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