Hafa Adai Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is an exciting time in Guam-Micronesia Mission as this first digital edition of Tropical Isles heads to inboxes around the world.  After many years of silence, Tropical Isles is back with inspiring stories and news and information about all things Guam-Micronesia Mission.  Whether you are a current, former, or future GMM missionary you will be encouraged and motivated as you read each monthly newsletter and see all that God is doing in this beautiful and culturally rich part of the world’s vast mission field.

For those of you who like statistics, here are a few current ones that describe the territory of Guam-Micronesia Mission and the work of the Seventh-day Adventist church in this region.

Stat #1

• It is a closer distance between New York and Los Angeles than it is between Majuro and Palau (the two farthest apart islands in GMM territory that have an established SDA presence).

Stats #2-9

• ‍‍Total Population in GMM Territory: 395,331
• Inhabited Islands: 92
• Islands with no Adventist presence: 66
• Churches: 21
• Companies: 7
• Groups: 9
• Schools: 11
• Clinics: 2 (with an additional Clinic in Palau owned and operated by Adventist members)

Stat #10

• Number of Adventist Volunteer Service (AVS) Missionaries who are serving in GMM this year: 120
  

Stat #11-12

• Number of Student Missionaries needed for next year: 157
• Number of AVS positions still needing to be filled at the end of April, 2019: 102

Stat #13

• Number of Typhoons that have caused significant damage to GMM property in 2018: 2 (3 if you count the one that nearly missed us here in Guam and still managed to crack one of the large glass windows downstairs in the Mission Headquarters).

Stat #14-16

• It takes 62 hours to sail 182 miles from Majuro to Wotje with 18 people on board the GMM Mission Sailboat.
• Number of people seasick on the voyage: 15
• Number of captains who thoroughly enjoyed the voyage: 3

What events took place in April in GMM?

April 10-13 – Many of the churches throughout GMM participated in a short “seed sowing” evangelistic series that began Wednesday evening and finished Sabbath evening.  Churches on Guam used the Voice of Prophecy series “The Appearing” that featured a 30-minute documentary style video by Shawn Boonstra followed by a 30-minute interactive Bible study lesson.  Positive reports are coming out from the churches as members and visitors have shared how much they liked the format of mixing video and small group Bible study into one evening program.  Each church is following up on visitors who have expressed interest in taking Bible studies.

April 20-21 – Palau hosted a Church Revitalization Summit led by Dr. VicLouis Arreola  III, Director for Asian Pacific Ministries for the North American Division.  Sixty-one church leaders and members from all the congregations on Palau completed the course and are working together to revitalize God’s work in this beautiful island community.

Several additional events that took place in April and will be reported in the next Tropical Isles edition.

We solicit your prayers as we press forward to reach the many unentered corners of GMM territory.  Thank you for your on going encouragement and support for the work and workers who are dedicated to sharing the gospel of JesusChrist and truths of Scripture in our region.

Blessings to each of you and your families from all of us here at Guam-Micronesia Mission.