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