In one week a million things happen. Hospital visits, ups, downs, problems, and a million answered prayers. I wish I had time to write here everyday. Each day is event full enough to write for pages about. Their are so many things to share! This week was long and hard, but in the end still good somehow. I don't completely understand how, but no matter what happens at the end of the week it's impossible to be unhappy with where I am. This week started with answered prayers! We finally have a full teaching staff! Sophie came from Pohnpei so Pamela and I moved in to the same room to open a spot for her. The Filipino family teaching 4th grade and high school science came as well! A short time later we found out an sm from the states filled the last call open and will be coming in a week. It's so amazing to know God has taken care of this school's needs. No matter how impossible it seemed in August with three of us at the SM retreat, God took care of it.
Monday was busy, hectic, and crazy to say the least. Even though we worked all day Sunday I don't think any of us were anywhere near finishing all our tasks. No matter how tired or stressed things seem though, energy always seems to come from somewhere when school starts and lasts until it ends. I was placed as the SA (Student Association) chair/adviser and began working with the kids for their campaigns. It would seem all my years of student council are finally paying off.
Tuesday was a different story. Tuesday was terrible. It was one of those days I always worried about when becoming a teacher. How would I handle something like that? What should I do? All these questions were answered. Starting with the freshmen math class, the kids were everywhere. I ended up assigning all sorts of things off my discipline plan as well as extra homework. It was so frustrating! No matter how hard I tried to get their respect and attention it just wasn't there. The next period was PE, it was way too hot so that only lasted half the time. I took a small group to work with the 3rd grade... which did not end well. Two of the senior guys threw a block and knocked down a little kids structure! I couldn't believe them! Frustrated and walking them back to the classroom, the big event of the day happened. One of the sophomores slammed the seniors door and swore at them. Two of the boys went after him, as I rush out the door towards them I hear behind me "fight fight fight". The boys are wedged in the doorway telling the sophomore to show some respect, his only response it to scream the f bomb at them multiple times. I was the only teacher around, the guys were all bigger then me, and I was sure their was going to be a fight. The only thing I could think to do was pray. They calmed enough I could wedge between them and send them back to their rooms. When I got back from taking one of the boys to the office the classroom was dead quiet. I didn't know they could be that quiet! Frustrated and exhausted the day finally ended.
Wednesday was much better. After talking to the senior boys, they went to the third grade and apologized to them as well as to Pamela, the teacher. The freshmen tried really hard to behave in class, and the fiasco from the day before was resolved. Each day really is a new adventure. It's so unpredictable. No matter how many lesson plans are made, or schedules put out something will change. It makes the day interesting! No one can say teaching is a boring job.
Just when things seemed to be calming down Friday morning came. Pamela woke me up at 3 am wondering if I knew what to do for really bad stomach aches. I feel so helpless when it comes to medical things! I wanted to help so bad, she was in so much pain. She was really sick and stayed that way all night, just before 6 am I woke up Andrea and told them Pamela needed to go to the hospital. Turns out she had appendicitis! They had no time to take her to Guam so they had to operate here on Yap, a scary thought. The doctors here only have to study for a couple years, a not so comforting thought. They called in a surgeon, who seems to have more experience, and went for it. We had to stay at school and teach so we didn't know what was going on. We were so relieved when we heard she came out of surgery fine! We were able to visit her later and she is so brave! That hospital is so scary! It looks like a psych ward and the doctors wear flip flops. She is doing much better, but she still needs lots of prayers! Her recovery isn't going quite as smoothly as it should...
Looking back, this week had so many ups and downs. Tuesday I was so drained I didn't know how I would survive the week, but now, despite all that's happened, it was a good week. Today I had music class again. I taught some of the students keyboard and gave music to the students playing my guitar. One of the girls taught be a few chords on the ukulele :). We went to O'keefe island for a couple hours and enjoyed a boat ride out there. I learned that God can get me through circumstances out of my comfort zone and He has control even when it seems like I don't. Each week feels like so much more. Happy Sabbath!
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