Weary Soul

So after a rough month, things are finally starting to look up. And so thus the blog post. I actually have time to sit down, and write one now, which is a forgien concept.

Injuries

So now that my infected cockroach bite is fully healed, I can celebrate and be reminded of the great struggle, by the beautiful scare that was left behind. But now I have more battle wounds.

After a successful Kirstin Memorial Day, the Freshman class went out to Manta Ray, which is a ship that has been turned into a restaurant. There we ordered pizza, and after consuming our pizza we jumped off the lowest deck of the boat. (For all of you reading this and knowing what it is, yes, I have also jumped off the top deck as well!) We jumped off once, and then jumped off the dock that was a little way away from the boat. The boys were pushing each other in, and Sarah, another teacher here that teaches high school, and I decided to sit down so that we would not get pushed in as well.

We had to leave so we finally stood up and started to say goodbye, 2 of the boys decided they didn’t want us to go so they pushed us in. The one who pushed me didn’t push me far enough though so my knee scrapped on the dock, and I ended up with a pretty nice gash out of my knee. Now you know my success with infections, so sure enough it got infected, and that was a chore to get back to normal, but we finally did, and I didn’t have to go to the hospital for meds.

Besides that, no major injuries have come upon me. J

Anyways, I am doing well. In all honesty, I didn’t really know how I was going to make it through after the rough things that have been happening, but God keeps proving to me that He has my back and that I have nothing to fear, because He will fight my battles for me.

I know I say this every time, but I love my kids. They make me so happy. I was talking with one of the SM’s here and we were trying to figure out who loved who more, the kids loving us, or we loving the kids. I only hope that I can make an eternal impact on them. God knows that I am more interested in winning them for the kingdom, them making sure that they can become the President, or some important person. I want them to see God in a different light, I want them to know that God is exciting and that He is interested in them, and wants to be part of their lives.

All the comments I get from them are hilarious. There is one boy, his name is Jaydon, and he is the most hilarious kid ever! He is the one that brightens up my day. The kids are just amazing, and I wish you all could meet them. Absalom, one of the older kids in the class, he also looks out for the younger ones, knew I was having a hard week after some of our teachers had to leave, he would follow me around and make sure that I had everything. One time I laid my head on the desk, while they were doing an assignment, and he looked at me and said, “Miss, it’s ok, you can take a nap. I will make sure they behave.” Little does he know that he showed me a better picture of unselfish love. God knew that they needed me, and that I needed them when I was to become a Missionary, and I thank God for that.

The Sm’s here celebrated Thanksgiving here with a huge meal, mainly consisting of deserts, but nonetheless it was amazing. We had such good conversations, and it is such a blessing to serve with this group of people.

As my family’s tradition is on Thanksgiving, we run in a 5k, but since I couldn’t run on Thanksgiving, because it was a school day, I ran one on Sunday, when we celebrated it. Lauren, another SM who is in to running, went for a run with me. It wasn’t quite a 5k, but it was just the fact that I was running.

The Internet has been lacking and so getting on and talking to my family has been a challenge. It was so nice to Skype with my family on Thanksgiving though. I got to talk to my brother, and Mom and Dad, Grandma, and Uncle. They also didn’t believe that the cockroaches could be so big, so they told me to go get one. Well, the hangout for cockroaches is our shower. I don’t know why, but I went in there and there was one that was probably 6 in long. I killed it and brought it back to show them. I think they believe me now.

Oh, and the Detroit Lions won against Green Bay on Thanksgiving, which was really nice to hear.

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. God is working in my life so powerfully. I only pray that I will be receptive to the lessons he is trying to teach me. I always doubt that He knows what He is doing, but each time I have to come back to Him and apologize because He continually comes through for me, and reliance upon Him is such a necessity.

My students are gems, they have been bringing, and making so much for me. I have yet to receive a Lava lava from them, but that’s ok. (hint, hint) They know I love fruit, so they bring me food. One of the mothers always stops by the bakery and buys me cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, or sponge bread. They are delicious. They have been so good to me. This same mother invited me to a fundraiser for the Philippians and they were selling food to help benefit them. She paid for both me and one of the other SMs. She is a sweetheart. My girl students always bring me flowers, or drawings, or sweet cards. They are going to be so hard to say goodbye to.

There is an impact being made here on Yap. The group of SM’s we have here are devoted young people that love the Lord, and that love the people here on Yap. I feel like I could be doing so much more. I only pray that God will help me see what I could be doing.

While the students were trying to figure out my age, they thought they were tricking me by asking me what year I was born in, but alas, I caught them in their ploy, and instead told them I was born in 1964. They proceeded to do the math, and they figured that I would have to be 49 to which they exclaimed that I would be a grandma. Or that I wouldn’t be able to walk anymore if I was 49. I also got a, “Dude, your old!” They make me laugh. They also said that they would be writing a letter to my parents asking them how old I was. I told them that they probably wouldn’t remember, and they agreed since my parents had to be older then me.

We are having a week of prayer now, and I am praying that it will be a blessing to these kids and that they will know that God can and will give them second chances.

Continue to pray for us, as the devil is doing his best to discourage us, and bring us down, but we serve a mighty God, who won’t leave us.

I know a lot of you prayer for us, and that is so encouraging, whenever I get discouraged I think of all the people that are out there praying for us, and it lifts my spirits.

Quote of the day,

“Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have hid Children happy, and in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father.”

So whatever you are going through now, remember that God has a plan for it, and that He won’t leave you. “In all things, give thanks…” god gave everything for us, so let’s give a true picture to the world of who God really is. Stay positive, and allow God to use you, even through the trials.