Settling in and Gearing up

I can't believe we've only been here for a handful of days!! I feel as if we've been here for weeks!! We're already getting acquainted with the island. Took another bus ride to a different side today, even went to a garage sale! It's so nice to be in a safe environment! Everyone is so happy and friendly! I can say "hello" and start up a conversation with anyone anywhere! We chatted with the lady putting on the garage sale, our waiter at the restaurant the other day and everyone who passes by on the sidewalk! It's such a warm & friendly place!

Last night we went to their youth group. There were dozens of kids there (ages ranging from kindergarten through college). It was so much fun!! Everything was outdoors (it's far too hot to do anything indoors). There were intense games of basketball going on with all the older guys. We played several games of volleyball under the palm trees & stars. it was awesome (HOT & SWEATY but awesome)!! We met many children and had great conversations with some of the parents and the youth leaders. The speaker (Brian), was a Southern baptist preacher who set up a baptist k-8 school here on the island 4 years ago and travels around doing ministry in New Zealand, and other areas as well. He spoke about reconciliation and how God calls us to be reconciled with Him (to become believers) and what that looks like. He also talked about how its the job of those of the students who are believers to talk to others about God and how they need to be reconciled to Him. After that we had more great conversations with the students and then headed off to a night market. We were able to taste many new foods & fruits of which I can't remember their names. We also got coconuts and Fa'atui showed us how to open them to drink the milk and eat the meat. They were delicious!! It was also fun to have coconut milk on our cereal this morning!

Today we spent several hours talking about how teaching is going to work for the next 4 weeks. We lesson planned the Bible class. Brain-stormed for songs, games and other things that we will do for the kids at the end of each day of school. Later in the afternoon we cleaned up the beach all along the village of Fatumafuti. Once all the trash cans were filled we had a few hours for R & R. Some of us looked for shells and had fun with many sea creatures including many colorful crabs, sea cucumbers, slugs... Cambrie even spotted a sting ray with her goggles!

Tomorrow we will experience their church for the first time. We leave at 8:30am. It's been such a joy getting to know Fa'atui (the head of the mission school), his daughters, their children and other staff members here at South Pacific International Christian Center! I pray that we have blessed them even close to the extent that they have blessed us!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1.) Preparation for teaching as we begin first thing Monday morning.
2.) Team unity so that we can work together and not cause grief for each other or the wonderful people here (10 people all having 10 different opinions of how things should be done can be hard)
3.) That we would continue to remember why we are here (TO SERVE & NOT to be served)
4.) That we would go outside our comfort zones and take advantage of situations and conversations that the Lord would like us to have
5.) A man Tyler (our team leader) was able to share the gospel with the other night on the beach. He is an alcoholic with a very difficult life and needs Jesus above all else. Please pray that their conversation will stick with the man and/or that Tyler will be able to talk to him again.

THANKS SO MUCH!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!