It's been a while

Well I just looked, and it’s been quite a while since I’ve updated my blog.  I’m sorry about that; I’ve been kind of busy.  There has been a lot going on and I haven’t been able to keep up with everything very well.  This last week was the beginning of second quarter, which meant that grades were due, most of my collogues had a hard time with it, I had been keeping up with it pretty well, so I didn’t have much trouble with it.

 

As I’ve been able to look back on the last quarter, I’ve seen myself grow a bit.  The following is a list of the things I’ve learned both from teaching and from just being over here in Majuro. 

 

1. Job descriptions are only good as long as you are doing said job, description can change as soon as you are done with that job. 
2. For every student that says that they don’t understand, there is one that doesn’t say anything that really doesn’t understand.
3. All it takes is one funny comment for the whole class to crack up in a serious moment.
4. When a teacher says that they have to wake up early to grade, they are probably telling the truth. 
5. When you want to, you can come up with one thing worse than you just went through.
6. A package from home can make the worst day seem like it was nothing.
7. Expecting a package from home and not getting it can make the best day turn into a bad day.
8. Anything that you want to come faster will arrive about the time you forget about it coming. 
9. Waves look a lot smaller and tame when you are on the beach than when you are in the water. 
10. With God you can come up with a worship talk in less than 5 minutes.
11. You need to have 3 things to look forward to, one in the near future, one a bit further off, and one a long way off.  The challenge is keeping the 3 in balance.
12. The only thing keeping you from spending more time with God is: YOU.
13. The berries are always sweeter on the other side of the mountain, but it has nothing to do with the taste.
14. When you think you have your students figured out they throw you a curve ball that you either have to adjust and hit or strike out on.  
15. One way to help keep students occupied is to throw them curve balls; you’ll find out fast what they know by doing so. 
16. Going to be early and waking up early, might not make you healthy, wealthy, or wise, but it does have other things going for it.
17. If you can’t learn from other people’s mistakes and you can’t learn from your own mistakes, you’ll probably make the mistake again.
18. In a classroom you will have a huge dichotomy, you will have the loud student that gets everything done correctly and you will have the quite student that does the same.
19. Asking yourself what your students would do might be a bit scary, but asking how Jesus would teach something gives immense amounts of insight.
20. God uses quite times to re-teach you lessons that you were to busy to hear the first time. 
21. Sermons don’t always come from a pastor or a pulpit; they can come from where ever God thinks is the right time and place.
22. Alone time is worth its weight in gold.
23. There is a difference between surviving and thriving even though they are only 2 letters different.
24. You are never to busy to pray.
25. And one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn; “This is the Marshall Islands, it doesn’t matter how I would do it in the States, I’m not in the states.”

 

These are just a short sample of the things I’ve learned while I’ve been over here, as time goes by, I’ll continue adding to the list, and see what I have by the time my time is done here.

 

A week ago I was running and I slipped on a little puddle of water and went down.  When it was all said and done, I had a pretty badly scraped knee and a bruise about 8x5in on my left thigh.  It took about 3 days, but I finally got back the ability to move both more than about 6 inches.  Now they are doing much better.  You know how hard it is for things to scab over when they never dry out?   Here nothing dries out, it took 3.5 days for my knee to scab over, it was kind of frustrating, but hey, its life. 

 

You have to chuckle at your students occasionally.  I have one student that asks to pray every other class period.  His prayer is always; “GOD IS GREAT AND GOD IS GOOD, NOW I THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY……..AMEN.”  He nearly screams it at the top of his lungs, not exactly the way I’d like him to pray sometimes, but God is the one who is receiving the prayer not me, and I’m sure he likes it just as good as the prayers I pray. 

 

I’m sorry this has taken so long to get updated.  I’ll try and do a better job at updating it now.  I have been keeping on updating my pictures too.  Check them out too.  Have a great week and weekend.

 

Stephen Baker

Another Year Older

Well, I'm a little late with this posting, the last week has been anything but easy.  I don't know if it was the full moon, change in tides, or just the students wanting to test our patience, but they did a good job at running all the teachers up the walls.  When Friday afternoon finally came around, all any of us wanted to do was sleep.  Me personally though I couldn't.  I had to prepare for Vespers, I was the speaker.  I was going to do something amazing, but decided to show a movie instead.  It is a talk given by Louie Gigleo, he is an amateur astronomer and he mainly proves the existence of God by showing different stars.  Its pretty cool, I always like seeing it. 

Yesterday was a pretty special day, for two reasons really, first, I got to talk to my parents, that was pretty cool.  The second thing was that it was my birthday yesterday.  It was a very uneventful birthday, which is the way I like it, I'm not particularly a party person, I like to hang out in the background.  I got a movie from my parents, so I watched it before bed, and then went to bed, that was about the extent of my extracurricular activities.  I know, not to exciting, but hey, its all good, I like having nice quite days.  

It was pretty much exciting, I got two packages from my family this last week and two packages from Union College, so this week was the most packages I've gotten at once or anything.  It was really cool to get stuff from home, but equally cool to read about everything that was going on back at good old union.

Well, I need to get busy on grading and all, I hope all of you guys are doing well and keeping out of trouble, I sure try.  I'll update again the week probably.

Oh, so I posted new pictures on my picture blog, if you guys want to go check that out, the web address is:http://picasaweb.google.com/stbaker1986/BloggerPictures?authkey=sjU7ZMfxyYE#

Holidays and tests

This week has been pretty good.  Last week we had friday off because of Manit day.  I don't really know what its about, but its a day off of school, so I wasn't going to argue.  This week has been marked with tests.  Two test in one day, and then the other two were spread out over two days.  Tests are another thing teachers look forward to, it is a time when the whole classroom is silent for fear of getting a zero on a test.  Oh the manipulative powers that teachers have.  The hard part comes with grading tests.  When you have like 32 students in two classes that have the same test, it becomes a chore to actually grade them, but that's what sunday is ment for I've come to realize to catch up on grading and such.  

I was kind of frustrated today, I was in the middle of proctoring a test and the principle comes and asks me if he can have 4 of the students that are taking the test.  I immediately said no, but then he told me that it was because of a funeral here on the island of one of the students grandparents.  Its nice and frustrating at the same time that the families are so close.  The not so nice part about it is the fact that one funeral can shut down the school, and has a few times in the past, especially if it is someone affiliated with the school or a parent/grandparent.  

I got the privalige of having the talk for worship the other night.  I don't know if you have ever heard the song "cosmic cowboy" by Berry McGuire, but I told that story in first person.  It was pretty cool, we have some people in our group that it really reached out to.  For those that don't know the song, these are the lyrics:

I met a cosmic cowboy, ridin’ a starry range

He’s a supernatural cowboy, an’ He’s dressed up kinda’ strange

At first I didn’t see Him, bein’ out there on the run

But that ol’ hat that He was wearin’, shinin’ brighter than the sun

An’ when my eyes adjusted, to the flashin’ of His smile

I saw His invitation, sayin’ come on Barry we’ll go ridin’ for a while

 

We rode along together, for more than half a day

Right out through the changin’ weather, the sky was all turnin’ grey

Chilly winds were blowin’, the cold was cuttin’ deep

Then it started snowin’, an’ the trail was gettin’ steep

I was just about to turn around, head on back down the way we came

When somehow, without a sound, I heard Him call my name

 

Lookin’ up I saw we was high up on this ridge

He took me by my arm, an’ led me right over to the edge

I was so scared I couldn’t find a single word to say

I mean there’s ten thousand feet of empty air an’ it’s just about an inch away

But a million miles was out beyond the wavin’ of His hand

An’ I was lookin’ through His eyes, right into another land

 

He said, “This is my Father’s ranch, just as far as you can see

He made it out of nothin’, every branch an’ every tree

Made the stars an’ all the mountains, the rivers an’ the streams

Made the oceans an’ the fountains, an’ the valley of your dreams

That’s right, I know that place you been lookin’ for, that place you long to be

Truth is I’m the only door, you’re gonna have to pass right through me”

 

Then bendin’ back I tipped my hat to look Him in the eye

He just smiled an’ gave me confidence, sayin’ “Go ahead an’ try”

Well, it was now or never, an’ I knew I had to start

So I took my first step an’ I went fallin’ deep into His heart

First thing that I noticed comin’ out inside

Was all my fears were washed away, He’s teachin’ me I can fly

 

Yeah, there’s a cosmic cowboy, an He’s ridin’ a starry range

He’s a supernatural ploughboy, an’ He is dressed up kinda’ strange

At first I didn’t even see Him bein’ out there on the run

But that ol’ hat that He was wearin, shinin’ brighter than the sun

An’ when my eyes adjusted, to the flashin’ of His smile

I saw His invitation, sayin’,  “come on Barry, we’ll go ridin’ for a while”

 

Cowboy, of the light, shootin’ rainbows through the nigh

He’s my Cowboy, of the light, shooting His rainbows

Golden rainbows, eternal rainbows through the night

Its kind of a powerful song that I really like, It touches different people in different ways, but those that grew up in the mountains or in the country can sure feel it in a really good way.  

Well, Its about time for me to run.  I hope you all that are reading this are doing well.  I'm doing well.  I ask for your prayers and I thank you for them in advance.

Yet another fun filled, action packed week here in the Marshall Islands

Today is a holiday here on the island, I'm not exactly sure as to what its for, I asked some of my students, but none of them could give me a straight answer, just its a holiday, duh.......I knew that already, oh well, its a day I don't have to teach.  It didn't stop me from getting up very early.  I've been getting up at about 4:30 for the past 2 or so weeks.  I really don't care though, I feel fully rested and fine, so its all good.  I also go to bed around 8:30, so really its a full 8 hours of sleep.  

 

I was amazed this morning when I read an email from my dad.  I wasn't so much amazed that he sent me an email, but I was surprised at something he said.  He said that he'd see me in just 255 days.  I hadn't been thinking about how long it was until I actually come home, but that really doesn't seem like that long.  I know when I think about it in months, it does, but just 255 days, not to bad, but then at the same time, it is kind of a long time.  There is part of me that says that I've been here long enough to experience what missions is like and now I'm ready to go home, but there is another part of me that is so thrilled that God is using me to help out over here, and why would I want to go home any earlier than God has plans for me to go home.  I guess its kind of a constant struggle, especially when you know that your family and friends are having so much fun back at home.  It can get really tough, but then you just have to remember that you are doing good here too.  

 

I'm working on getting some pictures posted to picasa, so that you guys that keep up with my blog, you will be able to see some pictures as well.  

Well, I should probably get going on other things now.  I hope all of you are doing well.  

This is the link for my blog pictures:  http://picasaweb.google.com/stbaker1986/BloggerPictures?authkey=sjU7ZMfxyYE#

 

Priorities, you have to have priorities

Something that being a Student Missionary has taught me this far is to analyze where I put my priorities.  In the states it seems like there is more time to do things, but maybe thats just because I'm a student there, here I'm a teacher, and have to be a "responsible adult."  I'm still not quite sure what that means, but hey I'm not getting in trouble, so I guess I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  I figure as long as I do what I'm told and put my spin on it, its ok.  

Another thing this experience so far has taught me is the importance of solitude.  Right now I'm alone in the room, which is amazing.  I'm listening to Rich Mullins, and very comfortable.  I don't know what I would do if I couldn't take quite a bit of solo time.  People ask me why I'd want to, I reply why wouldn't you want to?  Its kind of interesting, they go on Marshallese time here, which is "you start when you start, not at a time."  I used to think this would be terrible for me and I'd hate it, but I've come to realize that I'm not going to change them, and they aren't going to change me, so I'll just bring a good book and be there up to 45 minutes early and just read, more alone time usually.  It has also allowed me to read more of the bible.  I'm reading so many new things, or re-reading so many "new" things.  Its amazing that God can re-teach you the same lesson multiple times through the same story, or a new lesson through the same story.  Its like how did I forget this or how did I not see this before?

Well, It think my laptop battery is about to die, so I should probably bid adu.  I hope you all are having a good weekend back stateside.

Well, its been over a week......

Ok, so its been over two almost, I've been kept so busy this past few weeks.  This week is the school Student week of prayer.  The topic has been Hero's of faith, following the chapter in Hebrews about faith.  It has been interesting watching how the students react to hearing such things.  Most of the islanders are christian, but few are really christian.  I dare to say that few SDA's are true christians, but not to get onto that tangent, it has really been cool.  

We have finally settled out for the long haul.  We as teachers finally have most of the same students every week, and mostly everyday.  Its kind of an unknown novelty that I hadn't ever thought that a teacher thought about, but I do on a regular basis.  I'm also getting to see a whole new side of students, and getting to experience it first hand.  My teachers told me when I was in grade school and high school that they had seen it all and that we weren't even scratching the surface of what students before have done to try and cheat and disobey the rules.  Well, I followed the rules, which around here makes me a teachers pet, but thats because following the rules just because they are the rules is an anomaly.  I'm sure my students think they are being very sneaky and all, but just like my teachers told me, I've seen it before and its not new.  I just can't get that through to them, they don't listen all that well to reason.  But Mr. Baker, I'm not chewing gum.........chew.......chew.......chew.......  You get the point, they try to lie to coverup the most odious things.  Oh well, every school has such things, I think its inherent to teaching and being around students.  

There is a line from a very funny movie I like.  The main character is being blamed of stealing millions of dollars from the US government, when he is asked about it he so coothfully says, "All I wanted was an honest weeks wages for an honest days work."  That seems to be the philosophy of all my students, they want the grades really bad, but don't want to dish out the work to do them, and its not like we as teachers sit and mischievously say, who can we fail today either, we do try and make it so everyone can pass.  Alas, even with our help, some don't even try.  Probably one of the most frustrating things I've learned as a teacher.  I've also come up with the top 10 things you as a teacher might say:

1. If its as good a copy as any copy machine can do, your probably looking at someone's feeble attempt to cheat.  
   
2. If you are looking out the window, you probably aren't taking to good of notes, are you?
3. Doesn't it make it hard to find the right figure when you are in the wrong chapter?
4. Just because one student does it, it doesn't make it right, they will get in trouble too!
5. Don't be sorry, just don't do it again.  (applies to anything from talking in class to chewing gum in class)
6. The key to getting a question right on a test/quiz/homework is answering the question.
7. If you don't turn your homework in, you don't have a grade for it......amazing how that works.
8. When it says, "what do you think"  I want to know what you think, not what the book says.
9. There is a 99.8% chance that if you come to class late, you have missed material, you will need it in the future.
10. And my all time favorite:  Student asks, is this important?  Would I take time to say something that's important?

For those of you who keep up with this blog that are teachers, I'm sure you can relate to this, especially if you teach in the islands.  I know I'm not the first teacher to say these, and won't be the last, so I dedicate this list to all you, my fellow teachers who have towed the rope, who are towing the rope, and who will tow the rope of teaching.  

So this last sunday, we went to a private island and spent the whole day there.  The one really cool attraction was a sunken WWII airplane.  At low tide, you could easily swim down to it, it was about 10ft under the water.  At high tide however, it was like 20 ft down.  I went during low tide, and had a great time exploring the wreck, I wish I had SCUBA stuff to aid in my explorations.  We all got pretty sunburned, but now mine is pretty much gone, I can still feel it when I take a hot shower, but hey, it was worth every minute of it.  

Oh, for those of you who aren't from UC, I have some news.  My team of IRR students were deployed to do Search and Rescue stuff in texas in leu of the hurricane that just went through.  They left 7p Sabbath the 13 I believe and they will be back the following weekend.  Please keep them in your prayers as they are down there.  Not only is it the team that I have trained with my whole college career, its my girlfriend as well.  

Well, I should wrap this up and get it posted, so you guys can know what I'm doing.  I hope to talk to all of you guys soon.  Take care.

SB

  

Another week, now one month plus

Well, it doesn't quite seem possible that it has really been a month since I left the states.  Its not like it seems like its been less, but its kind of hard to imagine that I'm 1/10 of the way done with my missionary experience in Majuro.  Things have been really going well.  Just like any classroom, there are problems, but that comes with the territory alas.  I guess I still live under the LE motto "Do your best, God will do the rest, and you will be blessed"  I've spent a month doing my best, God has been doing the rest, and not only I, but others have been blessed.  

Yesterday night we went to our first funeral. I didn't know the man personally, but around here, that really doesn't matter much.  If you know people who know them you are pretty much required to go.  It was a beautiful service I'm sure, but it was all in marshallese.  I'm not to fluent yet in marshallese, so it was just alot of sitting on the floor and listening to alot of people talk.  Thats another thing, everyone who knew the person talks, if your important and you didn't know him you talk, you get the hang of what I'm saying.  You pay a $1 and get free food though, its kind of different, it can go for weeks to.  They seal the coffin and watch it for weeks sometimes........I don't quite understand it, but its not mine to understand.  

Its kind of sad, its been a few days since I've been able to swim, and right now is the best time.  2 times a month, we get really high and really low tides.  They are fun to swim in, you get out past the breakers and you are riding waves, which is a really fun thing, then you get to see what its like not on the reef.  I haven't been out because I'm still trying to get well, for the most part I feel really good, but my nose is still clogged occasionally, which is kind of frustrating.  

So this sunday the church is having a get-together on one of the islands that you have to take a boat to get to, I'm pretty excited about going.  I'm hoping that we get to have some swimming time on a nice sandy beach, at the school we have coral, not sand, which coral is nice, but not nice to run on.  

This week I had two classes that had tests, its amazing how some students that you think are going to do really well don't, and ones that you don't think are listening to you are actually doing well.  I know I shouldn't be surprised at this anymore, but it sure amazes me still.  So for now, the internet doesn't work at the school, we have to go to a resort and buy some food to use the internet, which I guess it is a small price to pay for having some communication with family and friends.  Well, I should probably get working on other things now.