Malo! Malo! Thanks Be To God!

Well its Thanksgiving here and I have to much to be thankful for! Each week poses different challenges. This week we had two basketball games downtown. I guess because I am always with other JV's I havent really noticed how hard it is to be here sometimes. At basketball games, especially this week I have felt like a complete outsider. It is obvious that I am not from here and the men downtown especially make me feel like that with their gestures. Though it is tough, I have really been praying for it and for the wisdom to understand that those few men who have made me feel like less of a person, do not make up the majority of the people here. My students for one are wonderful and respect me and would never treat me poorly. There are other Chuukese men who have been wonderful towards me and not mocked me and made inappropriate gestures. I have really prayed for strength and guidance to overcome this challenge. I cannot put all men into the category that those men were in. And I cannot have a mindset that all men in Chuuk will act like that towards me and I have to continue to pray for guidance, acceptance, wisom, and strength while here. 
Today I woke up completely refreshed, I even thought twice about getting a cup of coffee because I awoke refreshed, excited for the day, and ready to see my lovely students. This morning we had a school-wide mass that was really beautiful. Fr. Mark gave a great homily and I just felt God's presence more then usual in mass. One of my students, Elie led the choir and she has such a beautiful voice that really makes me feel a strong presence of God. Then I taught two chemistry classes and really felt like I 'taught' and the students 'learned' instead of me just lecturing, which made me feel really great. I think everyday I will be closer and closer to the teacher they need and less of the volunteer who is teaching subjects she doesn't know much about. 
It's my break period and it feels good to be able to update my blog. I still have to teach two classes of English, but then after school the JV's-me, Mike, Peaches, and Alex are going to cook Thanksgiving dinner for the Xavier  Staff. I am really excited to cook and to have a Thanksgiving dinner. Later on for Mike's spirituality night we are going to have another mass but it is going to be a "Mass Under the Stars" and take place on the roof, which will just be really awesome. Because of where we are the stars are so vivid and bright. I also think their will not be a large marom (moon) tonight, which makes the stars really come up. So fingers crossed it doesn't rain!! :) So that is my Chuukese Thanksgiving in a nutshell!!


And I cannot leave without telling you some of the things I am most thankful for:
-my family-i would not be the person i am without them. i love my family, imediate, Ferron's, and Nagy's so much that I cannot put it into words.
-my friends-you guys are amazing, and i am most thankful for those who have still kept in contact with me-it means the world to know i have your support and will continue to have it when i get back
-this experience-it is a true calling and gift from God that I am here right now having this experience
-my community-i could never do this alone
-my students-they can be tough sometimes, but it could be so much worse. they also make me smile with their innocence and spirit which makes me such a happy person when i am around them
-my life experiences-they have shaped me in more ways then i could ever imagine




and of course, God. He has given me more then I ever needed to be happy and I am so happy for all of the prayers He has answered and for helping me sooo much throughout this time and experience. I am so excited to continue to grow closer to Him and feel His presence even more!




Thats all I have!! 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!!!
and as we sang today in mass:
MONO (give thanks), MONO (give thanks), THANKS BE TO GOD!!
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