I don't know where to begin. So much has happened and I don't know what exactly to share. Let me start with some adorable things my students have done recently. Last week Sheana, one of my third graders, wrapped her arms around me and sang me a song that she says she wrote herself, "Sugar pie honey bunch, you know that I love you!" she sings to me. Hmmm I am pretty sure The Temptations wrote that one Sheana my dear. I just hugged her and thanked her for the song. The same day I found another one of my third graders, Kibosan, meditating during lunch! All the kids where running around and he looked like he just was about done with noise level and he needed to get away. The sight was hilarious, ill try and post a picture that I snuck of him while doing it. In first grade we pray before beginning lessons and during the prayer I heard some voices. When we said amen one of my students told on another one saying, "Miss Lysa, his eyes were open while we were praying!" and then he proceeds to tell the other student, "You cant do that! You have to close your eyes or else you will hurt Jesus's feelings" That was one of the most adorable things id ever heard. I wish I could record every bit of these kids conversations because they are hilarious. Mid-quarter grades were due last week and I was very proud of all of my students because they all are doing very well. I cant believe we are more than half way done with the first quarter!
I am learning so many new things! I hardly feel like the same girl to be honest, but a good friend of mine said to me, "that's the point!" and he is totally right. I am expanding myself so much.
This past weekend was special. On Sabbath morning it was pouring rain and here in Palau, it rains hard. You know how in movies it starts pouring rain super hard really fast and you think to yourself, "that's so not real, it always drizzles for awhile first" well Palau is like the movies, it pours out of NO where. After getting all dolled up for church all the girls put on rain jackets and headed for the vans (of course we first took pictures before getting soaked) and headed out. The service began with special music from some of the youth (a lot of them being my students) and they sounded so wonderful it gave me chills. The sermon was given by one of my fellow missionaries, Joey. I cant explain exactly how the Holy Spirit moved me so much during his sermon but I felt like I was definitely hearing the words of God through Joey and I gained an abundance of blessings. After potluck we headed out to an old lighthouse that was shot down during World War II and we were amazed by the view. We took so many pictures I have yet to post and when we saw the rain coming back we rushed to the vans. On our way back home one of the vans ran out of gas and the real adventures began. Half of us would sit in the van to help it go down hill and get out and run to make it lighter uphill. After a mile of doing this the van finally stopped and we were lucky enough that some locals stopped by and gave us a rope to tie the vans together. With way too many bodies in one van we began to pull the other while having a Disney song karaoke party to lighten the mood. We finally made it back home and rushed to change and make it to our Principals wife's surprise birthday dinner at a place called The Dropoff. Half way through dinner I realized I was having an allergic reaction to the new scented coconut oil I had bought the day before. I let my principal know and we got home as quickly as possible and everyone began setting up for the last birthday surprise for Mrs. Sanchez while I quickly showered. Our surprise was successful and we delighted ourselves with homemade apple pie one of the missionaries made. I have to say that despite the allergic reaction to the coconut oil, it was the best Sabbath I have had in a long while.
The next morning we rose bright and early to begin our scuba diving course. If you do not know me very well than you don't know that I really don't know how to swim. I have been practicing a lot more lately in preparation for scuba diving but still I am definitely no pro. We spent ten hours in the water and I only panicked once. The reason why I panicked was because we had to do a skill in which we needed to take our mask off under water, place it back on and clear the water from it. Well I cant open my eyes under water let alone extremely salty water so I kept mine closed, but after a long while of having them closed I began to feel claustrophobic. I opened my eyes and signaled my instructor that I needed to go up but he wouldn't let me! I grabbed the man with all the strength in me and squeezed him signaling that I NEEDED to go up. He made me get control of my breathing and once I did, he let me ascend. I felt very discouraged after this and wondered if the whole thing was even worth it. I thought to myself if I panic at ten feet what will I do next Sunday at 60? So I prayed about it the whole night and finally have decided that I am not going to give up. I just need to stay more relaxed next time. So after this coming Sunday I should be a certified scuba diver.
Lastly, I wanted to share the amazing thing that happened this morning. For the past year I have been struggling to forgive someone who had betrayed me, For the past week I have felt that God was telling me to forgive that person, and to let it go. I told Him no. I didn't want to. But how can I call myself a missionary with such anger lingering in my heart? God spoke to me through Matthew 18:22. I know it is time to give up the fight. I surrendered to God. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I finally feel free.
That's the best part about being a missionary I believe. That when you are so far away from life as you know it God reveals to you things you never could know unless you did leave. He is breaking me down, piece by piece by piece. There is no point in fighting with God. He will win, and you will be glad He does. After a year of hidden pain, I am free. Praise the Lord.
Like I said I am changing so much, but I am enjoying the ride. Until next time.
Blessings from Palau
Lysa
I am learning so many new things! I hardly feel like the same girl to be honest, but a good friend of mine said to me, "that's the point!" and he is totally right. I am expanding myself so much.
This past weekend was special. On Sabbath morning it was pouring rain and here in Palau, it rains hard. You know how in movies it starts pouring rain super hard really fast and you think to yourself, "that's so not real, it always drizzles for awhile first" well Palau is like the movies, it pours out of NO where. After getting all dolled up for church all the girls put on rain jackets and headed for the vans (of course we first took pictures before getting soaked) and headed out. The service began with special music from some of the youth (a lot of them being my students) and they sounded so wonderful it gave me chills. The sermon was given by one of my fellow missionaries, Joey. I cant explain exactly how the Holy Spirit moved me so much during his sermon but I felt like I was definitely hearing the words of God through Joey and I gained an abundance of blessings. After potluck we headed out to an old lighthouse that was shot down during World War II and we were amazed by the view. We took so many pictures I have yet to post and when we saw the rain coming back we rushed to the vans. On our way back home one of the vans ran out of gas and the real adventures began. Half of us would sit in the van to help it go down hill and get out and run to make it lighter uphill. After a mile of doing this the van finally stopped and we were lucky enough that some locals stopped by and gave us a rope to tie the vans together. With way too many bodies in one van we began to pull the other while having a Disney song karaoke party to lighten the mood. We finally made it back home and rushed to change and make it to our Principals wife's surprise birthday dinner at a place called The Dropoff. Half way through dinner I realized I was having an allergic reaction to the new scented coconut oil I had bought the day before. I let my principal know and we got home as quickly as possible and everyone began setting up for the last birthday surprise for Mrs. Sanchez while I quickly showered. Our surprise was successful and we delighted ourselves with homemade apple pie one of the missionaries made. I have to say that despite the allergic reaction to the coconut oil, it was the best Sabbath I have had in a long while.
The next morning we rose bright and early to begin our scuba diving course. If you do not know me very well than you don't know that I really don't know how to swim. I have been practicing a lot more lately in preparation for scuba diving but still I am definitely no pro. We spent ten hours in the water and I only panicked once. The reason why I panicked was because we had to do a skill in which we needed to take our mask off under water, place it back on and clear the water from it. Well I cant open my eyes under water let alone extremely salty water so I kept mine closed, but after a long while of having them closed I began to feel claustrophobic. I opened my eyes and signaled my instructor that I needed to go up but he wouldn't let me! I grabbed the man with all the strength in me and squeezed him signaling that I NEEDED to go up. He made me get control of my breathing and once I did, he let me ascend. I felt very discouraged after this and wondered if the whole thing was even worth it. I thought to myself if I panic at ten feet what will I do next Sunday at 60? So I prayed about it the whole night and finally have decided that I am not going to give up. I just need to stay more relaxed next time. So after this coming Sunday I should be a certified scuba diver.
Lastly, I wanted to share the amazing thing that happened this morning. For the past year I have been struggling to forgive someone who had betrayed me, For the past week I have felt that God was telling me to forgive that person, and to let it go. I told Him no. I didn't want to. But how can I call myself a missionary with such anger lingering in my heart? God spoke to me through Matthew 18:22. I know it is time to give up the fight. I surrendered to God. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I finally feel free.
That's the best part about being a missionary I believe. That when you are so far away from life as you know it God reveals to you things you never could know unless you did leave. He is breaking me down, piece by piece by piece. There is no point in fighting with God. He will win, and you will be glad He does. After a year of hidden pain, I am free. Praise the Lord.
Like I said I am changing so much, but I am enjoying the ride. Until next time.
Blessings from Palau
Lysa