My profession is always to be alert, to find God in nature, to know God's lurking places, to attend to all the oratorios and the operas in nature. ~Henry David Thoreau
So I know I haven't been staying very up-to-date with my blog, but I just wanted to share some experiences from the past few weekends. It seems like wherever I walk on this island, I am surrounded by the beauty of creation that I have only dreamed of seeing. Palm trees that belong on post cards. Oceans that belong on the Discovery Channel. Mangrove forests that remind me of Vietnam in Apocalypse Now. I continually find myself wondering...why me? How did I get this amazing opportunity to experience a culture, a community and a country whose beauty is indescribable.
Last weekend, I spent my time with the Anthon family in Kitti (pronounced Kitchi). It was a "home stay" where a Pohnpean family takes you in for a couple of days and shows you what their lives are like. The concept of being completely transparent in one's private life scares me. In our JVI covenants, we agree to "willingly and fully share our lives with our community." It sounds simple enough - "Hey guys, here's what has been happening in school," etc. It is much more than that. To share your entire self is to make yourself completely vulnerable. While it is something that will be a source of great struggle for myself, the Anthon family made it seem easy.
I was dropped of at the front of their property. I'm sure I looked like a wide-eyed kindergartner going to his first day of school. I met Mr. and Mrs. Anthon and some friends, family as we sipped sakau. It was early to bed and early to rise in Kitti. The first order of business was fishing. Something I fully respect is the Micronesian ability to rely on the land. Life becomes much more simple when nature provides the necessities. Clean water, food, shelter. The rest that Americans have become accustomed to seem to bog them down substantially. So it was time to get some food.
We packed the boat with gear, breakfast and some other materials. Then the family piled on. It was amazing how many people we could pack on a relatively small boat. The mangrove forests that we coasted past were amazing. It didn't feel like I was in the 21st century anymore.
The plan was to catch some fish, spend the night on the island of Penio (or Pedio...I'm not sure of the spelling) and head back for Sunday mass in the morning. Just for some form of measure, you could walk around this island in around 4 minutes. There was plenty of coral, starfish and sights to take in. We ate fish (for every meal!) and rice as a family. It was the first time I started feeling like I belonged here. I consistently feel like a tourist, but not with the Anthon's. They shared their entire life with me. I bathed in the river with their son, Junior. I walked the coral shores with Joey. I felt like a very, very white relative.
The rainbows, star-filled skies and colorful reefs will be forever burned into my mind. During some recent spiritual direction, I explained that I was having trouble "finding God in everyday life." It was suggested to me that God is there, I just have to recognize it. God was there in every way, shape and form that weekend. The love of family, the humility of nature and peace in feeling welcome. It was easy to recognize God's love and presence last weekend - I felt like I was getting hit in the face with it.
So Anthon family, if you stumble upon this post, thank you very very much, and I hope to see you again very soon.
I am two weeks into my career as a full-time 8th grade teacher. There are plenty of stories and life lessons to be shared in that area, but they will have to wait until next time. For all those reading, that you for your support and your prayers. I am so grateful to have this amazing opportunity.
