Learning Center News:
Learning Center is going strong. We had last week off for Samoan Independence Day which was a wonderful break for all of us and definitely needed. It’s very emotionally and mentally taxing running the school so it was nice to get a breather. We have had a few interesting things happen in the last few weeks. We are now up to 53 students and unfortunately, have had to turn many away as we just do not have the space, finances, nor staff to add more.
 |
| Some of the oldest students and I (Peni, Luluvita, and Agnes) |
 |
| Recess fun! |
We also hosted a Parents Day to meet the parents, show them the school, showcase the students, partner with them, and share our heart and vision for the school. Out of the 22 families we have in the school, 19 families were represented! They could only say good things about the school and lamented the fact that we could not take in any more children as there are so many more who are not going to school in the Falelauniu Village. Some of the parents even shared that their children’s behavior at home has improved since starting school.
 |
| Middle Class |
 |
| Youngest Class |
 |
| Parent's Day |
 |
| Parent's Day meeting and brunch |
 |
| Students presenting during our Parent's Day |
We have had several issues with the teachers in the last few weeks as well. One of our teachers got a massive infection on her foot and took two weeks off to rest it. Another teacher took a few days off to visit family. One of the other staff is planning on doing our biogas training workshop in July and taking six weeks off for that. Last week, John, my co-head at the school, left for the holiday week and didn’t come back because of financial reasons. This put quite a lot stress on all of us as we all heard various accounts of whether or not he was planning on returning. Through the entire time he was gone, however, I had complete peace. Last night, he arrived back! One good thing about this is that we realized we can survive without him and the other staff (although all of their absences was definitely noticed). We also had to have a “substitute” teacher join us for a few days who did a marvelous job and may potentially join our LC staff team. He would be a great asset to us as he takes no nonsense from the kids and does have a gift for teaching. This makes me feel much better about leaving for a month-they will manage without me.
 |
| Recording the findings of our experiment |
 |
| Science experiments |
 |
| Subtraction with borrowing |
Because of all of this craziness with the staff and just knowing that my first priority is with the LC, I have decided not to attend the conference in Papua New Guinea. Also as we have had the staff in and out, I have had to do a lot more teaching. Today we did our first science experiment and the kids loved it. I am still primarily working one-on-one with students or in small groups which is what I love doing most of all. We have seen huge improvement in them (although there has been quite a lot of review needed after having a week off- I think some of them had holes in their brains last week).
Office Work/Grant News:
God has been so faithful and has been giving me favor everywhere I go. In the last two weeks, I have had a meeting at SASNOC (the Samoan Olympic selection committee) and the United Nations (UN). I have also been in communication with the New Zealand, Australian, and Japanese High Commissions. We have two different groups from New Zealand helping to send us supplies in the next few weeks as well. God is opening doors that I didn’t even know existed with people I have never met before emailing and asking what our needs are. God is so faithful. I have been networking and meeting with people of huge influence and importance in Samoa.
 |
| AGM- Anual General Meeting with all the staff |
Mobile Team News:
Mobile team is back up and running. We have been very busy the last few weeks performing in church services. We were invited to perform at the Assemblies of God gathering involving all of the AOG churches in Samoa. We also led the service at a tiny little church which most of our students attend. Just this Friday we performed for the youth group at a nearby Nazarene Church. We have our uniform poletasis now which makes me feel way less conspicuous. We have had fun photo sessions with all of the girls matching.
During one of our ministry nights, there was an altar call. As the whole service was in Samoan and I had no idea what was going on, I just began praying for people and asking God for words of knowledge for them. I really felt I should ask this woman if she had issues with her stomach. She did! She said she couldn't even sleep at night because the pain was so intense across her entire abdomen. One of the other girls and I prayed for her. She wasn't healed immediately, but who knows what happened later. Clearly God is doing something if He highlighted her to me. I also started praying over a girl whom I felt God was really wanting to break through to and that she was resisting. As soon as I started praying over her, she began to weep. I had a few words of knowledge for her which started the weeping all over again as God touched her heart with the words that she needed to hear about her purpose and significance.
 |
| Tasi and I-she attends the church we ministered at. |
 |
| The girl I got to pray with. |
 |
| Mobile Team and the youth from the church we ministered at. |
Fun Times:
On May 26, I celebrated my 26th birthday. It was a bit anti-climactic as most of the day was spent at the LC as it coincided with our Parents’ Day. I did receive loads of hugs from all the kids though, and Tiff and her dad took me out for PIZZA!
I had the privilege of going to the Pacific Nations Rugby game last week Tonga vs. Manu Samoa. It was loads of fun, and my first rugby game ever. The son of one of our base leaders is a professional rugby player. He paid for all of us to go to the game and took pictures with us afterwards.
 |
| Dan Leo and the gang |
We also celebrated Samoan Independence Day on June 1. Three of the other base staff and I spent the entire day in Apia selling traditional Samoan food (Keke moa, Keke seine, German buns, etc) to those attending the festivities to raise money for our YWAM Samoa reunion in January. Between bouts of selling, I was able to watch the parades and dancing and singing competitions.
My mom sent a fun care package to me for my birthday which included glow sticks. Tiffany, some of the staff boys, and I had a blast last night playing with the glow sticks (the boys have never seen them before!) in the middle of the field and having an impromptu dance party as well as star tripping.
 |
| Some of my girls :) |
 |
| Kristen who was here helping for a few weeks. See I am tan! :P |
 |
| Nicholas and I watching the rugby game |
 |
| Brinnah and I |
Coming HOME!!!
The countdown is on. I leave for home in just under two weeks-June 24! I have a 31hr layover in Fiji and hope to take in some of the country and culture. Then I head on to Portland, Oregon for the wedding of a close friend before finally arriving home on June 30. I will be home for the month of July. So please let me know if you want to hear more about my time here, see pictures, or get coffee. I would love to see all of you while I am home. I am getting very ready and excited to come home. :)
Please pray for:
Wisdom and discernment in my administrative role. As our staff are quite young and immature, we have had to deal with several issues pertaining to behavior.
Protection from spiritual attacks of the enemy primarily in regards to the Learning Center-that I wouldn’t give the devil a foothold. Spiritual covering over the Learning Center.
Safe travels as I travel halfway around the world.
