Mailing Address: 302 S. Route 4, Suite 105, Agana, GU 96910-4341, Phone (671) 646-4116
Office Location: Faith Bookstore, 105 Agana Shopping Center, Hagåtña, Guam 96910 Fax (671) 472-1267
E-mail: crgm@faithguam.com web site: www.faithguam.org

Stateside Office: 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, Phone (616) 224-0700

January, 2002

Dear Family and Friends,


Happy New Year from the DeVrieses on Guam! Most of you get your Christmas greetings written and mailed before the holidays, but I don’t even try. We enjoy hearing from you and will continue to receive Christmas mail for quite some time. One of the outcomes of September 11, 2001 is that our mail delivery is very slow.


2001 was an eventful year for the entire world. Guam’s population shares in the economic slowdown, the loss of employment or reduced hours, fear of air travel, increased security, the desire to be close to family, anger with corruption and greed and lies, etc. Guam’s Christians also share in a boldness to speak out for Christ like we have not seen before. Radio stations, secular as well as religious, are playing more Christian music.


2001 was a difficult year for us at Faith Bookstores. The second store opened several months before the economy dropped dangerously low. Many times we wondered about the timing and the wisdom of opening the second store. There were sleepless nights and tears; yet, there was always the conviction that there were people to be reached with meaningful product and good service. On December 31 we reflected on some recent incidents and thanked God for His faithfulness, His protection, and His grace.


•Senator ___ came into the Agana store to purchase a Bible for himself and a book for a friend (also a senator). Another senator’s wife comes into the stores on a regular basis, buys books for herself or her husband who then shares them with his co-workers.


•Melyda, one of our employees, was helping a woman with her purchase when the woman said, ”Please hold this for me because I have to talk with a friend of mine who is outside.” After a couple of hours the woman returned and told Melyda that they had gone to the coffee shop where the woman asked for help with her messed-up life and committed her life to Jesus.

•Eva, a teacher in a local school, reads a Bible story to her students each day. She found a Bible storybook that she wanted to give the kids for Christmas but it was more expensive than she could afford. We special-ordered them and donated a portion for her. The kids were so excited with the books, for some of them the only book they have ever owned.


•Ed, working with youth at a detention facility, shows Christian videos to his clients every day. We donate (for rental) seven videos each week for him to use. These are some quotes that the kids recently wrote after watching some of the videos.

“What I’ve learned while watching this video: I’ve learned that in order to believe something, you have to have faith, especially faith in God. Unlike your friends and loved ones, when you’re locked up or left all alone He will always be there, guiding you and showing you light and helping you when it’s too dark for you to see. He can clear your mind, body, and soul, and can give you purity and enrichment in your life. Another thing I’ve learned today is that the Bible verses that were read to me, I’m going to follow those verses, especially the one that says be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”


•A young mother looking for a Bible reference book for her husband, shopping in the Dededo store with her three-year old. While I helped the mother, the little boy found a shopping basket and was filling it with JayJay videos. After fifteen minutes or so he lugged the basket to her with his treasures. He didn’t say anything, just looked at his mom with adorable eyes which melted her heart (and mine). He got one video.


•RR – a father of two adult sons, one of whom recently committed suicide and the other confined in prison due to family violence. The man is not a Christian, in fact, very anti-Christian. He was in the store a few hours after burying his son, maybe looking for friendship, maybe looking for ways to cope with loss.


•Henry talked with a woman who with great enthusiasm said that she buys all her gifts at Faith Bookstores because they have meaning. Last evening Juli and I helped a family purchase product for a party they were hosting with the theme of peace. They wanted pictures, pins, bookmarks, etc. with the words peace or the symbol of peace, a dove.


Please pray with us for the people mentioned above, for wisdom in purchasing product, for adequate funds to pay our bills, for staff who work as a team, and for volunteers who might help us for a couple of months.


Happy in God’s work,


Henry and Judy DeVries


P. S. Henry and Judy on vacation climbing the Great Wall of China in September. It was wonderful to relax away from regular work. It was also wonderful to share the gospel with some of the others on the tour.