Island Hops, Hairspray Hazards, and a Christmas Drop Adventure

 


This week’s adventures took us to Guam! Traveling between islands always brings a bit of unpredictability, and this trip out of Palau definitely delivered a few surprises. For reasons unknown, J.D.’s ticket was marked with the dreaded “SSSS,” which meant he was pulled aside for extra security screening. His carry-on was searched, he got the full pat-down, and just before boarding they inspected his bag again and swabbed his hands and pockets for residue. We’re still not sure whether it was random or if he got flagged for some mysterious reason, but we’re hoping this isn’t his new normal!


While we were waiting to board, I heard my name called over the loudspeaker. An airline employee pulled me aside and whisked me back through security to the baggage area, where my checked bag sat waiting with a guilty look. The culprit? My hairspray! Apparently this particular brand (the only one I could find in Palau) is too flammable for their liking. I’ve taken hairspray all over the world with no issues—except for Peru and now Palau—and even then it was never this dramatic. Maybe Aqua Net really does live up to its reputation! (I couldn't get a picture of the Aqua Net because it was confiscated!)


Our purpose for traveling to Guam was to participate in and write a story about Operation Christmas Drop. If you’ve never heard of it, Netflix actually has a cute movie by the same name. It’s definitely been Hollywood-polished, but it does give a good sense of what the real program is: the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian airlift mission. It all began in 1952, when a B-29 Superfortress crew spotted islanders waving from the remote atoll of Kapingamarangi, 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. In the spirit of Christmas, they dropped a bundle of supplies—and that simple act turned into a tradition that now reaches 60 remote islands every year.

On Friday, we were able to help decorate and load some of the 270 boxes heading out this season. Seeing the operation up close, meeting all the volunteers, and being part of the process was incredibly fun and energizing. And the best part? We’re scheduled to fly on one of the planes making an actual drop this coming week—so stay tuned for that story!







Last night we joined the other senior missionaries serving on Guam for an evening at the beach. We walked and swam out to a small island where we watched hermit crabs racing, found brilliant blue starfish, and I even tried paddle boarding for the first time. As the sun set, we ate pizza on the beach and stayed to watch the fire dancers perform under the warm island night sky. It was one of those simple, perfect evenings shared with truly great people.










We’ll be here on Guam until Friday, and I have a feeling the adventures aren’t over yet.


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