Dancing down the homestretch

Seniors: Annette, Sharlyn, and Minako

Although my days as a student missionary in Chuuk are winding down, these last few days have felt like anything but that. The list of details for graduation that Russell (the 8^th grade advisor) and I have to make sure are in place keeps getting longer, and every other hour my emotions swing from being confident that this graduation will go off without a hitch, to the other extreme – that one too many things will go wrong and I’ll just end up being embarrassed. There are certificates to be printed, gowns to be ironed, and reception tickets to be finalized by the parents. Communication in Chuuk has something to be desired; when I call a student’s house I rarely get an answer, and I wonder if a few of the parents have even received one letter that I've sent home this year. Ergo, my frazzled emotions… recently I've felt like I’m not good enough for the job – and that I’m not doing enough.

His power is made perfect in weakness – 2 Corinthians 12:9

I have that verse written in the front of my Bible, a constant reminder that I’m just a prayer away from Someone who can work through my weaknesses and shortcomings. I’m a firm believer that God has his hand in everything we do, and so many times He has worked despite my lack of qualifications; He’s helped a program or class run smoothly, brought a surprising answer to a prayer, and given me strength to face each new day.

There've been times this year when things have been bleak. I've been lonely, frustrated, and more lost then I’d like to admit. But He’s been there, helping me along the way and exposing me to the flaws in my character. From that, I've been able to grow in my faith, make ‘adjustments as needed,’ and learned to trust in His plans.

More and more my thoughts are turning to home. Excited doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about being back in Washington again in a couple weeks! I can’t wait to…

be reunited with friends and family

I'll miss seeing neat ocean critters,
like this cute puffer fish

eat fresh raspberries, cherries, and strawberries

exchange stories late into the night

have a destination when I go running

hear my favorite pastors preach

drive on smooth roads

eat pie at midnight at Sheri’s

have movie nights

take hot showers

smell sagebrush and pine trees

eat vegetables. lots of veggies

be back on the other side of the desk

go on dates

hear new music

go backpacking

Chuuk has been… in a word, different. An adventure for sure – this island’s culture and this school are vastly unlike anything else I've experienced, and so many times we have just had to glance at each other and say: “This is Chuuk.” I know that this year has shaped me, and though many times I've questioned the wisdom of God calling me from Kosrae to Chuuk, I know that I've been blessed by taking that leap of faith and trusting Him to catch me.

The days on the calendar are being crossed off and as our commencement ceremony on May 26^th gets closer and closer, I’m looking forward to calling out my senior’s names as they walk across the stage and receive their diplomas, and I just hope that I’ll be able to keep my emotions in check. They just look so good in their caps and gowns! I’m proud of my seniors for the things that they have accomplished in the last 12 years, and for the goals and dreams that I pray they’ll achieve. My time with these ten teenagers and the rest of the students here has been brief, but I know I’ll soon miss them and their diverse personalities: Minako's steadiness, Defitson's quirky humor, and Sheila’s loyalty.

Defitson, Jake, Madision, Alberton,
Praise, and Motoky

The people I've met here are lovely, and I’m going to miss…

the giving nature of the Chuukese

island sunsets

my sweet Filipino roommates

having a beach right down the street

the fourth graders

massages with my roommate

fresh coconuts

the hormonal weather

hearing “What’s happeninggg? What are you doinggg?”

I won’t miss those huge brown spiders. They’re scary. And fast. That’s a terrible combination.

Through all the good days, and despite the exhausting days, spending a year as an SM was one of the best decisions I've made, and I’d encourage those of you who are thinking about it to just do it! Go!

It’s going to be a shock to jump back into my busy American life, but I’ll be bringing home my ukulele, probably some stowaway cockroaches and ants, and a lifetimes worth of stories and memories from these ten short months to tide me over. I know that when things get hectic and I long for the slow lifestyle of these islands, I’ll be able to close my eyes and smell the salt of the ocean, feel the sand between my toes, hear my students singing, and recall my time in the tropics as the chorus of my mind sings “You did it, well done.”

I'll treasure every memory I have
with these wonderful girls!

I had three spiders that lived inches away
from my head as I slept for most of the
year, but this guy freaks me out...

Making pyramids
during Bible Retreat.