San Clemente Family Camp Update:

A weekend out in the wild, a soul’s recuperation, and an overall fun time were some of the things our MOMUSA family experienced while in the San Clemente State Park. This year we were blessed to have a variety of visitors with us. Family members from Pasadena, Arizona, and even Oklahoma came. This year’s life’s lesson came in very challenging ways.

The first day was like every other camping day. The boys came out first and set up camp. And then, later on in the day, the rest of the family came over. There was unpacking to be done, meats to be barbequed, tents to be pitched. But everybody contributed and everybody had fun. Later on in the evening, there was fellowship around the campfire. Then, after all was said and done, when sleep came upon the restless, lights grew dimmed, the fire burned low, and conversations turned into whispers, our family turned in to sleep that night.

Then the surprise! Super early Saturday morning, too early for even the park rangers, visitors arrived. Pastor Paul O’toko from Pasadena and some of his boys came knocking, which sent everybody into a melee; half-kempt hairs flying around to welcome the visitors. Coffee brewing. Accommodating. The fellowship that morning was a blessing to many.

Uncle Sato shared and challenged the many misconceptions of how we think of family. Sharing from the book of Proverbs he urged obedience and love in the family. Then brother Happiness Lodge took the floor. His sharing was a message of invitation to step out in faith more and change the world. Drawing parallelism from the life of Mary, brother Happi contends that God uses normal regular people to carry out His will.

After Happi was finished, the opportunity to “say something” was given to Pastor Martinez , or “Grandpa” as he is affectionately called. His message was a call to be faithful, to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and to obey that leading. Finally to wrap things up, Pastor O’toko also shared the word of God. His message offered the MOMUSA family a glimpse of how Micronesians are doing the work, impacting the world, and sharing God’s love in their own unique ways. That morning was one of the best morning devotions ever.

Then tragedy struck. Battling irritations, headaches, and nausea, brother Happi was carted off to the hospital. But more on that in a later post. The family enjoyed the beach, each other, and when the night came, there was another fellowship around the campfire to capped things off. Our brother Suva did an excellent job reminding us to stay faithful and obedient to God.

The next day Sunday was the climax of it all. After an open floor type sharing, with lots of people giving testimonies and singing, we pack up the tents and hit the beach. Pretty early on, the sand building and carving competition ensued. With Gary and his gaping big hole going against AJ and his Nicky-head turtle, what’s a hole compared to a turtle? Then the fun escaladed…

With wits, strength, and team work from the boys (mostly J2, Kevin, Gary, and J1) Emily was unceremoniously carted off into the ocean and dumped there. Kicking and screaming was how one of the boys described the incident…Then, Tracy, then Maxine, LouAnne, and Daida. Howling fun and craziness, the boys would group together, strategized, then charge at their victim, who was most likely unaware that he or she was on their “target” list. But we regret to inform everybody that our mother-figure Aunty Yori outran J-two and Kevin as they tried chasing her into the ocean. She was the one victim that got away. And we wonder why we took last place in the July 4th basketball tournament. Then the fun escaladed even more…and Angelo and Crystal were to be blamed.

The cake fight erupted out from under the picnic gazebo. Smeared faces, angry looks, war- cries, and Kodak moments…nobody was left untouched. Crazy fun, howling laughter (mostly from Maxine according to Gary) this year’s family camp was one for the history books. A weekend out in the wild, a soul’s recuperation, and an overall fun time were some of the things our MOMUSA family experienced. Did I forget to mention craziness, laughter, and super-duper fun? Our family would like to invite you the next time they go out camping. God bless!