Goodbye...

So I guess this is goodbye.  I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by.  It seems like just the other day I was standing nervous and alone loading the plane headed to Hawaii.  I had no idea what to expect or what I was doing.  Ten months ago I didn't know how to teach or handle a classroom, I didn't know what life in Yap would be like, or how hot it could get outside.  I didn't know what it was like to fall in love with a room full of students and I had no idea how hard it would be to say goodbye.  This week went by quickly.  It started with a beach trip with the freshmen.  Later that day an outer island family came and brought me a lava lava.  It's the most intricate one I have, such tiny little stitches put it together.  On Monday Sabrina and I invited two sisters, one a junior the other a sophomore, to come over.  We made them lunch and talked for a long time and sang out on the deck.  Tuesday was the 8th grade graduation and the day for me to officially start freaking out about the 12th grade grad.  I've been planning all year, but I felt like I was still so unprepared! Two years ago I was graduating, and now I was supposed to plan and lead a graduation!? The freak out only lasted about an hour and then I realized I had it under control :).  We spent all day Wednesday at the community center setting up. God sent so many blessings. First He gave us a sunny day.  It had been pouring rain from a tropical storm all week and it was supposed to keep going but it didn't.  It didn't rain all day Wednesday, during graduation, or now even.  Lots of students showed up to help and eventually parents too.  Lots of problems came up but we were able to work through all of them thanks to all those helping.  The practice went well the students seemed ready.  Thursday morning I was back at the community center putting up the finishing touches.  It felt so surreal, it didn't seem like I could be there already, at my classes graduation.  Part way through the grad I gave my remarks to the class, here is what I said....

"Your senior year is over! I know you have looked forward to this for a long time.  For some of you maybe it felt like it too forever, but for others it went by too fast.  For me as your teacher, it went by way too fast.  There are so many memories with each of you I will never forget.  I will never forget the first day of school when you all filed into the class and I told Ron to leave because he wasn't on my list.  I was sure you guys were trying to trick me! I'm sorry about that.  I'll never forget the day I turned around from writing notes on the chalkboard to find Riley wearing a girls uniform skirt.  Or all the mornings you sang "We are Soldiers" trying to name everybody in the class so you could delay math class.  I'll never forget how you all worked together for United Nations day, you guys did such a good job.  Or all the ways you would try to talk your way out of cleaning.  I remember one time I caught a few of you drawing on each others heads instead of cleaning the windows and you claimed your heads needed cleaning.  I'll never forget how you all surprised me for my birthday, blind folding me and taking me to my cake, even though it was a month after my birthday, that just made it more of a surprise.  I'll never forget all the times each of you made me laugh and all the things you have taught me.  You have taught me patience throughout this year.  I've learned a lot about friendship from all of you.  You are so loyal to each other, willing to help each other however you can, and I admire that.  The most important thing I will never forget is each of you.  You are my first class and no matter how many classes I teach throughout my life, you will always be special to me. I'm so excited for each of you.  You have so many opportunities ahead of you.  I hope you embrace the motto you have chosen "We don't limit our challenges.  We challenge our limits".  You have many challenges ahead of you,  but I know you can do it.  You have friends and family to back you up.  I'm here to help any way that I can.  Most importantly you have God.  No matter where you end up, he is always nearby ready to help.  I want to share Phil. 1:9-10 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ..." I will continue to pray for all of you and whatever challenges lie ahead.  The last day of school I read you "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. I'd like to share some of it again now, "Congratulations, today is your day! you're off to great places! You're off and away!  You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  You're on your own.  And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go." Filly, Ron, Cody, Riley, Dylan, Jelena, Jilda, Vyvah, Sam, Paula, Norma, Leyah: I'm so proud of all of you.  It has been an honor to teach you this year, I love you and I will never forget you. 'Your're mountain is waiting, so... get on your way.'"

I couldn't make eye contact with my students as I spoke, I was so close to tears.  Each student gave a beautiful tribute to their parents, we shared lots of hugs, they sang a song, and their families coated them in leis.  They had so many leis I could barely see their eyes! These last few days have gone by in a bit of a blur.  One last trip to town, one last vespers.  We were each given a grass skirt after vespers, which is about the coolest souvenir I can think of. It take months to make each grass skirt, they are so cool!  We taught one last sabbath school class to the youth, they sang us a song to say thank you.  Two students I have grown very close to came to church and sat with me.  They said they would be at the airport tonight too.  Leaving is going to be so hard.  Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers for me this year.  It's time for me to say goodbye.  I have been saying "see you later" instead.  I hope God brings me back here someday.  Until then, goodbye Yap, I'm going to miss you. 

The End

It's over. After 10 months of lesson plans and lectures, laughing at the students antics and and after school tutoring, it's done.  The last week and a half of school went by really fast and were filled with lots of memories.  During the last week I took a student to the hospital, played lots of review games, and did all I could to make sure all of my seniors ended up graduating.  The last two days, finals, were the most memorable.  Since Mr. Alex had to leave early I had to cover as the sophomore homeroom teacher.  I was kind of excited to do that, first of all I hate my quiet mornings with the seniors gone, and second the sophomores seem like a second homeroom class to me.  We sang songs in the morning, I lead a devotional, and we hung out and finished up the few finals they still needed to take.  I taught some of them dutch blitz and they painted their names on my guitar case.  Tuesday was my favorite.  In the morning we finished up our finals. I gave the sophomore class one of those directions tests just for fun. You know the one that says "read all instructions before beginning" and then proceeds to ask them to do silly things like "shout out your name", "wave your hand in a circle" etc.. the last question read "now that you have finished reading all the instructions do not answer any of the questions, write your name and turn it in quietly".  I told them they had to follow the instructions and I would give them extra credit. It was hilarious! The were shouting their names and waving their hands around, following all the questions.  When they realized what they did they yelled out "What kind Ms! No!!".  They had fun though, I could tell :).  To end the day we had a big assembly for all of high school. We showed them the picture show we put together for them and I gave them all cookies one more time.  We did a little trivia game about ourselves throwing out candy for all the right answers.  The last question we answered was the one they have been asking us all year "how old are you".  As promised we revealed our ages on the last day, many of them were quite shocked to hear I was only 20.  We ended with telling them how much we love them and what an impact they have made in our lives.  We told them we would miss them.  The last hour of the day they just took pictures with us and tried to convince us to stay another year.  When the final bell rang showing school was out, I felt so sad; I couldn't believe it was really over.  Here are a couple of experiences from the week I never want to forget....

- Singing and playing the guitar with my students, they teach me a few songs and I teach them the names of chords, they usually just play by ear.
-One of the sophomore girls I have gotten to know the best was sitting by herself on the stairs during lunch. I could tell something was wrong so I took a seat next to her and asked her.  She started talking to me about what was on her mind and told me why she was upset.  I talked to her for a while and gave her a hug and she said "you know Ms. I'm really really going to miss you next year". 
-Some notes I received on the last day "Ms. you are the best math teacher I have ever had, thank you." "My favorite memory was on Wes's birthday when we creamed Ms. Willis face with frosting, it was funny and really fun" "Math isn't my best subject, but the teacher was the best.  I'm really glad I was on your team at the Pathfinder camp"...
-Sitting on the beach talking and hanging out with the students at their class parties Friday.
-Hearing all the youth sing "A home in Micronesia" during church to us as a thank you for all we have done.

This week I have a few more beach parties, some more time with students, graduation set up, and running graduation; and then it's over.  Last Tuesday Jesse left, tonight Sophie leaves and next Sabbath I have to board the plane and say goodbye to Yap.  I know it's time for me to leave.. but a piece of my heart will always be here.

The Beginning of the End

As much as I try to forget and push off the ending, it is impossible to ignore.  This week was the beginning of the end. Tuesday marked the seniors last official day of school.  I've become so used to seeing them run into my classroom every morning seconds before the bell finishes ringing and pour out their excuses for being late.  I love singing with them for worship, even when they take some pushing to get them singing.  I look forward to sharing a devotional thought with them and starting the day with their math class.  Their antics throughout the day make me smile even when they are driving me crazy. I love my class.  How did the year come to an end so quickly? It seems like just yesterday I had half the year to look forward to still.  The last couple days of school with them will remain fresh in my memory for a long time.  They started with their last chapel on Monday morning.  They lead singing and then one of my senior boys spoke.  He had trouble last time he spoke but after we talked he did a lot better this time.  To end a video had been prepared showing their junior and senior years.  The rest of the day was spent working on finals and finishing the quarter.  My favorite day was Tuesday.  For their last day I made them a special treat, nutella peanut butter brownies.  I let them sing a little longer then usual in the morning, lead by the ukulele (their instrument of choice).  One last devotional from Jeremiah 29:11 and then I gave them their gift.  I had the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" for each of them with a message I wrote in the beginning. I wasn't sure if they would like it, I thought they might find it silly. But they loved it, for a second it was like I was teaching an elementary class, "Ms. will you read it to us?!".  They all sat quietly, quieter then I think they have been all year, and slowly flipped through the pages as I read it to them. "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose...".  The rest of the day flew by, they coated my guitar case in their names until it looked like a rainbow of paint exploded on it, it makes me smile. 
I was sad starting the school day Wednesday thinking I would just be in my empty classroom for first period but to my surprise lots of my seniors came! They hung out with me and worked on last minute make up work.  It isn't entirely over yet!  We even had a cake fight on Friday :).  This week starts the last full week of school, then finals, then graduation.  I hope and pray it all goes well, or at least that God continues to help is through no matter how things turn out! I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that perfection or things "going right" can be extremely over rated.  Some of the best memories and  experiences here have occurred when things didn't go quite as planned.  So instead I guess I'll pray for the wisdom to work through whatever is ahead and the strength to accept that the end is coming. 

Firsts and Lasts

This week went by fast, too fast.  It had a lot of firsts in it; first time to bird island, first time to see a Manta Ray and a shark, first paper ball fight in geography class. It had a lot of lasts also; last regular school day with my seniors, last week of prayer, last time speaking for vespers, and most likely the last baptism.  We started the week with a trip to bird island on Sunday.  Bird island is very small, and mostly rocks, it's kind of like a miniature rock island from Palau.  Their isn't much land, mostly rock covered with crabs; but it is completely surrounded by white sand and reef!  They took us out in shifts on the boat.  We swam most of the time, explored the poky rocks, and screamed multiple times when crabs the size of my face scurried out of a crevice next to my hand.  As the tide went out a nice little beach formed around the rocks.  School started as usual Monday, but this week was week of prayer. We had a special guest speaker, Jesse's grandfather, come and speak to the high school and middle school. It's always exciting to see some of the students decide to give their life to Christ during week of prayer.  One student in particular has been struggling this whole year.  He really wanted to be baptized but his parents wouldn't let him.  He finally felt so called to be baptized that he came to church today and we went to the water right after church.  I know it is going to be hard for him at home, but I pray God would give him courage and faith to face what's ahead. 
This was my last full week with my seniors.  All I have is two days of finals next week and they will be dismissed early.  I can't believe it is almost over.  I really can't imagine a morning where they aren't running in just as the last bell rings coming up with their excuses for being late, hearing them sing as loud as they can to try to earn a star on the board, or trying to persuade me that I don't feel like teaching math this morning.  I just can't imagine it, I'm really going to miss them.  I was getting really frustrated with how messy they were leaving the room so they made a special effort to clean the classroom. I came back from geography and found they had thoroughly cleaned out everything and rearranged the desks.  They say the are excited for summer, but I can see they are also sad to see this chapter of their life over.  One of the girls told me "Ms. college sounds cool, but I don't want this to end".  I know exactly how she feels, but I reminded her what I always remind myself.  Life doesn't stop and we have to keep moving with it or we will miss out on the next amazing plan that God has ahead for our lives. I am going to try to fit as much fun into the last few days with my seniors this week.  They only have a few finals and then free time, so we will see what happens :).  I find myself recording and taking pictures of the most mundane things because I know those are the things I will probably miss the most.
My favorite moment this week was my last class of the week, geography. I started class with some pictionary to review India before giving an intro to China.  The kids started quietly throwing paper balls at each other, trying to be quiet.  Eventually one ended up hitting me, and then another. I looked around and the kids were all smiling, I could tell they weren't trying to be mean or disrespectful, they were just having fun. So I picked up the ones thrown at me and started to throw back, this of course resulted in an all class paper ball war.  The kids were having so much fun and of course I became I giant target.  I eventually got them settled back down and I continued the lesson.  The kids were all talking about how fun class was afterwards and saying they were glad I knew how to have fun.  I think this year has taught me how to embrace things as they come.  I could have gotten upset with the kids and told them to stop and pay attention, but then I would have missed out on a fun memory with them. 
We had a holiday Friday so we took a boat out in search of Manta Rays.  You are guaranteed to see manta's year around in Yap, if you dive.  It is sometimes harder to see them just from the surface. But we found several! The ones we saw were only babies, which is crazy because they were the length of my arm span.  The full grown mantas can get between 18 to 20 ft wing span, large enough to pull the boat! We jumped in the water so see them snorkeling, they are harmless, but they were scared away by that time.  They took us to see a shark too.  We saw a big reef shark out really deep, I was really scared to get in the water but they said it was harmless so we jumped in! I was so nervous, but the shark stayed hidden while we were swimming around.  I was hoping it would come out so I could say I swam with a shark! Maybe I still will before I leave. 
Here goes a new week, I hope it is filled with as many memories as this week was.

Frozen

Their are moments in life I wish I could freeze.  Not forever, just for a few minutes so I could enjoy them a little bit longer.  Time seems to move on so fast and their are things I just want to sit and enjoy a little longer.  Sitting on the desk in the sophomore room surrounded by my girls sharing their problems with me and confiding in me.  My seniors singing as loud as they can in the morning hoping to earn another star on the board.  Being joined by several of my students during my morning supervision; they came up and sat next to me, usually they just go sit with their friends.  Watching the sun set through the coconut trees from the almost broken deck outside our apartment; and leading the small congregation in worship for vespers barefoot with a guitar that refuses to stay tuned in the humidity. Life, however, doesn't slow down or stop it seems as if it actually speeds up.  Despite the business of this week it had many blessings.  The two students in my class who had the betel nut I found ended up being asked to withdraw, but they didn't give up! I was really worried that when they were asked to leave they would just give up on graduating, something I would just hate for them to do.  But instead they worked hard to turn everything in to me and transfer their grades to Yap High so they can still graduate.  Just when I was getting really stressed about graduation planning and the end of the school year my students would come in with something funny to tell me or do something to make me laugh. For example, they decided they wanted to play freeze tag for PE.  I'm still really concerned for some of my seniors making it to graduation, but I just think they might make it.  The ones who were ignoring their make up work are finally taking an interest in it, finding that last bit of motivation they need.
   It can be really easy to think these kids are just like American kids.  Especially when they are talking about their favorite Glee character and singing popular songs from the radio; but their lives are very different.  I am reminded of this at random times.  Like when I found out that one of my students is pretty much married.  In Yapese culture marriage is a bit different then in the states, not quite as official.  If a women is living with a man for a long time, a year or two, they are pretty much married in everyone's eyes.  The only thing that could make it more official is if the father gives the groom the daughters marriage shells, then it is 100% official.  The women don't have much of a say in it either.  I mean some do, but if the father decides to give her shells to a man she has to go along with it.  Anyways, it turns out one of the girls I have the hardest time with has been living with her boyfriend for several years and she is only 16.  Her parents don't seem to be in the picture anymore because her aunt usually comes to parent teacher conferences.  I'm reminded even more of the difference in life for the kids here as I drive through some of the villages.  Their houses are small and made of storage containers.  Many of the students, especially girls, aren't allowed to leave home much.  I'm surprised to find out the kids are dreading summer, they hate breaks.  Students who hate breaks?! Who has ever heard of such a thing? It isn't that they love school, they just hate being home.  They don't get to go hang out with friends they work most of the time; babysitting, fishing, cooking, cleaning.  They have very little freedom.  Hearing them describe the village life to me and their family life and traditions gives me a new perspective on my own life; on life in the States.  I hope I don't lose this perspective when I get back because I have so much to be thankful for, so many blessing I tend to pass by without noticing. 

Campouts, Fires, and Sports

As soon as spring break ended life in Yap went back into overdrive.  For the past two weeks I have been with my students every day.  The first weekend after spring break was the much anticipated Pathfinder camp out.  Usually when we reach Friday, as much as we love our students, we collapse in our apartments after school and relish the silence.  Instead all the students stayed.  OK, not quite all, but about 90 5th-12th graders were here.  Each unit had to build a booth, the students made the out of coconut leaves. The girls tried teaching me now to weave the coconut branches to make the roofing.  They kept laughing at my work and said it looked funny, but I tried! Sabrina and I slept with the high school girls in the kindergarten room.  We cooked over a gas stove with them all weekend and lead them through different events.  Sleep was rare, but the loss was well worth it to spend time with my students.  I made pancakes for them Sabbath morning, they were quite impressed.  We had sabbath school outside under the trees.  We set up a long system of string with two destinations; heaven and hell.  The students were blind folded and put in a line.  They had a "good" and "bad angel giving them advise were to go and it was there job to figure out who to listen to.  The students had lots of fun and all the grades had a good conversation about the activity.  Later that day we took all the students on a long hike.  Their were students as far as I could see in front and behind.  I imagined it was kind of what the Israelites looked like leaving Egypt, we were moving equally slow too.  They took us through the jungle and into caves left by the Japanese from World War 2.  The hike ended at what we call "the canyon".  I got a few high school students to lead in a small sundown worship before we headed back to the school. The weekend was full of late nights and early mornings (only in Yap do students wake up at 4 am on a Sunday), flag steeling, marching, campfire cooking, and memories with my students I will never forget.  By Sunday everyone was exhausted, but the students left talking about next years camp out so I would call it a success.
As the week started everyone was still tired from what seemed like a week of work and monitoring students. We were all hoping for a quiet easy week, but of course that didn't happen.  Monday night the principal started trying to burn some excess greenery, one thing lead to another and we had a huge out of control fire.  Apparently the police came around 2 am and the whole hill was on fire, I slept through the whole thing completely oblivious! We thought it was out Tuesday morning but it was so hot out and it hadn't rained in so many days that the fire just kept smoldering.  Suddenly while I was sitting in my classroom during morning break I noticed smoke from the bushes right outside my classroom.  The students started yelling fire and running out to see.  All the bushes behind the high school were catching on fire, we aren't really sure where it came from.  We were told to keep teaching so I went from class to class watching flames several yards away from my window.  Finally the fire department came and worked all day to stop the fire.  The students attention was long gone and not much math was learned that day.  But as an answer to prayer it finally rained that night and we haven't had any problems since!
The last day of school this week was high school sports day.  The students have been asking about the event all year, it is a favorite.  We were divided into teams and assigned a group of students to lead.  I was in charge of the yellow team; so were threw on yellow shirts, painted our faces, and started the competitions.  We had a cross country run for them, relay races, a mini volleyball tournament, basketball, and several races.  It was a very hot day (in the 90s with over 80% humidity), so the usual.  Lots of the girls on my team kept pushing themselves too hard and would come close to passing out or couldn't breathe.  When we got to the 100 meter dash for the girls none of them could do it because of asthma and heart conditions so they said "Ms. will you run for us?! We need your help!". So there I was heading out to do the thing I always used to say I hate.  Good thing we have been exercising after school! :).  It was fun to to hear the students of all teams and grades shouting "Go Ms. Rychelle!".  They were even more shocked when I kept up with them.  It's one of those memories I will never forget.  We cheered for the rest of the games and had a potluck. To end the day we had some fun events including tug of war with a mud pit in the middle. Sophie and I were on the same team with a bunch of students, our team started to lose and before we knew it they all bailed on us! Instead of going in the mud pit the jumped to the side sending Sophie and I sailing into the pit! They found this quite funny, we tried to pull them in with us but they got away! The last event was a water fight, always a big hit.  Of course I got drenched again, several coolers were dumped on my head, but this time I got them back with some water balloons :). 
I keep thinking more and more about how soon all of this will be over and I just can't believe it. I'm ready to come home but I can't imagine leaving my students.  I want to push it out of my mind for now and stay in the moment, I want to remember everything and make the most of my last few weeks teaching them.  The seniors get out early so I only have 2 weeks and 2 days left teaching my class.  It seems like just yesterday I was scared to death to meet them and completely clueless how to teach them, and now it's almost over.  I ask for your prayers for my seniors.  They are so close to finishing but lots of them are having a hard time making the final push.  They have classes to make up and that they keep ignoring despite my reminders and unwise decisions they keep making.  I want more then anything to see all of them graduating on June 7th, but right now I don't know if that's going to happen. I found betel nut, lime, and cigarettes in two of my students bags on Friday.  These two students have had many infractions and have been given many chances this year for drinking, chewing, disrespect, and skipping class. According to the hand book they should have been expelled a while ago but they have been given lots of grace.  It kills me to think of them leaving so close to the end but I know if they aren't given the proper consequences the rest of the school will follow them and believe they can get away with it.  They will think it doesn't matter and their actions don't have consequences. I don't know what the right thing to do is, and I don't get to make the decision. The school board is meeting tomorrow to discuss it and I just pray for wisdom for them.  As much as I would hate to see them leave so close to the finish maybe they have to learn the hard way.  Please pray for my seniors and for the choices they make this last month before graduation and as they move on to college. 

Adventures in Palau

Last week was spring break! As much as I love teaching, we were all very ready for a break.  So Saturday evening I packed my bags and headed to the airport for the midnight flight to Palau.  Palau is only about 250 miles away from Yap.  We are about the same distance from the equator so the temperature is just about the same; boiling hot.  That is where the similarities stop though.  Palau is quite a bit larger, much more modern, and has a myriad of different animals.  I was shocked to see a "city".  To me it seemed quite large compared to Yap with paved and painted roads, light up store signs and screens, busy streets, and gas stations! Going home is sure going to be a shock.  The student missionary girls apartments are right in the middle of town next to the elementary/middle school.  Anyways, I arrived in Palau at midnight and Chelsea attacked me as I walked out of customs! It was so nice to finally be able to talk again!  Sunday we toured the rock islands.  Our first stop was the milky way.  The sand their is ridiculously white and it makes the water look all.. well milky.  It is supposed to be made out of some sort of mineral and be good for your skin so of course we covered ourselves in it.  Next we went snorkeling.  The snorkeling was different there.  The fish seemed a lot larger and their were more kinds, that might have been because we were farther out then we usually snorkel in Yap.  After lunch at a pretty beach we headed to jellyfish lake; by far the best part of the trip.  In one of the rock islands there is a lake full of jellyfish that cannot sting you.  Somehow the water got cut off from the ocean and over the years, the jellyfish stingers became less sensitive.  Long story short it is an entire lake full of millions of jellyfish that can't sting you! It was amazing to float there with jellyfish all around me all different sizes.  Our last stop was a place known as paradise.  It's a snorkeling spot where the fish literally swarm around you.  some were as long as half of my arm!  Hundreds of fish swarm around you, particularly if you have food.  They will eat straight out of your hand!  I felt a little claustrophobic with them all swarming around me! It was really neat to see them up so close though.  The rest of the week I spent with Chelsea and the other student missionaries.  I sat in on her classes, sang with her adorable kids, spoke at their chapel, went out to eat, and enjoyed an amazing massage. The week went by way too fast!  I'm back in Yap now and school as back in session.  We are busy as ever preparing for a pathfinder camp out this week.  Here goes the last 8 weeks!