5 Weeks In

I can’t believe I’ve been here that long!

Five weeks to go until midterms. And then five weeks + spring break + five weeks = graduation! Wow!

I’ve been sick with a pretty bad cold this past week. Whoever thought you could catch a cold in Micronesia?! There’s also the flu going around and one-by-one people are getting all these sicknesses. Please, pray that God would renew our strength!

Classes have been going fairly well. We’ve been studying Asia in my World Geography classes. Last Friday I went into class early (they’re right after lunch) and had some of my junior and senior guys help me move all of the desks and chairs to the edge of the room. Then we spread a couple of sheets on the floor. I had my freshmen (and then my sophomores) come into class, take off their shoes, and sit on the sheets. I had brought my computer where I let them listen to some sound clips from India and look at pictures from Russia, Israel, China, Vietnam, India, and Mongolia that I had found on the internet. We talked about religions too, of course, and Amy Carmichael, William Carey, and Hudson Taylor. I even read some different snippets out of each of their lives. Oh, I almost forgot, I also had a separate sheet where I explained some of the dress. I used a girl to show (sort of) how a sari is worn and a boy for how a turban is worn. It was great!

Once again, I thank you all soooooo much for your prayers. They are wonderful. Here are some specific prayer requests:
1. Teaching is the hardest thing EVER! Pray that the Lord teaches me how to teach and brings fresh ideas into my head all the time.
2. Pray for a few of my boys in my sophomore class. To say that they are completely and utterly sinful doesn’t single them out because we all are, but it has shown up in some pretty horrible ways. Pray that the Lord teaches me to love them, which includes disciplines which fit their crimes!
3. Continue to pray for Sinie (see-nee-eh) and all of my sophomores and freshmen whose English and academic skills are very low. Help me be patient with them and be willing to slowly (but surely!) work with them.
4. Pray for one of my senior girls, Jasyuri. I love her dearly and have been able to talk with here one-on-one two different times about some things going on in her life. Pray that the Lord blesses our relationship and continues to give us time to talk. Pray that I will encourage her and, as always, proclaim Christ.
5. Pray for one of my senior boys, Nathaniel. He’s been inquisitive lately and asked me a couple of good questions about life and morals and such. Pray that I eagerly proclaim truth to him.
6. And pray for one of my sophomore boys, Cruz. He comes from a Catholic background. As usual, before I pray at the beginning of class I ask if anyone has a prayer request. He asked me to pray for his family. I asked if there was anything specific or just in general. He said something like, “Pray that we love being a family. Pray that God shows us what we need to do.” Pray for him and that I might be a clear communicator in words and deeds of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

It’s amazing what I’ve been praying for here. Sure the big things but also some little things that I’m too embarrassed to even mention. We ran out of water on Saturday, water for laundry, dishes, flushing the toilet, etc. We were going to go buy some today, Monday. Last night there was a torrential down pour! It rained steadily all day today. In fact, we almost thought there would be no school this morning as we (Junotte, Nick, Anna, and I) looked out from under our porch this morning. There did end up being school, but there were also OVERFLOWING tanks! It was soooo cool. It made me think, “If God’s so faithful in filling up our physical water tank, how much more is He faithful in filling us spiritually with His living water!”

And I continue to pray that God richly blesses you as you are partners with me in the Gospel of Christ.

Hoping in Jesus Christ,
Katie

Oh yeah! Thank you for all the happy birthdays! I actually was thankful in the end for my sickness because it made my first birthday away from friends and family very bearable as I didn’t really care what happened as long as the Lord renewed my strength! So thank you for the e-mails, the “songs” by e-mail, the cards, and the presents! I miss you all sooooooooooooooooooo super much! Oh, and I was taken care of here for my birthday with two different birthday dinners, cake and ice cream Thursday and Friday during lunch, and presents including my first Chuukese skirt (I LOVE IT!).