the amazing adventures of new guinea jenny

this tuesday was the last day of school before our five week break! We spent the last part of our day making fortune cookies. The kids wrote fortunes or blessings on strips of paper to stick in the cookies, and they did an excellent job delegating responsibility to each other in order to get the cookies off the pan, the fortunes in, and then folded before they started to harden. I never knew how fortune cookies were made, so it was a learning experience for me as well. In all honesty, i am sure that i've learned 10 times what these kids have learned this year. What a wonderfully difficult year it has been. The next to last day of school, it was grade 5's turn to present something for chapel (every monday morning). My kids worked really hard on a skit about the Body of Christ (His church). They cut and painted body parts out of cardboard, and it wound up looking really excellent for only the 4 days that we practiced! We also worked on choreography to the song "We Are Family!", and I was very pleased to observe that even the boys seemed to be enjoying themselves up there on stage:)

This past Friday was "Banquet", a prom-like event for all 11th and 12th graders here at Ukarumpa. THe community worked the entire week to transform the teen center into the year's theme, New York City. The decorations simply blew me away, especially considering there was no Home Depot around the corner. There are some astoundingly talented people here! Some of the most amazing decorations were: a central park area (complete with park benches, bridges, a fountain and a fish pond), a lit skyline, a walk through a subway car (there was a place to paint grafitti on the subway walls under a blacklight), Lady Liberty, Times Square (which featured photos of the graduating seniors on the main screen), and a Broadway theatres ticket booth (i contributed by painting the Les Mis and Phantom posters).

 

The kids had no idea about the theme until they drove up to the front of the teen center. The community came out to show support, so the kids paraded through the  crowd as if they were attending some red carpet event. While they walked to the door, an announcer called out their name and a few facts about their life in PNG, or where they bought (or how they made) their clothes. After a delicious meal, the students watched a play put on by their parents and teachers, in their honor. There is a traditional encore performance the day after banquet for the community to be able to appreciate and take part in all the festivities. I was one in attendance last night and I thought the play was such a special way for the parents to express love to their kids. It included many inside jokes, but I still was laughing through most of the hour. It is a wonderful experience to be a part of such a close-knit and caring community.

 

 

Wednesday marks the start of the last term of this school year. In my heart I was feeling apprehensive about the beginning of term. A team of three school officials will be flying in today from all over the globe to reaccredit this school. This will mean interviews, observations, and overall scrutiny. My joy was being sapped because often the pressure to please people hangs like a weight around my neck.  Yesterday, I received a package in the mail full of fun school things; brightly colored pencils, stickers, and candy.  Guilt brought tears to my eyes because these lovingly packaged items should have mirrored my attitude, but instead I almost felt mocked by them.  I prayed, "Father, help me! Renew my joy".          And HE IS.

 

Today, the preacher (visiting from Australia), asked if any of us felt like we were "going through the motions", even in our ministry. He mentioned a quote by John Piper which says that we glorify God the most when we are most satisfied with him. In effect, when we see God as he truly is...in all of his holines and glory, our attitude switches from one of dissillusionment, depression, and apathy, to holy fear and joyful worship. To illustrate, he spoke of God's call to Isaiah (Isaiah 6), not your average commission. Isaiah sees the LORD high and exalted on his throne; above him, seraphs (which means "burning and dazzling") call " Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory", and their voices make the foundations shake and the temple fill with smoke. The first thing Isaiah becomes aware of is not his smallness,or limited knowledge or perspective, but rather his sin. In fear, he proclaims woe on himself and confesses his uncleanliness. A seraph touches Isaiah's lips with a live coal from the altar of sacrifice, and his sin is atoned for. When the LORD asks, "Who will go?", Isaiah says, "Here I am, send me!" The message God gives is difficult. Israel is to be told that they are hard-hearted, that they don't really listen or see or understand what is true. Isaiah asks how long he must proclaim this message, and God answers until the people have utterly destroyed themselves and have been taken captive, and all that remains is a seed with which He will continue to work his purposes.

 

As I read this, I became aware of how difficult Isaiah's task was. His work was to chastise his stubborn and sinful countrymen as he saw them working to their own destruction, with the glimmer of hope that they would turn back to God. But Isaiah did not hestate or show reluctance when God asked who would go. Seeing God in his glory and knowing that God was in control of all things and would see everything through to perfect fulfillment was enough. 

 

And again, I realize with joy that the same awesome God has given me this task and will stay faithful, even when my task seems too hard.

This week marks the midpoint of term three! Teaching is that wonderful challenging adventure that it has always been. I am definitely growing and learning much about being a teacher and leader of children. I am also learning much about trusting God more than myself. These kids need the wisdom and strength of their Creator, not of a girl who is too prone to weakness of mind and body. 

One thing that is so unusual about this place is the sameness of everything. It is always the same pleasant temperature every day, with varying degrees of rain in the late afternoon and night. I see the same people on center as I go from home, to school, to post office, to finance office, to store, to home again. Time seems to have retreated like a buzzing fly into the background while the small tasks within each day grind away loudly in my mind.  I feel sure I am meant to be here, but the first year is not  easy.

The center is having a few minor crises. We receive water from two different sources- we collect the rain in tanks for activities such as washing dishes and taking showers, and we pump stream water for flushing toilets and washing clothes. The man who owns the land the pump is on is demanding more money, or else he will systematically take apart the pump. I'm not sure of the details but I know the situation is going before a judge, so pray that the judge will be wise and a fair decision will be made. During rainy season, I'm fairly sure we all could exist soley on tank water, but during the drier season it would pose a problem. Also, a bridge close to center is falling down. Over the weekend, the bridge dropped one meter. So, all the shipments and supplies that are needed on center are finding creative ways (ie by hand) to get here. 

Praise God for his provision in all circumstances and the knowledge that he turns everything that happens around for His good purposes. 

Hey everyone!

 

It's been busy around here! Teaching has proven to be a full time job, both at work and at home. Preparing lessons and grading papers has been quite a chore! I knew it would be tough as a first year teacher, and I appreciate all your continued thoughts, prayers and support! I know God is going to do amazing things here in PNG, sometimes the negative things are proof that satan is trying to undo God's work as we do it here on Earth.

 

Yesterday we had an unexpected surprise! As you all slept before eating turkey and watching football, there was a magnitude 6.7 earthquake! Buildings start to crumble at about 7.2, so that thing was BIG! We are all safe, praise God, but it was a very scary reminder of one of the many dangers of this region! 

 

(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2007kaaq.php)

 

Please continue to pray for my classroom, and the work I am doing. Also, please please pray for the physical, spiritual health and saftey of myself and the rest of the PBT staff as we continue to try and further God's kingdom in an area where so many people have never had the chance to hear about Jesus.

 

Your letters and e-mails are always welcome, and I thank you all so much for staying connected and keeping me posted about what's happening back home. I'll try my best to keep up with everone, look for a newsletter soon with more updates and specific prayer requests!