First week of classes…we weren’t really ready, but we hit the ground and did our best.  The kids flooded in, teachers took their position with tentative lesson plans within reach.  As for me, I’m the librarian so I kept up the work on the library and continued stacking and sorting books.  I did more than that though—I helped other people with their classes and ran little errands for them.  It was nice to feel like a jack-of-all-trades, a kind of helper for everyone.  I also got a glimpse into nearly everyone’s days at the SDA Elementary school—especially kindergarten since it’s right next door to me.  

The kids are fun—some quiet and shy, some exuberant and happy-go-lucky.  Quite a few speak Korean or Chinese and might have trouble with schoolwork.  One of my jobs will be to tutor the ones who are struggling with English.  They’re a cute batch of students.  I got to spend some time in the kindergarten class and it was great to see the little munchkins learn how to be students.  They’re so excited about everything (Teacher Miss K has her hands full…)

It’s also fun to hear the kids taking Palauan class and learning the language.  It’s a beautiful tongue, but not very easy for me to figure out.  At church they put both the English and Palauan words of the hymns on a screen, but it’s hard even then to sing along in the native language.  Even some of the kids’ names are hard (often they tell us to call them by their “English” names which are simple like Janet and Fred).

Quick lesson in Palauan:  "Alii" means Hello, "Ungil Sabadong" is Happy Sabbath, and "Sulang" is Thank You.  ("Mehsulang" is Thank You Very Much.)

We’ve got almost as much to learn as the students do.  But we’re already smitten with the little guys, and we’re beginning to see how God can work through us to encourage them and teach them about Jesus.  Sometimes it’s simple, like sitting with a little Chinese kindergarten girl who is crying on the second day of school, reading to her and asking her to name the pictures—“What’s that?”  *a little whisper* “Cat!”  “What’s that?”  “Bird!”  

Sometimes it’s helping another teacher who needs some extra support.  And sometimes it’s helping the students learn and grow in ways that teachers and missionaries dream about.  Miss Krissy told a couple of great stories about her 3^rd grade class—how she encouraged a little girl who has been told she is dumb (but who is really very bright when given a chance).  And how she told an extremely animated yet accurate version of Elijah and Mt. Carmel which had the students riveted.  

“Miss!” they said.  “Is that a REAL story?”

“Yes!” cried Miss Krissy.  “And it’s in the BIBLE!!!”

*Gasps from students*

So anyway, it was a tiring, crazy first week of learning and scrambling, but it’s been fun.  I expect that it will be just as tough and just as rewarding in the coming weeks and months, so pray that we’ll keep close to God so He can work through us and keep us strong and healthy for the kids and each other.

Oh yes--and the library really came together!  Praise God, I was able to nearly finish it this week with all the books on the shelves, and all the shelves in their places.  Even I'm amazed.  :)  I'll try to post a picture soon.