New Year and Half-Way

I never posted about our Palauan transition into the new year, but it was a lot of fun.  We got to have a big group worship at the Surangels' house about starting out a new year with a clean slate, leaving all the failures and disappointments behind, and beginning fresh for 2017.  Then at midnight on New Year's Eve, we lit sparklers and threw those noisy cracklers and toasted with sparkling cider.  Then I promptly went to bed.

I decided to be rebaptized on the first Sabbath of the year.  I'd been wanting to renew my commitment to God because the first time it felt kind of like an arranged marriage, not exactly a choice made out of love.  Also, I turned away from God in my heart for a while, so I really wanted to recommit and make a decisive step back toward living completely for Him.  The pastor at Koror church, Pastor Cunha, suggested January 7, and that seemed right.  A couple of other people were getting baptized too, so that was nice.  Everyone was so sweet...the other missionaries signed a card for me and everything.  I'm happy that I decided to get rebaptized here.

Principal and Mrs. Sanchez

Also, with the new year my role changed again.  I'm back to being full-time librarian since the new 7th grade teacher, Mr. Bradshaw, arrived.  It felt so good to be back in the library, working with the books and trying to figure out ESL teaching (still working on that--teaching kids English isn't easy, especially when they're such a variety of personalities and ages and skill levels).

Of course even then I'm being pulled in different directions...the first week of the school year I was substitute teaching for 4th grade since Ms. Paige was still in America.  And the week after next I had to substitute for 3rd grade when Ms. A got sick.  After teaching three different grades (and getting a taste of others), I have to say that it's pretty exhausting...I guess I'm more comfortable with the younger kids, but even then it's a constant round of demanding activities and it doesn't end when you leave the school.  But still, it was rewarding to be with the kids.  4th grade gave me a bunch of thank you cards after I taught them, and that made me happy.  :)

At any rate, we have less than 5 months to go.  We've made it more than half-way through the year!  Things have been tough, and sometimes I have more questions than I have answers about work, relationships, mission life, school, and especially the future.  I've noticed that other people here have a lot of questions about their futures too...I'm not alone.  But I really like that verse in the Bible that says, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us," in I Samuel 7:12. It was when Samuel put up a memorial stone called "Ebenezer" and said that God had helped the people so far, and the implication was that He would continue to guide them and support them through all the maze of challenges and difficulties that they might have in the future.

So here's where I'm putting my newest Ebenezer.