B-U-S-Y

My Chuukese friends in Guam are always telling me that I'm too busy, but Chuuk has me busier than ever. I'm excited with everything that's going on here, but also exhausted. I scheduled myself a really cheap massage today but even that's wedged in between some plans. The nights are quiet and the lights are so dim that I get to sleep very early, but that's usually when I'm productive. Anyway, I'm telling you all this because I'm not keeping up on my blog like I'd want to. There is so much to share, some of which I will share here, and most of which I'll share when I get back to Guam or the states. Please keep praying for me here, and I'll catch up with you all very soon.
Love, Jen

Best Birthday Ever

Pineapple and hiking.

Chuuk- what are we doing here?

I have been in Chuuk, FSM, with two other PIU members for the past five days doing a little more than just enjoying paradise. We arrived Wednesday, June 9, to prepare Mizpah High School students for the TOEFL test we administered today, Saturday June 12. Due to graduations and other special events, the workshops were not held this past week although we did get to meet with the graduating seniors and have a round table discussion with them about high school and plans after. We were special guests at their graduation, and ate Chuukese bento box-style lunches after in celebration. Mizpah and PIU arranged for me to stay an extra week in Chuuk to teach an intensive English workshop to their juniors and seniors. Sarah B, our new English instructor, lead the workshop today while I graded  TOEFL tests from this mornings' 9 students. We played an "ice breaker" game at first to get the students talking and laughing, and then her grammar lesson took off from that while I sat in the back of the hot classroom cooled by fans and a breeze from an open door. A campus dog, I'm assuming, walked around the classroom while she was teaching and I was grading. I had my iPod on to reduce all of the random noise into familiar sounds of U2, Muse, and other indie bands that, even though on "random," produced a divine playlist for two hours of grading. After the workshop, we were able to chat with the head of the high school and his nieces, who will be attending all next week. I have to say that both Sarah and I have connected with amazing people while out here. Some have been Steve's old friends, some are students' parents we met for the first time. Some, I'm still waiting to see.

Steve and Sarah will be going home this Sunday evening (early Monday morning) and I will stay behind to work with future PIU students, or anyone who is interested, on improving their English. Many people told me that I wouldn't like Chuuk, that I'd be scared of it, or that the litter and mud (or dust) would just gross me out, but I feel so comfortable here. It helps that I am staying at the hotel of one of our Board members, "Truk Stop," and get to eat pretty great meals that include my favorite...salad...but I have to say that even the lesser parts have just reminded me of places I've been to and fallen in love with. From walking down the street to hiking up to a lighthouse, everything I see, even in a less than presentable form, has so much beauty in it. This is what I feel God has called me to, and couldn't be more thankful for the knowledge and understanding I've gained of our students. I will update you on specifics in future blog posts, but I'm hoping that you have an understanding of what exactly we're doing. Thanks for your time and please continue to pray for us as we work out here, for Sarah as she starts her class (and the first week of mine) next week, for Steve as he travels back to Guam, and for me as I work in Chuuk an extra week.


Love, Jen





"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

birthday..already?

Since we'll be in Chuuk on my actual birthday, 6/11, some great people came over Saturday night to hang out and celebrate with me. We made homemade pizzas, had many many cakes and pies, and played games/hung out. I have to say that this has been one of my best bday weeks in a long time. Everyone here and in the states have made me feel very special so far. I can't wait to be 26!

I'm thankful for the decorators, cake providers, pizza makers, game players, and that would have to include everyone who came =)

Plans

In two days I'll be on my way to Chuuk with new teacher/friend Sarah and our friend, mentor, family Steve. I can't wait to go for many reasons, such as:

1. I will have a better opportunity to understand my students
2. I will be able to spend a lot of quiet time with God and go to bed early...which means..
3. I will be able to recharge, hopefully.

I am looking forward to experiencing a new culture and letting myself grow and change from the experiences. We may be working there, and we will surely be giving a TOEFL test for future PIU students. Please pray for our journey from June 9-14. I know I need it.

June...ALREADY!

It's June 2, and minutes away from June 3, which has already gone by way too fast. May was the LONGEST MONTH EVER. School ended, the traveling team left, my expected break was interrupted, and people came and went. I was lonely, frustrated, weird, excited, confused, and all kinds of emotions. The end of the month, however, came with huge blessings. I'm so excited about what God's provided for me this summer. I am truly convinced that His plans are better than mine. If I had it my way, I'd be back in the states visiting at this time. If I had done that I would have missed out on so many amazing things.

This afternoon, I noticed that my friend's license plate had the numbers 6011 on it. 611 is my number. On good days, I look at the clock at 6:11. That's always unexpected, but when it happens, it catches my attention. After explaining this today, I checked the time later on at...yep...6:11. Today was a good day. 6/11 is also my birthday, which will put me half way to 52. Where have the last 26 years of my life gone? I have done more, experienced more, and seen more than a lot of people my age. I wouldn't trade the good or bad experiences for anything, and I look forward to the next 26 years. I think this is my half way point to the next set of amazing experiences in my life.

This year, on 6/11, I'll be on the more remote island of Weno, Chuuk, eating sashimi and...banana pancakes...and other things, most likely enjoying the view of our hotel, connecting with future students and current friends, and taking in the whole experience. I believe this will kick off the next great chapters of my life, and I couldn't be more excited.

Double Reef

Some new and awesome friends took Sarah, who is also a new and awesome friend, and me to Double Reef on the northern Navy base on the island for an afternoon of hiking and swimming. We explored a cave, found deer remains (my first deer on Guam...even though there's apparently many), saw two monitor lizards, found ancient pottery, and got to experience part of the paradise that is our island. I had an amazing time, especially since this was my third new hike in five days. I'm considering myself blessed to have such an amazing summer already. Check out some of the pics: