Talofa Family and Friends,
Less than two weeks remain before I leave for Samoa. I have a plane ticket which says that I will be traveling for nearly 40 hours! I think in the last few weeks I have hit every emotion possible from elation to trepidation, “I can’t wait!” to “What in tarnation am I doing?”, complete excitement to nervousness. There are many unknowns that make going a bit nerve-wracking. At the same time, I am very ready for this next adventure and to serve God and the Samoan people. This is what I was created for-to serve and love others and provide an education for children who don’t have access to one.
Daily Life: A few weeks ago I spoke with my friend Tiffany who lives on the base in Samoa. She was able to give me a lot more information about the school and life itself in Samoa. I am going to need to brush up on hand-washing clothes as there are definitely no washers and driers. However, I am looking forward to the average year-round temperatures of 79°. I will be living in what they call a fale which are oblong buildings/huts with open sides. At night or during rain nets, tarps, or blinds are pulled down. It is quite primitive as the base is located in the center of the island in the hills. Internet costs around $6-8 American dollars an hour. So I will do my best to keep you updated on my life.
Fales: My home for the next months
The School: Apparently, the school was opened about two years ago by a Samoan woman who directed and taught at the school. There were several other volunteers from the YWAM base who helped out which enabled them to split the students into three or four age groups. After about a year, the director and her son felt that they were to move to Thailand. Around the time she left, the base was also restructuring the way it was run, and the school was put on hold while the entire base participated in a leadership seminar lasting three months. Now over a year later, the school has yet to be reopened as there is no one to run it or who feel capable of running it. The others who were helping have since been reallocated to other projects around the base or have moved on.
Yesterday I stumbled across the blog of a teacher who had come to help build the Learning Center and train teachers in Samoa. She had incredible insights as to the education system there.
1) Not only can many of them not afford an education, but many of them in more rural areas do not have proper birth certificates and therefore are not permitted in school.
2) There is no formal curriculum in Samoa; however, there is a national test which all students must take in order to graduate-few pass it which means the majority drop out by grade 8
3) School is taught in English which is not their first language
In her blog she wrote,
"The Learning Center Samoa is under construction. The YWAM base leaders believe that if they build the building the teachers will come. It’s goal, create curriculum in the Samoan language and teach every subject in Samoan, except English."
The Learning Center under construction 2 years ago
As you may have now guessed, most of the children do not speak English as they would have learned it in school. Since they haven’t been to school, they have had neither a way nor an incentive to learn it. I am assuming that the older children might know some whereas the younger children would know little to none. So clearly the first few months and weeks that I am there will most likely be spent
learning Samoan. I currently know a grand total of three words.
My future students-kids in the village who will be coming to school at the Learning Center
Future News: I will be coming home for a month in July to attend a dear friend's wedding, visit family, and get a bit of respite. At that time, I should know more about the needs and status of the school-- what supplies they need, curriculum, structure, etc.
Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers! God bless you all and see you in six months!
1) Full Financial Support
2) Others (specifically teachers) to come work at the school
3) Quick acquisition of the Samoan language
4) Easy transition into the Samoan culture, family, and lifestyle
5) Safe travels
6) Protection for my health
