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The Sabbath is always a blessing in many ways, but the biggest blessing this week for me was physical rest.  Last week was probably one of my most stressful weeks this year for a number reasons: deadlines for FH, Reffing Basket Ball Games, Student Week of Prayer, and then making sure that we had “Man on the Street” ready for each day of Student Week of Prayer. Read the rest of this entry »

Six months ago, if you asked me to guess or predict the future, I would have not guessed that I would be scuba diving on November 1, organizing a dive training for Tiffany and 3 other people (so we can go diving with my sister when she comes in December), and that I would be working for Florida Hospital part time from Saipan.

The last six months have been a series of “unexpectations”, if that’s a word. There has been lots of learning, lots of growing, and a new found respect for the amount of work that teachers in Adventist schools are called to do. Not only are we as Adventist teachers called to help our students be successful in academics and their future careers, we are called to help them know that a relationship with God is what motivates us and is part of every aspect of life, and ultimately help them realize a desire to spend eternity with Jesus; for this teachers will never be compensated enough on this earth.

I think the biggest “Unexpectation” is God’s hand move so clearly. I truly believe that God’s hand was at work six months ago or more for everything to work out they way it did up until this week. I have never doubted God’s hand in my life, but I have also never seen him work out the details so providentially.

About one month before I left Florida and Florida Hospital, Duncan one of the Directors of my Department offered me the option of working remotely in Saipan to stay connected with Florida Hospital, so that when I got back to the States, I could keep working for them. I had already handed in my resignation letter and was fully expecting to trust God to lead when we got back from Saipan; well, he appeared to already be leading. After 3 months of working long hours (many times more than 13 hours) with only small breaks in between, I was overwhelmed and discouraged with the fact that I was not doing what I came here to do. I had come as the Bible teacher and chaplain, but when I arrived I was given 4 extra classes (Pre-Algrebra, Algebra 1, Literature 7/8, and Keyboarding). These 4 extra classes took almost all my time and I was neglecting my Bible and Chaplain duties.

As I contemplated my options and took a little time out to do some snorkeling, I stood inside the reef with fish swiming around me and talking with David the P.E. teacher (you can read his account here: http://sixteenseventy.blogspot.com/2010/11/days-they-fly.html). I was telling him my burdens and he suggested why not talk to the Principal maybe he can could work some changes in the schedule. So, I spent the next two weeks thinking about how I could pitch this idea to the Principal. I thought of many things, and also spoke with Florida Hospital about the possibility of working more hours, if the school would reduce my teaching load so I could focus on teaching Bible and also take a pay cut which would help with their budget deficit.

With out my knowing the Principal was thinking the same thing, he knew I could still work remotely for Florida Hospital, and he could tell that I was fairly stressed out with my teaching load, so one afternoon he came up to my room and asked how I was doing, I told him I wanted to talk, but I had a few parents coming to talk with me. After my meeting with the parents, I went down to Tiffany’s room, and he had already worked my whole schedule out with Tiffany. In the mornings I could work for Florida Hospital and teach my Bible classes in the afternoon.

I could not believe that everything thing was worked out two days before I had even planned to talk with the Principal, and that the Lord had been preparing the way from the time that Duncan offered me the option to work remotely back in May. It was then that I remembered the Lord’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God is still teaching me many things, and I think by teaching these 3 months I can truly appreciate the work that teachers do, and see how His hand is at work in our lives. I hope you enjoy the pictures below and keep praying for our ministry here.

As we go about our daily lives trying to accomplish everything that needs to be done today, and trying to plan for tomorrow, it’s easy to be trapped in the vicious circle of the life that demands our attention to focus on the present.  In fact I think that most of the time (at least for myself), we get so caught up on the present and meeting its demands that we can’t dream or think of what the future might look like.  A future where there is no more sin, no more sadness, and where we live in paradise.

This weekend Tiffany and I, went with Sarah Jane and Bill to Managaha; which is a little taste of paradise just off the coast of Saipan.  We spent several hours snorkeling with beautiful fish, and then swimming with sharks.  While swimming with the fish and sharks, I thought for a moment how relaxed I was and how I can’t wait until we can spend eternity with the ones we love and enjoying God’s creation.

Approaching Managaha

Shark Attack!

During my devotions this morning, I was inspired to reflect back to yesterday’s trip to paradise; while reading Luke 18:24-30, Jesus tells his disciples in verse 27, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”  Then in verse 29,30 He tells states that if we are willing to leave everything for cause of the kingdom of God, then we will “receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Our trip to Managaha, helped to give us a rest from the present demands that stress our daily lives, but if we continue to live for, work for, and spend time with God, we will soon experience the joy and peace of the true “Trip to Paradise,” which is only possible with God, and we’ll experience many blessings in this present time.