Earlier int he week we emptied out a large storage room of books, bedding and other things. It was quite a dirty project as much of it had been in there for a long time! The moisture and bugs had damaged some of the items but we organized all of the good books into their school library and threw out or put away all the other items. By the time we finished, the room looked great but we looked as if we'd all taken a shower in our clothes and then rolled in a dust pile! Haha!
Today we went to Fa'atui's church, Ola Fou. It was so cool!! Everyone wears beautiful white dresses and white suit coats with lava lavas (a traditional type of skirt for both males and females). The women all wear really neat & fancy oldfashioned hats. The church building was big and beautiful! Stained glass windows and a neat wood ceiling. The music was the most touching thing!! Dozens of beautiful voices singing hymns in Samoan with an organ. It was incredible! Made me excited for what it will be like in heaven some day!! Everyone praising the Lord in perfect harmony! :) The service was almost entirely in Samoan. That made it difficult to stay awake as the heat inside the building was intense! We took turns waving a big fan (very common here) though and that was wonderful!
The relaxing atmosphere here on Tutuila is shown in many ways. Everyone has their own gardens here on the island since there isn't much room or soil for farming. The speed limit is 25 all around the island (even slower on big curves). It's typical to see many people riding in the back of pickup trucks. The guys on our team usually ride in the truck bed when we go places since there are so many of us. When in public or entertaining guests we all have to wear the traditional lava lavas. The school gave us fabric and one of my team mambers (Mary) graciously sewed them all for us. Bless her for her hard work!
This past week we had cooks in the kitchen here at the school but they are now off for the summer so we'll be preparing our own meals. We take turns with cooking and cleaning. At dinner time Fa'atui gives a devotinal and his familiy usually sings at least one song in Samoan. They are beautiful songs!
We went out to lunch at a Hong Long restaurant after church. That is the only thing traditional Samoans will do on Sundays (Church then lunch then rest). We aren't allowed to work or do any other activities until night church this evening at 6pm.
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
1. Myself and one other guy on my team (Chuck) as we are still fighting illness (sinus infection etc....)
2. Unity for my team as we become more comfortable with each other and therefore can have more opportunities to say hurtful things in sarcasm or act selfishly in other ways
3. Our first day of school tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a bit hectic and overwhelming
THANKS EVERYONE!! TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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!!
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!!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Alive & Well (also warm & sticky... Haha!)
Talofa friends & family!
First post here on the island!! I must start by saying GOD IS SO MUCH BETTER TO US THAN WE EVER EVER DESERVE!!! The flights were great (tho I hardly slept)! The island hopper was tiny & fun! Kinda felt like the Tower of terror a couple times but we made it safe & sound! The air conditioning on the plane turned into fog instantly which was fun and the plane was so tiny we could see the pilot and our luggage at the same time (FROM OUR SEATS!! Haha!) The view flying over the islands was incredible!! It felt like we were flying into Neverland!!
Once on the ground we were picked up by the missionaries here (born natives) Beta & Fa'atui. They are in charge of the mission school here which will host about 80 children for the summer school program. We begin teaching (assisting teaching) on Monday. We met the teachers today and went through a brief orientation. Our team is assisting in teaching reading, and math. We are also in charge of teaching the Bible class which is the last period of the day.
The village of Fatumafuti is small. Futi rock is right outside our window! It's unbelievable!! We were able to go swimming the first afternoon we arived! The water is just as warm as the air and the coral is just as sharp as we were warned it would be. Many of us were bleeding a bit when we got out. Haha! Only minor scrapes. The tide is strong and makes it a little tough to see what you're stepping on at times so that caused us to trip.
The house we are staying in here on campus is HUGE!! Climbing one of the outdoor stair cases I feel as though I'm in Swiss Family Robinson!! The lush growth all around us in unlike anything I've ever ever seen!! Banana & breadfruit trees, indescribable flowers and bushes! The sounds of the native birds are fun! As well as the chickens. There are dogs here but they look more like wild dogs and kinda seem to fend for themselves.
The children we have met so far (the missionaries grandchildren and others who live here at the school) are precious and fun!! They want to follow us everyone and do everything we do! They are a joy! Zamira (a 6th grade girl here) has been a great help to us girls! She shows us around and answers questions whenever she can! Her younger brother Zephaniah loves swimming with us and goofing around with the boys on our team.
I broke out in hives on my shoulders, arms and neck the first day. Not sure if it was from the sunscreen I put on, the heat or what but praise the Lord they mostly went away with medicine!!
The humidity is something I might struggle with but as long as I can last between cold bottles of water, swimming or taking a cold shower I should be okay ;)
It has already rained a couple of times (I guess it does that often) but the rain never cools anything down. it stays about the same temperature all the time with the same amount of humidity. The rain comes HEAVY & without warning!! It slaps the ground and then disappears just as quickly as it came leaving everything even a little wetter than it already was.
We took the bus into Pago Pago Harbor today for lunch. It was fun! Loud music and very friendly Samoans everywhere! They all say hello, ask us where we are from and if we are enjoying our stay. It's been so nice! Tomorrow Fa'atui is going to take us out to see more of the island.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1.) Adjusting to the constant humidity & heat
2.) Our preparations for teaching on Monday (we must plan our own Bible lessons)
3.) Humility as we learn about the island, how we should relate to the culture, what we can do and not do and how we have LOTS to learn!!!
4.) Bug bite (several of us already have many) but they were expected
5.) Harmony for our team (that we will continue to serve each other and put each other's needs first
6. Lastly that we will be servants to and nothing but a blessing to everyone here at the mission
THANKS SO MUCH!!! TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!!
Hope everyone is doing well back home! I love you all!
First post here on the island!! I must start by saying GOD IS SO MUCH BETTER TO US THAN WE EVER EVER DESERVE!!! The flights were great (tho I hardly slept)! The island hopper was tiny & fun! Kinda felt like the Tower of terror a couple times but we made it safe & sound! The air conditioning on the plane turned into fog instantly which was fun and the plane was so tiny we could see the pilot and our luggage at the same time (FROM OUR SEATS!! Haha!) The view flying over the islands was incredible!! It felt like we were flying into Neverland!!
Once on the ground we were picked up by the missionaries here (born natives) Beta & Fa'atui. They are in charge of the mission school here which will host about 80 children for the summer school program. We begin teaching (assisting teaching) on Monday. We met the teachers today and went through a brief orientation. Our team is assisting in teaching reading, and math. We are also in charge of teaching the Bible class which is the last period of the day.
The village of Fatumafuti is small. Futi rock is right outside our window! It's unbelievable!! We were able to go swimming the first afternoon we arived! The water is just as warm as the air and the coral is just as sharp as we were warned it would be. Many of us were bleeding a bit when we got out. Haha! Only minor scrapes. The tide is strong and makes it a little tough to see what you're stepping on at times so that caused us to trip.
The house we are staying in here on campus is HUGE!! Climbing one of the outdoor stair cases I feel as though I'm in Swiss Family Robinson!! The lush growth all around us in unlike anything I've ever ever seen!! Banana & breadfruit trees, indescribable flowers and bushes! The sounds of the native birds are fun! As well as the chickens. There are dogs here but they look more like wild dogs and kinda seem to fend for themselves.
The children we have met so far (the missionaries grandchildren and others who live here at the school) are precious and fun!! They want to follow us everyone and do everything we do! They are a joy! Zamira (a 6th grade girl here) has been a great help to us girls! She shows us around and answers questions whenever she can! Her younger brother Zephaniah loves swimming with us and goofing around with the boys on our team.
I broke out in hives on my shoulders, arms and neck the first day. Not sure if it was from the sunscreen I put on, the heat or what but praise the Lord they mostly went away with medicine!!
The humidity is something I might struggle with but as long as I can last between cold bottles of water, swimming or taking a cold shower I should be okay ;)
It has already rained a couple of times (I guess it does that often) but the rain never cools anything down. it stays about the same temperature all the time with the same amount of humidity. The rain comes HEAVY & without warning!! It slaps the ground and then disappears just as quickly as it came leaving everything even a little wetter than it already was.
We took the bus into Pago Pago Harbor today for lunch. It was fun! Loud music and very friendly Samoans everywhere! They all say hello, ask us where we are from and if we are enjoying our stay. It's been so nice! Tomorrow Fa'atui is going to take us out to see more of the island.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1.) Adjusting to the constant humidity & heat
2.) Our preparations for teaching on Monday (we must plan our own Bible lessons)
3.) Humility as we learn about the island, how we should relate to the culture, what we can do and not do and how we have LOTS to learn!!!
4.) Bug bite (several of us already have many) but they were expected
5.) Harmony for our team (that we will continue to serve each other and put each other's needs first
6. Lastly that we will be servants to and nothing but a blessing to everyone here at the mission
THANKS SO MUCH!!! TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!!
Hope everyone is doing well back home! I love you all!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
WAIT
"Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my Salvation; For You I wait all the day. ~Psalm 25:4-5
"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes wait for the Lord." ~Psalm 27:13-14
Key word: WAIT.
Ha!! Great word for the day huh? All I want to do is hurry!! All I want to do is jump on that plane and go!! But God is asking me to wait. Just a few more hours! Nothing really! Yet......I'm so nervous and gittery and excited!!
Only God knows what is in store. Only God knows what He is going to teach us, how He is going to work through us and what He has planned for us!! I'm so excited to wait because I know what will come after the waiting! :D
ANOTHER THING....
We were told last night that we will be asked at any time to speak, sing perform a dance or skit at any time!! It happens often! So...we're to be prepared to NOT be prepared!! Grrrrreat!!! Kimberly Ebner likes to plan. So what do I do? "NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR'S BE DONE GOD. HELP ME TO SERVE, THINKING OF OTHERS AT ALL TIMES."
This should be interesting!! MANY funny stories to tell in the days ahead I'm sure!!! (PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!! Haha!)
"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes wait for the Lord." ~Psalm 27:13-14
Key word: WAIT.
Ha!! Great word for the day huh? All I want to do is hurry!! All I want to do is jump on that plane and go!! But God is asking me to wait. Just a few more hours! Nothing really! Yet......I'm so nervous and gittery and excited!!
Only God knows what is in store. Only God knows what He is going to teach us, how He is going to work through us and what He has planned for us!! I'm so excited to wait because I know what will come after the waiting! :D
ANOTHER THING....
We were told last night that we will be asked at any time to speak, sing perform a dance or skit at any time!! It happens often! So...we're to be prepared to NOT be prepared!! Grrrrreat!!! Kimberly Ebner likes to plan. So what do I do? "NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR'S BE DONE GOD. HELP ME TO SERVE, THINKING OF OTHERS AT ALL TIMES."
This should be interesting!! MANY funny stories to tell in the days ahead I'm sure!!! (PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!! Haha!)
Leaving in Less than 6 hours
Okay...so I wasn't really that nervous before. Then I began to get nervous while I was packing. Now that our team is back together and we've spent time meeting, talking and praying I feel I am ready to board that plane!!!
We've discussed how insignificant we are and how we can't do anything on our own (therefore anything and everything good we do on this trip will be from CHRIST alone.
We've discussed how we serve an all-knowing, amazing, always faithful, never failing, beautiful, and merciful, Creator & sustainer God and how much we don't deserve to be saved, but we are because He loved us THAT much!!
We also discussed how we need to and should want to share that amazing love with others. We didn't don't deserve God's love but because He has lavished it on us, we should be more than willing to share it with others out of love for them and for God.
We've discussed how we are the aroma of Christ and that whatever we do and wherever we go we should leave behind the sweet aroma of our Savior keeping them searching for more and looking past us to the Lord!
Finally we prayed together with another team from Masters who leaves today to India! It was a wonderful prayer time! Everyone shared prayer requests for home as well as for their trip. We all took turns praying for each other, lifting each other up to God and praising Him for all He has done and what He plans to do in us and through us in these next 2 months!! By the end of our prayer time, a precious peace from God wrapped itself around my soul and I was truly ready to do "all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)
We've discussed how insignificant we are and how we can't do anything on our own (therefore anything and everything good we do on this trip will be from CHRIST alone.
We've discussed how we serve an all-knowing, amazing, always faithful, never failing, beautiful, and merciful, Creator & sustainer God and how much we don't deserve to be saved, but we are because He loved us THAT much!!
We also discussed how we need to and should want to share that amazing love with others. We didn't don't deserve God's love but because He has lavished it on us, we should be more than willing to share it with others out of love for them and for God.
We've discussed how we are the aroma of Christ and that whatever we do and wherever we go we should leave behind the sweet aroma of our Savior keeping them searching for more and looking past us to the Lord!
Finally we prayed together with another team from Masters who leaves today to India! It was a wonderful prayer time! Everyone shared prayer requests for home as well as for their trip. We all took turns praying for each other, lifting each other up to God and praising Him for all He has done and what He plans to do in us and through us in these next 2 months!! By the end of our prayer time, a precious peace from God wrapped itself around my soul and I was truly ready to do "all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Packing & Preparing...
An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach as I began packing my suitcase Thursday night. This is my 3rd time packing for an overseas trip so one should think I would be more comfortable with it by now, yet it’s still stressful because I don’t want to forget anything important. I only need to bring half as much as I ever took to South Africa (being it was the middle of winter there when I went and we needed to bundle up) yet the packing process still played on my nerves.
Speaking of nerves, they are quite alive inside me tonight!! It’s hard to relax! Only 3 more days until we leave!! I keep thinking about all the experiences ahead of us!! I wonder who we will meet…? What the culture will be like…? If it will be difficult to adjust too…? Only God knows for sure! And I’m so glad HE does! I don’t need to know what the future holds because I KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE!!
A verse caught my attention in my reading last night. Psalm 34:7-8 "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" We currently are and will most definitely continue fearing, trusting, and taking refuge in the Lord! He is so much better to us than we deserve!! And I am eternally grateful!! God has a plan for each of us as we head over the Pacific Ocean to serve! I can’t wait to see what those plans hold!
Speaking of nerves, they are quite alive inside me tonight!! It’s hard to relax! Only 3 more days until we leave!! I keep thinking about all the experiences ahead of us!! I wonder who we will meet…? What the culture will be like…? If it will be difficult to adjust too…? Only God knows for sure! And I’m so glad HE does! I don’t need to know what the future holds because I KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE!!
A verse caught my attention in my reading last night. Psalm 34:7-8 "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" We currently are and will most definitely continue fearing, trusting, and taking refuge in the Lord! He is so much better to us than we deserve!! And I am eternally grateful!! God has a plan for each of us as we head over the Pacific Ocean to serve! I can’t wait to see what those plans hold!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
WE ARE SAMOA
WE ARE SAMOA BY JEROME GREY
Our Samoa, The Greatest place of all
She is green and blue lush with beauty
And hearts are pure as gold
Touch someone with tears of joy
Touch someone with smiles of love
Oh! What happy feelings
From such happy people
We are Samoa
People from the sun
We are Samoa
And our heritage lives on
Teach world humanity and hospitality
We are Samoa
And we trust in Thee
Samoa, e pele oe I si ou fatu
O le a ea se mea e ao ona fai
E tautua ai mo oe
O sasae ma sisifo e tasi
O le viiga lea I le lagi
Aiga ma nuu taitasi
Tuu mai lou aao
Ta pepese faatasi
Uso Samoa
Fanau mai le la
Uso Samoa
Manumanu I le upega
A oo I nuu ese le loto alofa
Samoa mo oe
Samoa mo Le Atua
Our Samoa, The Greatest place of all
She is green and blue lush with beauty
And hearts are pure as gold
Touch someone with tears of joy
Touch someone with smiles of love
Oh! What happy feelings
From such happy people
We are Samoa
People from the sun
We are Samoa
And our heritage lives on
Teach world humanity and hospitality
We are Samoa
And we trust in Thee
Samoa, e pele oe I si ou fatu
O le a ea se mea e ao ona fai
E tautua ai mo oe
O sasae ma sisifo e tasi
O le viiga lea I le lagi
Aiga ma nuu taitasi
Tuu mai lou aao
Ta pepese faatasi
Uso Samoa
Fanau mai le la
Uso Samoa
Manumanu I le upega
A oo I nuu ese le loto alofa
Samoa mo oe
Samoa mo Le Atua
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