Summer Learning

from Laura


Along with richly blessing us this summer, God also taught us a lot. The different rhythm and experiences provided the contrast we needed to solidify a number of lessons from the year, and to begin a few new ones. Here are some of the lessons of my summer: (The pictures are of beautiful things from the summer, only sometimes related to the nearest lesson.)

On a jungle hike on Mindoro

1- In June, we spent a day with God, partly alone, partly together. (Our mission asks each missionary to do this at least once a year, as a way of letting Him clarify our vision and our goals.) I was reminded on this day of the power of God's presence in our lives, and the depth and breadth of His plan. He is changing my heart and Seth's heart, and has a vision for our marriage to continue to grow. God wants to work in and through our friendships-- close and long-distance. He has ideas about every area of our lives and refuses to be limited to just teaching us to be better teachers and mentors. (Not that He's stopping that process either!) Our God is both enormous and intimate, far-reaching both outside of us and within.


2- On our Palawan trip, we were not always comfortable. We especially noticed this downtown- riding trikes, shopping in the (only?) local grocery store, walking through the market, or exploring a few of the quieter 'sights.' There were a variety of reasons: Non-Filipinos are much rarer in Puerto Princessa than in Manila, so our white faces made us very noticeable. (not my favorite experience) Beyond that, as tourists, we didn't know the right prices for things, or where anything was, or how to get there. I'd forgotten just how many questions there are to ask, when you're truly new to a place! We hadn't realized how comfortable we've become in Manila, but Palawan woke us up! It was nice to see that our new home has become a home-like place to be, but it was also a reminder that we remain novices in this country, outside of our own neighborhood. We were challenged to remain learners!

The Baywalk in downtown
Puerto Princessa, with
friendly children

3- Over the summer, we got to the point in Tagalog where we can awkwardly accomplish a few things, and I was reminded of how bad I am at 'putting myself out there' to try conversations I'm not good at yet. It's hard! But as we have tried to use bits and pieces more, I have been convicted of the importance of this process. I am humbled by how graciously our stumbling phrases are received, and angered by my own reluctance. This is a lesson that has just begun-- God will be teaching me a lot as we wrestle with the challenge of learning Tagalog.

Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception,
in Puerto Princessa

4- As we traveled and visited, we learned more about life in the Philippines, the complicated mix of good and bad and otherwise. Beautiful dances, generosity, humor, a sense of equilibrium, family love, superstition, poverty, fear, deception, crippling circumstances. I think a dual lesson is always learned as you get to know a culture. Your views of the possibilities of the culture and of its desperate need for God's help-- both of these grow and grow. This certainly happened for me this summer. Perhaps the biggest lesson was growth in my understanding of the spiritual needs here. For so many, a veneer of Christianity covers a terrible cycle of penitence and superstition and fear-- a cycle without the forgiving grace of God, without the power to free them from sin, without resurrection or life. I see the work of the Filipino evangelical churches, and of the missionaries who assist and equip them, in a new light and with a new urgency.

Jovar's family (missing some siblings)

5- My personal biggie, taught repeatedly all summer: I am not in control. I really like being able to do things independently, but I don't have that power or that privilege. In Puerto Princessa, I couldn't even hold a conversation without the grace of God and the help of others. It took both of those again for us to get lunch or get across the city. When we met Jovar's family, and I caught a glimpse of what it takes for a poor family to get through a week, I found myself praying for them with the fervor of the completely helpless. In that city, I recognized God as my strength and theirs, and my biggest job was to hang on tight. What is the difference between that and being in Manila? Only one thing-- here, I can sometimes forget about it. But it is good to be dependent. It is good to know that I do not run things. It is good to pray in helplessness and hope-- when I am lost in a new city, and when I meet with problems I cannot even begin to solve, and equally when I walk into my very own, very familiar classroom to teach a lesson that I have fully planned and prepared.

The view from Pandan Island

How does this boil down? We have a lot still to learn, and it is not always going to be a comfortable process. We are not called to be comfortable. Certainly we, O'Days living in Manila, are not. But neither are we, Christians living on Earth. That is NOT God's goal for us. Growth and holiness, obedience and service, are some of His goals. Joy, peace, and love. But not being comfortable. And my maturity is often revealed most clearly by how I respond to discomfort. On vacation, with few responsibilities, no real timetable, and no outside stress, I was ok with that...which is why God got these lessons going over break. Now the school year begins, and the lessons take the next step. My prayer is that I will not forget, but that what I learned in the light and the joy of summer will take root now and grow.

Summer Fun

from Laura


After the school year wrapped up, I had grand plans of writing regular thoughts here during the break... and that didn't happen. But this was a wonderful summer. Here is the first of 2 blog posts about the summer. This one is about summer refreshment. We were blessed in a lot of ways during these two months. Here are a few: (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Sister and friend hanging out at July 4 BBQ

1- We had relaxed time with friends. We had dinner with some different people, including some of the fellow staff who we didn't spend much time with during the year. We played games, and learned a few, too. (Quiddler and Wise and Otherwise, to be specific) We spent the 4^th of July with friends-- from America and elsewhere-- eating enormous amounts of food at a barbeque at Faith.


2- We read books. :) Even though I didn't stop reading during the school year, I wasn't breaking any page-total records. It was wonderful to sit and read away an afternoon, to finish YA books in one sitting, to have time to re-read something trivial and fun, to preview books for my classroom library, and to read books with professional ideas for teachers. A few summer reading highlights, from several categories: The Praying Life by Paul Miller; The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers; The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.


3- We slept enough. At first, this meant a lot. But mostly, throughout the summer, it just meant the ability to choose our bedtime or alarm-clock time based on fatigue rather than stress and schedule. This was truly a luxury and a gift.


4- We traveled in the Philippines. This is really at least 3 different blessings.

With Jovar and a really big croc skeleton

      *We visited a young man named Jovar, who I have been supporting through Compassion, International for 12 years. He lives in Puerto Princessa, Palawan. We spent a day with him, visiting his home, his church, his town, and the nearby crocodile farm. It was an amazing experience to put 3 dimensions together and get to know Jovar in person.
      *While in Puerto Princessa, Seth and I were also simply on vacation together. We visited the Underground River, went snorkeling in Honda Bay, explored downtown Puerto Princessa, and wandered the Baragatan festival (which was conveniently timed to match our visit). There is not much better in my book than exploring beautiful and interesting places with my husband.

Ocean and clouds from Mindoro

      *With my parents and sister (see below), we went to the beach! For having lived in an island archipelago nation for a year, we have spent surprisingly little time at the beach. Mindoro is an excellent island for relaxing beach days, and this was the first time that we had gone there. We swam, snorkeled, took walks along the sand, read books while sitting on beach chairs, and watched clouds roll in over the water. We also got (sort of) lost trying to find restaurants, showered without hot water, and had sand and seawater everywhere. All of which were pieces of a lovely family vacation.

After hiking to Aninuan Falls, before swimming

5- We were visited by family! My parents and my younger sister Kandy came from Chicago to visit us for almost 2 weeks. We got to share life with them for a little while. I didn't realize how big a deal this would be to me. I knew I missed my family and would be excited to see them. I didn't know how important of a time it would be to me. For them to travel the way we travel, go where we go, shop where we shop, share food and friends and adventures with us... it was amazing. We had so much fun together.


6- We had time to go back to work early. After about a month and a half of doing very little schoolwork of any kind, we started going back to school in mid-July. Some people may be appalled by this, and there are surely some years when teachers shouldn't do this. But we were ready, and it was an enormous blessing. We organized papers and other resources from last year, and from years before us-- making new and useful discoveries every day! We had time to think through our curriculum and classes at the level of underlying goals and yearlong layouts. It was refreshing to be asking questions like “What do I really want students to be able to do by May? And what can I do to help them actually get there?” instead of “What can I do with the class tomorrow to teach the next couple of pages in the textbook?”

On the beach near the Underground River, Palawan

With all of these blessings (and more that I don't have room for) behind us and lifting us up, we arrived at the first day of school ready, in each area of life. I don't know this year will hold, but we have been strengthened and renewed by our summer, made ready for whatever God has for us to learn and to do.