Easter on a tiny island!

Tour…He is Risen!

Happy Easter!

I took a trip to the Mortlocks for Easter. All of my PCV friends in Chuuk got together on one of the volunteer’s island for the holiday.

How did we get there you ask? We took a ship and when I say ship I do not mean a vacation cruise ship…it was more like a small fishing vessel.

Lien Pukieal was the ship we boarded along with a ton of locals. When we bought our tickets we were unaware that it would be a chartered funeral ship (it was taking a body from Guam to the Mortlocks-locals really believe in burying people where they are from).

We sat in the enclosed room, which was nice because we did not get wet from rain or waves. We had our little space marked out with a mat to sit/lay on along with all our bags (right next to the casket…). However, we ended up being pushed from our spot and laid on by people through the course of the trip due to the rocking side to side of the ship. Inside the lagoon the ride was smooth and relaxing the second we left the reef and entered the open ocean…you knew it! It was such a rocky ride that as I laid down (so as not to feel sea sick) and looked out the window I could see sky then water, sky then water…needless to say I tried to sleep the whole time! 25 hours later we made it to the Mortlocks! We stopped at one island to drop of the people for the funeral, and hop on a small motor boat to head to our destination! Total travel time 28 hours! (oh and yea for me, I did not get sick!).

My friends and I spent the week hanging out and enjoying time together, it was nice to get away for a few days.



singing on the sea wall at sunset







team Chuuk! (we had to take turns, to get everyone in the picture)

Random thoughts…

I called home for Easter, using one of my friend’s satellite phones, and I had to stand in the ocean up to my knees to get good service!

sitting with my best Friend

Tour…needing time with Jesus

Can I sit by You?

by Three Cord Wonder

I feel like a life-raft

tossing in the sea

looking for some answers

and hoping I agree

Maybe you could tell me

What’s gonna happen soon?

But even if You’re silent, I will follow You. 

Can I sit by You?

I don’t care what we do

I just want to hold Your hand

I only want to be with You.

Can I sit by You?

I’m so in awe of You.

Please, may I kiss Your hand?

I only want to be with You

I feel like a victim

Of a life where all went wrong

I’m still trying to catch my breath again

And I find where I belong

I feel tired and neglected

A broken jar of glee

Though it feels like Your ignoring me

I am gonna to stay

Can I sit by You?

I don’t care what we do

I just want to hold Your hand

I only want to be with You.

Can I sit by You?

I’m so in awe of You.

Please, may I kiss Your hand?

I only want to be with You

I feel like You’ve taken

almost everything I love

and cast it in lake of fire

burning it all up

the pain I’m feeling right now

is overwhelming me

and though the world tells me to curse You

I still believe

Can I sit by You?

I don’t care what we do

I just want to hold Your hand

I only want to be with You.

Can I sit by You?

I’m so in awe of You.

Please, may I kiss Your hand?

I only want to be with You

I just want to kiss Your hand

I only want to be with You

I just want to hold Your hand

I only want to be with You

with you Jesus

underwater adventure

Tour…diving!

I went on my first dive adventure! (finally, I got to be “The Little Mermaid”)

It was the most amazing experience, an underwater museum! (the deepest I went was 65 feet!)

I was able to explore four different wrecks from WWII, the Hoyo Maru, Heian Maru, Fujikawa Maru, and Kiyosumi Maru.

Being able to see such an important part of Chuuk’s history was unforgettable, and indescribable. The ships were HUGE! I saw old telephones, tea cups, gas masks, and much more.

The wildlife was awesome. The fish were all around and we even watched a large fish get cleaned by little fish for over 5 minutes…it was so cool to get to see that. There were many different kinds of coral, all different sizes and colors. (there was so much to see, if I was not limited to the amount of air in my tank I could have easily spent all day down there looking at everything!)

There really is no way for me to put what I experienced in words, and I do not have a camera that can go that deep in water so I cannot share it with you either…I guess if you really want to see it you will have to come for a visit!

I cannot wait to go again and spend more time in God’s underwater creation!

Random thoughts…

Impromptu dance party in my room with Enrich and Richen = most favorite thing to do!

colorful world

Tour…colors

One thing I have noticed since I got here is the vibrancy in colors.

Everything just seems to pop with shades of colors I did not know existed.

Blue, green, pink, yellow, orange…

If the colors here are more than I have ever imagined I cannot even begin to imagine what they will be like in Heaven!

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me

I can only imagine, what it will be like when I walk by your side

I can only imagine, what my eyes will see when Your face is before me

I can only imagine

Surround by Your glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing halleluiah; will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine, when that day comes and I find myself sanding in the sun

I can only imagine, when all I will do is forever, forever worship You

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Surround by Your glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing halleluiah; will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Surround by Your glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing halleluiah; will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine, when all I will do is forever, forever worship You

I can only imagine

Pictures do not do the colors I see here justice, but I think you will still enjoy them…check out my link to my photo album on the right 

teaching

Tour…teaching

Yay! Our new school…

I am super excited to teach in our new building! My plan is to make the classrooms fun and decorative, to help the kids learn in an inviting environment.  A wall full of English words, a reading corner, English alphabet, labeling things in Chuukese and English, displaying student work, a library…so many things I can do!

preparing a tent for the dedication

the old building and new building

we have four new bathrooms (and they actually flush!)

a co-teacher and some students

some of my students

old classroom

new classroom

new classroom

some stuff i have been making