Merry Christmas! I think I am finally starting to feel like it might really be Christmas time. My seniors are decorating the classroom, I've made a few snow flakes with them. I found snow spray for the windows, one of the girls proceeded to spray me with it claiming "Ms. you said you wanted it to snow!". The stores in town are filled with lights, fake trees, and some of the strangest Christmas music I have ever heard. Sometimes I see a random house with lights on, it seems so misfit with the coconut and banana trees everywhere... but they are trying! Last Sabbath a group of us from the church gathered Sabbath evening and sang carols. It was so nice, I think that is when I finally felt like it might just be Christmas time. We were practicing for our caroling in a couple weeks. We will be going to the hospital and a couple villages!
This week has kept all of us very busy. It was week of prayer, which meant two chapels a day and 20 to 35 minute classes as well as a 20 min lunch. The whole week felt like we had no time to breathe! It came with many problems too... the longer we are here and the more we settle in; the more we are beginning to have problems with some of the administration. We come from different cultures, different ideals, and different backgrounds; it can make things really difficult sometimes! Sophie and I talked about it for a long time driving home from vespers. We feel like we are learning way more then we are teaching, even though we are teachers. Learning patience mostly, and learning how to let go of ourselves. Some days, well most days actually, things don't go as planned. They change something last minute, or get upset we forgot something we were never told. It doesn't matter, God is changing us. I pray that we would learn how to relate and how to resolve problems in a peaceful manner. The week brought lots of stresses, looking back at my journal the days were kind of rough. A funny thing happens though. At the end of the week, when I look back thinking about what to share with you all, I don't remember those parts. I don't remember why Monday was such a bad day, or what had me so frustrated on Thursday. What I do remember is one of my students putting my string back on and fixing my guitar for me. I remember a couple of my senior girls staying in at lunch just to talk with me and have me show them new Christmas songs. I remember the day the seniors cleaned the classroom perfectly while I was gone without me even asking, and I remember my last class on Thursday when the sophomores asked me just about every question that came to their heads; quite scary really. This week had lots of problems, but I don't remember them anymore.
This Sabbath we had church at the school and invited all the students as a close to week of prayer. We weren't sure how many would come, but a lot did! Including five of my seniors! Several of them wanted further bible study, I pray for them everyday, I was so excited to see some of them come on their own. They all stayed for a big potluck afterwords. I think it was one of my favorite Sabbaths we have had here. After the students left the four of us drove a couple minutes out to the canyon with our guitars. We sat with out feet dangling over the edge playing, singing, and talking for about two hours. Despite all the difficulties, trials, and hardships; we are extremely blessed. Even though I applied sunscreen liberally, I am now noticing a sunburn develop as a type this. I've never had a burn in December before! That is okay, it was worth it :).
We had no school Friday, the government canceled it and declared it an island wide cleanup day to stop the spread of Dengue. It is getting worse, Yap is officially in a state of emergency due to the fever. Please keep this in your prayers! I hope you all have a wonderful Sabbath and week. We will be busy as usual here! I finished the senior parent meeting last week, but their is still lots to do before break! Here it goes! I pray we would learn how to get a long with our administration this week, I know we all have the same goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment