Break begins...

I must be adjusted to Palau weather. Krista is sitting on the floor, sweating and complaining about the heat, and I feel pretty comfortable. We went to potluck today so Krista could experience taro (something like a very starchy potato). “It tastes like nothing, but it tastes like something, and it’s not necessarily good.” A very accurate description.
It has been fun having Krista here already. She flew in Thursday night from Guam, along with Tanner’s (another SM) mom. We are enjoying showing off the sights of Palau, and we have lots more sightseeing planned for next week. Krista slept in Friday morning and came into school around 10:30. I had told my kids she was coming, and you should’ve seen their faces when she walked in! Big eyes, open mouths, gasps, and “Wow, you’re pretty!” I am greeted every morning with, “Ahhhhhhh!” like I’m Godzilla or something. Some things in life just aren’t fair. ; )
To back up a bit, our chapel went fairly well. We did a skit on the story of Elijah, and overall I was very impressed with the kid’s performance. It was far from perfect, and some of the kids just would not listen, but overall it went well. I was so dead after chapel – I put a lot of energy into it, and I was so relieved it was over!
Friday we practiced for the Christmas play, and that was draining as well. The Christmas play itself went smoothly on Sunday, but you wouldn’t have known it by practice on Friday. The kids were everywhere! I finally took them back to the classroom, and instead of walking nicely like they’ve been taught, they ran and screamed through the gym, interrupting the actors on stage. I love em, but sometimes they drive me crazy.
My aunt sent a mechanical pet hamster for my class, and the kids love it. It has a wheel that they love watching it run in, and they also love carrying it around and petting it. We named it on Thursday, and they chose Jackson (as in Michael Jackson – go figure).
The last week of school crawled by at a snail’s pace. Counting the days only made them last longer. It felt like it took forever, and now that I’m finally done I hardly believe it.
We've learned that we'll be losing two SMs, Erinn and Daniel Snyder, in February. We are all sad that they have to leave - the devil has been working really hard to keep them from teaching. Erinn has been having a lot of random health problems, and on top of this recent news i know it's Satan. A call has been put out for two more SMs, and we are praying that God will lead the right ones here. Please keep us in your prayers, and also the missionaries in Saipan. There has been a lot of issues there, and most of the SMs have had to return home. It has been a hard year for the Micronesian missionaries, but I know that God must be coming soon.
Thursday we had a staff Christmas party. We had a big dinner and then did a ‘white elephant’ gift exchange. I got a lot of good gifts – iPod speakers, pin drive, chocolates – and then got them all stolen. I ended up with a phone card, which was useful though not as exciting.
The kids all said, “Merry Christmas” as they left on Friday, and it really feels nothing like Christmas. Krista commented on that, too, that at home it felt like Christmas but here it doesn’t at all. I don’t really mind though. I complain a little (ok, a lot), but my heart isn’t in it. I love being here, and although I miss everyone at home, I am enjoying this time. Happy Holidays to everyone from Palau. May you have a white Christmas - I'll be thinking of you while I'm on the beach in the Palauan sun.

P.S. Photos will be posted soon.