tall okra plants

Another beautiful day on the island of Rota, in the Mariana Islands.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

Thanking God for how tall the okra plants are growing, and, their fruit is so large. So glad to have successfully changed the entire garden completely over to 100% organic - no chemicals for fertilizer or for the bugs.

As the Lord blesses and gives good harvests, the veggies are getting out to friends, neighbors, and church family.

More than a year ago, the plan was to give free veggies to "poor people." A good muslim friend advised me to drop the word, "poor." So, it's been free veggies for everybody.

Friends on this island have told me, "You should at least charge a little, to cover the cost of the seeds." Thanks for the advice, but if God puts something on my heart, I want to do your very best to do exactly what God wants. 

A God idea for God results. 

Here's the video clip for the tall okra.

Thank you for viewing this post. One way to get "God ideas" is to seek Him with all your heart.

1st day of 2025

Started off the 1st day of 2025 at the break of dawn, praising and thanking God for another day in Jesus Christ on this beautiful pacific island of Rota, in the Mariana Islands.

Spent the entire day with brothers and sisters in Jesus - all from the Rota Christian Assembly of God Church.

We all just hung at the seashore across from the Rota Cave Museum, fellowshipping, praying, eating, listening to good music, watching fruit bats flying over, and watching the sea life, in the noisy sea below us.

A large sea turtle swam by, stuck it's head out of the water (as if to say hello), for a few minutes, then disappeared into the deep, beyond the reef.

Much farther out past the reef, saw a huge school of yellow-fin tuna on the surface of the ocean, with all the birds flying overhead.

The food was great. We all got to help out, and learn how to cook lots of yummy food, in the ground, with super hot river-rocks, palm frawns, and coconut husks - as the islanders do in Fiji, Hawaii, Ponapei, and Rota. The deermeat and yellow-fin tuna dipped in fresh coconut milk, were crazy delicious. We all stepped out of the way of the experienced coconut shredders among us, who showed us how to shred coconut the right way.

It was unanamous - the "cooked tarrot leaf wraps were awesome."

While we were all just hanging out on the seashore, a few people dropped by to visit and get prayer. Always had time for them, in a prayer circle, laying on of hands, claiming God's promises, in the name of Jesus Christ! - truly a wise way to start off the new year.

Aside from praying for visitors, a beautiful school of parrot fish in the frothy waters below, always got our attention throughout the day.

CLICK VIDEO LINK BELOW

https://youtube.com/shorts/nVyGKOmfgRc?si=R1xtTRE2MJqMqDZI

Thanks for visiting this post. Hope you enjoyed it. Also hope you will have a new life in Jesus Christ, with the new year.

 

got to preach

Here's the video link, below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zvKtM1uAhjbEMnFA/

 

Here's the sermon text, below.

…as He is, so we are in this world. 

1 John 4:17

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.  1 Peter 2:21

“For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you.” (Jesus)  John 13:15

Jesus Christ

Who? What?

Who is Jesus Christ?

Before Mary Gave Him Birth -

·        Son of God

·        One of the 3 in 1

·        Lamb of God Slain before the Foundation of the World

·       Many other Names (mostly in the Old Testament)

After His Birth –

·        Jesus (the Savior)

·        Jesus the Anointed of God

·        Jesus the Messiah

·        Jesus the Christ

·        Jesus the Son of God

·        The Son of Man

·        The 2^nd Adam

·        Author and Finisher of Our Faith

·        And Many More Names (mostly in the New Testament)

His life as a man on earth was only about 33 years. He was born in the Roman Empire, the largest empire in the world at that time. He was raised by his biological Mom, Mary, and his step-Dad, Joseph.

What did Jesus, the Son of God, do during his short time on earth?

Childhood

·        Hebrew family (not Roman)

·        Mom & Step-Dad very religious Hebrews

·        Dad, Carpenter or Stone Mason

·        His Uncle, served at the Temple in Jerusalem

·        Eccentric Cousin, John (John the Baptist)

·        No Miracles as a Child (1^st miracle, water to wine, John 2:11)

·        Knew Hebrew Scriptures Very Well

He left home

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:16-17

Resisted the devil with God’s Word

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit…was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.   Luke 4:1-8

It is written…

·        man shall not live by bread alone, but by…

·        get behind Me, Satan! You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve!

·        You shall not tempt the Lord your God. (Luke 4:3-12)

What did Jesus do?

·    What did Jesus teach & preach?

   Jesus…

·        Recruited His disciples in person, who later became the first 12 apostles

·        Many Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

·        Healed the sick

·        Cast out demons

·        Rebuked religious hypocrites openly

·        Overturned money tables in the temple

·        Went off alone and prayed a lot

·        Often with lots of people (mostly poor)

·        Fed the poor

·        Ate with sinners

·        Drank wine and went to feasts

·        Loved children

·        Taught his disciples how to pray

·        Sent out disciples 2 by 2 to cast out demons and heal the sick

More Things Jesus Did

·     He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.  Luke 8:1

·     After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.   John 1:11

·    Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),  He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.  But He needed to go through Samaria.  John 4:1-4

And More Things

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. John 13:1

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  Luke 4:18-19

More Things Jesus Did

·     “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:18

While we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 

“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:21-24

·    …Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.  Romans 13:9

·    But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  1 Corinthians 15:20-21

·    …but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10

·    Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.  Galatians 1:3-4

·    But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:4-7

·    Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15

What did Jesus preach & teach?

Jesus preached -

·       kingdom of heaven

·       gospel of the kingdom

·       gospel

·       kingdom of God

·       His kingdom

·       kingdom of their Father

·       My Father’s kingdom

·       gospel of God

Jesus taught simple stories (parables)

Alone with his first 12 disciples, Jesus taught them the meaning of the parables.

What did the disciples preach after His death & resurrection?

·    gospel of God

·    gospel of the grace of God

·    gospel of His Son

·    gospel of Christ

·    gosple of peace

·    gospel of the glory of Christ

·    gospel of our salvation

·    gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

·    gospel of the blessed God

·    everlasting gospel

everlasting gospel (1^st of the 3 angels) –

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7

Jesus said –

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

Bible verses about the kingdom of God –

·    Isaiah 37:16 – You are God alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

·    Psalms 103:9 – The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

·    Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the Lord’s, and all it’s fullness, the world and all those who dwell therein.

·    Luke 17:20-21 (Jesus) – “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘see here! or see there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

·    1 Corinthians 4:20 – For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

·    1 Corinthians 15:50 - …flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

·    Mark 10:14-15 (Jesus) – “…let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

·    John 3:3 (Jesus) – “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

Hope you will open and ask Jesus into your heart.

my garden

Here's an update of my garden, on the beautiful island of Rota, in the Mariana Islands.

Part 1: overview

 

Part 2: new eggplants (finger green & long purple), & cayenne peppers

Part 3: cukes

Part 4: Toku & okra

Part 5: okra (oops! that's 8, not 5)

Part 6: leeks

Part 7: cha-ya tree (spinach tree)

Part 8: stringbeans (2 kinds)

Part 9: last years eggplants, new roma tomatoes, okra, & 2 year-old avocado tree

Part 10: turnips (daikons, luobwos)

Part 11: kangkong (kung-xin tsai, or swamp spinach)

Part 12: Toku

Hope you enjoyed the video. Really thank God for providing such a nice place, the strength,  and the interest to plant this garden. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. Jesus loves you, and God bless you.

 

 

Bro. Casey gets baptized

Seems like God is doing something new in our small church here on the beautiful island of Rota. Lately, whenever we get together for worship service, prayer meeting, Bible study, or just hanging out and fellowshipping, the Lord really is with us - his presence is obvious, and most welcome.

So, yesterday, at the Sunday morning worship service, after all the singing and worship, right before our pastor starts preaching, we have an altar call - anyone who wants prayer can go to the front, for the elders to pray for them. When our pastor laid hands on Bro. Casey, he colapses, and falls on the floor. Someone caught him before his body hit the ground, so he didn't hit the cement ground hard, and get hurt. After a few minutes, Bro. Casey wakes up. The pastor asks me to walk him back to his seat.

Wow, we were all just blown away. Our pastor got up and explained to us what had just happened.

Very anxious to get baptized, not long after the Sunday morning worship service, we all met at the Veterans Park Beach, and Bro. Casey went into the water. Praise God.

 Hope you enjoyed the video.

 

Bible study seashore

The new church has been enjoyable - Bible studies on the seashore, Sunday worship services under a tent, and prayer walks. Plenty of hanging out, and fellowship with others who love Jesus.

Once a month, we meet at some location on this beautiful island of Rota, and walk around it, praying for all the people there. Some people come out and ask for prayer as we walk by. The Lord gives us opportunity to pray for people, and even lay on hands for healing and deliverance, in the name of Jesus Christ.

After the prayer walks, we all get back together at the seashore across from the Rota Cave Museum. The area is right across the big "Luta" sign, and the rows of big Latte stones.

So, after the prayer walk, we all get together and eat breakfast, hang out, and fellowship togther. The other day, while we were eating breakfast, an unexpected visitor swims into the area right below us - a beautiful sea turtle, about 3-4 feet big.

After a few hours it swam back to sea. A couple times it popped its head out of the water and looked in our direction. So glad to have such a visitor come by.

Later that day, after everyone had returned home, right before sunset, I just had to go back to that same stretch of sea shore (where we have our Bible studies), to sea if perhaps our visitor had returned.

Thanks for visiting the blog, and hope you enjoyed this post. God has blessed us with loads of beautiful wild life here on Rota,

home church - found

Five and half years on this small Pacific island, and now attending church, Bible studies, and prayer meetings - truly a welcome and refreshing lifestyle change. So glad to be around other people here who have a passion for the same things - Jesus, the Bible, praying in the Spirit, fellowship in the Lord, spiritual warfare, worshipping God together, generous giving, all-out serving the Lord, and all the rest.

Attended two Sundays already - yes, indeed, I'm really home now. No need to some day go back to Liberty in Florida, or Vineyard in Orange County - I can experience the presence of God, and the moving of the Holy Spirit, with a small group of believers, here on Rota, thank God.

Especially like attending the Bible studies we have outside on the cliffs across from the Luta Cave Museum - love the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks far below, and the beautiful sunsets. There's always a campfire going. We have a good time, worshipping the Lord there, studying the Bible, and just hanging out fellowshipping and eating Chamorro snacks. It's just far enough up the west coast (facing the Phillipine Sea) to get good exercise on the mountain bike, there and back home.

These are all my new teachers, now - a dentist from Fiji, a Filipino accountant, farmer/hunter, retired school teacher, a Chamarro pastor, a business consultant, and maybe I missed someone (sorry). Hoping to learn the names of everyone in the church, as well as learn much more Chamorro and Tagalog.

Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for visiting.

garden and Toku update

Already 7 or 8 months since moving to this new place under Wedding Cake Mountain, and starting a new garden.

Here on the island of Rota, we just got through an unusually hot dry season. Very grateful the garden is still going - only lost a couple plants (thank you, Jesus).

In the middle of the 32 eggplants, the young advocado tree is still thriving. Every morning, chickens come out from the surrounding jungle, pecking and scratching for food. Glad they love to eat centepedes, but they also like to peck on the eggplants hanging on the branches (which is bothersome).

Thanks for viewing this post. Hope you enjoyed it.

The Lord continues to bless the garden with good harvests, which are always shared with friends and neighbors on this beautiful island. Some people say, "You should sell your veggies." Grateful for the good advice, but for some reason, just can't do it.

But, have observered this - as all the good veggies go out to friends and neighbors, many blessings from God, continue to come in (which completely blow me away).

"The earth is full of the goodnes of God." God is so good to me, how can I not be good to others?

cayenne peppers

Another beautiful day on Rota. Still at the same place right beneath Wedding Cake Mountain, above the West Dock Marina. Praise the Lord for such a good place to live and grow veggies.

Plenty of delicious, super hot peppers on Rota - even hotter than the Latino ones I've tasted in L.A. Missed the flavor of the Cayenne Peppers in California, got some seeds mailed to me, and have 13 plants - growing six months already.

Decided to grow the 13 cayenne pepper plants on the roof, hopefully to keep them from cross-pollinating from any local pepper plants in the jungle below.

The first harvest was very good, thank God. Will be doing another harvest this week or next. Really love these pepper plants - they grow year round in this Pacific island tropical weather.

Thanks for visiting this post. Hope you enjoyed it. Jesus Christ is the spice of life.

Toku got spayed today

A U.S. military medical group came to our small island, giving us free medical and vet services. It's been first come first serve, but our population is small, so short lines or none at all.

Had a psychiatric consultation at no cost (could never afford to visit psychiatrists). Got a cracked molar extracted. Got my eyes and glasses checked - they are sending me a new pair of glasses with the updated prescription. The optometrist discovered a small cataract on my right eye. Also got a general health check-up, with three seperate blood pressure and heart rate checks.

Toku is about a year old now, and still hasn't gone into heat. Of course I've been a little nervous about all the male dogs off their leashes. Our island is much too small to have vet services, and flying to the closest island (Guam or Saipan) that do, isn't affordable. Already started making plans to breed Toku with a friend's dog, but we have to wait until next year. Then, this U.S. Military Medical Group shows up on Rota for a few weeks.

 

Got up super early - walked Toku to where the medical group set up, about one mile from our place. Actually, Toku dragged me there, and I just held on to the leash. Was hoping to be first in line. Still wasn't sure if they would even accept Toku, and if they did, wasn't sure how Toku and I would get back home.

Two hours later, a young Army Lieutenant, puts Toku in my arms, with a bag of medication and instructions. Toku and I walked about 100 yards, very slowly of course. She was so zoned out, and could barely walk. Some man in a big Toyota truck pulls up, and says something like, "Put the dog in the back, you can sit up front, and I'll take you home!" Didn't even know the guy, but couldn't refuse his kind offer. He wouldn't accept any gas money, and I opted to sit in the back with Toku. All the while, thinking, "Thank you Jesus! Toku is spayed! We got a ride home!"

The Lieutenant said Toku must not lick her stitches, and we have no cones here - improvised, using an old t-shirt. Toku has been so faded from the anesthesia - keeping her very close by, out of the elements. 

One of the young Biologists, Keith, just happen to come by, and was so happy to hear that Toku just got spayed. She perked up as soon as Keith got close, and even ate a treat, slowly wagging her tail.

Thanks for viewing the post and hope you enjoyed it. Really thank God for such a good dog, and for all the people who made it possible for Toku and I to be together.

fruits, veggies & roots

At a big festival on the beautiful island of Rota, saw many fruits, veggies, and roots we eat here. Most were familiar, but many - still don't know their names.

Thanks for visiting the blog. We are all so unique and different, but God knows and loves each one of us (even the exact number of hairs on our head).

67 sprouts graduated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another beautiful day on Rota, and, "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Last month, mid-April, started germinating 72 Long Purple Eggplant seeds. Thank you, Jesus, found a new, cheap, germination system! 93% of the seeds sprouted.

Today, 67 Long Purple Eggplant sprouts graduated to "seedlings." Hopefully in a few more weeks, they'll get planted at someone's farm on Rota, and start pumping out those yummy Eggplants for a couple years.

After about one month as sprouts, the seedlings were ready to be transplanted into their final grow-cups, before being planted in the ground, about a month from now.

Thanks for visiting the website. 

Just a reminder - even if you don't feel the presence of God, He is always there with you.

You're awesome, Isaiah!

In the CNMI, we are very proud of Isaiah. We congratulate him and wish him great success in his academic pursuits and in swimming! God bless you Isaiah! 

Below is the Saipan Tribune article, as it appeared in the news. Si yus masse to Mark Rabago for his write up.

Aleksensko will take his talents to Keiser University 

By MARK RABAGO mark_rabago@saipantribune.com EDITOR, May 6, 2024 

Isaiah Aleksensko will continue his swimming exploits at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dubbed the Seahawks, Keiser University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference). 

The 17-year-old Marianas High School senior will be taking up engineering at Keiser University. “I chose Keiser University because the coach was really nice and easy to talk to unlike the other coaches. He was very friendly and understanding. I will be majoring in engineering. 

"One of my expectations is to definitely go to the Olympics and in the future get medals,” he told Saipan Tribune. Other schools he considered before narrowing it down to Keiser University were Miami University and Utah University. 

Aleksensko admitted that he won’t be going to Keiser University on a full-ride scholarship. “It unfortunately wasn’t a full-ride scholarship because my grades in high school were bad and honestly, I didn’t even make the GPA to get in that school, but they still took me in with large amounts of scholarships. I know that in my second year, I would definitely get a full scholarship because I compared my time to theirs and my time is the fastest time out of their butterfly times,” said the Saipan Community School alumnus. 

Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center head coach Hiroyuki Kimura said he couldn’t be happier that Aleksensko will continue to pursue swimming in college. “I cried tears of happiness when I heard that Isaiah had gotten a swimming scholarship and was going to university. The reason for my tears is that I have been watching Saipan’s swimming scene for over 20 years and I have never known a swimmer who practiced as much as Isaiah and worked as hard as Isaiah. There is no reason why a young man who has worked hardest cannot have a bright future. He embodied it perfectly,” he said. 

Kimura and his wife, Yuko who is Tsunami Saipan’s manager, said they’ve essentially treated Aleksenko like their own son. “Me and my wife Yuko have raised Isaiah with lots of love. That’s why we scolded him so much that it made him tremble and we loved him so much. For 13 years, we’ve been raising him as his second parents (though I don’t know how he feels about it).” 

Kimura believes his ward will be able to develop his full potential as he will get to train in better facilities—the very least a 50m swimming pool—and access to better coaching in college in the U.S. mainland. “I heard that the Keiser swim team has a great coach. They also have a great practice environment with a 50m long course pool. Florida is also warm throughout the year and I think it’s a very suitable environment for Saipan kids. I believe Isaiah’s goal is to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials/U.S. National Championships. Dream big! Joining Team USA!” he said. 

Keiser University men’s and women’s swimming and diving head coach Adam Epstein believes they might have unearthed a diamond in the rough in Aleksenko, who won two bronze medals in the recent the 47th Junior Olympic Cup in Japan and a gold medal in the 200m butterfly and was part of the bronze medal-winning 4x100m individual medley and 4x100m relay team in last year’s Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands. 

“Isaiah is a hidden gem of a talent and he has the skill set to help us compete for a team national title. Isaiah is extremely strong underwater when he swims the butterfly. Due to lack of facilities, we believe that he can improve significantly with his starts and the details of our sport,” he said. Epstein added that other than a 50-meter pool helping him train for his international goals, Isaiah will have other world-class athletes to train with while getting a great education at Keiser University. 

“The sky is the limit for Isaiah as he continues to grow and mature into his body. There is a massive emphasis in strength at the collegiate level that will help Isaiah continue to progress in his career.” 

Aleksenko seems dead set in etching his name in CNMI sports lore as he prepares for the next chapter of his swimming journey in college. “I won’t ever forget about Saipan and I’ll make sure to make Saipan known once I become famous!” he said.  

Congratulations Isaiah!

Surfing the internet, came across a former junior highschool social studies student, Isaiah. God bless him, his Mom, and his coach! Congratulations go out to him for his exemplary representation as one of the CNMI's finest world class athletes. It was an honor to have been one of his teachers. All of us, in the CNMI, are very proud of you, Isaiah!

Isaiah will be lone wolf for CNMI in Tokyo Jr. Olympic Cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 26, 2024

By MARK RABAGO, Saipan Tribune 

Isaiah Aleksenko, right, with Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center head coach Hiroyuki Kimura pose for a photo after practice yesterday at Pacific Islands Club Saipan. 

Isaiah Aleksenko will be the CNMI’s lone entry to this year’s 47th Junior Olympic Cup at the Tokyo Aquatics Center that will start in Japan this week. The 17-year-old Marianas High School student and reigning NMSA Male Student Athlete of the Year will be accompanied by Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center head coach Hiroyuki Kimura. 

Aleksenko will compete in the 50m butterfly event on March 29 and the 100m butterfly the next day on March 30. Kimura said his ward will swim against 72 swimmers in his first event and 32 swimmers in his second. 

“Honestly it feels weird because I’m used to traveling with teammates. I think I’d do better when my teammates travel with me because I have more motivation and support which makes me have more adrenaline making me swim better,” said Aleksenko when asked how he feels being the CNMI’s lone entry in the Tokyo meet. The Junior Olympic Cup Is held twice a year—the long course in summer and the short course in spring. Although it is a competition for junior swimmers in Japan, there are many participants from overseas. 

Last year, the Australian junior team participated. Guam swimmers also participated several times before and this year will mark the very first the CNMI will taking part in the event. Divisions include 10-and-under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and the Championship Class where Aleksenko will be participating in. “It’s a competition for top swimmers in the world for junior competitions. The winner’s time is equivalent to the World Junior Championships finalist time. Isaiah is the only swimmer to qualify with a Junior Olympic Cup time,” said Kimura. 

The many time CNMI national coach said the qualifying time for the Junior Olympic Cup is extremely fast and even the CNMI record is far behind. “For example, the qualifying time for the girls 11-12 50m backstroke is 32.20. The CNMI’s national record is 33.20, which means that even the fastest swimmer in Saipan history has not achieved a qualifying time of even a 12-year-old swimmer in this meet!” Kimura said Aleksenko would have to be in his best element to make an impression at the Junior Olympic Cup. “It’s a close race with dozens of swimmers crowded together within 0.5 seconds. It will be a thrilling race where the winner will be decided by a 1mm or 2mm difference in finishing touches. Isaiah needs to be 100% in shape without fail.” He added their first goal Is just to survive and make it to at least the finals. “The Top 8 from preliminaries will go to the finals. Our chances are 50/50. It’s very scary but also so exciting.” Kimura thanked the following for making their trip to the 47th Junior Olympic Cup in Japan possible: Northern Marianas Sports Association, Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Aqua Resort Club, the Tan family, Saipan Swim Club, and to all the Tsunami Saipan swimmers and parents who support the team. Aleksenko and Kimura will leave for Japan on Wednesday.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah bags 50m butterfly bronze 

By MARK RABAGO, Saipan Tribune 

April 1, 2024 

Isaiah Aleksenko completed his own resurrection in swimming after bagging a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly in the 47th Junior Olympic Cup at the Tokyo Aquatics Center in Japan. Swimming his first event last March 29, the 17-year-old Marianas High School student and Saipan Community School alumnus finished third with a time 23.46 behind 18-year-olds Shouon Mitsunaga (23.11) and Rento Touge (23.31), both of Japan. Aleksenko’s 23.46 also marked a new CNMI short course national record. 

Aleksenko, who finished fifth in the preliminaries with a time of 23.87, said the 50m butterfly race was so close but fun at the same time. “It was a fun event because of how close the race was. I was very surprised and happy because now that I think of it, I’m basically the third fastest 18-and-under male in Japan which is crazy to think about. I want to thank God, my mom; my family; my coach and his wife; Kensuke [Kimura], who is my coach’s son, because he helped me throughout the event; as well as my teammates for being so supportive.” 

Asked if the bronze medal atoned for his disqualification in the 200m individual medley in last February’s 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Aleksenko said it definitely did. “Ever since the DQ I have been practicing harder and harder so this is definitely a redemption from the World Champs.” 

Coach Hiroyuki Kimura said Aleksenko’s first race in the Junior Olympic Cup was an extremely high-speed race and was a real dog fight. “I’m super happy, of course he is very happy and he got higher motivation for his 100m butterfly the next day. The 50m butterfly is a little bit hard for him because he is not a sprinter. Though Isaiah is very fast even in a short sprint event, top junior sprinters in Japan have the sprint event as their No. 1 style. However, Isaiah survived to the finals, then won a bronze medal in the finals. It was more than amazing,” he said. 

Results of Aleksenko’s 100m butterfly event on March 30 will be published in the next issue of Saipan Tribune. 

 

Another bronze for Isaiah in Jr. Olympic Cup

By MARK RABAGO, Saipan Tribune 

April 2, 2024

 

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Lighting struck twice for Isaiah Aleksenko as he made the CNMI version of the 1993 blockbuster hit “Cool Runnings” when he again won a bronze medal in the in the 47th Junior Olympic Cup at the Tokyo Aquatics Center in Japan.  

 

A day after his third-place finish in the 50m butterfly, the 17-year-old Marianas High School student swam the 100m butterfly in 51:98 last March 30 to again finish second behind 18-year-olds Shouon Mitsunaga (51:22) and Rento Touge (51:44), both of Japan.  

 

While ecstatic with another podium finish in the biggest stage of high school swimming in the Land of the Rising Sun, Aleksenko pondered if he would’ve been faster if the CNMI actually had a full-fledged swimming pool to train on.

 

"Our pool is small compared to the regular pools and I was just milliseconds behind so with a proper pool I definitely would’ve been faster,” he said.

Nonetheless, the Saipan Community School alumnus again thanked everyone instrumental in his swimming journey.

“I’m very grateful to represent Saipan. People should know more about Saipan and the amazing culture we have. I’m proud to be from Saipan,” he said.

CNMI national swimming coach Hiroyuki Kimura likened his ward’s performance last week in Japan to the movie "Cool Runnings" where a coach, played by the late comedic genius John Candy, mentors a novice four-man bobsleigh team from Jamaica in the Winter Olympics.

Isaiah unfortunately lost the gold medal. I think he was very disappointed, but he looked very cheerful. I'm really proud of Isaiah. It was a great fight.:

Kimura agreed with Aleksenko’s comment after his bronze in the 50m butterfly that the Tokyo meet served as a redemption tour for him following his disqualification in the 200m individual medley in last February’s 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

“The moment the race in Doha ended, I switched my mind to the Junior Olympic Cup. Isaiah and I vowed to take revenge from that regret in Japan! On the way back from Doha, in the plane and during transit time at the airport in Incheon, my laptop never switched off. This is because I made a detailed practice plan for Isaiah for Junior Olympic Cup.”

For a second, Kimura revealed that they were dreaming of a gold medal in the 100m butterfly after Aleksenko finished first in the preliminary round.

“In the prelims, Isaiah hit the top-ranking time and advanced to the finals. Second was Rento Touge (52.38) and third was Shouon Mitsunaga (52.68). Only Isaiah marked a cut of 52 seconds in the preliminary heats, but Touge and Mitsunaga were clearly saving their energy for the final. We know their potential is to cut 52 seconds.”

Kimura went on to say that Touge and Mitsunaga are top swimmers in Japan, so they swim at a 25m short course meet every week to gain experience in racing. On the other hand, Aleksenko has been practicing for six years on an island without an official swimming pool and only has race experience about twice a year.

“While Japanese top swimmers have experience in countless 25m short course races, the prelims was only Isaiah's second short course race experience in his life. The difference in racing experience was obvious. Therefore, we never had the luxury of saving strength for the finals, so Isaiah swam as fast as he could in the prelims. Japan's top junior athletes I guess didn't go to the beach to lose to an unknown swimmer who came from a small southern island with a population of 50,000,” he said.

April 23, 2024