Transitions

We left for the airport at two this morning. The staff and students from YWAM Samoa piled into the back of the base truck along with our team of five and our luggage… well… luggage for the other four. After an hour drive with the wind blowing, stars shining, and music blaring, we arrived at Faleolo International Airport. It was a new experience for me, to farewell the team and stay behind. But we said our goodbyes to Rachel, Catherine, Mike, and Simon and after a lap around the airport to shout and honk and say goodbye one last time, we finally made our trek back to Falelauniu around four am. I was the lone palagi in the back of the truck with the islanders. And it was glorious. I had transitioned from being an outreach team leader to YWAM Samoa base staff with those goodbyes.

I must admit I will miss the team. Rachel is an amazing co-leader with a heart of gold and a kindred spirit to my own. I can’t say we knew each other well before outreach, but I can definitely say we parted as dear friends that will keep in touch in years to come. Catherine is always quick to mix in with the locals and build bridges between our diverse cultures. Mike is always on the go, and his drive and initiative really kept us going in a culture where it’s easy to give into laziness and lethargy. Simon is a generous and cheerful giver who is always looking out for others and doing whatever he can to help. Together our team was given the opportunity to share in a variety of churches, schools, bible study groups, and prison in Fiji and Samoa over the past two months. And while we had our ups and downs like all teams do, I truly believe we had an impact in these nations and that our outreach was used by God to teach and encourage people to study the Bible for themselves.

My personal highlight was after three weeks of being with Sunday School Teachers in Moataa Efakasa Church hearing the speech from one of these teachers. She shared that in the first two weeks she had thought to herself, “What could these young people possibly teach me, a seasoned teacher?” But as we taught she was humbled and touched by our message… she said we taught her and the others so much more than just a method to study God’s Word, which would have been enough. She said we taught them that God can use anyone and that they ought never judge a book by its cover. Wow! We were presented with gifts for our team, and Rachel and I were presented with a to’o to’o, fui and taanoa… symbols of authority in the Samoan culture. (I’m sure I’ve misspelled these and will be corrected by one of my Samoan friends.)

So anyway, here I am in Falelauniu… still. It’s Saturday, so I won’t have official responsibilities until Monday. I still don’t entirely know what my role will be here, though I know I will be teaching next week in the DTS (Discipleship Training School) and I will be helping with communications to some extent. Beyond that, I have basically made myself available to help however I can, both on the YWAM base and in local churches. I will be here for two more months.

I know my last blog was written when I was feeling low and discouraged, but I can honestly say God changed my heart and helped me to really enjoy the remainder of the outreach. I read of another friend in India where she’s lucky to take a bucket shower every other day and I thought… cold showers are not such a bad thing! I also feel like I can do these two months and that they will be a joy to me more than a challenge or burden. Surely that is because of God’s grace and prayers from all of you! A few weeks ago I was wishing I could just quit and go home to Washington and take a hot shower and eat my momma’s home cooking. My heart and attitude is entirely changed. And while I’m sure it won’t always be easy, I know these two months will go by all too fast and I will be in Washington in no time, missing cold showers and meals with friends here in Samoa. Funny how that works.

They say the grass is always greener on the other side. However, my Pastor Mike says, “Wherever your feet are is your mission field.” So, I think I must conclude that the grass ought to be the greenest under my own feet. For these next two months, that’s here in Samoa. Lord, help me to be here in Samoa. May I not miss out because I was too homesick to see what you had for me here and now!

And dear friends, may the grass be the greenest under your own feet, wherever you are.

Love,

Jillian

SAMOA...

Samoa... the Pearl of the Pacific... Four years ago I was in this beautiful country and making plans and promises to return. But as you all know, my life changed. When my brother, Jeff, died my life was turned upside down. I couldn’t imagine going back to life the way it was. Just getting right back into overseas missions. It wouldn’t have been right either. The time at home was necessary both for myself and for my family. Yet over the last four years my love for the Pacific didn’t recede. I even went to visit other parts of the world... I wasn’t ready to return yet, I suppose. But as I was in the Middle East, instead of feeling called to that region of the world, I instead felt my call was to raise up Pacific Islanders for world missions, to be a bridge so that others might go. I went on to study the Bible in Los Angeles at the School of Biblical Studies and later staffed the same school in Kona... but still my love for the Pacific seemed to be part of the driving force of all I did in missions... I thought, “If only I could be a part of equipping missionaries from the Pacific with a foundation in the Word of God.”

And now, here I am in Samoa. And while I’d like to say it’s all been wonderful and that I wish I could live here forever, I must be honest. We’ve been here a week as a team and its been a challenge. I’ve grown accustomed to the comforts of western living, and I’ve grown older... I miss my parents more than ever. I miss my bed with its comfy mattress. I miss the freedom of eating what I want, when I want. I miss washers and dryers. I miss English being the predominant language. I miss unlimited and reliable internet. I miss having my own transportation. I miss clean and organized hospital facilities. I miss being there for friends who are having babies and being able to watch their babies grow up.

To amplify the situation, our team has had a LOT of free time. It seems like too much free time breeds homesickness. In Fiji we were pretty busy with ministry and it seemed like a really nice balance there, but here in Samoa we have had multiple teaching opportunities cancelled, due to unforeseen circumstances. With all of this free time, our students are getting antsy. And while we are seeking to make the most of our time by investing in the staff and students on the YWAM base here, we have all had to come to grips with the fact that our ministry here is not going to look at all like we expected. The students also had some intense culture clashes upon arrival at the YWAM base, which made the first few days very difficult as we waited for the Lord to soften hearts and help our students adjust to a culture extremely different than their own.

But... I am reminded that my being here in Samoa is an answer to prayers, both my own and others. I am reminded that God has called me to this place for this time, and even though I feel overwhelmed with the challenges here, I know his grace is more than sufficient for me. And I am reminded of others who have faced challenges far greater than these for the sake of the call God put on their lives. So, when I really stop to think about it... I thank God that I am in Samoa and that I get to stay here for three months. I thank God for bringing me back after these four years away. I thank God for the people of Samoa who have touched my life in the past and I thank God that I get to play some small part in seeing Samoans who feel called to world missions equipped with tools to study the Bible for themselves, which in turn equips them to be more effective missionaries. I even thank God for the unmet expectations and the free time he has given our team... I trust he knows how to best use us and knows when we need time to spend alone with him and when he wants us to minister to groups or to individuals.

I really value your prayers and emails or facebook messages of encouragement... even as a more “seasoned” missionary, I obviously still need them... and probably always will. Here are a few things you could pray for in our team:

• My co-leader, Rachel has been fighting an infection since our last few days in Fiji and it’s really taken a toll on her health, energy, and emotions. She’s such a trooper and has maintained probably the best attitude out of our entire team, though she has been in pain and discomfort for our entire time here in Samoa. Please pray that she heals fast and that this infection doesn’t return or produce any long term effects.
• Our Fijian student, Catherine has seen God provide her finances in so many ways, from people buying her plane tickets to others feeling led to give her money even though they were also tight on money. Catherine feels called long-term to the Muslim world, and specifically Turkey, but she still needs $185 USD to finish outreach in Samoa and return to Fiji. Please pray that God would provide this small remainder of fees and continue to lead and teach Catherine through the area of finances.
• Our two American students, Mike and Simon, had to make some big sacrifices to be able to minister here in Samoa, and they did. Pray that God uses them because of their willingness to give up their rights, and continues to teach them and grow them in this area.
• Teaching opportunities! Our main goal as a team is to teach the Bible! Please pray that God opens doors where others have been closed and gives us wisdom to make the most of our time here. We have upcoming scheduled times teaching in the Nazarene, Catholic, Pentecostal, and Mainline (London Missionary Society) Efokasi Churches as well as the Prison.... please pray that God would use us to teach His Word here in Samoa!
• And for myself that I wouldn’t let little issues get me down, but that I’d continue to “be here” in my heart and mind as long as my feet are here! I would hate to miss out on what God wanted to do in me or through me because I was wishing I were somewhere else.

Fa’afetai tele lava... thank you so much!

Love,

Jill