Saturday

Wow the past few days have really flown by......Did I mention the Samoans are so beautiful?!? Ha! Today Im in town again, its a joke now on base that everytime we have the opportunity to leave the base I take it! (FREEDOM) I think after this Ill go the market (i like going even if not buying anything), then go to the sea wall (I hear its beautiful, on the ocean) and then another rugby game!! Pack it all in! Ive been playing volleyball everyday, trying to understand the game of rugby as I watch the boys play, and doing work duties after class. That usually includes pulling weeds, planting taro and pumpkin, moving plants, painting etc... Yesterday we joked because as we were planting we found two cell phones- Onasai, one of our leaders, was up in the coconut tree getting us some to drink and his phones had dropped :) Can I just say one thing that still makes me nervous is the boys using the machetes... okay maybe two boys in particular. I have to remember that they've been using them since they were kids.
I found a new kind of bug yesterday- it looks like a catapillar with pinchers and apparently, per the natives, I would have to go the hospital and 'no sleeping all day and all night'. Didn't sound good so Ill avoid them! The boys painted the girls bathroom the other day - um bright orange and blue. The Samoans like to use color.
We learned our first dance yesterday!! Im actually getting it even though it probably doesn't look as smooth as though that have been dancing for their life! Even Jenn, the other American, has some dance experience. Really guys- me?? Dancing?? Ha! Its one area where people have to be patient with me!

We have an incredible speaker that is in for next week. He is from Samoa, now living in Hawai and Ive heard excellent things about him- he already has a great sense of humor. I find that living here makes me laugh more and joke around more- thats the Samoan way. Yesterday Finn, one of the boys on staff from Samoa gave a brief sermon and it was such a blessing. About how sometimes we forget we are in a race, and that its just starting for us students. But the coolest part is that he did it all in english!! Six months ago when he came to YWAM he didn't speak any english. Its inspiring really...
I think today I will buy a little hand fan, its much needed. Whenever I come to town I get stared at, because Im white, and it used to bother me but now Im used to it-more opportunities to smile at people. I have to remember that I not only represent the YWAM base but also America while I am here. I feel very cared for though because every time Im here in town we run into one of the boys from the base and they end up spending the rest of the day with us and getting us back to the base safely.
Oh another bus story- for the first time, on my way home on Wedn, we were in a crowded bus. In America, typically, people just do their own thing. If anything they give up their seat for a lady, or elderly person. Here, if a man comes on the bus, he taps someone and out of respect they move over and sit on someone's lap. So you have complete strangers sitting on each other! Jenn had to sit on our fellow student's lap, Ameto, because of that - Poi and I were laughing at them. Finally Jenn came over and sat on my lap because it was abit less akward that on a guys lap. We were strongly warned by the boys not to sit on strangers laps (good old common sense) and that since we were 'palangis' they probably wouldn't make us. No one stands on the bus even though there is a bar they could use.
Today before I left they were getting the outside stones ready to cook chicken. To make money for the travel part of our school we do fundraising (especially for the Samoan students who often can't afford it). They then go into town and sell it, typically to the outside workers like construction workers.
I just need to take a minute to praise god for my health, again ! And also for running water! Im sure Im forgetting some stories but thats all for now folks... hopefully more on Wedn (that reminds me, I think I give my second sermonette on Wedn morning- thinking of doing it on Isaiah 50 where God questions why we doubt Him, is he not able??) ! Thanks for all your emails! alkennedy@excite.com