Prayer Answered

About two Saturdays ago, Troy, Sacha, Sharla, and I went to ladder beach. It is a very beautiful beach with lots of rock and coral. The last time I had been there was when the five of us girls were together still.
Sharla and I thought Troy and Sacha would enjoy one part of the beach where there the waves hit the rocks and splashes you a bit. We went over to the spot and watched the waves for a bit. As we were standing there we were talking about what would happen if you were to fall in. All of us said you would die but if you did happen to make it you wouldn’t look the same when you got out. The only way we thought that you could maybe get out was by swimming out and then swimming back in the sandy beach side.
After about 10 min we decided to leave. Just as we were leaving a big wave started to come our way. Sharla yells out “hey guys we should probably grab onto the rocks because this looks like a really big wave.” We all quickly grabbed onto the rocks as the wave hit us. It happened so fast that I don’t really remember how big it was but they all said it was over our heads. As the wave hit us against the rocks and the water started going back into the ocean, I turned around I see Sharla slowing slipping over the edge and at the last second she jumps out so that she doesn’t land on the sharp rocks. I begin screaming “NOOOOO, NOOOOO!!!!!!!” I am thinking that I will see my friend die right before my eyes and there is nothing I can do to save her. But out of no where she pops up and starts swimming out away from the rocks. She said that she could hear me screaming bloody murder screams and that’s what made it click fast that she needed to start swimming out fast. As we run to the sandy part of the beach where she was swimming over to, we made sure to keep a close eye on her.
Once we arrived at the beach we began calling her to swim in but she yelled to us that she couldn’t because the waves would pull back and all she could see was sharp coral. She knew if she took the chance of swimming in she would be worse off than if she were to just tread water until a boat came. We quickly ran over to a man on the beach and asked him if he had a cell phone and if so he needed to call 911. He said his house was about a block away and he would call.
As we watched Sharla we began praying and praying that she would be ok and make it out safe. It had been about 30 min since she had fallen in and there was still no boat. We knew she had to be getting tired. Then out of no where she was gone. 1 wave went by, then 2, then 3 and there was no Sharla in sight. Finally out of no where Sharla’s head pops up out of the water.
It is now 40 min and still no boat. Not until 45 min from the time she fell in did we see the boat. They threw a life ring out to her and pulled her in. She climbed up the ladder of the boat and then clasped in the boat from being so exhausted. Praise God that she only had a few cuts on her feet and arms!

Michael Jackson is Back!!!!!

Who ever said Michael Jackson died? Well he's still alive in our class. One of my students is obsessed with him. He is always singing Michael Jackson songs and doing the dance moves. Finally I was able to record it today. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do every time I see it!

Epic Moment of the Year

It was about time for dismissal. As I told the class to bow their heads for prayer I quickly put my hands together with a clap. When I did this a few of my students followed me by clapping their hands together for prayer. Out of nowhere one of my students quickly stands up from his seat and with his hands in the air says, "Come on everyone, cheer for me!!! Kento, Kento, Kento!!!" The class roared with excitement cheering this student on. I started to laugh and the more I laughed the louder the cheering got. I couldn't believe it! What just seemed like a simple clap for prayer quickly turned into a chant for a student. This definitely ended my day with a smile.

Pictionary

For Bible class I decided to change it up a bit. This particular day I decided to play a little game of Pictionary. I had one student come up and draw and each team had to figure out what Bible story they were drawing. One of my students was drawing a particular figure on the board when all of the sudden one of my students started waving his hand wildly. I called on him to answer and this was his response, "Miss, Miss, I know it! It's when the wise men brought Frankenstein!!!" Hmmm, I guess don't seem to recall hearing about Frankenstein in the Bible. Maybe it’s a new translation ;0)

Jelly Belly's

While I was at home my dad gave me some Jelly Belly's. The only difference was these weren't your typical Jelly Beans. The flavors varied from baby wipes, skunk spray, booger, moldy cheese, vomit, and black pepper. They were also mixed with a few good flavors. I told them they were trick jelly beans and they had to figure out what flavor they had. To my surprise the kids actually loved it and asked if they could play it every Friday. Aww the joy of entertaining kids.

Curiosity Strikes Again

You know how parents always say, "You'll never truly know what its like to have kids until you have kids of your own." Well I think I'm getting some good practice in on how curious kids really are.

I had just gotten my class to line up when all of the sudden one of my students comes over and starts tapping me saying, "Miss Miss Goodman’s arm is stuck!" My first thought was his arm is stuck in the book shelf near by but I was definitely wrong with that conclusion. You know those huge rolls of paper with the whole in the middle. I mean come on you know you have looked at one before and thought to yourself, "I wonder if my arm could fit in there." Well that is exactly what Goodman did. As I gave a little tug to pull his arm out the paper roll, the paper would just get tighter. I knew if I drew to much attention all of my class would get out of line and come over to see what all the commotion was about. So I turned Goodman around and said stay here and don't move. I quickly explained the next assignment and sent the class back to the classroom. I turned right around to try and figure out how I was going to get Goodman's arm out of the paper roll when I see him slowly walking out the door rubbing his arm and acting as if nothing had ever happened.

New SM's

It has been amazing to see how much God is in control of all situations. Three of the five SM's this year in Saipan did not return after Christmas. Although it was a little stressful trying to find people to replace them, we soon realized that God had it all under control.

I must say I was little nervous as to who was going to come to Saipan because I had become so close with my old roommates that I was unsure as to how well I would get along with my new one. But it all worked out. We had two new SM's come and fill two positions. One was Sacha Kravig and the other was Troy Breakie. I have known Sacha since I was really little and she is very outgoing, adventurous, fun, loving person which is exactly what I need. I also have known Troy since high school. Our families are very close and I think of him like a brother. I couldn't be happier with the replacements that God has put in Saipan. It’s definitely going to be a good last half of the school year.

New SM's Touring Saipan

A day at the beach!

Curiosity Hurts

Aww the mystery of the stapler. Have you ever wondered how hard you have to push before the stapler actually staples? Were never really quite sure. Instead of using paper to test it out, we usually try our finger. I mean, it just makes the most sense. We press it down on our finger just lightly, and then a little harder, and just a little more until …BAM!!!!! You have officially stapled your finger. Well that’s exactly what happened to one of my students today. All of the sudden out of no where I hear, "Miss, Miss!!! Jason stapled his finger!" I quickly race over to Jason's desk; although think it was probably just a little poke. Well I believe Jason got a little more curious than most kids normally do because he down right stapled his finger. As I looked at it closely I could see that his finger was dented in from the staple. My first thought was to pull it out but if the staple he bent over inside his finger then I would rip out his skin. After looking at Jason with tears streaming down his face, I couldn't do it. I quickly rushed him to the office to get some advice as to what to do. The secretary looked at it and with a little quick tug pulled it out! Ok… so maybe I wouldn’t make a great nurse but I do know one thing and that is, I don’t think Jason will be so curious next time about those staplers.

Back For Round Two

I never thought that after coming home for Christmas it would be so hard to leave home and go back to Saipan. I cried for the whole flight from Spokane to Portland. As much as I wanted to stay at home and not go back, I knew I had a job to finish back in Saipan.

I arrived in Saipan at 1:20 am. I was soooo tired!!! Although I must say I did get a lot of sleep on the plane and on my way from Tokyo to Saipan I had a whole row to myself, which I did get punched for by Sharla when we landed.

On Monday I came to school and quickly found out that I had a lot more to deal with than I had intended for. When I left Saipan for Christmas break I had 14 students. When I came back I had 18 students, which is the max amount you can have then each classroom and soon found out that I had 2 more in 1st and 2nd waiting until there was an opening in my class. I was a little overwhelmed with where to put them but after a few adjustments it all worked out. My new students are all from Korea and all have quite humorous personalities. Most of them will all be leaving in a few months to go back to Korea. They only stay for a short time to learn english. So as of now I have a very busy schedule!