Grace Like Rain...

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

I am exhausted – physically, mentally, and spiritually. This “expression of grief” is full of joy and hope though! The Lord is tenderly caring for this raggedy little girl even over here in the uttermost parts of the sea. So I give Him all praise and thanks for He is the Giver of all good gifts – rain, electricity, and, ten thousand times more, His Son Jesus Christ.

Classes are going… fine (pi-chi-koon). Staff and students are ready for spring break in a week and a half. Praise the Lord it’s fast approaching!

My freshmen world geography class was changed to first period for the fourth quarter. They are a different class! Morning makes us all very subdued, not the least, myself. And we just finished studying Africa and no one received below a C minus on the exam and I was SO proud of them. So they’re learning …and so am I. :o)

Junior and senior speech is hard for my students but Director (Mr. C) continues to encourage me that it will be one of the most profitable classes they’ll take. First half of the semester they did two recitations, studied lots of vocabulary, and learned how to outline. For the past two weeks now, they’ve been attempting at writing their first speech outline. The topic: To inform my audience about my favorite person/story in the Bible. They have to come up with a thesis, approved by me. Then they must outline including a hook opening, hook closing, four pieces of evidence (Scripture verses), and three examples (stories or illustrations to help link what the audience is familiar with to the point they are trying to make). Slowly, they are getting it and I was so proud last night grading their first draft. Next Tuesday they will begin their speeches. Please, pray for them to be confident in their work. Also, pray for the students that genuinely believe in what they’re saying and truly have a desire to get their ideas across.

If you want to learn how to love and discipline in love …teach high school sophomores. I love them and that class has taught me more how to be a good teacher than any of my others. I finally have written out rules that I post every day with strict disciplines and I’m putting kids on detention. Today, one was begging me to let him off the hook and I knew that I had to enforce. Also, I can’t explain it too well, but the good kids aren’t willing to stick up for themselves. This makes it so that more people get into trouble. Last week, I went into the principal’s office and got some of the good guys out of trouble because they wouldn’t tell him that they weren’t doing anything wrong! If they keep silent, we assume that’s because they were in the wrong. And then I did punish the student that is teaching me the most patience the other day by putting a chair outside of the classroom and having him sit there during class. He walked away from me. He didn’t obey. This kid is like the guy that willingly and eagerly does the opposite of God’s commands. Obviously, the whole class was watching when he walked away and I was saying something like, “Don’t walk away, it just makes things worse.” That time I wanted to scream. My hands are all tense just remembering what happened. I tell you all this for you to pray and for you to know that I love that boy! Sometimes I just want to somehow hold their heads in my hands and have what I know about the goodness, love, and faithfulness of the intimate God of the Universe to surge from my heart through my fingers and into their hearts and minds. Pray for US, please!

I LOVE teaching New Testament. It is an honor and a privilege to teach what is true for all eternity – God’s Word.

This month Mizpah’s guitar and computer teacher, Bruce, is speaking in chapel on Wednesdays. I LOVE IT! God powerfully is using him to get the kids’ attention about the fear of God, the Gospel, and eternity! Please, please, pray that these students listen and humble themselves before their Creator!

This weekend is the Senior Retreat at Pacific Island Bible College on the island of Tol, another Chuuk state island inside the reef. Please, be in prayer for transportation to get over there. More importantly, please, pray for the seniors as they listen to some intense teaching and as they begin to sort out what they really believe in and who they’re going to follow for their lives.

A week from tomorrow (next Thursday) is parent-teacher conferences! I get a little nauseous just thinking about it as I know some of them will not be happy with their student’s grades. Pray that I am honest and kind.

We are in need of water once again so we’ve been praying for rain to the only One who is in charge of the heavens! Praise the God of Israel for supplying our every need. And, please, join us in prayer for water. Also, we were out of electricity for about thirty hours yesterday, last night, and today. It unexpectedly came back on about thirty minutes ago – praise God! Whenever it rains or the electricity comes on we all start singing and dancing – no joke! Please, thank the Lord for His gracious and generous supply of blessings!

So… once again, I am exhausted. I honestly can’t wait to come home, not because I want to leave here, but because I miss my family and friends and church A LOT! Please, pray for me as I need to be continually focused on the responsibilities that God has given to me right now. And, if you will, please, pray for a companion for me, a male life-long servant of God is preferable (Dad, is that okay?). Thanks.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for praying for everything! IT IS SO NECESSARY! This is how God has designed His work to be accomplished – through prayer! It is a vital and MOST IMPORTANT part of the ministry here. God encourage and bless you all richly!

“…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…” 2 Timothy 1:9

Love, Katie

the news...

Well, if you haven't heard it from Pat Chiles already...

Lord willing, I will be returning to Chuuk to teach at Mizpah for the 06-07 school year.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Thanks for praying!!!

Grace

Sometimes during class unrelated topics of conversation emerge and I have to decide whether it is beneficial or needs to be dropped. Most of the time I steer clear and we get back on the subject of the period but this morning was different. In my junior speech class we were brainstorming topics for their first speech. We ended up talking about Adam and Eve, who sinned first, why didn't God intervene, who is Satan, why are angels and demons different than us, and hell. The bell rang and, as most of my students exited, two stayed to continue talking (thankfully, it was break time and allowed for this). Through the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, I ended up sharing the Gospel with them. One was quite inquisitive and kept asking me questions. His name is KI. He told me that people have told him that hell is not a real place. He told me that he wished he just didn't exist. I prayed in my heart, asking for wisdom, and the Lord brought to mind verses and truths about reality and Himself. KI left saying, "I'll think about it. I'll think about it." I could tell he had indeed been earnestly thinking. The other guy that stayed is named Job. We were silent for awhile in the classroom as I waited for him to speak up. Eventually I asked him what he was thinking about. "My family." He told me some of his background and how his dad died a couple years ago and how his family had become so "evil" since then. He sadly asked me why his father had to die. I told him that for whatever reason God took him away but maybe God was raising up Job now to become a light for Jesus in his home. We talked for a bit and then I told him I would pray for him. Then I asked if I could pray right then for him and he said yes. Afterwards he had tears in his eyes but smiled, hugged me, and said, "Thank you." Please, pray for Job that God would bless his diligence to serve God and love his family. Pray for Job's family that the God of all mercy would save their souls from just condemnation. And pray for KI. Pray that he would know the truth of the Gospel and accept Jesus as his Savior and the only way to have eternal life.

Pictures

Micronesia#6

Abundance

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

It has continued to rain off and on throughout today. I'm amazed and thankful.

Midterms went fairly well. I've turned in about 95% of my grades for the third quarter. I can't believe this semester is half way completed! Overall, I think my kids did well considering that I was a first-time teacher and many of them were first-time students under a native English speaker. I learned just as much as my students did, if not more. Thank you for all your prayers these last ten weeks. Please, continue to pray as I start working on fourth quarter lesson plans!

Tonight, Friday, was MCHS' second annual Spring Banquet. It was fun and I'll post pictures a.s.a.p.

I think that's about it. You can ask questions if I'm missing something.

I'll close with verses 2, 3, & 4 of "Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord" which Junotte shared with me this evening...

When I am sad at heart,
Teach me Thy way!
When earthly joys depart,
Teach me Thy way!
In hours of loneliness,
In times of dire distress,
In failure or success,
Teach me Thy way!

When doubts and fears arise,
Teach me Thy way!
When storms o'er-spread the skies,
Teach me Thy way!
Shine thro' the cloud and rain,
Thro' sorrow, toil and pain;
Make Thou my pathway plain,
Teach me Thy way!

Long as my life shall last,
Teach me Thy way!
Wher-e'er my lot be cast,
Teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run,
Until the journey's done,
Until the crown is won,
Teach me Thy way!

Amen

Please, pray for clarity as God leads me towards His way for my life. May God bless you all richly.

Grace and peace,
Katie

Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. …And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:1,2, &6

PRAISE THE LORD!

I don’t even know where to begin...

The sound of the water droplets beating against the roof that God has placed over my head is the answer. Rain! Lots and lots of rain! Over the weekend we had no electricity, but that was okay because we didn’t have much water either. Monday we had electricity. Tuesday morning we ran out of water. So I’m supposed to pray, right? Junotte said, “God puts us in these desperate situations because it forces us to pray. He loves it when we pray!” On Tuesday night I prayed. I asked the Lord to fill our water buckets and give us lots of rain. I just reminded Him of His Word – wanting to bless His children, not giving us a stone when we ask for bread, and the story of Elijah. And then I thought about Elijah a little bit more… So I thought to myself, “If only I can stay awake and keep praying and checking out the window until it starts to rain!” Well, I prayed and then (like the disciples) I fell asleep. But the next day – it rained – praise the Lord! But it only rained a little. When I came home from school I looked at our big blue tub which catches the rain that falls off the roof… and it was filled to the brim! But our big black tank in the back which brings water into the house was still not very full. What to do? Be more specific! So I thanked the Lord for what He had provided that day, asked for forgiveness if I had been boastful about “my prayer brought the rain” instead of “God’s mercy and grace brought the rain,” and asked Him now to fill the big black tank in the back. …I woke up to showers this morning!!! And it’s been raining hard almost nonstop all day!!! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Even when I came home from school, I washed the huge pile of dirty dishes that we hadn’t washed because of lack of water, filled up all our water jugs we keep around, and did a load of laundry… and right after my laundry finished we had another huge downpour and everything was overflowing again! You have to admit the radness factor of God!

Another really cool thing about this whole event is that I have been asking God to teach me more about prayer. Wowzers! He is proving His point that He answers and gives abundantly more! Praise the Lord!

On Saturday night Junotte and I ate out at Truk Stop (by the way, Pop, the logo for this hotel & restaurant is “Your Inn for a Great Stay”). Anyway, so there was a nonChuukese lady at the table across from us and, of course, Junotte invited her to join us. So we had dinner together. And she came up to our apartment with pizza two nights later. She’s working on Pohnpei and is just in Chuuk for a week. She’s an unbeliever but, as I’m writing this, she’s on her way to pick us up and take us out to dinner again. We’ve been overt about our faith and our God but I pray we share the Gospel clearly tonight.

On to other news… Pat’s connections with the Rotary Club here allowed us to be guests at a cocktail party onboard of a French Navy ship. Yeah! You’re telling me! So we were being served these French cocktail hors d’oeuvres just like in the movies. One of the sailors I was talking to wanted me to try escargot (snail). I told him only if he ate one first, which of course he willingly did. Linda was just laughing and holding her hand over her mouth as I popped one in and chewed. It was… salty. (Also, it just so happened that one of my students found a live snail today and was showing it to me. I think seeing what I ate alive made me want to… well, you know. I don’t think I’ll try escargot again.) I didn’t have any wine or champagne though. Junotte knows French very well so she was having a ball. Most of the guys could only speak a little bit of English so it wasn’t very easy to communicate. Then a Navy man named Oliver (cool, huh, Mom?) gave Junotte, Linda, and me a tour of the ship. It wasn’t very big from the outset but once you were inside in the corridors I was so thankful for a guide! It was very fun. Junotte and I were one of the last few people to leave. We were talking with a man named Raul and Junotte ended up sharing the Gospel. It was so cool! And I said one of the only things I knew how to say in French – “C'est gratuity!” – “It’s free!” (Thanks for the correct spelling, Pop.) Praise the Lord! He was Catholic and said He believed and had assurance of going to heaven. Junotte suggested he read John chapter 3. You can pray for Raul!

…

So now I have come home from dinner with Loretha. I don’t think the she was quite ready and willing to hear the Gospel yet but Junotte always “acknowledge[d] his name” (Heb. 31:15). At one point in the end of our conversation Loretha commented about something and said, “I think you would say, ‘Call on Jesus.’” We all swapped e-mails and if we ever go to Pohnpei we’ll look her up and if she ever comes back to Chuuk she’ll look us up. Pray for Loretha!

Well, I still have a list of things I was going to say but I’ll wait until tomorrow or this weekend to finish. I thought I would post this for now though.

You don’t know how much I crave your prayers and am abundantly thankful for the ones you have offered and continue to offer to our gracious heavenly Father. Thank you so much!

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:14-16

Continuing to serve Jesus Christ out in the uttermost parts…
Katie

Happy Birthday to...

...REBECCA BOONE! WOOHOO FOR 22!! I LOVE YOU!

Concerning my blog in general, I have made a few changes: first of all, I finally changed the date/time setting so now when I post it will say the time for Chuuk instead of LA; second, I have added archives so you can always look back at my old blogs.

As always... thank you so much for praying! I am very grateful for Christ's Church!