Summer Is Here!

[GUMC Guam United Methodist Church]

Dear Friends and Church Family:

 

People are going off island for some family get-together and needed vacation.  Some are attending the annual conference of the California-Pacific Annual Conference in Redlands to represent our congregation.  Others are leaving for some needed medical check ups to coincide with their annual leave; and a few more for various reasons.  Ate Lydia Villena is leaving to rejoin her husband, Romy, and won't be back to teach anymore as she just retired. She promised she will be back, she just doesn't know exactly when,  Like Nelie Dizon, Lydia will be back.  Yes, the God of our leavings and arrivings is going to be with through the summer!  Ooops!  I visited Lydia Villena at the hospital.  She might have appendectory tomorrow, today, Wednesday.  June Camat, Julie Gatuz were with Lydia late last night.  Continue to pray for her.

 

I need some help to take my books out from my study room.  Sunday would be good.  We also need some help to take the remaining personal belongings from the parsonage to move to our new apartment in Maite.  Again, Sunday early afternoon might be the best.

 

Naomi and Pastor Fred will no longer be our couple in ministry with Guam United Methodist Church beginning July 1st.  Naomi will continue to work as an RN at a clinic in Inarajan; which she enjoys more than working at the hospital. She said she will continue to help Guam UMC by taking care of our communion elements and washing linens.  She signed up to teach younger children in Sunday School.  Pastor Fred will be teaching at the graduate studies program of our UMC-related school in Manila.  Philippine Christian University. About 90% of his doctoral students are from Asia (South Korea, Myanmar, and Mainland China).  And-- was asked also to be the pulpit supply to the historic Central United Methodist Church.  Their pastor for the English-Speaking congregation migrated to Florida and Pastor Fred will fill in temporarily (why did I leave Guam UMC in the first place?).

 

Naomi & Pastor Fred are so thankful for the support and the time they time spent in ministry together with all of you.  As always, there will be people you don't want to leave behind, too painful and sad to say goodbye as they have become your own blood sisters and brothers. 

 

Pastor Johann Osias is a younger pastor with full ideas how to make our church alive and reaching out to our community. He is a very humble person and at the same time know how to handle conflicts and will be strong in making his ideas known. He has strong administrative skills he has a winning smile.  he will be a blessing to have him as Guam UMC's pastor.  It was a wise decision on the part of Bishop Swenson to appoint him to this beautiful island with fantistic people to serve.  His wife, Amy, is interested to help in a more contemporary music during worship. I hope you will have a chance to bless, support, and encourage new ways you want to reach out to other people and new ideas encouraged to blossom as we work together for good and for God.

 

Again, we thank you for the love you have shown to us, for various causes and issues we worked as an expression of ministry of obedience to the missionary God who calls us all the time, and the open hearts and arms we extend to each one of us that make us truly children of God.

 

We love you all!

Pastor Fred & Naomi

Guam United Methodist Church

 

P.S. didn't have much time to edit the above work.  I need to pick up Naomi to get a new bed for the apartment.