To Make Stronger

About 11 years ago, I experienced a very significant sacrament at the end of my elementary education – Confirmation. However, I remember not understanding the significance at the time. There I was shaking hands with Archbishop Justin Regali (now Cardinal Regali) and receiving congratulations from my family, but I didn’t quite get it.

I am sure St. Ferdinand School did a fine job in preparing me to receive the sacrament with stories of Pentecost and lessons on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. They also encouraged me to choose a Saint’s name as my own and design a poster about why I chose that particular person. My pick was St. Francis of Assisi for the sole reason that he was the patron saint of animals. Confirmation is a major step for an individual to choose to fully enter into the Church. For me, it was what every eighth student did – it wasn’t much of a cognoscente choice.

When fledgling JVIs first touch down in their respective placements, they are bombarded with opportunities and requests to get involved with a multitude of different responsibilities. In my service, one of those responsibilities took the form of Confirmation instructor for the Our Lady of Mercy International Community. Luckily, there were two volunteers who would be there with me – Luke Lavin and Tim Smit. We meet once a week to plan our ten-week class (although we coined it “journey”).

In the planning process, I realized how much I had forgotten from my education in my eighth grade year. Essentially, had to relearn the Catholic Church before I could attempt to present it to the confirmandi. In the Federated States of Micronesia, there is an age requirement of 18 years old for the Sacrament of Confirmation. I wish it was the same in the States.

Surprisingly, this opportunity to get in touch with my faith brought out the emotion of fear. This fear stemmed from the inkling that I might no longer adhere to the dogma and the compendium of the Church like I once did. The concept of transubstantiation (water and bread literally transformed into blood and body) was enough to make my head spin. Understanding and accepting the miracles that Jesus Christ performed was a major speed bump. I was worried that these classes would isolate rather than draw me nearer to God.

In the midst of preparation, lectures and the Saturday classes, I was comforted by the very scholastic approach we were taking with our 14 students. This approach solidified not only the “choice” I made 11 years ago, but my ministry in Pohnpei as a whole.

The translations of sacrament names into Pohnpeian have shed light on their deeper meaning. One word that I have heard more than any other is “keleil.” In a single day, one might here “Iaromw?” (How are you) “Keleil” (Strong) more than one hundred times. Adding the simple prefix “ka” onto the word gives it action – to make. So the translation for Confirmation is “kakeliel” = to make stronger. While my physical health as wavered during my service, my spiritual life has been made stronger.

Although I was instructing this group of Yapese, Chuukese, Kosraen, Pohnpeian and American students, I felt like I was sitting right next to them relearning my faith. It was the powerful gift I have received in my time in the Pacific.

Due to the transient nature of Jesuit Volunteers, Luke and Tim left the island leaving me in charge of this year’s program. With the help of my community mate, Rachael, and an aspiring Jesuit, Dickson, we led a new group of hopefuls through ten weeks of instruction. Our students impressed us by sharing their vulnerabilities, confusion and questions with trusting hearts. In addition to their openness, they provided some of the funniest moments that are forever engraved in my memory. Here are a few:

• On a service trip to Pohnpei State Prison, Jorelik was poised and ready for an attack the entire time even after me assuring him that we were perfectly safe.
• Having a student named after a felony offense – Arson.
• Jeremiah being terrified anytime Father Jim Gould would pelt him with questions about Church.
• Trust falls involving large Yapese men well over 200 pounds.
• Tarsis’ brutal honesty about morality scenarios.
• Requests that “Kobe” and “Lebron” be allowed as saint names.

This year, the program ended with a two day retreat at the Pohnpei Agricultural Trade School (PATS) in the beautiful municipality of Madolenihmw. Confirmandi and teachers agreed that it was one of those retreats you wished could just be the reality of normal life.

The retreat ended with a very intimate Mass celebration. As outer- island Yapese hymns filled the wood-paneled Church, I looked on with pride at a group of young adults ready to make their choice.

One student, Christian, surprised us with a heart-felt speech before the final blessing. He thanked his fellow classmates and family for their support throughout the process and then turned to his teachers – Dickson, Rachael and myself. With very simple words, “Thank you for being our heroes,” Christian made me realize what a powerful responsibility and duty it is to help other people develop a relationship with God. When my feet touch American soil in a few short weeks, I will be holding on to

that realization with all of my strength.

Sharing my life

The wonders that are Facebook and Skype have made communication with friends and family back home much more possible and easy than I had expected. With photos, blogs and the occasional video chats sending data across the Pacific, my fear of losing touch with loved ones has been assuaged.

When the aches and pains of the education system seem like too much to handle, it has been so comforting to reach out to those who know me well ... even if they are thousands of miles away.

But even with the luxuries of this technological world, it is sometimes difficult to explain exactly what it is that I do on my island and exactly what it is that I experience everyday.

That's why it was an incredible blessing to be able to share my friends, families and my newly established island life with the woman who gave me life in the first place - my mother, Linda.

The day after Christmas, my mom boarded the infamous "island hopper" flight coming from Hawaii and literally stopped on tiny strips of land built on coral. Her courage and excitement to see her baby boy brought her safely to Pohnpei in late December for a ten-day visit.

On the islands, family members are treaty like royalty. My students asked me for 48 days straight, "Teacher, when is mom getting here!?!" Eventually, I started responding with, "You know the answer to that question, let's get back to geometry." The entire social network that I had established on the island was eagerly awaiting "Phil's mom." As was I.

My host family, the Anthons, surprised my mother (and me) at the airport terminal with mwaramars (flower headware) and warm welcomes. And like everyday on my island, it was pouring rain - a suitable welcome for any first-time visitor.

We only had ten days and we tried our best to make them count. While Pohnpei is just a speck on the atlas, it doesn't appear that way when your standing on it. It is a large island with a lot of ground to cover. We spent the first few days and nights getting acquainted with my three main support groups on island - the Jesuits, the MMB Sisters and my JVI community.

It was wonderful and entertaining to hear reflections about what was beautiful, scary and surprising about my new home. Some of my favorites:

"Philip, does anyone on this island not like you?"
"There are SOOOO many stray dogs."
"Why are some of the men so intimidating?"
"It's so green."

The week started with sight seeing and exploration. One hike brought us to the top of Pohnpei's most noticeable and recognizable land mass - Sokehs Ridge. The steep climb was tough, but well worth the view at the top.


Two of the most popular destinations on island are Keporohi waterfall and Nan Madol, a set of ancient ruins, both resting in Madolenihmw. There are legends surrounding both of these sites and guests are forewarned not to be loud or take anything from the areas. There are stories of visitors and locals breaking those rules and being visited by evil spirits. We followed them very closely.



Later that week, we would meet one of my island "families" that has taken special effort interest and effort in treating me as their own ... the Senarathgoda's. About two years ago, I was juggling a basketball at the Seventh Day Adventist basketball gym and this Sri Lankan guy named Dilshan invited me to join a soccer league he was starting. It's been downhill from there. Dilshan and his family have been a big support on island and I feel very much at home in their apartment. We were invited over for some spicy Sri Lankan food and a very relaxing evening.


My local, Pohnpeian host family was very mysterious when it came to my mom's visit. They asked for the date ... Dec. 28 ... and then double-checked once it got closer ... and that was it. They didn't let me in on anything. We decided to spend New Year's Eve with my host family . While language acquisition was moving slowly, I was proud when my mom walked into my host village and greeted my family with a very polite, "Kaselehlie maing ko."

They gave one of many mwaramars she would receive throughout her visit and was given a chair suitable for a queen - a plastic lawn chair. I was still wondering what they had prepared. Soon enough, a procession of three pigs and one dog were carried on sticks to the local oven to be cooked in honor of Linda Prouhet's arrival. I leaned over and whispered, "Mom, those are for you." I would have to admit, the dog was probably overkill (pun intended) for an island rookie.

After roasting the animals, they called me up to the front of the house to cut them into the 14 specific pieces that they had taught me. You would have to ask my mom her exact emotion when she saw me man handling her soon-to-be lunch. Shocked...disgusted...proud? Maybe a combination of all three.

About 25 people from our village started cutting down coconut leaves to make kiohms, local baskets that are woven together and used in traditional ceremonies. Lunch was served and I just smiled as I shared very greasy and fatty pork ribs with my mom and my host mom, Veronika. My two worlds had combined beautifully.

Of course, sakau was next. My promise brother Raymus lugged a mid-sized pepper plant over his shoulder as his offering to the celebration. After it was pounded and squeezed, the first cup was offered to the most important guest - Linda! With a slight tip of the coconut cup, the very thick and viscous liquid touched her lips. That was enough. With a kind smile and nod, she handed the cup back and faked a "oh-that-was-delicious" smile.

Just like a father is proud to share his first beer his son - so was I proud to share my first cup of sakau with my mom. The day and a half in Kitti brought challenges of outdoor plumbing and river showers - both met with grace by my mom. She was able to adapt and stick it out through some very uncomfortable situations. I began to understand where I inherited my resilience.

We treated ourselves to a couple nights at the Village local resort, and the hot showers and great food were wonderful after roughing it. The week became a blur as one activity blended into another. We visited Peinahi, Pohntakai waterfall, the MA Sisters house in Awak and my ma even got to see me back on the soccer pitch.

For the last two days, school was back in session and my kids were much more excited than they have ever been for one of my lessons. They were going to meet my mom! With some generations from family and friends, my mom was able to bring a copy of the Island of the Blue Dolphins for everyone in the class. They were enthralled with the generous gift and couldn't put it down. In fact, some of them took the book home (against my will) and read the entire thing before we finished chapter five in class. Kids will be kids.


When it was time to leave, a few of my students - Jessica, Layklak, Ingrid, Joice - ran and gave her a big hug and said just how much they were going to miss her. In fact, one of them wrote in his or her goodbye card, "Ms. Prouhet, we wish you could stay longer. Mr. Philip was much nicer when you were here." We both got a good laugh out of that one.



Our PCS staff through a big party for her that afternoon and it was a suitable send-off. Crab, banana, coconut, rice, rice, more rice. When I dropped my mom off at the airport in early January - I felt extremely grateful that she had made a very long and difficult journey to the other side of the world to see her son. I rested very easily that night knowing that there will be somebody waiting for me in June that knows exactly what I have been through. Thank you so much momma and I can't wait to see in a few months.