Friday, May 23, 2008

Island Home #2

Here I sit in a house with aircon and couches, two luxuries I only get to experience (house-wise) when I visit the city of Koror on Palau........but now I am in my parent's house on Guam enjoying a break from teaching. It's relaxing, but different. I am still enjoying it of course, but it's weird that the year is already done. There were times when it felt endless, and here it is at the end! Strange feeling. We will be leaving in a few days to spend some time with my uncle and aunt on Hawaii, and then flying to Southern CA for 2 weeks to be with my Mimi and relatives, finally arriving in Northern CA around the middle of June.

I miss everyone! I think more than anything, I missed people this year. I missed fellowship and familiarity, and the closeness of people I have known and loved for so long. Of course, I am also excited about the funny little details, too, like hanging out at Starbucks, enjoying the beauty of Northern CA landscape (oak trees, mountains, pines, rivers) which is so homey and comforting, and even wandering around old Placerville. As weird as it sounds to P-villians (not the same as villAINs), as much as everyone wants to get away, it's still been my home for so long. So I have missed it all this time. At the same time, I wouldn't trade this year with it's struggles for anything; it has taught me a great deal, and challenged me as well. God is good and faithful in the complications as well as the comforts of life. And he definitely shows up as our comforter through complications and trials.

Right now I'm a little tired, and not quite ready to start planning for my classes next year......is that lazy or normal? So I think I'm going to just relax a bit and enjoy just being right here. ;)

This blog is to chronicle the days in the life of a teacher at Bethania boarding school in the Palauan Islands. Although the area is remote, and life goes on almost entirely unnoticed by the rest of the world, I want to share with you some of the interesting experiences--and lessons from the One who makes life and Hope possible-- that may happen in this tropical pin-dot on earth. I hope it adds some flavor to your day.