Alii,
Finally my Palau
Update!!! I had to get through the end of the semester before I had time to sit
down and get it done. Palau was amazing to say the least. We left on
Thanksgiving Day right after the annual PIU Thanksgiving meal. We arrived in
Palau around 5:30pm and after dinner at the Famous Burger
joint the "Bem Ermii" we stopped to get an internet phone
card and met two girls from Ponepei who were currently attending Palau
Community College and told them about PIU and they both were very interested
and one of them showed up Sunday to the English Service. We sat outside with
Hedrick and Hyob (Pastor's at Koror Evangelical Church and former Professor,
and Alumni of PIU) and talked for a while then slept early so we could get
rollin in the morning. That morning I had and appointment with a Chinese
student who was a senior at Bethania Evangelical Seminary which is a private
all girls High School on Palau. She wishes to come to PIU next Fall and is
working on her visa to come this Christmas for a campus visit. Then we headed
over to Palau Community College where our PIU Teaching Facility is located so
that I could interview an applicant to oversee the TF. After the interview we
headed out to the villages and were able to talk with students at Bethania High
School. I also got to stop by my Pastor's house in Ngerelong and got to meet
his family they fed us FISH! We were able to meet many young people who
are working construction or at their parents stores or just relaxing. They were
all very interested and we were able to get their contact info and gave them
brochures and applications to them. We also went to a Softball and Volleyball
Tournament where we were able to meet a few students and some very important
people in the Island. That night we were invited to the Emaus High School (all
boys Christian High School Run by the church) to join their Thanksgiving
Dinner. Got to catch up with one of our Alumni and talk with many future
college students who showed great interest in our school. Saturday we hit
the road again meeting many possible students and more important people. One
lady we met was a famous Christian singer in the islands and the
President of Palau's sister. She had just finished White Ribbon Day to raise
awareness about Domestic Violence and gave a call to all the men to take a
stand and be good husbands and fathers. She also just got
some legislation passed to help with this issue. We were unable to
meet with the President because he was in Israel but, we did leave some
information and brochures with the Vise President. When we got home that night
we had been on the road for 12 straight hours. On a tiny island that is alot of
driving!! Our Driver Balku (one of our students uncles) agreed to drive us
around and he said he had never driven that much in his life and was so tired
he went to bed without dinner and for Micronesian's that never happens! Sunday
morning was our last day there and we joined the Palauan service and were able
to share some with them. The English service was immediately following and we
also shared there and some of the students we met came to the service. It was a
great weekend and we got 34 students information who are interested in coming.
Most of them will graduate in May so they will come in Fall 2012. We had
many students graduating this Fall and have many open spaces we need to fill
for January so please join us in Prayer that God will bring us the students we
need and begin preparing their hearts now. 13 out of 16 states covered in two
days Great Is Thy Faithfulness!!!!
For His Name Sake,
Daisy E. Murdock
Upcoming Palau Trip: January 24th-31st I will return with a couple others from PIU to recruit some more students and follow up on the ones already contacted. We will be presenting in the High Schools and attending the youth rally at the Korror Church.