"What's she doin' over there on Guam?"

I am truly sorry for the lack of updates.

In November we closed my location in Mangilao and combined the schools—we’re all in Tamuning now. It’s wonderful to be reconnected with all the staff and students. Running the school by myself was a lonely but very necessary four months of my life. I’ll never be the same—and that’s good. For the first time, I realized that life is simply not about me, and when you give your life to others (in the name of Jesus), the joy surpasses all other comforts or luxuries. It was a special season, and my students fondly reminisce about our times there: “Remember in Mangilao when we…?”

After the move to Tamuning, I took over a class (we call them “learning centers”), ages ranging from eight to sixteen. Currently I am coordinating English Composition, Music, and the volleyball team for our regional student convention, here on the island of Guam. We are excited to be taking a group (representing Guam for the first time) to International Student Convention in Pennsylvania this May!


When I think about my students, my heart swells with love—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

I love the ministry of Providence International Christian Academy, not only because I am a teacher, but because I am an observer of how it has blessed children’s lives. Several of our students have previously encountered severe mistreatment at other schools, and find P.I.C.A. a safe haven, where they are free to enjoy learning and true friendships. Through the individualized program we offer, I have seen insecure students flourish and gain personal dignity and respect, along with a well-rounded education. It is a church school run by volunteers who love Jesus Christ and deeply desire to serve the families of Guam, no matter their color, background, or financial capabilities. It is an honor to be a part of such a special little school.

Recently we have encountered much opposition with regard to permits and regulations for operating our school. Without going into undue detail—let’s just say that God is doing something awesome at P.I.C.A., and there are a few trying to stop it, along with a news media that wants an allegedly “scandalous” story. Yes, we’re practically famous, haha! The kids actually groaned today, when I told them the news reporters were here again. They’re so used to it, now. Nothing like being on television, right? But actually, I’d rather just be with my kids.

On a personal note:

As much as I like Shakespeare…

Love is not a sonnet.  In my undergraduate work, I majored in English Literature and enjoyed it greatly. Stories teach lessons by utilizing both the mind and the emotions. But I am learning that as much as I appreciate language finely arranged, love is not flowery words.
Love is early mornings, when all you can do is stagger out of bed.
Love is a bandaid and a prayer.
Love is moment-by-moment flexibility.
Love is giving your attention to a little face and a conversation that seems small, but is important to the person behind those brown eyes.
Love is making them do their work correctly.
Love is volleyball practice when you’re exhausted and feeling like poo.
Love is repeating directions and explaining something 15,782 times.

Love is being His hands and feet. Going. Touching. Doing. Take me, Lord Jesus.

Picture post coming soon (now, now, don't doubt me, haha!)

Does it get any cuter than this? I contend that it does not.

These two have my heart.

Happy birthday, Mama!

A tribute to a dear gift from God: my mother, Barbara Lynn

(And as I have to tell my little boy students, it's not proper to tell a lady's age...so I won't)

A few months ago, my tribute to my mother would have been entirely different than the one I bring to her today. Back then, I would have written about how she is so fun, my best friend, a great teacher, and has always “been there” for me. And all of that is still very true. However, I've discovered (even just a tiny glimpse) through carrying the burden of young ones, while having my own school, that the most amazing thing about my mom is that she did so much for me with no applause. She did so much that no one noticed. Day in. Day out. Every day. And not only was she not bathed in praise, but many times she was jeered at, snubbed, and ridiculed for her amazing profession as a homeschool mom.

Sometimes these days the word “homeschool” is used as a joke—even I do it, occasionally. But the education my mom gave me was not a joke at all. When I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bryan College, there's a reason I handed her my cord—not because she wrote my papers—not because she took my tests, but because SHE was the one who pushed me to be my best and put that fire to my behind and said, “Do it.”

My mom went against the raging cultural current in order to protect me from the wicked ideologies of this age, whether they be obvious, or subtle. Ideas have consequences. She didn't pretend to have all the answers, but she pointed me to the One who does.

And with that, I'll leave you with a few things I learned from my mama, funny and stoic. :) Enjoy.

• It's totally okay to tell your children that their dad won a trip to Disney World, and while they're jumping and shouting in sheer glee, say, “April Fool's Day!”

• “A Walk to Remember” is the worst and saddest movie in existence.

• Math, math and more math.

• Mowing the lawn is alone.time.for.mom.donotdisturbher. “Yes, you can have a popsicle, now go away.”

• Socks and shoes are essential for proper homeschooling.

• Shoes and coffee are essentials of life.

• Summers should be lived outside.

• It's cool to be best friends with your daughter and do crazy things like dress up your large dog in people clothes.

• Financially supporting missionaries is a must. 

• Learning is fun!

• The Bible is the most important book you'll ever read or study. Period.

• Dishonesty is disgusting and whining is not tolerable.

• It's important to dress classy—how you dress is how you'll feel, and how you feel is how you'll act. 

Our song: "Together" with Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli

She is...

beautiful—has been called “chocolate eyes," and I had to [angrily] remind my college guy friends that she is 1. married and 2. WAY out of their league  ;)  Want to make my day? Tell me I look like her. : )

dedicated—to the Lord and His Word, to my dad, to my family, and to developing as a photographer.

A firecracker—my mom knows what she believes, and if necessary, she will defend it. 

hilarious--her impersonations are the best. "Nemo's swimming out to SEA!"

honest and sensitive to the Holy Spirit—Mama will tell me the truth, even when I don't want to hear it. She protects me from one of my worst enemies: myself. And even though she was sad to see me go, it was so wonderful to hear her say, "It's time."

As the little poem goes, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, I am my mother, after all." I find that in teaching, I continually say things that my mom said to me. I'm thankful that she didn't let us get away with things, and she encouraged us to continue our education...to be lifelong learners.

Sorry for all the times I ran off at Walmart. Thanks for all the walks, coffee, dancing in the kitchen to Abba, and being real with me...especially with regard to young men. We've raised our voices; we've clashed. But in the end, I know that you're the one who is indeed my best friend and will always be there for me. I hope you have the happiest birthday. Wish I could be there. Finally, thanks for having a worn Bible, and thanks for reminding me that it's all about God's glory. I love you.

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~ Albert Einstein

bowling pins found in the trash + $5 bowling ball from the Salvation Army Store =

our very own bowling alley! :)

the day of the toad...

Well, at least he's being creative. ; )

Chapel with Pastor Bill (He's a great pastor and principal!)

Theatre Class with Miss Audrey

hilarious drills...these are moments of gold

"This is a towel, or this is a..." theatre class game

This is that dimple under the eye I was telling you about.

Honor Roll trip to Chuck E. Cheese--where we almost didn't get in, because they didn't think I was eighteen...one day I'll like that...at least, that's what people tell me. ;)

Aren't they beauties? I love my girls. May they be handmaidens of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Oh, these two are the cutest.

Submariners came to visit--I was so proud that my students used proper protocol. :)

Let's raise those funds! Car wash time.

This picture makes me laugh for many reasons. HA!

Art class with Ms. Michelle

Jesus, I pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal Himself to all these students and their families,

and they would surrender and live for You. Thanks that many do, and thanks for the immense blessing they are to me. Mostly, thanks for teaching me what it means to love...by giving me them.

tiring love

I’ve been afraid to write. Yes, very afraid. When I write, I relive and pour out—and sometimes I just want to bury myself in something “mindless,” or just chat with someone here about the day.

I feel absolutely hopeless in the quest to explain everything that goes on here. And I worry that if I only share certain parts, then people will get a warped idea.

The truth: God is moving—people are changing—and it is the most wonderful and exhausting existence.

Each day is a crazy dance in which I stumble around, tripping in the pursuit of chin-up grace—but I am getting stronger—love muscles contract—trust lungs learn to breathe. In my dance, I reach, touch, ripping the labels off the students and praying no one sticks on any more.

JESUS. They need Jesus. All my toil is for nothing if they don’t know Him. Squeezing—He squeezes my heart, now bloated with young souls I love—oh, let NOT the serpent touch these little ones. Some of them are little only in years, not exposure and experience.

But His love is strong.

So many gifts Jesus gives.
smiles—that little dimple under the eye—patting my hand to get my attention—the way they love to water the plants and are happy in a little one-room schoolhouse with me—teaching someone how to read who has fallen through the cracks—parents grabbing my arm and saying, “Thank you; it’s working” and “He used to not even care about getting a job, now he cares more and talks about it.”—the quiet after a chapter of Proverbs—hard faces softened—their trust—their dreams—their love, even through the continual correction—nose to the fish tank—little fingers on the globe—random conversations about Shakespeare—oh, I love them. This life of 5:30am to 4pm, but in reality 24/7, is worth it.

What a privilege it is, and how humbled I am to be entrusted with it.

On a personal note—the Lord has gently lifted me and ushered me into the flames of His refinement. I thought it just might kill me—and it almost did—and that’s the beauty! He is opening my eyes and giving me new senses, an awakened touch and thoughtfulness. One moment at a time—that’s how He’s calling me to serve Him—not with worry and anxiety about tomorrow. I will never be satisfied in myself, but I AM learning to be satisfied in Him.

Freedom!

The Gospel--a video by Eric Ludy

This is what I am learning.

Straight Talk with AA

Cursing. Clubbing. Cleavage. Alcohol. Christian.

One of these things is not like the others...right? Well, according to what I'm seeing...I'm not so sure.

"Don't judge."
"Stop being so critical."
"That's legalism."
"I'm not weak in that area; it's not a stumbling block for me."
"The Bible doesn't say it's wrong."

May I ask...
Why are we bragging about the fine brand of alcohol we drank?
Why are we (ladies) taking seductive pictures of ourselves showing only what our husbands should see?
Why are we grinding in a mini skirt on Saturday and raising our hands in praise on Sunday?
Why are we using curse words with our reasoning being alleged relevance?
Why are we so caught up with ourselves and so stuck on proving how awesome and "FREE" our lives are? WAKE UP. This is bondage, folks, not freedom.

On the altar of "artsy," "cool," "intellectual," and just plain "it doesn't matter" we are sacrificing the freedom for which Christ died.

^{Read this:}

¹³ "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[a] 15} But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!  

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,^[b] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ^2021[c] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:13-26

Wow. This scripture hit me. Bam. No, legalism is not the answer...CHRIST is. And if we are living a Holy Spirit-led life, our freedom is CHRIST, not alcoholic consumption. It's the motive that matters. Where is your heart, dear reader? May we look at everything in our lives and analyze it not on the basis of, "Is this okay?" but "Will this glorify the sweet Savior?" And analysis isn't even always the answer. Many times, I have no clue what to do, but I am learning to surrender to the Holy Spirit. Do I mess up? Oh, yeah. But He is here, and I am so completely humbled. Oh, may we not mock Him or put Him in a box. 

Oh, let us be consumed by Him. And then...perhaps all this other stuff wouldn't be such a big deal, because we'd be too busy about His will and Kindom work to worry about making our selfish, sinful lives look polished and Christian.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

On a personal note:
I write this because I love the body of Christ and want us to live a full life in Christ, not because I think I have it "all together." I know I don't.

Prayer Request:
We all have issues, right? I do. But what if you have young lives looking to you for answers and stability? Then what? Well, then you look to YOUR stability, and ultimately their stability. His name is Jesus. Every morning I remind myself why I'm here, and surrender it to Jesus. Do I do it perfectly? No way. But I do love my students with a real love that I pray points them continually to the true Love, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your prayers.
with love, AA

"Fight the frump!"

There was a time in my life when I was a cutesy college gal, leaning on my handsome, godly beau. There was a time I could wear whatever I wanted, and I was told every day how cute I was.

Now I am a teacher, wearing skirts past the knees with professional tops, hair pulled back, no bright nailpolish, no hippie sling bag, no TOMS, or green chucks. My job is marvelous, but in this role I have struggled in my personal life. Who am I? Me. I used to think about myself a lot, and desired for people to cater to my plans and whims. The gentlemen at Bryan College were great about getting the doors, carrying things, etc...my brothers and dad, too. But now I am the carrier, the door opener, the one people depend on. And I love it and am thankful for it, however, sometimes I forget that I am still a young woman, and that I shouldn't despise my femininity, but, like everything else, offer it back to Christ, for His glory.

Today I heard these statements:

"Miss, I thought I saw you last night...but the girl who looked just like you was with four guys, so I knew it couldn't be you."

(During a girls dress code/modesty chat)
"My mom said that she wants to dress like you, but that my dad would hate it."

Am I an utter frump?! AH! Internally I scream and want to curl up and hide away. No. So, here is a letter to me from me:

Dear Audrey Ann,
            You need to let it go. Don't be afraid anymore. Weight and wardrobe do not define you, and besides, you can alter those as needed. It's for Prince Jesus. Everything. All of it. Breathe, girl.
              
My sister, Abby, always says, "Fight the frump!" We can be stylish and modest. The focus must be Christ. If I get caught up in all the legalities, I become no better than the pharisees. May I wear clothing that I wouldn't be ashamed to meet Him in, because He's with me, anyway. And I can always lean on Him, cutesy or not. Hallelujah.