One Month Left

Today is May 5.  In one month, I’ll get on a plane in the middle of the night and fly to Guam, then Hawaii, and then the U.S. mainland.  In a recent staff meeting we were told to start preparing for departure now, and even though I have less tasks to complete than the regular teachers, and I’m one of the last ones leaving Palau, I’m still in that mindset now.  I’ve started going through my things and thinking about what I want to pack.  We only have two more weeks of school, and then there will be graduations and a last Rock Island trip and people will be leaving one by one…it’s the home run right now.

I was thinking about some things I miss about home.  I miss America and all its natural beauty—the aspen and birch trees, the mountains, the spring flowers, the crisp air, the animals, even the Western rock formations and trees.  I miss some of the food (although I’ve been able to eat pretty similarly to how I do at home).  I miss fast internet, and being able to watch videos and use Spotify to listen to music.  I miss some of the familiar places at home—even the stores.  I miss watching the news and feeling like I’m a part of the U.S.  I miss being with family and friends...of course I know that I’ll be seeing you all soon, God willing.

I'll miss these weird plants that grow by PMA...

I'll miss this view...

But I was also thinking of some things I would miss about here.  I’ll miss fresh papaya, breadfruit, soursop, coconut water, and Asian cooking.  I’ll miss the fruit bats soaring around at night like big birds.  I’ll miss skimming over the ocean past the fluffy island mounds with the tropicbirds flying overhead, and I’ll miss getting in the water and seeing sharks, butterfly fish, and giant clams.  And I’ll miss the kids…and seeing the people at church…and being with the group of SMs who have become like family over the year.  I’ll miss going up to the Sanchez house for Friday night vespers and birthday parties.  I’ll miss seeing the Chinese and Korean dorm students talking on the bus on the way to church, and seeing them wandering around at night with their phones.  I’ll miss seeing the Korean tourists with their big floppy hats and oversized sunglasses and umbrellas to keep themselves from getting tanned.  I’ll miss going to Surangel’s and having the employees carry our bags out to the car…anyway, I’ll stop.  I’ll miss a lot, but I’m glad to be going home.

A week ago two former SMs came to visit their kids.  One girl taught 4^th grade, and now her kids are in 6^th grade.  They were so excited to see her—one boy even cried because he was so shocked and happy.  The people here keep saying, Come back and visit, Come back and teach, Come back and stay.  And now, even though I don’t know when or if I’ll ever make it back, it seems a lot more possible than it did before.

Fun with the dorm kids in the rain

Anyway, I’m kind of glad we only have one month left, because now I recognize that time is limited and I’ll try to make the most of it.  I’m looking forward to the end of school, but it will probably be bittersweet because it will be time to say goodbye to most of the kids.  I’ve taught them all at one point or another—that’s about 230 kids—and gotten to know almost all of their names.  It will be weird to think that there will be a whole new batch of student missionaries to take up the torch next year.  I pray they’ll be able to continue and improve on what we did this year.

Where is Elab?

I guess I’d better stop reflecting.  There will be time for that all this month, and after I leave.  But it’s good to get a head start so I can know what I’d like to do before I go.  It will be good to be home, but it will be sad to leave too, so there’s going to be a lot of different feelings.  This year has been hard, but I’ve learned a lot about myself, about God, about other people, about mission life, about school, and about Palau and East Asian culture.  I’ll have so many stories to tell…

One month to go.  Countdown starts now…

I did it!  I finally captured the national bird on camera!  Here it is...the elusive Palau Fruit Dove