2014, Math, Life, and 6th Graders

    The students really struggle with understanding fractions and percentages. I have tried many ways of explaining them, and some are working. It is hard to explain something, though, when 25% of the class is talking, 70% are trying to listen but really could care less, and 5% are geniuses compared to their peers and are the only ones answering me.
   This is what I'm thinking about a lot as I start 2nd semester. We just finished Week 1, and I finally caught my Bluebook up-to-date for the first time all year! One thing I tried in vain to do last semester. We also had our first class picnic on Thursday. The 6th graders went to Shell Island where we spent the day relaxing; swimming, playing in the sand, eating, and exploring. We were all exhausted, so Friday was quite long for a half day. Now, I'm enjoying a relaxing Sabbath. Even as I was playing piano for church this morning, though, I could not stop contemplating these questions:

What can I do to improve my classes? How can I challenge all the students - catch up those who are behind yet keep up with the lessons and push those who are ahead - all at once? How can I teach them LIFE and GOD and not just math?

I am so behind on grading...how can I have time to complete all those things required of a teacher? I want to stay after school and hang out with my kids and get to know them better. To share the ambition and motivation I have for life that so many of them don't understand. To show them I really care. To show them I can stop and breath and not stress. To let them see how much I really do enjoy and love life. To make sure they know I love them! To sit and laugh with them at their silly jokes and antics. To tell them about my family, and listen to their stories about theirs. To learn Marshallese, and laugh at myself with them as I pronounce it wrong AGAIN. To teach them about the things they really want to learn. To answer the many, many questions they have about God and life and stuff. To show them I'm as ready to listen as they are to talk and ask questions. They are such great kids!

    I promise myself to do better this next week as I review my year in my head:

• I have been here for more than half of my total time (unless it works out that I will be staying here for the summer).
• I have NOT taught my students even a fraction of what I hoped to this year.
• I feel like I have learned 400% more than I thought I could ever learn in 5 months.
• I have not accomplished half of my personal goals for this year which include:
• learning the ukulele
• learning Marshallese
• establishing better eating habits
• learning to stop procrastinating (Yes, I am queen of procrastination. And no, procrastination does not automatically stop when you are not a college student.)
• many, many, MANY more goals

    I have put my personal goals at the end of the list because I am not done here. I still have more time. Yes, I promise: I will do better this week.

    "Silly Leanna!" others tell me. "You are trying to hard. You are going to drain yourself. Look, you are doing what you can, and you are teaching your classes. That's all you can do. You need to change your standard and realize that the kids just don't care to change."

     Maybe they are right. Maybe not. Anyway, I will not stop trying. It's January, and I am still okay. Sure, I'm tired, but I have an underlying energy (which was renewed during Christmas break) that I need to focus on my kids, because they deserve the best. My life is a gift from God that I must use to serve others in the best way that I know. And I must pray every step of every day so that God will use what I'm offering to Him. I will do my best, and He will do the rest. Because honestly, some days my best really isn't much! I am here in Ebeye this year for a reason. No, for many reasons!

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."           ~Philippians 2:13-16

    Lord, I know you put me here for a reason. Please work in me and help me. Let this year of 2014 bring Your coming exponentially closer as we work to complete the work set before us. When I leave Ebeye I want to rejoice knowing that I have not run/labored in vain. When we pull out on that ferry I pray that I will be able to leave without regrets about this year, knowing that I taught them everything I could about You and Your Love. :)

Ebeye's ferry dock. The first thing I saw in August, and last thing I will see this summer. <3

    

Pictures From Around

Moon over Guegeegue

   Guegeegue is north of Ebeye about 5 miles on the causeway that connects five or six islands. Guegeegue is a small island with the more well-off people's homes and is the location of the Kwajalein Atoll Public High School. I am amazed at the difference from Ebeye. There is much less trash and many more trees and plants. It's so GREEN! :) I love it. It was a much needed break when we went to Guegeegue for the first time on August 17.

   One Sabbath afternoon in September we joined Michael and Love for a ground-breaking meeting in preparation for the upcoming evangelistic meetings. We went out in teams and helped our young church members have courage as they knocked on each door to invite them to our outdoor meeting by the deacon's house in half-an-hour. My entire Marshallese vocabulary at that time consisted of Yokwe (hello) and komol tata (thank you very much). I was able to practice at each door and then nudge Fila forward to invite them. We covered the whole island in about fifteen minutes then meandered back taking pictures of everything along the way and enjoying the fresh scents. :)

   Over eighteen people from the island joined our group of young adults and teachers for the FIRST meeting that night. We were so excited, and began praying immediately for each one in attendance that night that the Holy Spirit would work on their hearts as well as guide the message that Michael was presenting. Part way through the sermon, a lady in the back began having a seizure and fell to the ground. Kent (a missionary teacher who is a nurse) quickly went to her side and called Michael (who works at the hospital) for assistance. After about fifteen minutes someone took her to hospital in Ebeye. Michael informed us that she had been to the hospital several times before and had recurring seizures and would be fine. We returned to our meeting and finished without any further incidents.

   Because of these meetings that Michael continued in preparation for the evangelistic series, several are now taking personal Bible studies and they are looking into putting a church in Guegeegue hopefully in the near future. God is definitely working here and reaching many. There are over 15,000 people, though, and maybe 30-40 in regular attendance at our church (if you look at the church record, I'm told that there are over 300 members... definitely NOT accurate, or at leas they don't attend). There is much to do. God is ready to use those who are willing to step out in faith.

"Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'"                  ~Luke 10:2

Guegeegue Dock

Fila, Miss Ang, Shania, and Miss Q.

Fila, Shania, Miss Ang, Oronia, Miss Q, and Sharon <3

Sunset

Beach Park is at the southern tip of Ebeye next to the power plant and is a common place to go for a quick swim, a picnic, a sunset view, or any other excuse we can find to go hang out and relax. We end our Sunday morning jog here with a refreshing swim. :D

Beach Park

Rain over Carlos - island on the far side of the Kwajalein Atoll

Beach Park Sunset

I love the little poofy clouds!

The Ladies' Basketball "Coaches"

   There are two ferries that run the 15-minute trip back and forth between Ebeye and Kwajalein eight times a day each. It is free as it mostly carries workers back and forth, and you may ride whenever you like. However, you cannot go past the ferry station into Kwaj without a sponsor and a good reason...

Ang and I were able to go into Kwaj twice during first semester. We went with the middle school basketball teams as the ladies' coaches. Despite the fact that I know hardly anything about basketball, I am glad they choose us as their sponsors.

Kindergartner Valerie and 6th-gr. Billica, our students

    The students really enjoy the basketball games in Kwaj, except some of the girls aren't so sure about the part where they have to run. And some are scared to play. But they really do enjoy seeing Kwaj (the farthest about 75% of my students have ever been from Ebeye). And they really enjoy the Kwaj food court afterward, almost as much as their teachers. Pizza, Burger King, or SUBWAY!!!

Benji, Rudy, and Waihee

     Problem: the first time we went this year the food court was already closed by the time our game was done. No fast food for us. The second time they were just closing, and so a few kids cleaned out what was left at the pizza place.

    No Subway, but that's okay, we've had Subway brought to us a few times in Ebeye through a Kwaj worker or something. :) That's a treat!

Benji, Rudy, Wayne, and Waihee in back; BJ and Mardon in front

    We had so much fun. Basketball is THE SPORT for boys in Ebeye. Volleyball for girls. :)
    I love their smiles, and you can see the joy in their faces. It's always there. :)

RoseAlin, Jule, Kiobi, and Eoata
Cheesin' !!

My 6th grade girls ready for the 2nd basketball trip

Emon Beach in Kwaj (2-second stop on the way to basketball)

Just so happy! :)        Random Observation: I'm standing really awkwardly in this picture!