A ureor a mla mo merek

May 29, 2010
It's been a busy month. We had a girls night out at the Taj, went to Ngarelong for church, PMA/SDA staff dinner at PPR, and the SDA choir had a concert.

The SDA girls were able to attended a Palauan birthing ceremony. It was really cool. After a woman has her first child, she goes through bathing treatments with herbs twice a day for 10 days to prevent infection, stop bleeding, etc. On the 10th day, she has to sit over a steaming pot of special herbs to help clean and heal her womb. After all of this bathing, there is a big celebration. The woman puts on a grass skirt and is topless and covered in yellow oil. She then walks out of the house slowly and stands in front of everyone. Islandy music is playing, and every so often people go up and dance gently with money for the mother. The woman has to stay there until almost everyone leaves. I feel bad for the lady, because if I were topless I really wouldn't want to stand in front of people for hours.

We had our last SM vespers, and it was so sad. I am going to miss everyone terribly. The last week of school was also hard. Four SMs left, and it brought home the nearness of our leaving.

In addition to all of the goodbyes, there has been the craziness of cleaning out the classrooms, packing, cleaning out the apartment, finishing grades, and trying to squeeze so many "lasts" in.

A ureor a mla mo merek...The work is finished. At least my part of the work. I am leaving Palau tomorrow. I would have to agree with Shakespeare - parting is such sweet sorrow. I am so excited to go home, but I will miss this place and the people here. I am coming home a different person than I left.

June 4, 2010

I'm beginning to be asked how my year went. And to be honest, I'm still not sure. Would I do it again? Yes. Was it what I expected it to be? No way - way harder. Did I learn stuff? Definitely. Here is a journal excerpt with some of what I've learned.


I’m trying to figure out exactly what this year meant to me. It’s hard to express. Jacob and Ivan nailed it pretty well on the head when they spoke for vespers. The year has been filled with so many issues and messed up situations. But I have learned that I am so not perfect, and neither is anyone else. And we have to learn to love everyone despite their faults. Really it boils down to the fact that God died for each one of us, and we must give grace as we receive it.
Was the year good or bad? Success or failure? I’m still not totally sure. God can make a big mess work into his plan, and I think that’s what might have to happen with this year. Part of me loves the year and experience. But there's the other half of me that remembers all too clearly the painful memories, difficult days, crying... I think it’s best to just forgive and forget as much as possible.

Major lessons from the year:

1. Forgiveness. You are not perfect, neither are others. Cut each other some slack.
2. Get both sides of the story, and never write or say something in anger.
3. Flexibility. Oh, goodness.
4. Patience. Wow. Still working on that one.
5. God’s awesome majesty and love. Friday night vespers was so powerful. It was really what I needed, to experience huge God-moments again.


I am going to miss the people and relationships, especially with the other SMs and my class. I loved exploring Palau, diving and seeing the beautiful sunsets and scenery. I loved the moments when a light would go for a student and they would suddenly get a concept. Friday nights in Palau are right up there with my favorite spiritual memories.
My greatest learning moments were aptly enough in the classroom. I learned more about myself from teaching and my students than anything else. I would be an ungrateful friend if I forgot to mention the SMs, for they too taught me much. Even though it was often through criticism and disagreements, we always made up and learned something from the experience.

I think in the weeks to come I will realize more how much Palau has changed me. I've already noticed that I picked up more of the culture than I'd realized. I am still raising my eyebrows to respond to questions and have to remind myself to nod so the other person understands. I say "on the aircon" and "cannot", and I still expect people to recognize me as I go shopping. The impact of this year goes much deeper, however. I hope that those of you at home, my friends and family, find me a better person. To those of you in Palau, I will miss you. Thank you for your kindness and patience, and for letting me teach and be taught by your children this year. May God bless you, and if I never return I hope to see you in heaven, when truly 'a ureor a mla morek'.