ngeremlengui, olympics, sickness, and relief

Well, the last two weeks have been quite surprising. My kids have been consistently good. There is a good reason for this phenomenon, however - my biggest troublemakers have all been sick. I did not pray that God would keep them sick, but I must admit that I wasn't too disappointed when they didn't show up to school (as you can tell, I'm still working on getting that God-like love).

Molly and Bronson reviewing for a Science Test

This Friday was a really fun day. We barely did any normal schoolwork. After two quizzes and a worksheet, we visited Ecuador (everyone made it this time). We colored our manila envelope suitcases and put our first flag on the outside. I impressed my kids with my limited Spanish skills. I basically said, "hello", "my name is", and "how are you?" and the kids were so surprised. "You speak Spanish?" I thought about it, smiled, and said, "Yes, yes I do." What they don't know won't hurt them.
After Ecuador, we visited 2B for a joint spelling bee. Then came the highlight of the day: the 2A Olympics. The kids reached the next reward mark in the bean bank on Tuesday, 125 beans= games. I let them choose between four games, and they chose Olympics. We had two teams, purple and orange, and four events: relay race, fishing for marbles with your toes, three-legged race, and an obstacle course.

I am used to most fun things I try to do as a counselor or peer flopping - I guess I am not charismatic enough. But the kids loved the games! Admittedly, they were getting out of class, but fun was had by all. After the Olympics ended with a 3-1 victory by the orange team, we had snacks and a mini party to send off Momoka. She is moving to the Philippines, and Friday was her last day. She was a sweet girl and a good student, and I am sad to see her go. So I am down to 12, as the student from first grade chose to remain there after all.

Ready for the relay race


Fishing for marbles

three-legged race - orange team won



Obstacle Course


Momoka and I

The past two weekends have been a lot of fun. Last Saturday five of us SMs went to Ngaremlengui for church service. The room that they use is small but functional, and it was nice to have such a small, relaxed service (there were about 10 people there). Afterwards we drove to Ngardau for lunch. Pastor Martin's son Jeff was housesitting for Francis, the man with cancer, so we were able to have a relaxed Sabbath lunch in his house. The house was very cute, and the view was amazing. It sits on a tall hill (the drive up the rutted driveway is a little nerve wracking. Apparently Francis has a truck somewhere in the jungle because it slid over the edge.) with a commanding view of the coast and surrounding hills. This Sabbath, we went to the house again for Sabbath lunch. Evette, David, and Aldo made Mexican and Peruvian food, and it was amazing. I contributed dessert (thanks mom!). After lunch, we went out to a pier and took pictures. We also went impromptu swimming in our clothes since no Palauans were around. Hooray spontaneity!

Halloween was this Saturday, and all of the teachers have been discussing it with our classes. The opinions of the teachers vary, but the issue is one that the kids are curious about, especially the 7th and 8th graders. Please pray for them. They are seeking God, but they are also involved in a lot of bad stuff and need prayer. I had a discussion with my class, and it was very interesting.
I am working on two Independent Study classes from Andrews, and while I am enjoying them, they make it hard to have much fun on the weekends. I am trying to finish up before Christmas. I'm also brushing up on some musical skills. This Sabbath I am scheduled to play in a brass band with a bunch of the other SMs. Most of us haven't picked up our instrument since high school, so we're going to need a lot of practice. I am playing the sax, or at least trying to. We practiced on Monday, and let's just say we need a lot of work.

Wednesday was the end of the first quarter, and it feels good to have it behind me. I have grown a lot in the past three months, but I have a long way to go. I have been feeling very close to God lately, and it is a good feeling knowing that I am right where God wants me.

love and anger

It is currently Friday morning, and I am sitting in my classroom listening to the hum of my fan and the sounds of construction in the background. My classroom is still littered with the pieces of paper, leftover lunches, sweaty napkins, and a few runaway marbles left over from the marble fiasco (two cups of marbles, all over the room) that speak volumes about the effectiveness of chore time. My lesson plans sit patiently, reminding me that they aren't finished, and the papers and workbooks are waiting their turn to be graded. This has, in effect, become my life. I no longer find it strange that I am in this classroom most of my waking hours, and the speed at which I have adjusted surprises me.
Week 9 has successfully passed, but like any week it has had its challenges. Last week, the students were good, and we hit the first reward mark in the bean bank (yay extra recess!). Monday was a good day too, perhaps because two of my biggest troublemakers were sick (it's sad when you are happy that your students are sick). Then Tuesday hit. I don't know what got into them, but they must've decided to try being bad for a while and see what happened. Well, what happened was Ms. Courtney got angry. Very angry. They were already rowdy when lunch hit, and then about an hour before school ended, a huge thunderstorm rolled in. Screams, rushes to the windows, 10 hands going up to go to the bathroom, and a total loss of control ensued. Try teaching seven-year-olds about the digestive system when there's a Noah-scale flood and rainstorm going on outside. I would've given up, and almost did, but I suppose I got stubborn and didn't want to let them enjoy the rain when they didn't deserve it. I yelled, threatened, sent to the principal, and generally put myself in a very bad mood and failed to be an effective teacher. That afternoon I never wanted to see my students again.
That week in staff worship, we had two thoughts that were really good. The first was that we are here to do battle for the Lord, and the second was that we should really love our students and stop counting down the days til Friday, Christmas, and Graduation. I wish I could say I remembered those sentiments on Wednesday afternoon, but it is often only after the fact that I remember. Perhaps God was trying to prepare me and give me a warning. I wish I had payed a little more attention.
Wednesday was a little better. I came in with a no mercy attitude, and after over half the class had their names on the board they got the message that we were not having a repeat of yesterday. I was praying for the strength to just survive until Friday, and it was granted. Thursday was a reasonably good discipline day. We practiced good posture in healthy class, and I had them practice walking in a line with good posture. Unfortunately, I locked myself out of the classroom, so we marched over to the office and had Mr. Nelson get us keys. I was laughing so hard at Blossom. She has enough attitude for two people, and she refused to stand up straight. She looked like an old man (no offense to any of those well endowed with years), slumping forward on purpose with a dour look on her face. I really couldn't help laughing, and I told her that she looked like an old man. She still refused to stay standing straight, just to spite me, but every time I looked at her I laughed because she looked so ridiculous.
I am trying to teach my kids a quote that I learned in elementary school:

Good, better, best
Never let it rest,
Until your good is better
And your better, best.

It is one of the few things I remember from elementary week of prayers, and I find that it sums up much of my attitude toward life. I am hoping that the point of the quote will get through to some of the students. It is a little above their heads, but after explaining it and leaving it up on the board I am hoping it will stick with them. My guess is that it will just make my good students better and my slow students won't care, but doing your best is so important in life that I am trying to plant the idea in their heads.
Last week we went to Kenya (thanks Jared for the pictures!). It didn't go as well as last week - one or two refused to participate, and the kids were so rowdy! They can't sit anywhere near each other or else they start pushing and always, always, a hand goes up: "Tee-cher, so-and-so's bothering me". Most of the kids are still enjoying it. Next week is Ecuador.
We are having a few more job changes, more to come on that later since all of the switches aren't final yet. My only drama so far has been with my students, and I hope it stays that way.
To all of you have sent packages and emails, thank you so much! I feel so loved, blessed, and supported. The girls laugh at me because I love just opening the fridge and cupboard and looking at all my food - I guess it's a visible, tangible form of love when everyone is so far away.
I am still praying for real, deep love for my students. I want to able to discipline lovingly and not in anger. Until I get that God-like love, I am continuing to fight the good fight.

Patience produces character

Sunday, October 4
Another week has passed, and for being a short week it was far from easy. I have discovered that discipline on the days right before holiday is almost useless at this point. The kids are even more talkative and distractible than usual, and I can punish all I want without effecting much change.
The two days off of school have been good to me, however. I have a new drive to give my kids the best I can, and I am determined to be a better teacher. The kids are hard to control, but I just need to try harder and keep on figuring out what works. I know that I will have parent complaints soon, but I am determined to teach these kids whatever it takes. I am going to do my part to the best of my ability, and the rest is up to God and the children themselves. Paul says that he boasts of his infirmities that God’s power may rest upon him. Teaching is far from my strength, but I know that if God brought me here, he can supply all that I lack.
Thursday and Friday we had no school in honor of Independence Day. Thursday there was a parade and fair complete with a random assortment of animals (one cow, 2 horses, and some ducks), martial arts demonstrations, Palauan and Polynesian Dances, and lots of food. For the parade there were quite a few people in cultural dress. Lets just say that we saw more than we really wanted to of a lot of people.

Parade

Some type of Palauan dance


Jasmine and Kaitlynn at the Japanese booth. The goal was to get 30 beans into the cup, and we all failed epically.

Friday afternoon were boat races by the causeway connecting Koror and Babeldaob. I only stayed for about an hour, since the races were not too exciting and I couldn’t understand any of the commentary given over the loudspeaker in Palauan. Many of the booths from Thursday relocated to right near the bridge, hawking souvenirs, coconuts, meat and rice in various forms, and ice candy for 25 cents. Ice candy is something like ice cream, except in a plastic tube. You bite off the top and suck out the contents like you do with go-gurt. So far I have had mocha, and it is amazing.

Wednesday, Oct. 7
Week 7 started out with the promise of promise of improvement and lots of optimism. It is now late Wednesday night, and I am tired. God has restored me, but I am fighting exhaustion and discouragement. I know that somehow God is going to turn this year around, but I still worry because I know I don’t have what it takes. God called me here for a purpose. He’s going to have to take it from here, because I’m not sure what else to do.
Highlights of my day: *I’ve learned that I’m losing one of my students in November as she’s moving to the Philippines. I am also gaining one from 1st grade. *I had guests come in today for Social Studies to talk about different countries (so far we’ve visited Canada, Mexico, and Tennessee). I had a talk with my students about respecting their teachers, and they were good for our guests but disrespectful to me as soon as the guests left. Laden turned around, actually angry, and said, “Why are we so quiet for the other teachers and so disrespectful to her? Huh? Why?” Exactly what I’d like to know. Then Noel pipes up, “Because we’re noisy”, and the moment was lost.
* Molly has proved to be one of my sweetest students, and she always wants to talk to me (we had drama yesterday about a loose tooth =). She was talking to me about her Pilipino friend. She said that her mom “was really pretty. Like you.”
Sunday, October 11
In hindsight, the past two weeks have gone fairly well. I can see myself slowly climbing upward on the learning curve, and I think I might be starting to see a light at the end of the discipline tunnel. After the discouragement of Wednesday, Thursday was an incredible surprise. Whether because of all the praying I did or something else (I am pretty sure it was prayer), my kids were (for them) angels. We started a new individual reward program in addition to the class-wide “bean bank”. I didn’t want to add on more rewards, since it feels like I am bribing them and I honestly believe that the satisfaction of doing a job well and following directions should be reward enough. But realistically, I needed it, and I can see it already starting to affect some of the students (Thanks Mrs. Good and Miss Jolene for the inspiration). The kids get marbles in their cup for good behavior, homework turned in, etc. and marbles removed for bad behavior. Once the cup is filled, they get to choose a prize. The cups are clear, and I can see them staring at the marbles and counting how many they have in comparison with everyone else.

In addition to the new reward system, I am also trying another incentive for good behavior disguised as a fun learning activity (sneaky!). Every Friday (if the kids cooperate), we are going to a different country in the world for Social Studies. This Friday we visited Italy. (When I told the kids on Thursday that we were going to Italy on Friday, they seriously thought we were going to Italy. They were so disappointed when I told them we were going in our imaginations. “What? That’s boring. I thought we were going to get on a real plane.”) We boarded the plane, passed China, and the Alps, and landed in Rome. I had an Italian masquerade mask that I had used for my Senior Recognition at GLAA (I know, who brings that to a foreign country?) that I put on. I was the pilot, and I told my passengers that they had to follow directions in order to stay on the plane. Some of the kids left the line and didn’t keep their seatbelts buckled. I think we lost them somewhere over the Mediterranean Sea, and unfortunately for them they missed out on the garlic bread in Venice (it was so fun trying to explain that to the siblings and parents who came to pick them up. “Tell your mom what happened, Alfons. I think you fell into the ocean today on the way to Italy.”) Next week, if they are good, we are going to a country in Africa. The student with the best behavior gets to be the pilot. I am trying hard not to get my hopes up, but I am excited about the possibilities the idea has. Our Social Studies book even has patterns for passports, travel logs, and manila envelope suitcases.(We had to make a stop on the way to Italy. Heads down, passengers. You aren't following directions.)

Mmm, garlic bread!

Looking good. From back left clockwise: Madraisau, Bronson, Avery, Noel, Laden, Alfons, Jerome, Miss Courtney, Marlynne, Aloisa, Molly, Kristen, Momoka, Blossom.

funny faces

Last week was also improved by the arrival of four packages. I have so much food now, and I finished the newest David book a day after I received it. I also devoured the magazines and AU newspaper – it is so nice to see something, anything, from home. I never realized how much I miss just seeing American news until I got that package. I also love opening my cupboard and seeing food there. We have received a $10 pay increase, and I have used it all on fresh fruits and veggies. Thanks to all who sent packages – you brightened my day. And mom, the cookies taste INCREDIBLE.
Apparently Palau was on a tsunami warning sometime last week. No worries, we’re fine. We definitely need prayers, however. PMA and Airai church are built on property that was donated many years ago by some church members. Apparently the paperwork wasn’t filled out correctly, so the families now own the land again. We are praying that they will redonate the land to the church instead of keeping it. The land that PMA is on is good land, and if the family decides to keep it, I don’t know what will happen. The church and the people who own the land are meeting on Thursday to discuss things, so please keep that in your prayers. We also have two church members very sick with cancer, and they need a lot of prayer.
I have been coming to a lot of spiritual realizations lately. The thoughts are not original, but they are just now beginning to be appropriated into more than just knowledge. I will share more when I update later this week, but some of the main things I have realized are these. God is not something to be trifled with. He is not a “tame lion” (C.S. Lewis), and He is greater than we could ever begin to understand. And this great, all-powerful, holiest of holies God, loves us weak, complaining, petulant, confused humans. It should be so simple. If we really remembered God’s love for us, we would live differently. Often we don’t trust God to help us conquer our sins and just give up without really letting God’s power into our lives and problems. Are we afraid to be great, to have the integrity of Joseph, the patience of Moses, the heart of God like David, to really live for God, no reservations? Are we are too content with our mediocre Christianity? I am praying that God will help me to not only desire greatness, but to live a real, vibrant faith like the heroes in the Old Testament.
I apologize for the long wait for a blog. I will attempt to do better.