Still

This week was particularly exhausting. Maybe it's because we are nearing the end of the quarter, their is always so much to do!  It's hard to believe we have been here two months already! Despite the exhaustion, a lot of fun memories were formed this week and I saw a lot of blessings.  I was sure Monday was going to be a terrible day.  Sunday night we had a meeting with all the high school teachers and they announced we had to do a thorough check  for all prohibited substances on Monday.   Problems with drugs and drinking are much worse here then in the states.  Yes teens in the states have huge issues with those things but here, well, it's almost encouraged.  Drinking is a normal past times and it seems that lots of the parents just let their kids drink, even on school nights sometimes.  Drugs are pretty easy to come by, especially marijuana.  The biggest problem is beetle nut.  Beetle nut is grown here on the island, the nut itself really isn't that bad.  The problem is what they put in it.  I don't understand entirely what is in it but they mix it with some stimulants its seems, some tobacco, and they chew it, all the time.  Your cashier chews it, the bank teller, every person walking on the street, and the grade school kid sitting on the curb.  It's completely normal, they have baskets they carry around to hold it.  It turns their mouth and teeth a bright red, and most of the people have been chewing it since they were kids.  Anyhow, none of these are allowed at the school.  They said we had to do a complete check of all the bags and each individual in our first period.  They said the kids would try to be sneaky and get things past you.  I was so scared! I didn't know how I was going to do the check by myself in a room of 20 juniors, my first class on Monday.  I don't really know what lots of the stuff I'm looking for even looks like!  We all prayed together in the morning and as I was waiting in my room for my students one dropped off an anonymous note that read "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7.  The verse was perfect, it was almost enough to bring tears to my eyes.  I knew I could give up my fears and my nerves to God, He cares about these kids even more than I do.  During the bag check I saw that God really did have it under control.  They obeyed me and didn't cause problems during the check, they separated and cooperated, they even made me laugh; "Ms, are you going to take our chocolates?". I was so relieved not to find anything this time aside from a prescription that wasn't checked in at the office.  I know I will end up finding something sometime this year, but God was gracious enough to let that wait for another time! 
Looking back, their were a lot of highlights this week.  The seniors lead chapel on Monday and it went great! I played the keyboard with them and they did a skit.  Their own version of David and Goliath.  It was hilarious! On Tuesday two of my seniors stayed after school until 5 to work as TA's for me.  It was wonderful! They helped me catch up on a lot of grading and it was nice to get to just talk with them.  They would ask me the most random questions, "Ms. when do you want to get married?".  I started teaching the sophomores about the U.S. in geography and they had some of the funniest questions.  They wanted to know where Hollywood was, if Everest was in the U.S., did it snow in Miami, do we say "a" or is that in Canada, and have I ever talked to someone with a southern accent.  Those are just a few samples, they are so curious about the U.S; and everywhere else in the world for that matter! I guess I would be too if I had lived on a small island my whole life. 
Friday, today, was my favorite day.  We had lessons on leadership in the senior class for their pathfinder time.  I had them do the human knot and several other games to demonstrate how someone has to step up and lead in order for them to work as a team.  They had so much fun! We talked about leadership and some challenges leaders have.  Particularly we talked about how a good leader deals with people causing problems in a group.  I had them create skits to demonstrate how they would work with the person.  They were so funny! I should have recorded them! I didn't think they would be able to finish one because everyone was laughing so hard! Maybe I should work with them on their acting skills :).  We ended the day working with the 2nd and 3rd grade.  They came into the senior room and had music class lead by a few of the seniors.  My favorite part was when I came in and saw everyone singing Father Abraham.  Even my seniors were doing the hand motions, I can't think of a better ending to the week.
Their were a lot of rough patches too.  We had two students suspended for coming to school drunk.  It breaks my heart to see what these kids do to themselves.  It doesn't just affect a few of the students, but every single one of them.  All of them are in some way surrounded by drugs and alcohol.  Some of my students were asking me about it this week, "Ms. why don't you drink?".  I talked to them about it for a while, but I feel so helpless.  I have math class with them and Micronesia history, but how can I help them with the things that are really important?  Things like their spiritual lives and all the messed up situations this life throws them into.  I guess that stuff will come, but it's so hard to be patient.  I can see so many ways they are hurting or confused and I want to help them.
I've had one song going through my head most of this week. It's called "Still".  I had never heard the song until I came here.  The chorus goes like this, "When the ocean's rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm, you are king of all over the earth, I will be still and know you are God".  I love those words, they are so perfect for me right now.  Most days seem like a storm at some point, some more then others.  I love the picture of soaring above it with God.  No matter how messed up things may seem some days, I can be calm and be still just knowing that God has it all under control. 
-If you have been praying for Pamela, thank you! After two weeks in Guam she is returning tomorrow night, recovered and doing well! :)

A few facts about Yap....
1) Take off your shoes before entering any building; grocery store, house, church, pretty much everywhere.
2) In Yapese culture it is very offensive for woman to show their thighs, but the top.. the top doesn't matter, at all. 
3) Both men and woman carry baskets around.  If you enter a village and you aren't carrying a basket you must carry a branch to show that you come in peace.
4) A person should never be taller then a village chief, in some outer islands this means crawling into a room.
5) People spit all the time.  I have at least 2 kids in each class ask to go spit every period.
6) Most Yapese don't know how to use a tissue, so i also have several kids every class asking to go outside to blow their nose.  It's so gross...
7) Head leis are very intricate and worn most of the time.  Not just by girls either, the men almost wear them more and are just as proficient at making them. Flowers are for everyone in Yap. 
8) No one has seen a biscuit before, they didn't know how to eat them when I brought them to potluck.
9) It's really rare to find something at the grocery store that isn't already past it's expiration date.  Turns out you can eat pretty much anything months after that date has passed.
10) A machete is a completely normal thing to carry around, bring to school, or take in the car with you.  I mean, you never know when you will need to crack open a coconut.