A few days after arriving on
Pohnpei, I got a countdown app on my computer, telling me how many days were
left until I went back home to America. I started out with a little over 300
days, and now I am down to a measly 21. 21! I can hardly believe it. These
past 9 ½ months have passed me by in a blink of an eye.
I can’t say that the whole year
has passed by quickly. There were days or weeks where I felt like there was no
end in sight. But, other times I would find myself sitting in class on Friday in
my red polo, wondering how it was already the end of the school week.
A year and a half ago, if someone
had told me that I was going to be a teacher in Micronesia for a year, I would
have probably laughed at them. I decided to not be an elementary education
major for a reason. I don’t like teaching! Also, Micronesia? I don’t like heat,
much less 70%+ humidity every day for 10 months. And yet, here I am: Teaching
Kindergarten and high school, and having one of the best years of my life. (I’m
still not going to switch to elementary education though.)
Now with only 21 days left on this
beautiful island, I have the most conflicted feelings. On one hand, I can’t
wait to get back the good ‘ol USA, and on the hand, I can’t bear the thought of
leaving this island. I only have 5 more days of Kindergarten before their
graduation! I have been trying to savor every moment I have left with my little
ones. Although sometimes they make it really hard for me to think about missing
them when they run around the classroom screaming their heads off…
Then, there are my crazy high
schoolers that seem to complain about most everything. One day there was a boy
who was complaining about doing an assignment and says to me, “Awh Miiiissssss.
Do we have to?” “Don’t you awh Miss me!” I reply back to him. “But Miss, we ARE
going to miss you…” Nearly broke my heart! Each one of my students are
different in their own special ways. I’m going to miss each and every one of
them for many different reasons. No matter how foul of a mood I might be in,
they always find some way to make me laugh!
Even though events don’t seem to
go according to your plan, God knows what He’s doing. So don’t forget to trust
Him! Don’t worry if things don’t go your way. God’s way is best! It’s hard for
me to just give it all up to Him, but with His help, I can.
See you in 21 days America!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to
prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
