#14

Greeting to PIU-Guam Students from the President. Here is some news and encouragement for you as we move into the hard-work part of the semester. . . . Prez to Student News. I still haven't gotten hold of the forms you filled out about church. We have had a few things on our hands, but know the encouragement is there. Get in a good church this Sunday. If you need a ride, let me know. Please pray for me. I'll be preaching at the Guam Chinese Christian Church. Thanks. You students did a good job with Clean and Green last Monday--on time, good attendance, good work. On the administration side, we had some glitches. We are working on those. We are trying to make C&G a better experience. This Monday we are going to try--a one-week trial--making C&G 1 hour and 45 minutes. We are working on some checklists for some jobs. Some of our jobs take longer than others. We are asking you students to be responsible. If you finish your job early, good work. Talk to one of your supervisors, or just find a fellow student, who still has work to do, and help them. This teamwork may just regain that 15 minutes, so 1:45could be a permanent feature. This Monday, there will be pizza for lunch. All who participate in C&G are welcome to join in. Congratulations to Gloria & Manner. Opportunity to Minister:  We are doing some chapel services at the Evangelical Academy--mostly middle school students. We need musicians, singers, peoople to share testimony. Let me of Scott know if you are interested. Here is another way to minister to our community. Paul, the Walker, Drake is looking for some students to help man, and woman, a water station for the Guam Marathon. Check with Paul. When you see him, bring him an aluminum can. It'll make him smile. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes on behalf of you, students. For example, One of our Board members told us about an opportunity to get a grant that could help us with some of our campus needs. One of our staff met with a consultant. At least 5 more staff have been working gathering information, filling out forms etc. Do you know whose job it is, right now, to do so such things? Nobody's. Normally this kind of work is done by the Advancement Department. Right now we don't have one. So a bunch of people who have other jobs to do stepped up, because there is an opportunity to help our students. Stop one of our staff or faculty and tell them thanks. Tell them the Prez sent you. Every day I hear about something out in our world that just isn't the way it's supposed to be. Last Tuesday I spoke in chapel about counter-cultural living. Alex followed up with a message about not allowing our circumstances to control us, but rather living for the Lord (Phil. 1) I figure the best chance we have to make a difference in this world is to let loose a bunch of sharp women and men like you, who will live out Matthew 28:19-20 and Romans 12:1-2. In other words: Study hard and Live For Jesus. And, Oh, yes, we need more students to fill in the gap that will be left by this spring's graduates. There is a lot of need out in the world. We need to send out a steady stream. Tell your friends and family. They should start applying now for admission this fall.     2018 February 8-10...........................Ministry Equipping Conference March 9-11…………………… PIU Days March 12-18 ...........................Spring Break and Saipan Mission Trip.                                                 Annual Board Meeting is in there, as well Check your PIU Email regularly. Feel free to share this email with alumni, and others who are interested in PIU. By His Grace,     The Prez.

#12

Greeting to PIU-Guam Students from the President. Here is some news and encouragement for you as we start a new year. . . . Prez to Student News. Hi, I'll be brief. You have a lot of reading coming up, and I don't want you to use up your energy too soon. Here is a great quotation:  Virtue is what happens when someone has made a thousand small choices requiring effort and concentration to do something which is good and right, but which doesn’t come naturally. And then, on the thousand and first time, when it really matters, they find that they do what’s required automatically. Virtue is what happens when wise and courageous choices become second nature.” Intentional habit formation is central to the New Testament’s call to holiness and sanctification. N. T. Wright If you would like to read the article where I found that--it's on self-control--send me a note and I let you know where you can find it. The whole article is great. A Word on Books: This is a school. We learn stuff. Much of what we learn is found in books. Always get your own copy of your class texts.  As much as possible we are emphasizing the use of digital books. Often they are free. Whether your class's book is digital or print, get your own copy. If your teacher gives you an opportunity to get a copy early take her/him up on the offer (See my Facebook announcements about PHIL 200 for example.) You don't need a special device to read digital books. A computer, tablet, or smartphone will work. If you need help ask. . Our library does not have enough copies of textbooks to go around. Get your own copy. Clean and Green: Over the next several editions of "Prez to Students" I'll talk about C&G. Please share your thoughts, questions, etc. with me. I want C&G to be a positive experience. I know contributing to making our campus a more pleasant place is something Kathy and I enjoy. (Well, I did find being up on the ladder fixing the B'ball court lights more scary than enjoyable, but mostly we enjoy it.) Let's talk about how we can make this a more positive experience. Let me start by saying THANK YOU, for all the work done last semester.   Way to Go! I regularly tell you that you, students are our best promoters. I recently went out to lunch with a pastor. He bragged on you gals and guys. I agreed! One of our newest alumni, Gloria Ikea is already involved in teaching in Chuuk Schools. She is also our volunteer Student Recruitment Assistant. If you have friends or family in Chuuk who need to find out more about PIU, tell them to get in touch with Gloria, gloria.ikea@piu.edu. Among other things, she can make an appointment with prospective students to take the English Placement Test. Owens: I spoke with Dave and Joyce. They are well. If you want more info. get in touch with me or Kathy. Be Thinking Ahead: We emphasize church involvement at PIU. Sometime around registration time, I'll ask you to let me know what church you'll be attending. If we can help you make a decision, get in touch with Alex, Dani, Kathy, or me. The "First Church of the Bedsheet" is not an acceptable choice. :) Don't say you don't have a ride to church. Talk to me and I'll make sure you do. I can assure you it won't be like this.   2018 January 10…………………….. New Student Orientation January 11-12……………….. Registration January 15…………………….. General Orientation January 15…………………….. Spring semester classes begin February 8-10...........................Ministry Equipping Conference March 9-11…………………… PIU Days LIVE 4 JESUS!

#11

  

Pre-Christmas greeting to PIU-Guam Students from the President. Here is some news and encouragement for you. . . Prez to Student News. Hey, This will be my last Prez to Ss email for a while. I hope you won't miss me too badly. Let me take care of some business, which, by the way, is something that I hope you are doing. Get that homework, big project, etc. done. Study for those tests. You can rest at the end of next week. This is the time to GET-IT-DONE! Here are a few other items of business.  Make sure you take care of any balances in the business office. Get your library materials back to the library. Finish up your Community Service hours. If you are a dorm student, get your room cleaned out. Store your stuff in the designated place. Fill out & turn in your pre-registration form. OK, did that make you tired? Maybe this will give you some rest: Stop by the Merrells next week for a study break and free cookies. As a matter of fact, Kathy and Howard will be staying here over Christmas break. You are very welcome to stop by. We might have some cookies left. Sunday, as in day-after-tomorrow, we have a team going to the church were Restme and Matty's dad pastors. If you would like to join us, talk to Alex. I'm going to use the picture Hartmut took, today, to make an online Christmas card. I'd like for the card to contain as many greetings, from you, as possible. Please write up a one-line greeting. It can be from just you, or from a group (if you go for a group, make sure everyone in the croup is OK. "Merry Christmas from the girls in room 6." "May your season be filled with Christ's blessings. The Senior Class" You get the idea. I need these right away. Get the latest from Dave and Joyce Owen. They would really enjoy hearing from you. Click on the picture to go to Dave's blog and get the latest news. If you were late for chapel today, you missed seeing a funny video. Here is a link: https://youtu.be/Man5dfm7mNM Enjoy! One of the goals that Alex, Scott, and I had for this semester was to raise the standard of our chapel services. I think we succeeded. From Iotaka's "None of your business," tp Delight's appeal to make our commitment our own personal decision and not merely a family tradition, to the great music packages, to Hartmut's sharing about the "uncommonly good Father," to Dani's honest openness about following Christ, to today's candlelight service, to . . . this has been a good chapel season. Thanks to Scott and Alex for good planning. Thanks to the setup crew, for making our room inviting. Thanks to the praise team. Thanks to all our speakers. Thanks to, you students, for improving your on-time record.  I'm looking forward to chapel in the spring semester. I have been saying all year long that you students are our best recruiters. You are. Keep in mind that about everything related to admissions can be found on our website, PIU.edu. Please tell any prospective students that they are welcome to get in touch with me. I'll gladly correspond with them, or talk to them on the phone. Don't say you don't have a ride to church. Talk to me and I'll make sure you do. (Click on the picture. I think you'll like it.) Here we are in the Christmas season. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only , that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.                                                                                              John 3:16   Christmas, Let's make it a time to live for God's glory. Hey, maybe some of you can help me out. I'm trying to sell Dave Owen's car. If you know somebody who is looking for a nice ride, send them my way. Here is the ad.   Gary Houde, photo. One more thing: I have noticed that even really smart students can get really dumb right after final exams. Watch out. Don't do anything stupid. Since most of you aren't real familiar with snow and snowmen, you might need to think about this one a bit Remember,  LIVE 4 JESUS!

#10

Hey PIU-Guam Students, here is some news and encouragement for you. . . Prez to Student News.

Hey, Did I tell you, I'm really glad that Kathy is back. She is now convinced that I'm the one. I really enjoyed Chapel, today. Thanks so much for reminding me of God's faithfulness. Remember the right response to God's faithfulness is our obedience. God is faithful even in hard times. Our obedience should be steady as well. After chapel, Kathy and I took Kevin Graham out for lunch. Kevin, a graduate of PIU, is the administrative assistant/music leader/all around good guy at Lutheran Church of Guam. He and his wife, Diana just returned from a short-term mission trip to Japan. The Grahams are planning to become more involved in the work in Japan. Please pray for them. I'd love to see more PIU students head out to minister to the nations. Here is one outstanding opportunity. I'm praying that some of our PIU students will join Crystal Gosnell at Ministry of Mercy. Crystall is an LMUSA missionary and a friend of the Merrells. It was good to hear testimonies in chapel today abut this being a good semester. I agree. From God's faithfulness in meeting our individuals needs to His gracious supply of our needs as a school, we have seen His faithfulness. It was good to take note of that and to offer thanks. I shared in chapel today that I am open to having a Coffee with the President time with you students. Just give me an invitation to come to your dorm, or to meet somewhere else (for you off campus students, we could meet at the pavilion or at my apartment, if you would like.) CwtPis a friend-reaching/fundraising project. My goal really isn't to raise funds from you students, but to explore ways that you can help reach out to those who could, and should partner with us. Let me hear from you. Don't forget about the opportunity for new applicants to apply without the $40 application fee, and for you students to earn $100 credit. Click here for more information. Please continue to pray for Dave and Joyce Owen. Dave is out of the hospital, though his doctors wanted him to stay close by, so he and Joyce are in an apartment nearby. Joyce tripped over somethin construction related, and came up with a black eye and some bruises. Praise the Lord that no bones were broken. Pray that they will soon be back in their California home continuing to recover. You can read the latest here. It's more good news. Billy Edwin is in Hawaii for a family funeral. Let's make him proud with our participation in CLEAN&GREEN, on Monday. The following week, exam week, there will be no C&G. OK, it's not Daylight Saving Time, in fact we don't even do that on Guam, but I think you'll get the point, and beside that, you'll enjoy the video. Remember, you do have a ride to church. Talk to me and I'll make sure you do. Here we are in the Christmas season. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16   Christmas, Let's make it a time to live for God's glory. Hey, maybe some of you can help me out. I'm trying to sell Dave Owen's car. If you know somebody who is looking for a nice ride, send them my way. Here is the ad. Remember,  LIVE 4 JESUS! That's me at the far end.

#9

Our Thanksgiving gathering is 1:00 on Thursday. 

Please bless us with your presence.

Please pray for me and my turkey. I am cooking it without Kathy. It's just me, the internet, and the Lord.

I spoke with Cel. We'll be setting-up differently than in the past. We'll put all the food in classroom 2, and set up tables for eating in classroom 1a&b. We'd like everyone to be in the same place for the meal. 

Everyone (other than those Cel. designates as final setter-uppers), please, be in classroom 1 at 1:00. Before we eat I will ask everyoneassembled to share a thought about something for which they are thankful. Obviously, brevity is important. Please think about it, and share something meaningful. 

As you come in I (or someone) will give you a card with something for which we should be thankful as an institution, and for something for which we should pray. Please give thanks, and pray in your devotions and at other times.

I have asked Stuco President, Jordan Darrow to lead us in a prayer of Thanks for our meal. I have seen the sign-up sheet. I am confident it will be a great meal. ItAfter Jordan's prayer, you'll be able to go to classroom 2 and load your plate. Please come back to classroom 1 so we can all eat together.

AN EARLY THANKSGIVING:

We have been praying for God's provision. Celia just shared news with us about a check we received from one of the foundations that works with us. With this in our account we should be good until the end of the year.

We are a long way from done. I figure we won't be finished until we hear (I hope) "Well done." from our Master.

In particular, be praying for an increase in student numbers. Please, if you know of a prospective student, encourage them, and get their name to Joshua.

Kathy regrets that she won't be with us for the Thanksgiving meal. Right about now, she should be arriving, with Chris's family, at Chad's house in Louisiana. I hope to Skype in as they gather for Thanksgiving there.

​

Tuesday after chapel we'll be gathering in at the Pavilion for a time of prayer. You may choose to skip lunch, fasting to sharpen your attention to prayer, or you may choose to delay your lunch meal so you can join us. We'll finish before 12:30. We have much about which to pray, but primarily our focus will be on student recruitment.

The plans aren't all firmed-up, yet, but a group of students are planning a ministry to Saipan during Spring Break. Former PIU staffer, Pastor Marcellus Ngrainigas, of the Palauan Evangelical Church in Saipan, will be working with us. If you would like more information, or if you would like to help bring this trip to reality, see Alex Tavarez. 

SEE you tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving.

#8

Hey PIU-Guam Students, here is some news and encouragement for you. . . Interim President to Students (IP to Ss) News. K2 Since returning, just in time for my 8:00 am class on Thursday, I've been busy and jetlagged, so I haven't plugged in to all of K2, but what I have seen and heard encourages me greatly. By the time most of you students read this K2 willl be history. I'm praying that the impact in your life will be historic. Love God. Love others. It doesn't get much more basic than that, but this is a reminder we all need. Yesterday I asked one of our faculty members what he wanted people to think of when they heard PIU mentioned. He said that he wants people to know that we are a family. The pictures of K2 above ooze family-ness, and the picture of Dave reminds us that being a family is not just about the good times. (By the way, click on Dave's picture to get a report on what is going on with his treatment right now.) Family doesn't let family go through hard times without prayer. So, if this is a family, I guess I'm kind of like the Dad--I am, after all, married to Mama Kat. : ) So, let me have a brief family talk. The PIU family is working its way out of a difficult time, and I'm glad to say we are making some progress. All of us, especially you students need to help. In the end, people look to you students, more than any other indicator, to decide whether PIU is doing a good job. Your behavior, your progress, what you do with the good things poured into you either builds or detracts from our reputation as a school. We are a family. We need to look out for one another. Speaking of family--and I guess we are--We will have a Thanksgiving luncheon, turkey, ham, all sorts of  good stuff, on Thursday, November 23 at 1:00p.m.  All staff, faculty, volunteers, and students are invited. Where I come from gathering for a Thanksgiving feast is about as family as it gets. Don't forget about the APPLICATION FEE WAIVER, from now until 12/15. http://piu.edu/application-fee-waiver-program If you recruit another student—could even be a family member—and they enroll and complete their FAFSA, you will earn $100. Far more important than $100, you’ll introduce others to the good things about PIU. In past editions of IP to Ss I've shared some reasons why you should stay in the dorm, or consider moving into the dorm If you didn't read these totally convincing reasons, look back at past editions.. If you are convinced, talk to Alex Tavarez.   I was not quite 11 years old when John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the thirty-fifth President of the United States. His words still ring. I hope you will translate them into your situation. As our K2  speaker has reminded us. We are here to serve.                                             https://youtu.be/PzRg--jhO8g I'm really glad that you are a part of this family, and I'm glad to be back. By His Grace,     The IP