Island BFFs

The first few weeks and even months of school were the time one figures out who are friends you enjoy spending time with, who you won't spend any more time than necessary with, and who you go out of your way to spend nearly all waking hours not spent teaching with.  Time has narrowed the last category down to two: Aynee and Jace.  While part of it is personality, there are many reasons for this threesome formation.


10 Reasons why I like Aynee and Jace:

1. They are practical.  They think of ways to get things accomplished, and don't want to spend time on unnecessary things.  They think of tangible ways to show God's love.

2. They are helpful.  Whether it's washing the dishes for everyone, helping move furniture, decorating when it's not their responsibility, adding some of your clothes to their laundry, or helping you carry something, when they see a need they're there to assist.

3. They're thoughtful. Example:

We're at a church meeting, and the pastors wife has brought some food.  At the urging of the pastor I take a serving of something I've been told is a banana dish, and return to my seat next to Aynee to eat it.  I don't know what it is, but it is not banana, and I find my tongue recoiling at the taste.  Aynee smiles, quietly asks "Need some help?" and goes to get a fork.

4. They make me laugh.  Watching Jace do "song interpretation" during vespers when his voice was gone, making jokes about english words pronounced in unintentional ways, and making jokes about cultural differences are only some of the things that keep me smiling.

5. We get each other's sense of humor.  Sample conversation between Jace and I:
J: Aynee!  Come! 
H: "Good grief, could you be any more DEMANDING?"
J: "Hannah, be quiet.  I did not invite you to be part of this conversation."
H: "I will speak whenever I feel like it, thank you very much."
J: "Hannah.  Shush"
H: "Aynee, you see how domineering and rude he is to me?  I think we should throw him out."
A:  "Jace, stop being rude."
J:"I'm not being rude, she's not allowed to join a conversation unless I say so.  Now come."
H: "Jace, calm down, she's coming.  Have a little patience for once in your life."
J: levels what is supposed to be an intimidating stare at me
 "Did I invite you to join this conversation?  No.  Aynee!"
And thus it will continue until there will likely be a sudden switch in our conversation, and we'll move on to talking about what to do together that evening, or what we're going to cook for supper.

The truth is that if Jace and I started being polite to one another it would be an indicator that something was seriously wrong with our relationship and that we were most likely mad at one another.

6. They love Jesus.  I can see it through their words and actions, and the sacrifices they're willing to make for the God they serve.

7. They like to play.  Whether it's games, swimming, or running around in the rain, they like to be involved, and bring people together to start activities.

8. They're good for a serious conversation.

9. They don't take life too seriously, and can keep a sense of humor in a tough situation.

10. They're up for spontaneous activities.  And for dealing with the consequences if the spontaneity was a little too rash. :P

Love and Sacrifice

“God… I’m really tired this morning. I just don’t feel like I have the energy to get through another day with my students.”

No, you don’t. That’s why I’m here, remember?

Daily strength. Hourly strength. Minute by minute strength. That’s what He provides. No, I don’t feel strong enough to keep going for another 5 ½ months. But I don’t need to, because God has shown His provision through each moment of each day as needed. It humbles me to realize how rarely I rely on Him when I need Him. How often I let my frustration take control of me, or forget to ask for guidance when I’m not sure what to say or do. But as I let him take control, I find myself learning how big His strength is, and learning new lessons.
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Of the four love languages, one of my greatest is physical touch. It’s been a joy to me as my students have grown closer to me through the months, and many freely share their hugs, hold my hands as we walk, and compete to be the one to sit on my lap in chapel. One of my students is especially needy when it comes this area, and usually I am happy to return her hugs, wrap my arm around her as well, and let her clamor into my lap. This week however, everyone seemed determined to push me off the edge of my patience. It seemed every moment I turned I was met with someone needing help, asking a question, or complaining. Again. This was not so unusual, but for some reason this week it was frequently accompanied by someone’s small hands. Then came Thursday, the last day before the Christmas program.

“Teacher!” My arm is vigorously shaken. “Teacher, when are we going over to the church?”

I take a deep breath. “Remember that I’ve asked you lots of times not to grab and shake my arm because I don’t like it?

“Oh yeah. Sorry. So when are we going to the church?”
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“Teeeeeeeeacher, my stomach hurts!” A small body plasters itself against me, hanging from me and almost knocking me over.

“I’m sorry it hurts. Have you been drinking water?”

“Yes, teacher, I’ve drunk lots of water like you always tell me to, but it still huuuurts.”

“Ok, you can call your mom if it’s really bad, or you can just sit there at your desk and rest.”

2 minutes later.

“Teeeeacher, my stomach is hurting!” The small body once again grabs my arms and hangs from them.

“Did you call your mom?” “Yes, but she doesn’t have a car to come get me. But teacher, it hurts!”

And so it went every five minutes for the rest of the day until lunch which apparently cured my student’s malady. This was accompanied by students randomly coming and grabbing me in sudden balance-unsettling hugs on their way to the bathroom, or to sharpen their pencils, and more arm grabbing and shaking when someone needed help or a question answered.

Then it was time to go to the church for Christmas program practice. Then came my little clinger, wrapping her arm around my waist. “Teacher, I’m going to walk over with you.” We walked over to the church, bodies pressed close together. We made our way down the aisle, and over to our designated pew, where she immediately transferred from my side to lap, and proceeded to sit there for the next two hours as the room became warmer and warmer. “Teacher, I’m hot.” “Well, you know,” I replied in a hopeful tone, “if you sat on the pew right next to me you wouldn’t be so hot, because our bodies make extra heat when you’re on my lap.” She vigorously shook her head no, and snuggled even closer against me. And so we stayed that way the end of the practice, with a bit of relief when it was the elementary students turn to present up front.

It was hot. It was long. And I didn’t want her sitting on my lap making me hotter, slowly limiting the circulation to my legs. Especially after being shaken and hung on all morning, and really all week long.

I was tired of being touched.

But it was what she needed, and wasn’t I there to meet my students needs? Wasn’t I there to share love in the ways that my students needed it? My student missionary service wasn’t just about sacrificing things that I miss at home, about adjusting to a different life, about teaching my students about math, English, or even about God. It was also about this. Holding a child on my lap when what they needed most was to feel the touch of someone who cared about them.

And it was this that God brought to mind as we finished the program and I surrendered my will again as we walked out of the church, bodies so close we looked almost like one being.

The Longings of our Hearts

I've put off writing this blog partly because what I felt like saying kept changing, and partly because it wasn't something I wanted to think about even more than I do. But a student mission blog would be incomplete without it, and I would feel I was lying in some way if it was not included.


The fragrance of homesickness has become like a wafting odor drifting around everything I do; sometimes so light I barely notice it, and sometimes so thick it fills my nostrils and I can hardly breathe. I expected homesickness, of course, but I did not really realize the depths to which it would probe, or the way it would be like a dye, tingeing everything. I’ve never lived somewhere before where every memory of my life previous to moving there made me miss something because everything is different. Example:

A caring individual sends me a package, and inside the package is something padded with plastic bags. I pull out a walmart bag. Oh! A walmart bag! I haven’t been to walmart in months. I kind of miss having everything I need in one store… I miss driving to walmart. I just miss driving. I miss nice roads, actually. And going faster than 15 mph! Ahh, what fun to it will be to just go 50 mph again! I miss going to town all by myself too. Driving in the car, all alone… I miss driving more than 10 miles away from where I’m living too. ...I just miss independence.

It’s not that I’m not enjoying much of my time here, but I’ve been dismayed to find how hard it is to cast off the shadow that homesickness seems to spread across everything I experience. I stand gazing at a beautiful palm tree and think “I miss oak trees, fall colors, seasons….” I sit next to the warm ocean gently lapping its water onto the shore and wistfully imagine myself bundled in my yellow coat with a bright scarf, snowflakes drifting down on me. Some days it is a fight to remind myself to soak up what I have to enjoy here instead of being trapped by what I am used to, and expect. I am often frustrated by how much I think of how glad I will be to return home, when coming here was something I looked forward to with eagerness for so long.

I am glad to report that while it is not gone, I find myself adjusting more and more, and homesickness is not so strong any more. The mornings when every day I fought back the tears as I missed everything familiar and looked at what seemed to be an endless amount of time remaining have gone. The loneliness of finding everyone likeable but having no close friends has disappeared as time has been wrapping more and more cords into the ropes of friendship that have been forming.
I’ve learned more here than ever before what it is like to trust in God to give the strength you need for every moment of every day. And while I’m sure the cloying odor of homesickness will never go away, and has not spent its full power yet, I am confident in the sustaining power of my God, who gave up much more than I can ever comprehend.

The Exterminators

We were washing dishes by the sink, and I carried my plate over next to where Aynee was. Across the floor scuttled the cockroach I had witness running down the wall right next to my bed that morning. "I'm going to kill that cockroach!" cried Aynee. "It might go IN my bed tonight! I think it's the only one here." She grabbed a broom, and proceeded to search for the dark corner it had hidden itself in. I saw two dark whiskers on the other side of the door frame waving ominously. Aynee advanced, wielding the broom, and struck. Suddenly, a dark whirring object the size of a hummingbird flew over our heads through the doorway.

"AAAHH!!" We screamed, and backed toward the shower room. Aynee wildly waved the broom in it's direction, and the cockroach veered through the air, and seemed to come closer to us.

"AAAHH!!" I jumped into the bathroom behind Aynee, ducking behind the door. Coackroaches on the floor are bad enough, but when they are flying in the air, it feels as though even in their much smaller size, they have a distinct advantage over you.

"Jace!" I yelled. "JAAAACE! Come kill this cockroach for us! Come on Jace!"

The voice from the other room assured me that he would be of no help when it came to insect extermination, and no blond figure appeared. Realizing that more help might be needed, I heading into the other room to find the other broom. "I'll get a broom, and then we can trap and kill him" I told Aynee. Now we searched again for where the cockroach had gone to. I saw him run into the other room.

"Quick!, I yelled, "catch him before he gets up speed to fly!" A laugh came from the figure who had yet to extract himself from his chair across the room. "What do you think it is Hannah, an airplane?"

We poked around with our brooms, and he raced under the refrigerator. With our brooms we brushed around the refrigerator, moving the items under the table next to it. I shined my flashlight behind the refrigerator. Where was the beast? Glancing at the top of the refrigerator, I saw the two whiskers waving just over the edge of the top of a large bowl. "There he is, Aynee!" I shouted excitedly, "on the top! He must have climbed up the back." I sighed at the turn of the events - I really hated that coackroach above my head again.

We held our brooms high, and struck simultaneously. The coackroach fell the floor, causing us to jump backwards.

"AAAAHH!!"

The cockroach once again raced for the safety of the underside of the refrigerator. "Not again! We can't let him climb up the back again!" I cried. Aynee and I took hold of the refrigerator, and began to move it away from the wall. We brushed all around with our brooms. "There it is!" Aynee shouted, and shoved her broom against the wall. The cockroach darted for a new location to hide.

"AAAHHH!!"

The good thing at this point was that we had apparently either injured or frightened him into being unable to fly, and I felt better about this advantage being taken away from the roach.

I waited by the side of the refrigerator, and with proddings from Aynee, the cockroach appeared by the wall. I shot my broom back into the small space, smashed it into the wall, and pulled it out. The coackroach laid on the floor, and began twitching and trying to move.

"AAAHHH!!"

We began vigorously smashing the roach with our brooms. Cautiously, we moved them back.

*twitch* *twitch*

Smash! Smash! Smash!

Convinced now that the cockroach was really dead, I began sweeping it to the door, keeping its mangled form far away from me. Opening the door, I swept it far out into the night, convinced that even it's little cockroach ghost would not have the courage to enter the apartment that night, and face the terrible combination of me, Aynee, two brooms, and a fierce distaste for bugs.

21

The morning of my birthday dawned wet and dripping, and as I looked out the window, I groaned, envisioning having to cancel our class picnic, and keep 20 third graders excited about a picnic cooped up in a classroom. It would, without a doubt, turn the day into the worst birthday of my life. God, I begged, please take the rain away for our picnic, PLEASE! Two hours later the sky was cloudy but had ceased it's raining as we headed down the road toward the Blue Lagoon for the picnic.

The picnic went fairly well, with only a few wanderers who headed off to areas outside the limits, one injured foot, and one fight. Only one fight?! you may ask. Yes. I've been learning that only one fight isn't so bad for children who have grown up not being discouraged from using their feet and hands to settle any minor grievance, whether real or imagined. This was plainly shown to me as I hurried out of the water towards the fighters, shouting at them to stop, as the adults on shore simply sat and watched, not seeming at all disturbed or inclined to stop the fight. Aside from those disturbances the day was filled with splashing children, a constant group of clinging children, and requests of "throw me again, throw me again!" One of the parents bought a birthday cake, and the children sang to me before I blew out the four candles that adorned its top.

And the rain request? I got a sunburn.

After the picnic I washed the coating of salt and sunscreen from my body, and prepared to leave to get my hair trimmed. You see, it had already been cut. This is how it started:

Friday night: Aynee and I look at pictures on my computer. Aynee tells me that I look cute with bangs, and that I should get some again.

Tuesday night: I am inspired to take Aynee's advice. "Aynee, let's go in the bathroom and you can give me bangs!"

This was the reason that on Wednesday afternoon Aynee and I headed to the Beauty Salon at Blue Lagoon to have my new bangs re-fashioned, and I ended up coming back with a few new layers as well.

The evening held a gathering at the principals apartment to celebrate my birthday, and also as a farewell for the Filipino couple who have been here for months doing construction. It was filled with good food, and many birthday wishes. :)

The truth is, I felt all day like I was only pretending it was my birthday. Many years I wished I there was warm weather on my birthday so I could have a swimming party with my friends. This year I had warm weather and went swimming. But the lack of cold weather made it feel like my birthday wasn't really happening, and that I was making up a birthday when it actually wouldn't be happening until fall was REALLY here.

How to Make Your “Stay After Class and Clean for 5 Minutes” Consequence Become 30 Minutes of Tears and Anguish

1. Get upset about your (very lenient) consequence and stand around feeling that life is unjust.
2. Be reminded by the teacher that your five minutes is five minutes of CLEANing time, and that standing around does not count.
3. Clean for 3 minutes.
4. Leave the room while your teacher is making copies and tell her that you’re done when you didn’t clean.
5. Be told in a stern voice to return to the classroom.
6. Get upset because your classmate who DID clean for five minutes is being allowed to leave, and you are being told you must stay for the eternity of two more minutes to clean.
7. Slam your bag on the floor, stomp to your desk, and cry bitterly there.
8. Be reminded by the teacher that as soon as you clean for two more minutes you can be free to leave.
9. Cry even harder, contemplating the cruel injustice of life.
10. Finally get up and sweep the floor for two minutes.
11. Be told by your teacher that you can leave, and pray with her.
12. Sit at a desk and cry again, holding your head that now aches from so much crying.
13. Make the teacher who has perhaps been punished as much as you wait as you recover from crying, and get a drink of water.
14. Leave the classroom, and say goodbye to your teacher who is glad it’s now the beginning of the weekend.

The Good Moments

“Hey kids, since yesterday was a holiday and we missed art, would you like to do that instead of music this afternoon?”

“YEEEEEAAAAHH!!!!!”

And thus we began our art session, which is probably one of my favorite times of the week. All the kids like art, and there’s no need for me to try to keep students in their seats and listening to me, or focusing on their work. There are always students who come over to my desk to work with me, or to ask me to cut or draw something for them. Today I gave them a free art time and supplied with paper, glue, colored pencils, crayons, and markers. I decided to sit at my desk and make a fan, sharing the markers with the girls working at my desk. Immediately, a teacher fan club sprung up.

“Teacher, what are you making?”

“Oh, that’s so pretty, Teacher!”

“I like what you’re drawing, Teacher.”

“Hey, come look at Teacher’s fan!”

Suddenly, three people are folding their paper into fans.

“Teacher, can I see your fan?”

“What does the next part of your fan look like teacher?”

“Teacher, what should I put next on my fan?”

And so I oohed and ahhed my way through art as fans and other various creations were made, not even minding the addition to the trash already littering the floor which never ceases to amaze me in its messiness at the end of the day.
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“Teacher, will you be my reading partner?”

“I would love to be your reading partner.”

“Ok! I’ll answer the first question and then you answer the next one!

The most exciting moments for me are when the kids who are behind and have trouble focusing on their work get involved and excited about learning. It’s also the reason I find so much frustration in teaching because I want to work with each of my students one-on-one to ensure they get the attention they need. Seeing their excitement, and eyes lighting up with interest and new found knowledge seems to be rare, but it’s what carries a teacher through.
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“Teacher, what grade are you teaching next year?”

“Well, I won’t be here next year. I have to go back to school in the United States.”

“Ohh….. I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too.”

Saturday night is for....fun

The following blog contains two rounds of Judge, participated in my Aynee, Jace, Mark, and myself. To those of you who didn’t grow up playing Judge (anyone in the world aside from me, Marlene, Johna and Jolene), it’s a game made up by the aforementioned people. It involves a Judge, two witnesses, and a defendant. Witness 1 speaks first, and tells what they saw the defendant doing. The defendant then has a chance to explain why they did what witness 1 accused them of. Witness 2 speaks next, and their story can closely align with witness 1’s story, or be different. It’s best if the witness finds a good way to make their story back up the first witness story with a new twist. Then the defendant explains again, and finds a way to draw the two witness’s stories together. The Judge speaks last, and gives their verdict. They can also question to clarify during the process. The best rounds involve imaginative people making up crazy stories.

Witness 1: Jace
Witness 2: Aynee
Defendant: Hannah
Judge: Mark

Jace: The first day we got here and were driving to the airport, Hannah was sitting behind me, and she reached up and jerked a hair out of my head. I thought it was slightly strange at the time, but didn’t say anything about it. However, ever since that day Hannah has jerked a hair out of my head every day. I’m now getting a bald spot on my head! I’ve brought this to court because this needs to stop.

Hannah: I confess, I have a…..fetish. I love curly blonde hair, and every time I see Jace, I just can’t stop myself! I HAVE to take one of them! I take it back to my room where I have a picture frame, and glue a piece inside every day to create a hair collage. …I only take one piece… And…it’s just so tempting… *reaches hands towards Jace’s head*

Mark: Witness 2, what is your reason for being here today?

Aynee. Well, as we all know, Jace is a vegetarian. And I saw Hannah last week sneaking meat into his food! *a gasp from Jace* I would like to know why she is doing this.

Hannah: Well, as we know, vegetarians need to take care to get enough proteins in their diet, and proteins are the building blocks of our bodies. They’re what give us nice hair. I had noticed that the quality of Jace’s hair was deteriorating as the weeks passes, and surmised that he was not taking steps to ensure he was getting enough protein in his diet. So I decided to sneak some meat into his food to improve his hair quality for my hair collage.

Mark: Hannah, I see that you’re very remorseful about this, and so I’m not going to be too strict. But you do have a problem, and so I’m going to send you to OCD counseling. Also, so that you won’t be tempted by Jace’s hair anymore, I’m going to have Jace shave his head. That way there will be NO more hair for you to take, and that will be the other part of your punishment.

Court adjourned.

Witness 1: Jace
Witness 2: Hannah
Defendant: Mark
Judge: Aynee

Jace: I own an ostrich farm, and was having problems with teaching one of my ostriches to run. He’s a slow learner. So I called the vet and asked him to come have a look at one of my ostriches. A little while later this man Mark showed up, and I assumed he was the vet. He drove up in his F150, took some of the boards out of my fence, and proceeded to herd the other 134 of my ostriches into the back of his truck, leaving the one who couldn’t run behind! Now, the back of an F150 is not very big, and he crammed all 134 in there, piling them up on top of one another! Then he drove away with my ostriches!

Mark: I was at home tapping the phone line (because I have no social life, and am very socially awkward) and overheard the call to the vet. I called the vet right back and told him not to worry – I had things under control. I drove out to Jace’s farm, loaded all the other ostriches into my truck, and what Jace neglected to mention, is that his ostrich did run. It was chasing us down the road. My method was effective.

Hannah: I own a mattress company, and these days people are really wanting to get back to their roots – everyone wants feather mattresses! However, I’ve had a hard time finding feathers. I contacted a man to see if he would look into where I could find more feathers. Chickens that weren’t going to make good meat, for example, and someone would like to sell. A few seconds later I received a call from this man Mark who told me he’d heard about my problem, and that he had a way to supply me with plenty of feathers, and that I could stuff more mattresses than I would know what to do with! A little while later he drove in with 134 ostriches piled high in the back of his pickup truck! I had no idea they were stolen, or I never would have accepted them. *turns to Jace* They’re all still fine. Well… almost all them. We did pluck one, but I assure you, he’s just fine! Maybe he can wear a sweater.

Jace: Oh, of course, I have plenty of ostrich sweaters.

Mark: I don’t see what the problem is here. I solved both people’s problems! I got Jace’s ostrich to run, and got Hannah the feathers she needed! I was going to return the ostriches after they were plucked. They would have been just fine. I did nothing wrong.

Aynee: Mark…. For one thing you were tapping a phone line which is illegal. And you also stole and don’t see that what you did was wrong. Because of that I feel you are dangerous to society and am sentencing you to life imprisonment.

Court adjourned

The facts (or in other words, a less interestingly worded update)

Today the other SM guys and I finally made it over to Truk Stop to begin our diving certification training. All we did was get our textbooks and plan the next time to meet, but I am very excited about finally getting started with this, and having something to start working on. I’m looking forward to enjoying what some people travel halfway around the world and spend lots of money on to experience.

Parent Teacher Conferences took place on Friday, and while it was good to meet with the parents, I’m glad they’re over with. Over 75% of my parents came, which was pretty good, much better than the 0% that some (Jace) got. For the most part they’re fairly understanding of the fact that I’m doing what I can with the diverse class I’m working with.

This weekend is a long weekend thanks to another holiday, and I have plans to re-arrange my class and sit all of my students in groups to work together on everything. I have high hopes for this really helping in class, and am looking forward to see how it works. I’m hoping it will give me more of an opportunity to work with my struggling students who are behind because I haven’t been able to help them nearly as much as I’d like. I’m also going to begin doing some after school tutoring in reading with some of them, and am hoping that it will help a lot.

How to take (almost) forever to make breakfast

1. Look at the box of wonderful looking pancake and waffle mix your sister sent you, and get inspired about the idea of making waffles instead of pancakes so you don't need to wait to use the butane burner.
2. Walk over to the apartment currently under renovation with one of the other girls to find the waffle maker for you.
3. Clean the waffle maker still dirty from its last use months ago, and remove the bug couple who had decided to take up residence there.
4. Mix up the waffle batter, and lightly grease the waffle maker. Plug in waffle maker.
5. Pour in the waffle mix.
6. Scrape the waffle piece by piece out of the waffle maker.
7. Decide the waffle maker needs heavy greasing, and re-grease it. Pour in waffle mix.
8. Scrape waffle out of maker piece by piece, and decide to give up on making more waffles. Look sadly at the oil the maker has dripped on the table that you will have to clean up.
9. Eat your scrambled waffles with peanut butter and syrup.
10. Feel like you want just a little more, and decide to use the frying pan and butane burner to make a pancake since someone else just finished making pancakes in it, and it's free for use, and already hot.
11. Pour in your pancake mix.
12. Wonder why your pancake looks so sad, flat, and not cooked.
13. Realize that five seconds after you put your pancake in the frying pan, the burner ran out of butane.
14. Replace the butane, and watch your pancake finally begin to cook.
15. Enjoy your pancake, and plan to never use the waffle maker again. Look forward even more to when you'll be able to cook in a real kitchen.

1/4, a quarter, 25%

"Teeeeacher, I need HELP!"

And so went the insistent cries of my most vocal third graders as we went through the final exams for the first quarter of the school year. I've told students to return to their seats a thousand times, confiscated an entire squadron of paper airplanes, sent a student out of the room during the exam for repeatedly answering questions out loud, and wondered for the hundredth time how a student can have a pencil during the first half of an exam, and have no idea where it went the next time I stop by their desk to help them. I've found one of my hardest struggles is watching students write down the wrong answer to a question when I read it to them, and knowing I can't say the answer because it is a test.
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A new exercise group has sprung up on campus as some of the other girls and I have decided we have to find a way to incorporate more exercise into our days as we rarely leave campus. So many evenings find a small group of girls, (occasionally joined by Jace) walking around the ever shrinking campus. Again, again, and again. Then it's over to the highschool building for a few minutes of stair-stepping as we run, gasp and wheeze our way up and down the outside steps. We cool down by (guess what!) walking around campus a few more times. We've also had our aerobics class in the one air-conditioned class room on campus, and if you want to watch five Filipino and white girls try to dance to hip-hop moves, you can come to Chuuk. The amusement might be worth the plane ticket, but probably not. Even though this new "exercise program" only began a few days ago I've come to enjoy it as not only a time to get some exercise, but a time to talk and grow closer to the people I'm working here with.
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And thus ends this bit of news celebrating the conclusion of one fourth of my time teaching here, which is both believable and unbelievable, happy and sad, and a whole other range of emotions which I'm not sure how to put in words. I guess that's part of what being a student missionary is all about.

It's now only a couple of weeks until the first quarter of school will be finished, and in some ways it seems amazing, and in other ways the end of school seems a very, very long away. I'm enjoying being here, but it's still true that I've never missed so many things at once before, or been homesick so often in my life. I count down the days until Christmas break when mom, dad, and Justin will be here because counting down the days until the end of school seems overwhelming.

Lest I seem too pessimistic, I am frequently reminded of what a wonderful group I am working with here. I've been surrounded by so much friendliness and thoughtfulness, and we've had many fun times together. Last Saturday night we celebrated the principal's wife's birthday at one of the hotels in town by eating pizza out on the dock. It was a great evening, and Jace (one of the other SMs) and I talked with the dive instructor there about getting dive certified. We're hoping to start on that next week. We're really excited about getting our and doing something in the beautiful water here! I'm learning that if you want to do something here you have to take it into your own hands as much as possible and not wait for the group to plan something.

A highlight of my time here is that last week the SM guys and I went out with the American couple who are in charge of construction here and a group of medical missionaries to a little island to snorkel there. It was a gorgeous day, and on the way out we saw dolphins! The men stopped the boat and we got out and snorkeled with them! It was definitely one of the most amazing moments of my life, and one I wouldn't mind having again! It was a wonderfully refreshing day, and renewed my desire to experience more of the beauty this place has to offer. Sometimes I forget I'm in a place where tourists come when I spend most of my time on campus!

I miss and love you all (well, I guess since I don't know who all is reading this I shouldn't be too general with that statement), and thank you so much to those of you who've sent me boxes! It's opening a little taste of home. Sometimes quite literally. ;)

The Other Side

You know you're not used to being a minority when you find yourself staring at
American tourists.

A Typical School Day

This is long, but I figured some of you would like the details of what a full school for me goes like. :)

6:20 – My alarm goes off, and often I have already been awakened by the noise of someone else who has gotten up earlier. I get ready for the morning, and if I’m on the schedule, lead out in morning worship with the girls.
7:45 – Staff worship begins in the library. Actually, staff worship is scheduled to start at 7:45, but people start singing early, and if you don’t get there 5 minutes early, you feel late. Teachers lead out in worship rotating through the grades. Then there are announcements, and we leave to use the few minutes before classes start to finish up whatever we need to.

8:25 – I unlock my classroom and let the students in. If it’s Monday (and not raining), this will be preceded by flag raising. (I’ve found the pledge of allegiance very fast to memorize as it is the same as the United States, only with Federated States of Micronesia instead of United States of America. I think I know it better than most of my Chuukese students!) We begin with worship which consists of prayer, songs, and a short devotional thought. I am trying to teach my students to pray loud enough for the whole class to hear, and they’re improving.

8:50 – We begin Bible. Since I have no student textbooks I read the story from the teacher’s book, we discuss the story, and then the students finish a sentence prompt in their notebooks designed to make them think about the story in relation to their own lives. This is when I start running around the room helping those who don’t know how to spell, or have no idea what to write, usually because they weren’t paying attention. On Wednesdays the Bible period is spent having an Adventurer program in the church, and on Fridays a chapel program.

9:20 – English begins. Complaints of being hungry begin.

10:10 – Math begins. Complaints of hunger increase.

11 – Lunch! The students group around desks, eating their own food and sharing with others. I try to make sure the kids wash their hands, and encourage them to use silverware if they have it. I inwardly cringe as I watch many students eat their rice and meat with their fingers. Some go to buy their lunch, but most bring their own. When they are done eating students are to clean up the room, and when everyone’s done eating and the room is clean they can go outside for a break during the rest of lunch time. I try to keep track of everyone, and if I know where everyone is at once, I’m doing well.

11:30 – Science begins. Science consists mostly of reading from the textbook, copying the notes from our reading that I put on the board into their notebooks, and occasionally making charts with illustrations if the material allows. I wish science could be more interesting, but when I look at the list of supplies needed for the experiments and activities suggested in the book I am reminded of how few supplies I have, and how hard it would be for me to obtain some of even the most basic ones.

12:20 – Reading is next, and I have been experimenting as to what works best for the class. There are students who can read fairly well, students who can barely read, students who can’t read at all, and one who understands very little English at all. We’ve done primarily group reading, but I am trying to split the group in two and work on phonics with the group who can’t read.

1 – Recess begins, and I happily line the kids up and send them out of the room. It’s not unusual for a few students to have done something warranting their staying behind and copying the sentence I have written on the board into the notebooks until we return. This has been happening less often though. It’s been an amazing day when no one stays inside during lunch break or recess!

1:10 – We next work on either spelling or social studies depending on the day. At the end of this period I write their homework assignment on the board if I give them one. It’s a school policy not to let students take textbooks home with them because they’ve gotten so damaged in the past doing that. That makes homework assignments more challenging, so I usually have them do something with their spelling words on the days we have spelling for their homework.

1:50 – The last period changes every day. It’s either Adventurers, (which I still have no material on and I have no idea of what to teach), P.E. (which drives me crazy because the kids wait for the period all day and then I can’t get them to play anything together as a group. Then they complain that they’re bored because they’re not doing anything. Also, the office never seems to have any balls or any such thing for them to use. I think some of the kids are going to start bringing their own, and idea I highly encouraged.), Art, or music. They love art, and it’s the one subject they all can get enthused about.

2:25-2:30 – I give the last 5-10 minutes of class time to cleaning up the classroom. When the students check with me to see if their area is clean, they’re free to go. Often there is a student or two who has to stay after school because of misbehavior during the day. I give them some sort of writing work to do, or have them clean the classroom more before they can go, and have a talk with them. I don’t think they realize that I probably hope no one has to stay after class more than they do because it creates extra work for me! Luckily, this has been decreasing as well. One of my students still stays after school almost every day. I’ll feel accomplished if he can control himself well enough by the end of the year to not need to do that!

The time after school is filled with a variety of things that changes depending on the day. I spend time grading or lesson planning, and often run to grab something to eat if I didn’t eat at lunch because I’m not usually very hungry by 11. On Tuesdays there’s staff meeting, Wednesdays there’s prayer meeting, and on Thursday there’s an opportunity to go to town. There is also a chance on Sunday, but I try to go on Thursdays so my Sunday feels more open. Even though town is only a few miles away the whole trip tends to take at least 2 ½ hours because the travel time on the roads is so long. In the evenings some of the teachers will sometimes play games together, or I might read, or catch up on some grading. And in the event the internet is working, you can usually find many of the girls in the “internet café” which is the window in our room where the best connection can be found.

Fridays are half days of school, and all I can say is – Praise the Lord. :)

Learning the art of disappointed hopes

I sit in a chair outside the room, sadly missing the internet connection that a few minutes ago had connected me just long enough to hear a good friend’s voice, and then dropped. A few weeks ago I would have been very frustrated, pacing around trying to find something to do to not feel so helplessly thwarted during one of the few times that that I and the people I am trying to reach are both available. But that was a few weeks ago, and during that time I have come to expect a dropped connection, or no internet at all, and not to get my hopes up too high. So now I sit in my plastic chair, looking around at the wet campus that still drips from the rain the night before, and take the time to talk to God. And I wonder if there are always this many ants scurrying around on the concrete, or if I just never took the time to notice them before.

Campus Creatures

For a week I wondered what was sneaking into the classroom, knocking over the trashcan, and rummaging around for little delicacies left there by students on days when the trash was not full enough to empty. I could not find any holes for a rat to come in through, and nothing else had been chewed on. Finally my question was answered as I sat in my room one evening after school grading papers. A quick scrambling was heard, followed by the emergence of a black cat pushing through a square hole large enough to fit a fist through in the wire mesh over the window. He jumped down to the floor, his eyes scanning the room. I recognized his skinny frame. I had seen him around the buildings on campus, scaling walls that looked as if no animal could climb them. I had seen him take magnificent leaps to ledges high above him, then pull himself over the top after having barely caught the edge. A noise from me was enough to send him back through his entrance, and some string crisscrossed across the hole enough to keep him from entering again. I felt a little guilty as I covered the hole. He was just looking for a way to survive in this world where cats have never known flea and tick drops, catnip toys, and bowls of Friskies.

I did not realize for the first week how close the school is to the water as the trees and vegetation are tall and thick enough to cover the view from the ground. It was not until going to the walkway on the top of the high school building that I saw the beautiful view over the trees to the water, and was surprised at how close we were. It was easy to forget when surrounded by trees, and next to a large hill. However I was reminded again a few days later during staff worship of how really close we were. As we sat around the table in the library, one of the student missionaries suddenly jumped from his seat. “What is that?! Is that a crab? I thought maybe it was just that I hadn’t cleaned my glasses for a while. But he’s been sitting there staring at me!” At this point everyone was laughing, me both at his reaction, and at the hilarity of a crab chilling in the library. He was ushered out as the principal commented calmly on the fact that crabs making their way over to campus was not an unusual occurrence.

Campus is home to many new lives as one the dog has had puppies. I believe she is the principal’s dog, but is really more the dog of one of the other teachers here who always makes sure she has something to eat, and spends time with her. The puppies have been adopted by some of the other teachers, and soon enough I’m sure we will have little brown and white bodies following us around campus, looking for someone to play with. For the moment they stay tucked away under one of the buildings, although they receive frequent visits from their new “parents.”

Hannah and Chuuk celebrate their one month anniversary

Tomorrow afternoon I will have been in Chuuk for one month, and as is true for so many things, the time has both flown and drug it's feet all at the same time. My class is beginning to settle into a routine, which is a blessing, and things run more smoothly now. I still sometimes feel like pulling my hair out, but then I think of how unattractive I would look bald. It seems no matter how frustrating the school day may be, there is always some period that goes well to lift my day up. All my students are beginning wrap themselves around my heart. Each day has been a lesson in patience as I continually ask God to calm me as I answer the same question for the 10th time.

Quite literally.

Sometimes I laugh at the things which are becoming normal to me. Shouting because the rain is doing its best to drown out my voice, planning for a 25 minute drive the couple of miles to town on the terrible roads, or planning my laundry time for when the generator power is running to save on electricity bills. However I'm not sure that sucking in a breath of steely resolve before stepping into the cold shower in the morning will ever become normal.

Treacherous Tag

Scene: Saturday night at the Chuuk SDA School Campus. Security lights working sporadically. Construction equipment and piles of rocks and sand resting in piles. Rain pouring in sheets.
Players: 6-8 teachers
It was perhaps not the safest choice. Dashing through puddles of water, darting across wet cement walkways, and scrambling across piles of rock and sand, and squishing through patches of mud with feet shod in flip flops that sometimes got left behind in the massive, deep puddles of water or mud. Shrieks pierced the air, indicating that someone had just discovered who was it, and now they were "it." Within seconds of beginning, all who played were drenched to the skin, water running off them in small rivers.

It was muddy.

It was wet.

And it was fun.

Teacher, Teeeecher, TEACHER!

"Teacher, Mr. Noisy* is speaking in Chuukese!"
"Teacher, I don't understand."
"Teacher, is that a period?" (No, that's another piece of paint missing from the chalkboard."
"Teacher, I don't understand."
"Teacher, Mr. Energy* is eating a lolipop!"
"Teacher, I don't understand!"
"Teacher, what's next?"
"Teacher, I don't understand."
"Teacher, when is lunch?"
Teeeacher, I don't understaaand!"

*These names are fictional, however do hold an element of truth.

And so my day goes in a classroom filled with 18 third graders, some of whom know little English, and one who seems to know only two words in English. The trend so far has been for me to teach and explain an activity from the front of the classroom, only to explain it at least once face to face with every child, and with some children, at least 5.

I have been shown how God gives strength day by day, as this first week of school has been difficult as I try to find new ways teach my diverse group of students in ways that they will all understand. I have been feeling my complete need to rely on God to show me how to teach, because I realize more and more my inexperience and inability every day in the classroom. After the first two days I was wondering if my students were going to end this year having learned anything, and if I would go home with the same major. It is only Thursday, and I cannot say yet that I feel confident about this year, but I know that God has sent me here, and I am learning to rely more and more on Him.

God has been showing me blessings tucked inside would-be discouragements. My student who knows little to no English is quiet and tries to obey, and his smile can take away a frown. My student who's paper is often blank when I walk by after students have been working on an assignment for ten minutes came and asked me to help him instead of sitting doing nothing. And when I forgot to bring my lunch, I was not without food for long.

I thank all of you who I know are praying for me, because I certainly need and appreciate it.

Welcome to Class

Written Monday:

I stand in the doorway of my new classroom, taking in the chalkboard on the front wall, the 20 desks in their neat rows, the brown painted floor with bare patches and chunks missing, my large steel desk which began its life at a military base, and the bare shelves waiting for their varied assortment of books that appear to have outgrown their stay in American classrooms and have now been donated here.  I have met one of my third graders who took my hand when I offered to show her where her new classroom was, and who called out with a smile “goodbye teacher!” when she left.  I have met two parents of my students who welcomed me, and pledged their support to uphold at home what I give their students at school.  It feels surreal.  I am no longer in a class; this is MY class.  I am no longer a student; I am the teacher.

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In other news, I would like to report that the shoe chewing rat has been released from his duties in this life, and will be doing no more damage.  I caught him on a sticky mat, and found that when I actually saw him, my feelings toward him changed.  He was still a nuisance, but as I looked at his scared, furry little form stuck to the cardboard, I felt sorry for him.  It wasn't his fault he chewed on everything - if he didn't his teeth would grow into his head.  Nevertheless, I was glad to have a quiet night without worrying that next he would venture into my suitcase.

I'm now staying in one of the highschool classrooms with 7 other female teachers from the Philippines.  It has air conditioning (when the power is on, which is much of the time), and has been working out, although it is a bit of a challenge to cook right now since we just have an electric two burner appliance.  The building with the girl's apartment has no lower level right as it is being completely reconstructed because everything was caving in.  When it's finished they'll start working on the upstairs.  So we'll be staying here until sometime in October most likely.  The other teachers are all in their 20s, and are a very friendly group.  I was happy to find that while I'm the only American female, I'm not the only girl here!  I have been getting to know all of them more, and forming friendships with them.

School began on Friday with a half day, and begins full swing tomorrow.  Keep me in your prayers, because I really need God's wisdom as I realize more and more that I'm not prepared in my own strength to do this!

Chuuk

I've made it safely to Chuuk, where the trees spread their green in broad expanses, the roads have holes you could almost swim in, and the people smile and wave as you pass.  I am here with two other student missionaries, guys who I met 3 days ago during training in Hawaii.  I believe that we will be a good group.  The rest of the teaching staff is from the Philippines.  We received what was probably the warmest welcome I have ever received in my life which included pictures, flowers, and singing.  I am currently staying in a small apartment by myself on the campus as renovations to the girls apartment are being done.  I think I will be moving there later.  I was surprised to find it has an air conditioner in the bed room, and power more often than expected.  They thought they had rat proofed the room, but.....I now have holes in a pair of my shoes. :P

More to come, hopefully about the extinction of a shoe eating rat.

I'll attach the address for the school for anyone interested.

c/o Chuuk SDA School
P.O. Box 208, Weno, Chuuk, FSM 96942

Goodbyes

They all said "Hallo," and felt awkward and unhappy suddenly, because it was a sort of good-bye they were saying, and they didn't want to think about it. 
-The Tales of Winnie the Pooh

Explanations

"I'm going to Micronesia."

"Where?"

Such is the response I continually find myself receiving as I explain to people that I will not be going to school at Andrews next year, why I need to mail-in-renew my license, and considering the recommendation for a typhoid vaccination.  I don't whether to feel worried by the fact that I am going to a place the average American doesn't know exists, or enjoy the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of geography.  Although I'm not sure how terrible accurate my hands representing Hawaii and the Philippines really are.

The countdown sits at 2 1/2 weeks now, and its effects can be seen in my messy room strewn with suitcases and various items waiting to go in the suitcases.  Soon enough there will be a scale on which I'm sure I will be sighing over the inconvenient weight of 10 months worth of contact solution.