A few things about Ebeye:
- Time isn’t that serious. Of course this gets old, but it’s nice when I’m the one running late. :)
- No one smells nice and it's okay.
- Kids like to play outside. They’re social and silly. I think kids in the States are losing this art.
- They know how to clean. No matter how crazy the kids are during the day, when it’s time to clean they buckle down and really clean. I don't even have to tell them what to do.
- People are nice. Walking in the morning, everyone says “Good Morning.” In the afternoon, “Yokwe” (Hi). After sundown, “Good Night.” Very friendly people!
- The island is one mile long, so everything is walking distance.
- The SDA people are great. So welcoming, kind, and fun! I’m so glad I’m here.
Last night a few of us were talking about the kids and how to instill a desire to learn in them. None of us have the answer, so if you do, let me know. :) These kids don’t really care about anything. Their parents don’t care about anything, so why should they? America funds this island. When they did nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, they shipped thousands of people to Ebeye. That’s why there are now 15,000 people on this 1 mile x .25 mile strip. Their solution: they promised they would not let this island fail. Money is literally handed to these people for sitting on their porches all day long. So to them, why learn? Why try? Why excel? It’s so sad.
Kwajalein, the main island, is only a 25 minute boat ride away, but they are so different. Kwaj is practically America. They have movie theaters, bowling alleys, Subway, Burger King...it's American. The schools are Americanized, and they pick (I think) 6 students from each grade on Ebeye to go to school on Kwaj. Huge opportunity for these kids! If they go there, they have a better chance of going to college and going places. And because they’re Marshallese, they get huge scholarships. Sadly, a lot of them don’t care.
The first couple days I was here, I had a hard time getting over this. I was thinking, “Why am I teaching them? They don’t care. They don’t want to learn. I can’t help them if they don’t give me their best. They don’t give me anything to work with.” Then it hit me. God does the exact same thing with us. He gives us challenges all the time. But He can’t teach us if we aren’t giving Him our best. We have so much to learn. We have so many opportunities in front of us. The only way I can learn anything from God is if I give Him my very best. I know He has something great in store. God deserves my very best because He is the very best. After this little parallel, I felt so much more patience and love for the kids. God has been so good to me.
And I’ve realized that I can’t make them listen. But they do watch me. The 6th grade girls copy little things I do, they want affirmation that they’re good students, and that they’re my favorite class. They watch how I treat them and the other kids, and that is really why I’m here. They need someone to look up to. I adored my teachers when I was their age. I know I can have an impact on their lives. I am far from perfect, but God wants to save them. If I can be a little light to shine Jesus to them, all the stress and frustration will be worth it.
School days are exhausting, but you know what’s fun to come home to? A letter! Or better yet, a package! I’d love to hear from you, and any little piece of home is wonderful.
Karissa Knight
Ebeye SDA School
P.O. Box 5070
Ebeye, MH 96970
Update on the cutie puppy -- Not so cute after spending the night. It was so annoying. Whining, whimpering, ugh! Someone took it home from school, so it found a home, but not ours.
Please continue to keep me and the other SMs in your prayers. Love and miss you all!
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