A blog worthy weekend..

Ok so I have been struggling with being sick the last few weeks and have also developed some strange stomach bug where I am randomly nauseous all the time. (Not fun! Going to the doctor about it tomorrow, pray we can figure out what it is!) This has affected my sleep significantly, and well what I’m trying to get at is, I was really tired and very happy it was finally Sabbath. However, the SM’s decided to take a trip to Kapinga that afternoon. There went my restful Sabbath. Kapinga is pretty much a little community that is about five minutes away from the school and twenty seconds away from our church. The first time I saw Kapinga I was speechless. Their houses are mostly little huts, clothes are strung out all over to dry, kids are walking along the street with dirty little faces and usually half naked etc. lets just say it is a culture shock compared to America. Anyway, I decided to join the group regardless of my tired mind and body, and I am so glad that I did! It was more rejuvenating than any nap could have ever been, maybe not physically but definitely emotionally. I played with the most precious children for about an hour and a half straight. Haha a group of the SM’s were cleaning boils and cuts, another group was singing with kids and telling a story, and I was running around doing ninja moves with about six little boys. It was great, haha I had a little flock that was unbelievably delighted with the thought of me chasing them, so there I was of course running around, tickling away, and swinging these little guys around. Just when I thought the trip couldn’t get any better I saw a little girl, and she saw me. I’m pretty sure my heart now belongs to a three year old… I still don’t know her name but I wish I could take her home! I officially had a Kapinga koala bear :) She wrapped her arms and legs around me and would not let go. She only wore a little pink skirt, no shirt or shoes, and an adorable smile I couldn’t say no to in a million years. I don’t think she understood English because she never responded to anything I said in words just merely smiled or hugged me tighter. If my heart wasn’t bubbling with enough joy, laughter, and love already, we left. This entailed about fifty kids racing after our truck all the way down the street. A good Sabbath afternoon indeed. :) God’s children are so precious and there are so many out there just dying to be loved. I wish I could love them all…

Later that night a group of us played basketball, I don’t think knock out has ever been so tiring or sweat inducing. Haha I was DRIPPING. Then Joel and I played one on one forever. I may not have won basketball that night but I certainly won the water fight afterwards, he was soaked :)

The next morning Joel, Amy, and I took the Youth out for a ride around the Island. We decided to stop at anything and everything “Pohnpeian”. Therefore we would randomly stop to take pictures with flowers, bridges, trash, random people, etc. We went down to the beach, went swimming in a river, Joel and I had a sword fight with bamboo we found, things like that :) I ate rice, coconut, and banana for lunch, a very island day. Then that night Joel and I played our third game of tennis. I’m not going to lie, he kind of dominated lol, but I just pretended like I let him on purpose just to infuriate him as much as possible ;) Although I may have lost one of our eleven games, I still managed to come out of the evening victorious. We made a bet on a rally at the end of our game and due to my victory I will me enjoying a free coconut in the very near future..

Now it’s our last week before spring break. I can’t WAIT! Barbie and I already have a list started of activities for the week. They include a multitude of fun festivities ranging from sleep (ah ha ha) to dance parties, to wakeboarding, to scuba diving, to mud football, to exploring waterfalls, and to renting scooters for a day, to more epic sleep. SO looking forward to it!!!! I don’t want to leave this island…I can’t believe I’m going to be on a plane heading home in two months…

Tennis. America vs. Australia

So I have recently discovered Pohnpei’s tennis courts. For those of you picturing a beautiful green tennis floor that a tennis ball could actually bounce on, complete with a net and nicely drawn white boundary lines let me restate my previous statement. I have recently discovered Pohnpei’s loose dirt and gravel floor courts, complete with barely visible black tennis lines that are the wrong measurements and approximately 3/4ths of a net. Non-the-less it something one may hit a yellow tennis ball over and has recently provided much entertainment. One of the Australian SM’s Joel and I started playing this past week. For those of you who have had the privilege of witnessing my competitive side I have inherited from my father, you can imagine that I immediately was no longer playing a casual game of tennis for enjoyment, but competing to defend my country’s honor and dignity as a woman. Haha these matches have turned into approximately 90% smack talk and 10% tennis. I would also like to declare that the last two tennis outings have ended in a victory for the United States and all women who inhabit the beautiful country. Joel and I have to walk for about 10-15 minutes to reach the tennis courts. Usually these walks include chatter, laughter, and the occasional blow to the opponent’s country. I can say with a stifle of laughter that last night was a very quiet walk home. Apparently I know how to shut up Australians. :) After last night the stakes of our so called “friendly” games were raised. We have now started an official tennis tournament that will most likely last till the end of the year. The bet was made official last night. Whoever wins the best of eleven tennis matches will get to enjoy watching their opponent suffer much humilation. I’m going to win so let me just tell you what happens when Joel loses haha. Joel will have to take me out to dinner while wearing a t-shirt that reads in bold letters “American Girls Are Better” along with having to make a video wearing all red, white, and blue and holding an American flag proclaiming that America is better and then post it on his facebook for the entire world to see. Along with having to wear his “American Girls are Better” t-shirt once he is home in Australia for an entire day (with photo proof). This entire bet is switched for me, I would theoretically have to declare that Australia was better while wearing a t-shirt that says “Australian girls are better” etc. Clearly Australians aren’t very smart because Joel decided to add onto the bet even more. Saying that if he can beat me the next 5 matches in a row than I will have to wear my “Australian girls are better” t-shirt five days in a row. If I win the next three in a row (adding up to five in a row) however, then he has to wear his “American girls are better” t-shirt for the next five days straight. When will this boy learn? I’ll have to keep everyone updated on this heated tennis tournament. Poor Australia…I actually feel just a little bad… :)

Clubbing in Pohnpei!

Last night was….well, interesting. All I can say is, Filipinos now how to Party! Haha, last night was the second Filipino party I have attended since I’ve been here, and let me say, they are hilarious! I went because MJ had been practicing three dances for weeks and she was performing them last night. She was amazing of course! It was so cool! They did a rockin Michael Jackson dance! Anyway, for those of you who have not had the privilege of ever attending a Filipino party, there is ALWAYS karaoke involved! Haha and last night there ended up being some dancing as well! Lets just say that I never thought I’d find myself clubbing in Pohnpei. At the very end of the program they put on some music and Joy and I grabbed Barbie and Andrew (two of the SM guys that came last night) and started busting out the dance moves. For those of you who have not had the privilege of attending a Filipino party OR seeing me dance the night away I apologize for you are truly missing out. My dance moves include a wonderful collection of the lawn mower, the q-tip, the shopping cart, some Christian character choreography moves, and a few disco moves I learned from a workout DVD. Lol. Needless to say it was hilarious and so much fun! I was dancing with my student’s mom and one point in the evening. Enough said. Tonight is the valentine’s banquet for the high school. It is at the same place, a club called Flamingos (the only club on the island/place to hold big parties). Apparently they allow dancing at their banquets, so I have no idea how we are going to supervise over 200 high school students dancing about with raging hormones…that will be interesting. And let me tell you, these girls learn how to move their hips from about the age of 4 because of hula, so by the time they are 17…well ya. They’re good. So we’ll see how tonight goes!

Yearbook Letter

So every year the teachers each write their kids a letter to go in the school’s yearbook. I know that you guys don’t exactly know my students so you may not quite understand most of this but I figured I’d post it anyway. :)

Dear superior fourth grade class,

My Indians, My Ninjas, My Masseuses! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! How am I ever going to live with you?! I’ll never forget Marion turning our rug into a dance floor and busting out the Michael Jackson moves, massages from master masseuse Julius, Zack break dancing and hanging out with me EVERY lunch quizzing me on Pohnpeian and making me laugh, JR ALWAYS annoying me and trying to fight me (Brat! Haha you know I love you!), my secret notes from Julien and Zara that I always find on my desk (I’m keeping them forever!), my cleaning girls Evon and Grace that are so cool and hang with me every day after school (my desk would be a mess if it wasn’t for you two!), Burt trying to rob the class while wearing a ski mask haha, Les’s amazing hugs everyday before he leaves, Marlin jumping out of his seat about to explode he was so excited because he had the answer to whatever question I was asking (thanks I always knew you were listening to me ramble on and on even if no one else was!), Ayaka always racing at the end of each day to tap the erasers, Yuichi always lighting up my day and filling it with giggles and hugs and arguing with me about who loved who more, Veronica always making me feel like a super famous rockstar, Wolphgang and his talent to make ANYTHING into a sword, Edgar sitting at his desk with his hands folded like the perfect student (Ya!), Briana watching me from the back of the classroom with a look that says, “Oh my goodness my teacher is crazy!!” , Leonito telling me all about the Phillipines (I feel like I’ve been there!), Makani running around with his pants pulled up and his shirt down so that he looked like he was naked! (Miss Nugent and I laughed EVERY time.), Loriann helping me lead out with worship songs in the morning with a big smile on her face even if everyone else was half asleep, Hart’s amazing drawings on almost every assignment he ever turned in, AJ scoring the greatest touchdown ever during our football game against Miss Nugent’s class (we won of course!), Sunshine saying “Miiiisssss!!!” unbelievably loud and then giggling when she realized I was going to strangle her, Daunte playing his imaginary drum during our rain dance…I could go on forever!

You guys have made me feel more loved than I ever thought was possible. From secret notes and letters, to hugs and tickle fights, to salsa dancing and football, to all laughing uncontrollably and falling out of our chairs in the middle of math class while I told silly stories! I can’t wait to play football with you in Heaven (we’ll definitely beat Miss Nugent’s class again!) and fight next to you in the battle against evil with the God of the universe on our side! I know you guys are ready! Don’t forget to wear the armor of the Lord every day! Always keep Jesus as your best friend no matter what comes your way, and He will ROCK your life! I can’t even begin to put into words how much I love the 24 of you. I hope I didn’t cry too much when I left…WAAAHHHH!!! :) I guess all that there is left to say is…I LIKE PIZZA!!!

How!

Love, Miss Breann :)

Haiti and Pancakes..

I have been keeping my kids updated on Haiti. I recently blogged about my student Yuichi and how he wanted to give his birthday money, I forgot to mention another incident that highlighted the innocence and generous heart of a child. Before I share this little story with you, let me explain what we have been doing for Haiti over here. Our school started “Haiti boxes”. The idea was for each elementary class to create a box and fill it with as much donation money as possible. My kids immediately got into it, we are going on about our third week of fundraising and we have a little over $200. I am so proud of them! We will collect the money from all the classes at the end of this week and I am really excited. Also last weekend we held a Movie Night for the elementary kids in our chapel. It cost them $2 to get in and we showed the movie Bolt (awesome movie by the way!) on a big projector. Also we had a bakesale going on the whole time. It went great, we raised over $300 for Haiti that night! I was very happy with how it turned out. Ok, so now that I have caught you up on our Haiti fundraising events here’s the story…So the day my class started our Haiti box my girl Loriann came up to me. It was the end of the day so everyone was leaving and running around, and she says “Miss! Miss! I’m going to bring pancakes tomorrow ok?” I was like…what? Definitely not following her I said, “Um..ok, why sweetie?” she responded saying “For Haeitee Miss. For Haeitee.” I still wasn’t following her…she clearly read my clueless expression and continued, “I’m going to have my mom make pancakes for the people in Haiti, then we can mail them and they won’t be hungry anymore.” Once again my heart just about melted as realization hit me. I stifled laughter as I looked at her and replied, “Hmm that’s a really good idea, but do you think that the pancakes would last in the mail? Hati is really far away..” She paused in deep thought for a moment (it is still taking a large amount of self-control to not laugh at how adorable this situation is..). I somehow managed to keep my very serious face on as she finally came up with her answer that was accompanied by a pout, “No.” I leaned down to her and encouraged her, “Well maybe we can send them money so they can make their own pancakes. What do you think?” The pout disappeared from her face, “Ok Miss. I think that’s a good idea.” With that she bounced off with her little backpack. I went home feeling so full that day. Once again the heart of a child, it amazed me..

$10

The selflessness of a child truly amazes me. This past week I have been talking to my children about Haiti. Although normally during worship they struggle to pay attention, I had all eyes glued to me. Every day I try to update them, and they never fail to bring up Haiti multiple times during prayer requests. I asked my children if they would be interested in starting a “Haiti Box” to help raise money. Then we could think of people to ask to donate, and maybe even have a few fundraisers. The kids were 100% for it. Later that day one of my younger boys came up to me, concern all over his face and said, “Miss, Miss I don’t know if I can bring $10” I was not quite following him and so he continued, “Well I thought I could bring $10 for Haiti because I am going to get $10 for my birthday, but my birthday is two months away…” my heart just about melted. It was such a precious moment. The concern in his eyes and the way his little forehead was all twisted. Not because he was contemplating whether or not to give his birthday money, oh no that decision was already made, but because he wouldn’t get his birthday money in time to give it away to the people of Haiti. In that moment I learned more from my 8 year old student than I could have taught him in weeks. Yuichi reminded me of the strength and simplicity of selflessness. As we grow in age and journey through our lives we strive to be great at something, to gain wisdom, to have security, but to have the selflessness of a child, now that is something to aspire to…

A memory both simple and profound.

This is a story I wrote for Walla Walla about my mission experience! I think its going to be in a mission story book or something... anyway! sorry I haven't blogged in eight hundred years :)

A Memory Both Simple and Profound

Yesterday I returned from my two week Christmas vacation in Hawaii, only to be met by 24 screaming fourth graders who all decided to jump into my arms at once. Next thing I new my two chubby twin boys were smooshing letters into my hand they had written me while I was gone, welcoming me back and telling me how much they had missed me.

The next morning there were two more letters waiting for me on my desk, my heart just about melted as I read the beautiful broken grammar of one of the letters, “Miss Breann is the best and great teacher on the Earth. Dear Miss Breann you are the greatest teacher. And you’re the best friend ever. Thank you for being my friend. And thank you for being my teacher. We love you so so much Miss Breann.”

Today, like most days, has ended with me collapsing on my dirty couch exhausted. However unlike previous days, as I collapse on this disgusting couch I reflect on my day in a new light. In a light that could only be provided by the One who brought me to this very couch, this tiny island most people have never heard of, and to a classroom of twenty four hyperactive children. For when I look back on today I no longer think of the frustrating math class where my children looked at me like I was speaking French, the aching feeling in my swollen feet from standing for so long, the seemingly never ending papers that still need grading, or the permanent sweat layer that drenched my skin. I remember Him. I remember the random salsa dance lesson I had with my kids during lunch time, the back massage that two of my boys gave me just to show me they love me, the game of tag during recess that ended in uncontrollable giggles and me being attacked and tickled by seven of my students, the piggy back race to the classroom that I lost, having my boys all pick me up and tell me they were going to kidnap me so we could all go camping together, the scribbled message at the bottom of a math assignment that simply said, “Thank you so much Miss Breann”, the hilarious Michael Jackson impersonation performed by two of my boys, and the long embrace of a child at the end of the day as he said, “Miss I’m never letting you go, we love you so so much!”.

In Jesus’ divine light, twenty four rambunctious children have taught me something more valuable than I
could ever teach them, something that I could have never learned sitting in a classroom finishing up my college degree. Through fits of giggles, little bear hugs, secret hidden notes, and pictures colored with the utmost care, I have learned how to be loved. And because of this, every day I have learned a little more of how to truly love in return.