The World's Best Roommate

Dear Judith,

My first roommate was during my sophomore year in high school. I don't want to name any names, but it did not work out well. My next roommate was awesome and we got along great. However, my college roommates were both disasters. I did not have high hopes for this year, what with coming to Saipan and working with a whole bunch of girls.

Being goofy at Yellow Mango

I still remember that first night in Saipan. I didn't sleep much, despite my extreme jet lag. I was in the big room at the house on the compound, just Megan (office assistant) and me, while Girlie slept upstairs.

Unexpected shot at the beach

A few days later, I came home after work to an empty house. Subee was gone and I felt so incredibly alone. That was the only time all year when I think I would've gone home if I'd been given the chance.

However, that was the night that God gave me the best gift. Rhonda flew in and nothing has been that same since. Throughout every blessing and trial this year, she has been there. We've been angry together, happy together, scared together, and frustrated together. We were even attacked together, which is truly a bonding experience, though not one that I would recommend.

After hiking down to Forbidden,
This picture was taken by Sean Maycock. He wanted credit.

We share all things, and I honestly can only remember one time when I could tell that she was frustrated with me. She cooks for me, she cleans up after me (sometimes), she kicks me out of bed in the mornings when I don't want to go running.

I don't think that I could've survived this year without her, and I'm so thankful that God led her here, to be a part of my life, hopefully forever. She's one of the best friends that I can imagine, and I can't believe how I lived without her and I don't know how I'll function at camp without her.

In the car, on the way home from church

Rhonda went to SAU for her first semester of college, then transferred to WWU for no apparent reason at the time. She worked at camp through Kelli, and planned on going to Majuro for six weeks before returning to WWU. Instead, in Hawaii, she found out that Saipan still needed a teacher, and after a whirlwind day of me begging her, she agreed to come.

It's amazing to see how God works all things for the good of those who love Him, even when we completely don't understand why. It didn't make sense for her to transfer when she was happy at SAU, but if she hadn't, then we wouldn't have met, and my Saipan experience would have been completely different.

Sabbath morning photo op

I hope you still keep in touch with your Saipan roommates, because I believe that they are some of the best friends you could ever have.

I love you Jude!

My First Love

Dear Judith,

I've never been in love before, not truly. Sure, I've dated, and then, I believed that I was experiencing that emotion, but when it was all said and done, I was never heartbroken, never too upset to see things ending.

I came to Saipan, expecting no big changes, nothing groundbreaking, nothing profound. But then, I fell in love, not only with this place, but with myself. Slowly, I became more able to love others and to give more of myself. The love that I now felt could easily be transferred to those around me.

I'm afraid to leave this island, to fall out of love with me, to stop being this person that I've become, to tear down all that I've built over the last 7 months. I can be introspective now and not leave feeling depressed. I see the world through different eyes, and I don't want to fall back into the mold, the shell of who I was before I came here.

Visitors

Dear Judith,

While reading a book, you encounter the eerie feeling of being watched. You try to regain your focus in the story, but there's little hope of that. You glance around and nervously smile, trying to shake the suddenly uncomfortable atmosphere.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see him. Dark and hairy, he stares up at you for a few seconds before hurriedly scurrying away.

If you live in Saipan, then you should be quite familiar with this sensation. Cockroaches seem to love my house, especially the kitchen. I remember one particular time at the beginning of the year when we found a few cockroaches (or rather, they found us) and I went to bed in a tizzy, determined to leave this tiny dot of land.

Or there was the time a few weeks ago, when five or six of them got in the house on Rhonda's package that was left in Subee for a few hours. One of them crawled down her shirt, and the screams echoed in my ears for about 5 minutes. During the next half an hour, we killed the rest of them.

We used to be snobs and only use cockroach spray, but shoes are so much more effective. However, I wish that I didn't know the color of cockroach guts (black).

Sure, I live in a completely infested house, but I wouldn't trade it for the nicest mansion in America. I truly love my life here.

I'm very proud of my kills!

Week of Prayer/Managaha

Dear Judith,


Last week was the week of prayer on both campuses here at Saipan SDA. Our school was blessed to have a great speaker, one Jerry Duane Nickell.




I was so lucky to have my daddy come to visit me, and my mom "surprised" me too. It was such a fun week, and it was great to hang out with them. Here's some of the highlights:

Sunday morning, we went to Java Joe's for breakfast. Then we went on the island tour with Amy, Michi, Kei, Kei's girlfriend, and Kono. My mom asked me if she should wear sunscreen. I told her that I'd never really burned here, so there probably wasn't much need. I guess I should've knocked on wood, because I got so red! Of course, neither of my parents burned.

Wednesday night, we picked up Michi and Kei, and took a big group down to Bobby Cadillac's. It was so much fun to just relax with everyone. Then, we went to PIC and it was freezing! It took not a small amount of coercion to get my mom into the water, but I think she had fun when it was all said and done.

Throughout the week, my dad did some great talks and made many positive connections with the kids. By the end of the week, he had adopted both Michi and Kei, and I think he would've taken them all if he could've.

Friday morning, we headed out to Managaha for outdoor school. I barely had any of my kids come, but it was so much fun to hang out with the older kids. I was on the teambuilding and games committee (same as you!) and we had some great times. We did a junk scramble and I was in charge of a spiderweb activity.

Saturday night--ahh, Capture the Flag. I almost didn't play because I cut my foot on Friday and it got infected but Angie wrapped it up and I'm so glad that I played. I was on Sean's team which was great. We lost the first game, and the second game went for so long that the other team surrendered, but it was good. I was a flag guard and Kono, Antonee, and Kimin definitely kept me on my toes. Still, everyone had a fun time and we have started making plans to play against other private school teachers.

Last night, we all went to Coffee Care for Nicole's birthday and reminisced on how we all ended up in Saipan. I really have you to thank for my coming. I love Saipan and I can't imagine leaving.

We took my parents to the airport this morning at 3 o'clock. It's sad, but I'll be home again in 3 months. I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by, but I feel so blessed to be here and a part of this awesome team.

I miss you and love you Jude!!!