Katie and I (far right) with villagers

We stayed in a wood house with no front door and that is high off the ground. The cracks on the wood floor makes it very handy to sweep. This is the only house in the village. The villagers live in huts.

The three of us girls have a lot of fun together! we cook on a kerosene stove, wash clothes and bathe in a creek that is about two feet high. We are all praying for rain. We use an outhouse with no roof and three walls made of sticks and leaves that is covered with a black plastic tarp. I sleep in a hammock diagonally. Once in a while, I can hear the monkeys hollering in the evening. The roosters wake me up in the morning.

Our Outhouse in Arau - Great Visibility

Our mission in this village is to teach the children. This village has never had any teachers before so school is new to many here. I have really enjoyed teaching but it can be frusterating at times when my students and I do not speak the same language. They mostly speak their Indian dialect.

One day two of my students cheated on their quiz. I was very disappointed because I had told them many times that cheating was unacceptable. They both denied that they had cheated but I knew better. I had them write 100 sentences that read "Teacher I am sorry I will not cheat or lie again". This seems to have solved the problem. My students and I have a lot of fun together! Whenever I feel as if my students are not learning even after repeating myself numerous times, I tickle them and we all laugh. I try to make learning easy and fun. I am open to any new ideas that you teachers may have.

The villagers show their appreciation by giving us fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and casava bread(a special bread with no yeast which is made from

Julie Teaching -- Nature is our Classroom

a vegetable something like a potato). One family gave us their last tomato. The villagers also carry water for us from the creek.

I have always been shy to do activities up front. But since I have been here, I have had to snap out of my little shell in a hurry. I have learned to always be prepared to give special music and or tell a story. I never know when the villagers will ask me. One Sabbath the Elder announced if anyone would volunteer to give special music, all eyes turned to the missionary girls. So my friend Katie and I sang a duet together. I enjoy doing activities up front here because the villagers really appreciate what we do.

Living in this village and experiencing the joy of helping others has helped me to discover my hidden talents. Most of all though, I have gained a deeper relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ.

I hope you can be a volunteer missionary some day.

Your friend,

Julie

You may write to Julie at: gates@andrews.edu

[Special Prayer] [News / Flight Log] [Children's Corner] [Life on the Frontlines] [Current Projects] [Service Opportunities] [Web Page Links] [How to Reach Us]

---