It’s quiet, green and peaceful; surrounded by homes below is the shrine. An occasional visitor or two will be there at any given time of day, dipping water from its collection point, praying or quietly contemplating. Periodically, tourist buses will arrive and larger crowds gather to snap pictures.
Like most of us, I have never seen the apparition that some claim to have seen there, but I appreciate the pursuit for peace and tranquility that brings so many to this remote area.
Sadly though, As Teo has gained a new notoriety in recent weeks, as TV cameras focus on the humble wooden school bus stop at the head of the road down to the shrine. The stories we hear recount the increasingly desperate and so far futile search for two small girls, Faloma and Maleina Luhk, ages 10 and 9, who have been missing since May 25th.
Faloma and Maleina were last seen at that bus stop or perhaps somewhere near it; available accounts apparently differ. Unlike the TV crime shows that deliver neatly wrapped 24 minute packages, real life presents many such puzzles that are not immediately clear or easily solved, on schedule or perhaps never.
The case of these still-missing children has been remarkably unifying for both the Saipan and Guam communities. If prayers and community concern alone could bring the little girls home to their mother and grandmother, they would already be there.
In the weeks since the disappearance, hundreds of law enforcement personnel and volunteer searchers have threaded through Saipan’s honeycombed rock caves. Law enforcement personnel, now being backed up by more than 20 Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel, have run down leads and supervised an increasingly intensive search. Last week, the FBI sifted through tons of garbage at the Marpi landfill, with a particular eye for the easily identifiable backpacks carried by the girls. More disturbingly, they were looking for human remains, but none were found.
With the obvious theories — running away from home, a prank — seemingly ruled out, officials believe it’s a kidnapping and the massive search continues on Saipan. A reward for information of more than $30,000 has been offered and this week a search dog is being brought in from Hawaii to add its acute senses to the effort.
Going back to World War II and really long before it, the relationship between Guam and our brothers and sisters in the Northern Mariana Islands has always had its rough patches. Imperial Japan set us against each other with its invasion of Guam and colonial Spain did as it pleased for hundreds of years, regardless of our common interests.
At times like this, we are reminded that while there is a long way to go in building unity within the Mariana Islands and our communities, we have so much to gain from pursuing our common interests — and we will.
On a personal note, my heart goes out to the two little girls, their family members, the local and federal law enforcement personnel and volunteers participating in the search, as well as the wonderful people of Saipan and the Northern Mariana Islands. You are not alone in your prayers and you are not alone in your search. As long as it takes, the people of Guam will spiritually join you in your quest for a positive outcome. We are as one in this quest!
SEN.JUDITH P. GUTHERTZ
31st Guam Legislature
