Connections

As the weeks have started going by, I realize that my ideas of what would happen here are far different from what reality is!!!   I envisioned coming here and jumping right into community and children's ministry activities, planning and implementing, etc. etc.   You know me, Mr. "must be doing something"!!!  ha ha  Well, God is so totally thrown me into a different way of life!!!  Brian has been so very busy since I arrived with pastoring the church, being vice principal at the school, teaching some of my classes till I arrived, teaching at the local high school for his brother till he arrives in mid September!!  So, he and I have really not had much time to sit down and discuss ministry plans and such!!  So, teaching has pretty much been it.  At first, I was getting a little frustrated by not being able to "jump right in", but slowly but surely God is showing me that I need to slow down, I need to take advantage of this time to rest and enjoy learning a new culture and that the time spent "just teaching" is not in vain!!!  
Each day, I can sense my relationships with many of my students beginning to deepen, as well as relationships with others in our church and community!!   Some of my students are starting to hang out in my room during breaks and after school, which affords the opportunity for some great conversations.  I am learning that several of our students are Mormon, but their parents want them to attend Samoa Baptist Academy because of our academic reputation!!  How's that for God working?!!!   I am praying that the relationships I build during my "waiting" time, will be the very vehicle He uses for future ministry!!! 

Please pray for all our students, but especially those that need His light to penetrate their lives.  Kim has these same students for language arts and is also building great relationships with them!!  Pray that God will continue to allow us these incredible opportunities!!!!  Kim has and continues to be such a blessing in my life....we are having a blast getting to know each other, hang out and laugh a lot!!!   But of course, what else would you expect from the daughter of Tim and Suzanne Tomlinson!!!  ha,ha   Also, please pray for Kim and I as there are days of homesickness, being tired and still adjusting to this way of life!!!  (forgot to mention in my earlier posts that it gets dark here between 6:30 and 7:00p.m. EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR and sunrise is right around 6:00a.m.!!   So, by 8:00p.m., you feel like you should be inside and ready for bed....and some nights we are!!!  ha,ha)  Thanks so much for your partnership and your prayers!!!!

Beach at last

Finally got to have some time at the beach!!!  Kim Tomlinson and I decided it was beach time after a week of school and off we went.  Of course, we also had the bright idea to hike first!!  (Seemed good at the time...ha,ha)   We drove up into the national park again and found a trail that you hike down through the lush forest and then come out on some rocks that you must literally climb down in order to get to some beautiful tide pools that you can swim in.   So, off we go, climbing and scooting down rocks and such to get there.....seeing amazing scenery along the way!!!  However, when we got close to the tide pools, we realized it was high tide and not the safest time to be swimming there!!  So, back up we began to climb these rock banks and then begin the hike back up the mountain!!   Thought I would die!!!!!  ha,ha   Showed me how out of shape I am, but by the grace of God I MADE IT!!!!!   And, it was so worth it to see the views we witnessed.   Got back to the car and decided to go to Tisa's, an outdoor restr. right on the beach!!!   No hiking to get there either!!  The beach was beautiful and the water so teal and clear and so relaxing!!  What a great afternoon!!!

Students

Well, I met my 6th, 7th and 8th graders this week!!!  Oh my, this is going to be an adventure...ha,ha, but one that I look forward to!!!   I observed Brian, Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy teach the classes for a couple of days and then began taking over toward the end of the week.  And of course, just like any where, I learned the names of a few students within the first few minutes of class....ha,ha!!!   I will be teaching 6th grade science and history, 7th grade history and 8th grade science and history!!  And yes, those of you who know me well are laughing hysterically about right now!!!  The students really are fun and the ones whose names I learned early on aren't really bad or anything, they just LOVE to talk!!!  And it is mainly the boys who are the talkative ones, with a few girls thrown in for good measure!!!  lol   I can already see where this will open many ministry doors!!!  Please pray for me that I will do a good job teaching them and that I will be open to building the relationships that God intends!!!

Finally a blog!!!!

Well, it has taken a few weeks, but finally have a blog up and running!! As many of you know, my computer died on me my 2nd day here.....no fun!!!  So, getting a blog online has been a little difficult, but here is my first post!!!  
The flight here was really, really long, but I made it just fine!!  Brian, the vice principal of the school and pastor of Tafuna Baptist, the English speaking church where I attend, picked me up at the airport.  He told me that I could sleep all day today (Friday) if I needed to, but at about 7:00a.m. this morning, I heard a voice from below my window calling my name!!  It was Pastor Elise, the husband of the school's principal, Ms. Lucy, and the pastor of Happy Valley Baptist, the Samoan church.  He wanted to take me to breakfast and show me around.   So, with not much sleep, I quickly got ready and headed out!!   Pastor Elise is such a wonderful man and I really enjoyed getting to know him this morning.  Laid around and slept a little bit the rest of the day and then went to a high school football game with Brian tonight.  Enjoyed hanging out and getting to know him more.

Saturday:
Today, I went to the church softball game and then Kim took me sightseeing around part of the island......all I can say is WOW!!!  Talk about beautiful!!  We drove along the coastline and I finally got to see the teal colored water that I have only seen in pictures before!!  It was amazing!!!  The water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom and when the waves break, the foam is the brightest white I had ever seen!!  Then we drove up into the national park and the mountains were soooo lush, green and tropical.  And from near the top, you look out and all you can see is ocean in front of you!!  Truly helps you realize just how far from home I am and how wondrous God's creation truly is!!!  Thank you Lord for a special day and thank you for this adventure!!!   Also, went grocery shopping today.....all I can say is Lord, please help me!!!   Food costs are definitely going to be the main expense and healthy foods are certainly not the easiest to find!!!!  Oh well, will do the best I can!!!!  :) 

Sunday:
Went to church for the first time at Tafuna Baptist Church, the English speaking church I will be serving through, that Brian is the pastor of.  Small congregation, but so much heart and potential for reaching the South Pacific for Christ.  Brian did a great job of bringing the Word and the music was the praise songs I know and love from BCOB!!!  Great day!!!

Earlier I described the coast and mountains of the island, now let me tell you about the villages where we all live.  I live in the village of Tafuna, on the campus of Samoa Baptist Academy.  The new apartment that many of you thought I was going to be living in is not completed yet (nor will it be for quite some time...ha,ha), so I am living in the upstairs part of the mission house.  Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy live on the lower level.  I have 3 bedrooms, two baths, a large kitchen and a dining/living room.   It is a great set-up....quite old, but works out well.  Wallpaper is straight out of the 70's!!!  lol  Anyway, most of the houses are very small as are the businesses that are around.  There are many churches...Catholic, Mormon, Baptist, Congregationalists, etc.  The Island is made up of many villages...as you drive down the main road you travel from one to another.  They are very "lived" in, but that just means that is where the people are and where their lives take place....and that is where God has called me to!!!