I confiscated some drugs today after chapel from a senior that I love and a junior higher. When I went to get the senior after handing over what I had taken to Director, I started crying in front of him. Pray for God to open their eyes to His goodness and mercy and grace... a life of abundance... a life for eternity.

Daily Bread

Into the Desert
Read: Exodus 15:22-27

After the Israelites miraculously crossed the Red Sea, they were led into the desert. How strange that God would lead them from a place of revelation and power to a place of disappointment and dire need! But God wanted to show them that life is a combination of bitter and sweet, triumph and defeat. When the Israelites arrived at Marah, they complained because the water was bitter (Ex. 15:23). After Moses interceded (v.25), God reminded them to keep His commandments (v.26). Then He brought them to the abundance and refreshment of Elim (v.27). The Lord wanted to teach them that each experience on their journey would reveal their hearts. This test showed that they were living by sight and not by faith. They also learned that God was involved in their daily affairs. He wanted them to know that He not only could part the sea, but He would also supply water for His people. He knew their needs because He planned their way. If you are being led into a wilderness of disappointment and bitterness right now, trust God, for He knows exactly where you are and what you need. As you obey His commands, He will lead you out of the desert and into a place of spiritual abundance, healing, and refreshment.
-- Marvin Williams

We shrink from this life’s challenges – we plead
For watered pastures never touched by pain;
But God will often let us sense our need
Before He sends His cool, refreshing rain.
-- Gustafson

The more bitter the desert experience,
The sweeter the water of the oasis.

Katie and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I couldn’t go to sleep last night for various reasons. I woke up when my alarm went off but my snooze button has a glitch in it, so I didn’t get up until an hour and a half later – thirty minutes before I needed to be at school.

Many of my sophomores started going crazy when I tried to get them settled for a test – a test they knew on Monday that they would have, we’ve reviewed for the past few days, and material we’ve been studying since the beginning of the semester. First, I told them that they had to take it today, no excuses. They started complaining horrendously. To try and give some grace, I said that they could take it next Tuesday if they really wanted to but that I would mark their grade down by one score for not being ready today and it would be a different test from the ones the students were taking today. Then a few of them said that I was really horrible and mean and don’t know how to forgive and be kind and love. Then when I finally had them settled enough for the ones that were ready to take the test, there was still a lot of talking going on – and I mean a lot – and I finally just yelled, “No! No! Be quiet!” They were stunned (for one minute) and even said, “Wow, Miss, that’s the first time you’ve ever been angry.” Of course, that made my mind go wild because I don’t know how many times I’ve cried because of that class before. The more annoying thing about this predicament was that I know that the people that are waiting until Tuesday to take the test are still not going to study or if they do look at their notes I don’t know what they would be looking at because none of them have done the work the past two weeks. So now I’m upset with myself for even letting them get away with taking it on Tuesday because it’s not helpful for anyone.

During break I went to Customs to get some papers signed so I could retrieve my packages from my mom. When I got to the post office, I realized that the Customs’ office gave me back the original and a copy of only one of the packages instead of giving me back the two different copies for each package. Of course, I didn’t have enough time to go back to Customs to get the other paper. Pray that it will not be a hassle when I try to go tomorrow!

The package that I did get wasn’t the lost one from December with my camera in it.

Of course, when I got home and opened the package hoping for something to improve my day I realized that the package wasn’t for me at all but for some other missionaries on the island that my mom was sending stuff to.

In my JrAP class, DS refuses to do his work and he makes me more upset than other students because he’s smart and talented and, I believe, a committed Christian.

Then I had another test to give in my JrReg class. That was pretty horrible with lots of cheating going on, but I don’t know what to do.

Then I had detention duty which is always depressing.

When I came home, hoping to “get away from it all” I was greeted with an e-mail which had some poignant news for me.

I tired to ignore everything in my head and so I watched a movie and downed some popcorn. That didn’t work.

I went to my room, shut the door, and cried.

“Why God? Why don’t I ever learn? How come I don’t know how to do things? How come I let my feelings get the best of me? Why aren’t my students being saved left and right when that’s what we want for them? Why is it that it seems like all my prayers are answered with a resounding “no” or that you’re waving the answer “yes” in front of me but just out of my reach, never allowing me to obtain that which I ask for? How come it seems like you try to teach me the same lessons over and over again? Why do sometimes I think You’ve sanctified me so much and other times I think I am exactly the same as before? Why am I even crying and complaining when there are so many other people in the world that have so many more terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days than I have?”

So I read my Bible…
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether: More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:7-10)
“May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.” (Psalm 20:4-8)

And I listened to some music…
“Jesus will still be there/His love will never change/Sure as a steady rain/Jesus will be still be there/When no one else is true/He’ll still be loving you/When it looks like you’ve lost it all/And you haven’t got a prayer/Jesus will still be there”

“Jesus, I my cross have taken/All to leave and follow Thee/Destitute, despised, forsaken/Thou from hence my all shall be/Perish every fond ambition/All I’ve sought or hoped or known/Yet how rich is my condition/God and Heaven are still my own…
Go then earthly fame and treasure/Come disaster, scorn and pain/In Thy service pain is pleasure/With Thy favor loss is gain/I have called Thee Abba Father/I have stayed my heart on Thee/Storms may howl and clouds may gather/All must work for good to me”

And I prayed.

Later I wrote an e-mail to a friend that’s going through some rough times of her own…
“Everything’s better with Jesus. I’m not saying it because I live it out, but because He’s teaching me that it’s true. So many things have been flip-flopped and a whole bunch of things went “wrong” today. I put wrong in quotes because that’s from my perspective and not from God’s. There are millions of people that have things way worse in this world; I should be grateful for the things He has blessed me with and not gripe about the things that, from my eyes, He withholds. The fact is, we only deserve one thing and that’s His wrath – praise Him for withholding that! Maybe we’re right where God wants us. A place that forces us to seek after Him and want Him and know that He is our only answer and the only thing we’re left with. Somehow He will heal us and continue to grow us into the people that He wants us to be. …Today especially, I know where you’re coming from.”

I still have lots of questions for my Lord about prayer and sanctification and blessings based on righteousness or completely on His will… please, pray with me as God wraps His arms around me and gives me peace.

Loving Jesus

Friday in chapel, Alvin, Kendal, and Joshua (3 brothers) sang Amazing Grace a cappella. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.

Maverick and I watched The Passion of Christ last night. I’ve only seen it once and Maverick had never seen it. I started crying when Peter denies Christ. Half way through the flogging I couldn’t take it anymore and I put my hands over my ears and shut my eyes. By the time I opened my eyes again, both of us had tears streaming down our cheeks. Later we both started up again when Jesus was nailed to the cross… for us. As the credits rolled, we sat there in silence. Finally I looked over at him and asked what he thought. “About what?” was his reply with a huge smile plastered on his face. He then nodded in answer to my question and I asked him, “You love Jesus?” “Yeah.” “Because He loved us first.”

As I was watching the movie, I was also thinking about a few of my junior regular boys. I had found out that their naughtiness extends way beyond what I can see and understand. What they say in Chuukese… thousands of times worse. I was so angry and frustrated and hurt. In fact, I even said, “I don’t want to teach them.” In the movie there are some flashbacks to different parts of Christ’s ministry – where Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you and what does it say about you if you only love those who love you in return. And Jesus’ prayer to His Father to forgive His murderers for they know not what they do. …Please, pray for me as I want to be like Christ to these students.

Detention Duty

Over Christmas break I thought a lot about the nukumach behavior of my students. Why don’t they hate it when they do wrong? Why don’t they try to always do right? Why do they not understand punishment for when they do wrong? Well, I decided one of the answers to that last question is – me. For the most part, I’m a softy and I want my “precious” students to love me and I’ll love them and we’ll just be one big happy family in the classroom where everyone does their work happily, always praising each other for each person’s accomplishments. Okay, well it took me, probably, well, maybe one day to figure out last year that that just isn’t the way things work – anywhere. But I’ve been praying to be consistent in my discipline. Yesterday alone I put twenty kids on detention. Why? They were breaking school rules – chewing gum in class, eating in class, drinking soda in class, tardy, not wearing their uniform, leaving class without permission, speaking Chuukese excessively (which means not doing their work and distracting others), doing work for other classes before doing mine, having a cell phone operating during class, and the list goes on.

Well, I have the God-ordained task of Thursday detention duty this month. Most of the time, we make them write something over and over again in detention. Today, it was Romans 13:1-2 in Chuukese. Depending on how many reasons they had listed next to their name for being in detention constituted the number of times they had to write the verses. Seems fair enough to me. All they have to do is come in after school, write as quickly as they can, and then they can leave, be finished, go home. 50% of those students spent the majority of the first 30 minutes trying to say that they weren’t guilty, it wasn’t right, when did they do that, “no, miss” or “it’s excused.” They don’t get let off the hook, if they don’t do what I ask (or don’t show up, for that matter) their name is taken to Vice and harsher punishment inflicted. I always, always, always try to convince them to just do it and not get mad and not waste their time arguing but just do it and be done with it.

So let’s zero in on Peter. For the most part, when he does his work he’s a high C/low B student and does fine. It’s when he refuses to do his work. And, it’s not just that, because obviously I cannot make anyone do work, but if he’s (for whatever reason) refusing to do work that means he’s distracting other students, talking in Chuukese (which most of the time results in peals of laughter and pointed fingers in my direction), and being so distracting that I can’t even teach the students that want to learn or at least are willing to give it a try. Last semester, Peter said he hated me. After Emily talked to him, he did sort of revoke his comment. Back to this afternoon and Peter in detention. About ten minutes into it he comes over and starts complaining about the assignment and a sign falls into my lap – “You are a bad teach!” (I don’t even realize the bad grammar until afterwards when I was showing it to Director.) For a few moments, I was in my own world – I can’t even begin to tell you all the thoughts that passed through my mind – and I wanted to weep. I wanted to cry for so many different reasons. I kept my tears in check, though, and was back to the task at hand. An hour and ten minutes after school ended, Peter was the only one left on detention and he had written only a portion of the verse on his paper, not even covering two lines. I went down to the office. I explained to Director the situation, again wanting to cry. About ten minutes later, Peter came into the office looking resigned to his judgment. He paid the penalty and left. I left shortly thereafter disheartened and sad.

A few hours later…
*knock, knock, knock* I open the door of our little home and there stands Peter. “Miss, I wanted to say I’m sorry for the way I have behaved in your class.” I didn’t know what to say. Em and I invited him in and we talked for a little bit. “We love you, Peter.” With hand on his forehead and a slight smile, I heard those beloved words repeated back, “I love you too.”

I don’t know what caused Peter to come up and apologize but at least he did. And at least he admitted to his wrong which is a huge first step for so many of these kids. …And now I’m finally crying because of God’s goodness.

Please, pray for tomorrow.

Note: In relation to Em’s post on the Ideal Student, I have to say that I understand cultural differences. Well, no, I don’t actually understand them, I am just aware that they exist. However, my goal is to teach – whether speech, New Testament, English, that you must trust in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life, or discipline. Not because they have to be disciplined in the exact same way as an American suburban high school but so they learn how to have discipline – which the Lord says is a very good and necessary thing. In fact, the thing that really made me lock down on the rules was the very fact that so many of these kids don’t see their need for salvation because they simply have no understanding of punishment – let alone eternal judgment. Why can’t they talk their way out of it or, even worse, smile their way out of it? But eternity is not something to fool around with and my students first must recognize that there is punishment for wrong, no matter how seemingly small. And breaking the school rules is wrong, no matter how trivial you think those rules are. They are not the rule givers. And in the grand scheme of the Gospel, God is the Rule Giver. I pray that this learning of punishment for wrong will result in a better understanding of the Gospel and softened hearts for their desperate need of the only Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

Comments...

I've changed how comments work, just for your information, and now you will not immediately see your comment posted. They come to my e-mail box before they're posted. At first I thought it would be incredibly annoying but have now decided that it's a good way not to load up any more pages than necessary, i.e. coming to this website every time I come on the computer to see if anybody has posted a comment.

All that to say... thanks for your comments! We really appreciate them - and even more your prayers!

And... we had a downpour of rain last night. Power just went off right now for some weird reason but it has been fairly consistently lately. Classes are going pretty well. Em and I have been particularly strict on the rules this semester and millions of kids were on detention yesterday. My SrAps continue to talk so much that I feel we're not getting anywhere - okay, well minus Alvin, Ray, and KI. My sophomores were doing wonderfully but a few more kids have shown up and, well, it makes a huge difference in behavior of some other kids. As they go through these Romans questions I have been trying to force them to critically think - can you force someone to do that? It's been challenging for them but I think that's really good. They can do it - well, then can at least try their hardest and do it a little bit. And you can pray for my junior regular speech class... I tried to get them to do some exercises yesterday and only a small handful was participating. So that's pretty bad and I don't know what to do.

Anyway, that's all for now. Please, keep up the prayers. God is good.

I need to get ready for school...

The Ideal Student

Friday night we enjoyed burritos and tacos at the Chiles’. Pat and Linda made corn tortillas with a tortilla press. Yum! During our dinner conversation, I some how got to sharing that none of my students were “ideal students.” I can’t think of one that consistently demonstrates characteristics that make them a “pleasure to have in class.” Not that I don’t take pleasure in my students; I was all smiles the first day of the semester having the pleasure of seeing all my students again. I remember my parents reporting to me the flowery things my teachers would say about me, and I wonder if I was a better student than any of mine, or if I have a misunderstanding about how much my teachers adored me. :)
I’ve thought on this lack of an exemplary student this weekend wondering with a guilty conscience if maybe I was just too judgmental. One thing I have realize is that my idea of an ideal student is based on American standards. First, let’s consider promptness. In general, it’s considered rude to be late in the states, but in Chuuk “the event will start when we all get there.” Second, “please, remain seated.” At least one time per class, each student has to go to the door to spit or blow their nose. To the American teacher, it at first appears that they are going to leave class without permission. Also, the constant movement is distracting. By attending Logan, I see that it is perfectly acceptable to get up and move about while a leader is speaking. Third, the concept of “sharing” - Chuukese share everything. This means they share my school supplies right into their own backpacks! And worse, they share answers. Fourth, I have actually had students whistle to get my attention! I don't think they would exactly describe it as polite, but it's not nearly as rude to them as it is to me. Finally, the culture is just much more relaxed and informal, so what seems like chaos and rudeness to me is, perhaps, merely informality. I mean, I’m a Californian, we go to church in our shorts and beach shoes, but here I’ve seen students get up to sing in church or chapel wearing sunglasses and chewing gum. I shake my head and think, “Someone needs to teach them.” But maybe sometimes someone needs to teach me…

Through the eyes of e.e. ...

Spring Semester 2007 Week One

In art we reviewed The Design Process (we will be talking about different elements and principles of design a good part of the semester). We reviewed the five design elements from last semester: line, shape/form, texture, value, color. Last semester we dealt with actual lines, without using the term. This week we have added the concepts of implied and mental/imaginary lines, as well as line created by an edge. We reviewed Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam in our discussion of these four types of lines. We also talked about the artist’s depiction of God as intimately involved in his creation. Next, we started talking about some principles of design, such as unity and balance. I introduced them to three types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. I hadn’t fathomed that it would be such a challenge. However, by the grace of God and the resources with which He has provided me, I think I was able to help them come through the fog today. I have defined symmetry as having identical units on each side. Sounds basic enough, but I complicated the concept by including an image which demonstrated rotational symmetry. Yesterday I assigned each unit in the image a numeric value (or weight) and placed the weight on a picture of a scale. Not only was the scale balanced, but it had the exact same units on each side (regardless of whether they were in the exact same order – due to rotational symmetry). This helped me explain how the asymmetrical images were still balanced. For example, one image had a large pink rectangle on the left and a small red square on the right. On the left side of the scale, I put a four and explained that the rectangle was so large it was visually heavy (attention getting) and therefore, worth four points or pounds. On the right side of the scale I put a one because the square was small or visually light, but I also put a three explaining that warm intense colors were attention getting. We could see that the scale was balanced without having the exact same units. I also demonstrated how the scale would tip if the elements were inappropriately changed. Wow! Aren’t these kids going to be so smart! Praise God!

In English reading, we have started the book Sign of the Beaver, which is, of course, at an elementary reading level, but some of these students I don’t believe have ever read an entire book. I want them to read the story, but also to learn to be analytical. I am having them write reading journals in which they make connections to self, connections to the real world, connections to other texts, and comments about the author’s writing. (Thanks, Mat.)

In world history, we have been working through the 2nd half of the chapter: The Middle East – Ancient & Modern. We have been reading the text and taking notes together in an outline format. After an overview of the Middle East today, the text has reviewed each country. Yesterday, I gave a Pop Quiz. All they had to do was list four countries in the Middle East. Aaaaah! Of a class of 18, only two could do it, and there’s a possibility of cheating. Many of them listed “Europe” and “Asia.” More than one listed “Jerusalem.” I’ve noted in this class as well as the art class that they don’t seem to categorize the way I would. I don’t know if this is a lack of vocabulary, studying or understanding, but I suspect that if I gave them a list of continents, countries, and cities, they would have a tough time listing them under appropriate headings, just as the art students had a difficult time understanding that “The Arts” was a broader category than “Visual Arts.” Well, perhaps I have a worksheet idea for my Freshmen…Thanks!

Please, pray for love and delight in each and every one of these precious students of the Lord. Pray for joy, patience and gentleness in and out of class. Pray for self-discipline, perseverence, and a striving towards excellence for students and teachers alike. Pray for creative, fun teaching ideas that will help the students love to learn! Pray for all the students, especially the seniors to realize how their actions and decisions now will effect their future. Help them to set godly goals, and through the power of the Holy Spirit achieve these goals.

Praise the Lord!

The first week of school has gone really well. I have to admit that I really enjoy teaching speech and New Testament. Although a few of my speech kids have been intimidated, some of them are peeking their way out of their shells. Yesterday in my Jr AP and Sr Reg speech class, we went into the church to work on correct breathing and projection. Although I did have a few roamers, the kids did what I asked. These exercises are so much more fun than learning how to write a paragraph! Next week we'll continue working with the first set of vocabulary words that I gave them (articulation, inflection, monotone, pitch, rate, volume, projection, larynx, diaphragm, vocal variety, etc.) My Sr APs will have their first speech at the end of this next week. They had me for speech last spring and so I expect great things! We've been reviewing this week for them, so they'll have no excuse. You can pray for those Sr APs though because they talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk - and most of the time it has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. My New Testament class has been going really well this first week. We reviewed the first day what they had learned last semester. It wasn't surprising to me who knew what and so forth but I was thankful that any of them learned anything. Now we have begun the epistles and specifically Romans. I LOVE IT! I've actually been doing lecture where they have to fill in the blanks on a note packet that I created. They have been asking so many really good questions! ...Hah, they've been asking so many really weird/hard/not-necessarily-relevant questions too. But it's been so good and - it's the Gospel! Super wonderful. I love it. Please, keep praying for understanding for them of the greatness of God's plan of salvation. They will be getting into the details of Romans next week and I know it will be a challenge. A lot of it is a challenge for me.

Junotte is coming in one week and the kids are super excited. She will be staying with the Chiles so thanks for your prayers. Ana's and Vice's spiritual life classes have been going pretty well considering that it's new and the girls and boys are split up. Keep praying for those classes - that God would do amazing things in the hearts of those seniors and juniors, that they would let their guards down and be transparent with each other, and of course for their teachers. Please, keep praying for those packages that are no where to be found. And the power has been off-and-on more than usual lately, so please pray for consistency. Rain would be helpful too.

I've been reading through the Psalms lately and it's been great. There is so much GREAT theology in there. Psalm 9 has been particularly wonderful...

"I will give thank to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. ...The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. ...Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation." (1-2, 9-10, & 13-14)

Remember His perfect faithfulness and how He has answered and guided and comforted and been with and loved. Thank you for your prayers that are sent up to Him.

Prayer Requests

#1 For confidence and boldness for my speech students, especially Burnson and Junior.

#2 For a place for Ms. Junotte to stay when she arrives in 2 weeks.

#3 For my New Testament students to understand their new vocabulary: sin, righteousness, condemnation, justification, sanctification, glorification, exhortation, sovereignty, faith, etc.

#4 For a new Spiritual Life class for all of the junior and seniors. It is split between the girls and boys. Pray for Ana as she teaches the girls and Vice as he teaches the boy. I'm excited for them!

#5 For packages that have been lost in the mail - including one with my camera in it!

#6 For power and rain, as uaual.

Second Semester Begins

I was telling Director yesterday, when we were over at his house for cheeseburgers with the Sr APs, that this semester is going to be the hardest semester starting for me. Until the last day of Fall Semester, all I've known in Chuuk is school is top priority and it means go, go, go. Now I've had a couple weeks of doing nothing practically.

Every day for the last week, Em and I have had visitors at our house - Franky, Maverick, Maverick's cousin, Peterson, Lillian, Dayson, KI, DS, Ketty, N-Cina, KM. I think not more than three at a time and not longer than, oh, eight hours. Haha! We've been watching movies, playing guitar, teaching them fun new card games, listening to music, teaching them this other really fun game (The Father's Day Game), and doing these hilarious other things.

The new schedule is fairly similar to last semester: Em is teaching two art classes, senior reading, and freshmen new world history; I'm teaching four speech classes and New Testament. For New Testament we will be going from Romans through Revelation. Ideally, I would like for my students at the end of the year to be able to easily know where each book is found and know who is writing it, why he's writing it, and the general ideas of what he's saying. I would also like for them to memorize a good portion (I haven't decided how much yet) of a book or what's referred to as "the Romans Road" perhaps.

Although I'm teaching four separate speech classes, only two of them will be alike in content. With my Junior regulars, who did not learn to outline last semester because I figured writing complete sentences and formatting them into paragraphs was more important, I will be focusing on how to speak clearly and correctly (rather than what to say). How to enunciate, articulate, and project. They will do some recitations from different literature selections and memorize Scripture.

Since my Sr APs had my speech class last year, we will be going into some more details on how to give excellent speeches. This will include learning much more about introductions, conclusions, examples, and research. They will also read some selected chapters from a book by Howard Hendricks. I also hope to go into persuasion and debate, including fun games like philosophical chairs.

My junior AP and senior regular class will be almost identical to my last year's speech class.

Teachers are supposed to be at school at 7:45 this morning for normal staff devotion time. Then we have a day of preparations and tomorrow classes begin.

Please, be in specific prayer for Emily and me as we prepare our classes and decided how best to teach what specific material to these particular students. Ask the Lord to give us creative and useful ideas. Please, ask Him for strength, peace, and happiness (it's from a Chuukese song that Maverick taught me). Also be in prayer for our minds as we know what we're getting ourselves into and are already beginning to stress. Pray that the Lord covers us in grace.

And, please, continue to be in prayer for these precious students. Pray that God will use us, and all the staff, mightily to show Himself clearly - His just wrath, loving kindness, and eternal delight. May they willingly embrace Him!

mom's blog

What a blessing! What a great, fun, enlightening, rewarding trip!Thank you for your prayers. They were evident - everything went well or least was very manageable – part of a super experience ;o) First, last, and total impression was the friendliness and welcoming spirit of the people. We were welcomed, in addition to Emily and Katie, by Pat and Linda Chiles, by students and teachers from Mizpah. They were singing, smiling, giving us leis, mar mars, sweat towels, and fans. I was especially thrilled when introduced to students that I could exclaim, “Oh, I’ve been praying for you!” The warmth was everywhere – “Merry Christmas” was on every one’s lips. There was firm hand shaking from old and young alike. Mason, the Chuukese State Minister of Tourism and member of Logan Memorial Church gave us a fascinating and informative 2 ½ hour tour of the island and then an hour boat tour in the lagoon. That was wonderful and very much appreciated (realizing it was on the busy Saturday before Christmas multiplies the kindness and hospitality it demonstrated.) On Christmas morning there was a knock on the girl’s apartment door “when what to our wondering eyes did appear” but Vice Principal, Ste and wife, Diana, with custom outfits for Steve and me to wear to the Christmas church service. The dress and shirt are lovely and fit exactly ;o). At church we were given more leis, new mar mars and were surrounded by children with lovely big black eyes and big bright smiles. Of course, the exuberance of the service, especially the singing, was a major highlight. Everyone sang out firmly and the sound was beautiful, rich and harmonious. The warmth and friendliness continued as we were met at the airport for farewells and little gifts “so we would always remember our Chuukese Christmas” And, of course, we certainly will. We stood in a circle there at the airport parking lot and prayed and praised our Lord. Naturally, we had other memories from the visit too. Of course, time with Em and Kate ;o) In addition to hugs, just enjoying being with them, playing games and laughing hysterically. We were impressed at how well they accept the inconveniences of life there and just deal with it and very impressed with their teaching. They both shared student papers and stories about students and classroom life. Their hearts desire is to be able to communicate to the students the love of Christ and that He is the only answer to their restlessness, lethargy, and yearning. Steve and I were also impressed with the quality of what they are teaching and their deep desire to reach the kids with a commitment to do well, to try and work hard, to follow through and complete assignments, even just to see the importance of attending daily. And oh, how Emily and Katie want and need your prayers. They know God is faithful but we must continue to pray. We enjoyed meeting all the Mizpah staff, singing carols with them, and seeing their spiritual heart and commitment. It was wonderful, as Emily and Katie’s parents, to meet their neighbors, Nick and Ana, also Mizpah teachers, and so be all the more comfortable about our girls living situation. ;o) It was nice to have a little time with Pat and Linda Chiles and their boys. It was good to see how they love the island and people and how the people love them. Shortly after getting there I remarked to the girls “Linda certainly seems content” and they replied, “Linda would be content anywhere.” What a gracious testimony to our Lord’s faithfulness. It was also nice to hear Pat reaffirm his pleasure with Emily and Katie’s contributions to the school and mission. We met some others friends, teachers at Pacific Island Bible College, for lunch. They were terrific. Delightful young couple, spiritually strong, smart and charming they are treasures for the girls to have fellowship close there own age. Last but not least, the lagoon is gorgeous. The water was warm, relaxing, and not crowded. The heat was hot and muggy and the electricity was irregular but for our short stay it was easily tolerable. Although it rained daily there was still a water shortage and bathing bit by bit and flushing with a bottle poured down the toilet was yuck. But the rain water made for great hair washing ;o) The potholes where much rougher and deeper than I expected but part of life there. In all we are so grateful we went. We now can have a more specific prayer time for our girls, Mizpah, and the Chuukese people.

It's been awhile.

We know that prayer works and that you are faithful to pray and, yet, I haven’t been very active in keeping you up-to-date as to know what specifically to pray. I will refrain from listing my numerous excuses. Please, please, continue to be in prayer for the ministry here. It is God in Christ who works wonders and does miracles. It is God who our students need. It is God who we need.

“…God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

The end of the semester was crazy as usual. Sometimes, it is hard to know when to hold students completely responsible or when to be gracious. Many students get into the make-up-all-the-work-I-missed-for-14-weeks-in-the-last-week-of-school game. I had been straight forward with all my classes about make-up work this year. If you were absent, you needed to come to me (I was always aware of absences and ready to help make-up in the few days following an absence, but many students never would). If you were in class every day but had refused to do your work, that’s a totally different story. Anyway, grades are finished so thank you for your prayers. They were greatly appreciated.

Our parents came and went… I think I got whiplash. Just kidding. It was quick but nice. I’m trying to get them to write a blog so you can hear about it from them. An overview: met them at the airport with a group of students, went to Mizpah’s Christmas program, visited with our missionary friends Manuel and Mihamm and their two daughters Luca and Yona, went to Truk Stop for Mizpah’s staff Christmas party, had an exclusive land tour of Weno Island, had an exclusive boat tour around Tonoas Island (and saw a dolphin!), played “The Father’s Day Game”, watched Miracle on 34th St., went to dinner at Blue Lagoon with the Chiles, went to church at Logan on Sunday, went to the Christmas service at Logan, had Christmas dinner of Micronesia’s best pizza from Truk Stop, …I can’t think of any more right now. But thanks for praying for their traveling and time with us. God has blessed us.

Christmas break since my parents have left has been, for me, reading good books, catching up on communication with people, listening to music (one of my favorite past times), and watching movies. Doesn’t sound very missionary-ish, I’m sure. It’s nice to have some free time and I know I’ll be tired from the first day of second semester to the time I post my grades in May.

Our puppies died. Both of them. And their mama doesn’t look good at all.

I’ve been reading through many of Paul’s epistles the past few days. With teaching grammar infused into my brain, I have been paying particular attention to the verbs and who it is that is doing the action. God is at work. He saves, calls, grows, begins, fulfills, gives, has, comforts, guides, grants, listens, understands, protects, loves, makes alive, to mention only a few. I do not want to negate my responsibilities but to know His part makes my responsibilities so much easier to bear, so much more joyful to do.

Again, again, and again, know that your prayers are felt and heard and doing good things because it is our good God who hears and answers them.

Specific prayer requests:
- that Em and I will use our time wisely this week so we are eagerly ready to begin the new semester on Jan. 9th
- for our students to also be ready and willing to start the second semester strong
- for our hearts and minds to be filled with the knowledge of His strength and peace and be reaffirmed by Him of our call
- for some sores in my mouth to be healed and also a very irritating rash that has spread through much of my body
- oh! and for a few of the recent graduates who are looking into The Master’s College!!!

Praise the Lord for His goodness, grace, and sovereignty!
May He continue to make us more Christ-like.

Katie