performance at Ocean Hills Covenant Church.

Now here is Erten...

Erten William
Home: Kuttu island in Chuuk FSM, Erten is the cousin of VOM team members Charles and Jaynee Sam
Age: 27 years old. He is a 5th year student with a major in Biblical Studies and minor in Elementary Education.

Erten was born in Kuttu, a little island "where everybody knows about Christ but not all are Christians." His mom was an active Christian but his father was not. As a child Erten "pretended" to know Christ to please his mom. He knew all the stories about Jesus but when he went away from home to Chuuk High School he got involved in some of the activities his mother warned him against. Then he got a letter from his mom telling him to read the Book of Proverbs where he read, "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Still when he graduated from Chuuk HS and went to College of Micronesia in 2003 he felt that his life was getting worse. Then he attended a youth rally at the Nadaku Church, listened to God's Word and it "changed my life." When he heard the message about "how can you have eternal life," he knew that "God had spoken to me" and he trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

After that Erten applied to the PIU Teaching Facility in Weno Chuuk and then later transferred to the Guam campus. At PIU he learned the importance of putting into practice what he learns in Bible class. He has seen God provide as he puts his trust in Him. His family is able to provide only very little for his education and for this trip yet his needs have been met.

His goal for the VoM trip is to let God prepare Him to minister in different cultures. He has never been to the US Mainland before. After graduation he wants to return to Kuttu and teach in a public school there. He also wants people to know that his island is very small but has a beautiful sandy beach that is very nice for swimming. When the tide is low one can walk to the neighboring islands. He invites all of you to come visit him on Kuttu after he returns.

PIU Days

Each year on the weekend before Easter Break PIU (PIBC formerly) the entire student body and all the faculty and staff are divided into 3 teams. A theme verse is chosen and the teams are given Greek names. This year the theme was Hebrews 12: 1-3.

This year the teams were (in English) Discipline, Perseverance, and Witness. PIU Days are 3 days of fun and spiritual emphasis that consist of basketball and volleyball tournaments, a field day, worship and the highlights are the nightly programs presented by each team. These presentations include music (many times composed by the students), skits, games, and a message based on the team's name. This year, one students from each team was chosen to give his team's messages and they all did and excellent job!! What a great privilege to watch the Lord transfom and grow these students right before our eyes.

The Stinnettes were part of Team Perseverence or Hupomone! This slide show condenses these 3 days into 5 minutes. Wish you could all be here to experience these days with us.

The Amazing Sea Life of Guam

God's amazing creation is all around us every day and most of us never even see it. One of our favorite past times is to snorkle. As we do, we can't help but sing praises to our God. A couple of our co-workers have underwater cameras and have graciously allowed us to use their pictures to create this slide show so that you too can enjoy this incredible beauty.

Voices of Micronesia - Schedule

This morning PIU's traveling team boarded the plane and headed for the US mainland.  For most, this will be their first time to travel outside of Micronesia.  Since this schedule was published, quite a few more stops have been added.  They will be traveling in vans once they arrive in the States.   Please pray for safety on the roads and that these vehicles will not break down along the way.  Pray also for team unity and lasting fruit in the form of growth in their own lives and in the lives of the people they touch.  Pray too that as they represent PIU  across the West that God will provide divine appointments that will lead to long term partnerships that will benefit both PIU and those God has called to partner with us.  As we get the schedule updates we will add them here. 
There are also 2 more personal profiles to come - you have yet to met Erten and Jaynee.  The six staff traveling with the team are Dave (PIU President) & Joyce Owen, Eric (Dean of Pacific Islands Evangelical Seminary) & Karyn Sorenson, and Delight & Evelyn Suda.

Schedule for the Voices of Micronesia Summer Trip 2010 (So Far)

May 12           Arrive LA (they arrive 1 ½ hours before they leave due to crossing the dateline)

May 14           First Baptist West Los Angeles AWANA Club “Passport to Missions”

May 16           Grace Evangelical Church, La Mirada, CA.   AM Services

May 23           Ocean Hills Covenant Church, Santa Barbara, CA  AM Services

                       Private Community Center, San Luis Obispo  Evening

May 28 - 30    Susanville Southern Baptist Church, Micronesian Group  Susanville CA

June 1           Shasta Community Church, Redding, CA

June 2           Glenburn Community Church, Glenburn, CA

June 4           Baymonte Christian School, Scotts Valley CA  8.45AM-1.00PM

June 5           Barbeque. Romaniello's, Boulder Creek CA

June 6           Gateway Church, Santa Cruz, CA  AM Service        

June 6th         Taping in the TV studio Santa Cruz, CA  4-6pm

June 8           Neighborhood Church Ladies luncheon, Castro Valley CA

June 13          Central Peninsula Church, Foster City, CA  9 AM to 2 PM

June 15          East Bay Fellowship VBS, Danville, CA

June 16-18     Gold Country Baptist and Camino Community Church, El Dorado County, CA

June 19          Antioch Community Church, Antioch, CA

June 20          Hillside Covenant Church, Walnut Creek, CA

June 23          Crossroads Covenant Church, Concord CA

June 27          Central Peninsula Church, Milbrae, CA  AM Service

                      Biola Congregational Church and Kerman covenant Church, Fresno, CA 

July 1-5         Youth Sports Ministry meeting San Diego, CA

July 7-9         Southern Baptist Churches,  Killeen/Salado,TX

July 11          TBA, Dallas TX

July 13-15       TBA, Phoenix  AZ

July 17          Return flight LAX to Guam