May Keremwel! (Happy May!)

Hello again!


Here are some of our latest pictures from Pohnpei.
We'll also putting together a slideshow of some of our other pictures to share this summer. We're really looking forward to connecting with everyone back home in person again!
Thanks for all your prayers and support this year.

Our presentation dates are listed below:

Michigan Slideshow Presentation/Open House

Date: Friday, June 13th at 7:30 pm
Location: Salvation Army Church in Holland
104 Clover Street (zipcode 49423 for mapquest users)

Southern California Slideshow/Open Church

Date: Sunday, June 22^nd at 6 pm
Location: Rosewood Christian Reformed Church in Bellflower

Interior Alaska Slideshow Presentation

Date: Mid to late August (more specific info. to come in August)

The infamous cargo plane that almost went for a swim! :)
Pilot and crew members are fine; the landing gear and bottom of the plane didn't fare so well. Sokeh's ridge in the background is Pohnpei's most photographed landmark.

Carrie & Melina (the freshmen math teacher that just recently had a new baby) are working on editing some of the freshmen names in the yearbook. Jualyn and Welder in the background are working on the sophomore names.

Thomas' juniors enter for the Mr. & Miss competition.

Seniors Beauty (yes, that really is her name) and Brady win second place.

Freshmen Alisha and Royal (yes, that really is his name!) take first place

The royalty don their glittery, cardboard crowns and sit on their "thrones." Elementary students posed as flower girls and scattered local petals all around the cafeteria floor. The flowers were freshly picked from local gardens... beautiful! At one point the Principal misspoke and called them Mr. & Mrs. MHS. It really did feel like a wedding!


Yearbook Photography Crew Making "Their Style" For The Camera

Our yearbook team of student editors. It was great because they all come from the Mand village (close to school) so we could work long after the buses left when necesssary. All three girls in the back are currently mothers or mothers-to-be!

Oatey tries to help Carrie open a care package from the Villas.
(We think she smelled the jerky and M&Ms.)

Our most common canine visitors--Cocoa, Oatey, Rusty and Barky--are always eager for food; it's so hard to chose which one to feed first!

When storms come, Oatey tries her best to look pathetic in the hopes
that we'll let her in the house and out of the rain!

Thomas and Oatey "kaman" (enjoy) a dry Sunday afternoon.

Sylvia and Stasha arrive at the courthouse for Pohnpei's State Debate.

The Negative Team arguing that economic progress should NOT take priority over environmental responsibilities in Micronesia.

MHS Debate Team Members (2 teams of 2 debaters/2 alternates)

The recently completed MHS fish pond (about 1/4 mile from our house)

The causeway near our house that leads to the ancient fortress of Nan Madol; we do the 5 mile hike around Temwen island every Saturday.

Oatey and Thomas check for fish as the tide goes out.

A local iris-type of plant; one of Carrie's favorites.

The welcome party for the newly appointed Pohnpei Director of Education, Joseph Villazon, third from the right. We canceled school that day to prepare tables and tables of food for him.