"While it's true that sometimes you don't know what you have until its gone, it's also true that sometimes you don't know what you've been missing until it arrives."
I saw that quote posted in the tax & revenue office where I was belatedly filing my taxes this past Wednesday and I immediately thought of Grant.
I could say many things great things about G-Rant--I could tell you what an incredible teacher he is, I could tell you what an gifted writer he is (one only need read his blog to see that), I could tell you about his love for Jesus and for his service to the church, I could tell you about his adventuresome spirit and zest for life. Those things are all true, but they've either been said before or are abundantly evident on the pages of this blog and his own. So instead I'm sticking to one great thing about Grant that has meant the most to me personally:
He was--and is--my friend.
I've been living in Saipan for nine years but it wasn't until this year that I realized I'd been missing the experience of getting lost in the boonies of Saipan. I didn't know I was missing having someone call me up to see what I was up to for the day and was I up for watching a video. I didn't know I missed having a work-out partner at the gym. I didn't know I was missing debating the political and religious issues of the day with someone who wasn't online. I didn't know how much I missed having someone say, "Hey, can I pray for you?" In short, I didn't know I missed having a friend.
Oh, it's not that I had no friends at all. I have aquaintances, colleagues, good friends from Marriage Encounter and other community organizations that I see every now and then. And of course back in the States I have friends who I've known for years--solid, heart & soul friendships that have stood the test of time. But I didn't really have anyone like that in Saipan, and frankly, I was fine with that. At least until Grant came along.
Here's how you know someone is a true friend--You can't wait to share something with them. You hear something, you read something, experience something and your first thought is--"Oh, I can't wait to tell ______ " or "_______ would totally love this." Only a few people fit that bill for me among them Babs, my mom, my sister, my best friend J, . . .and now Grant.
Well, now Grant's gone, on to his next big adventure, and while I know our friendship will remain, I'm finding the first part of that quote to be true well. "Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone."
On the morning of of Tuesday, June 5, Grant says goodbye to (somewhat) trusty Rusty the truck. Rusty has refused to start since the day Grant left. I guess that little old truck is taking his owners departure pretty hard.
Mai and Grant
Group hug: Grant with students, teachers, friends just before his departure
Grant's ready to go. In that bag is some home made apple pie for the road, in honor of our afternoon of "men making pies".
Lennon & McCartney. Laverne & Shirley. Bono & The Edge. Bonnie & Clyde.
Heather & Jari.
Some people are just meant to be friends. There's a certain synergy and energy that happens when they're together. Heather and Jari were one such pair. They orbited a bit further from me. They had their own shoebox of an apartment off the main "Compound." Heather was at the pre-school a lot of the time or toiling away at the Herculean task of putting together four years worth of yearbook. Jari taught over in the 1st/2nd classroom and our paths didn't cross except for when I needed the keys to the supply closet. But even from my distant place in the solar system of the SDA School we could tell they had a special friendship. And like the gravity of the distant sun, I felt the effects of their work at the SDA School too.
I saw the tears in the eyes of Jari's students, not just on the last day of school but a couple of days before school got out and I knew that they loved her and she had loved them. I heard stories of Jari's involvement, along with Layla, in Pathfinders, meeting with the kids every Sunday afternoon. I can hold in my hands the evidence of Heather's commitment--a beautifully hefty school annual that cobbled together in one volume the unfinished work of three years of yearbook attempts in addition to this year's edition. I watched her working with love and patience with her pre-school students at their graduation.
I wasn't as close to Heather and Jari as I was to some of the other teachers, but I know this--every time I talked to Heather we always laughed, and every time I came across Jari, she always made me feel like we were in the trenches together-up way too early in the morning, but hanging in and doing our best. I'm not sure they'll ever even know this blog was posted about them, but if they ever do happen to stumble across this entry I want them both to know that they were loved, appreciated, that they made a difference. The All Stars wouldn't be the same without the constellation they call Heather & Jari.
Below a few pictures taken at various airport farewells including their own.
Heather
Jari
At Heather & Jari's departure. We met at the airport at 2:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 5. Actually we went to the airport the night before to see Jari off. She was to fly to Guam, wait in the airport overnight and then take the same 6:00 A.M. flight from Guam to Houston that Heather was scheduled to be on. Not wanting to spend all night in Guam, Jari tried to get switched to Heather's flight and was successful. So, we all went back home and went to bed and got up again a few hours later to see them both leave together.
Heather with her co-teacher at Pre-School, Shirley Digma
Heather and Me. I can guarantee she probably just said something that made me smile. She's cool like that.
She gave all of it to Jesus, to her kids, to her mission, to her friends. She wore it on her sleeve. And it pretty darn near broke when the time came to leave Saipan.
Everything Britni did, whether it was teaching or singing or driving or just walking in the door, she did with her whole heart. Britni is simply one of the best teachers I've ever seen. She doesn't seem to think so--she always seems to be critiquing her teaching, noting the flaws, looking for ways to do it better. And that's one of two reasons why she is such a great teacher. The other reason is that she has heart. Britni is tough, passionate, demanding. . .not characteristics one often finds in a kindergarten teacher, but the payoff was amazing. Her kids learned to read this year, they put on an amazing gradution program but most importantly those kids knew she loved them with her whole heart, that she would fight for them, protect them, care for them. And their parents knew too and were deeply appreciative of all that Britni did for their children this year.
Britni was also a great help to REAL Christian Theater as our manager of sound, lighting, props, and set design. She taught herself how to run our new sound system, kept us organized all season long, and lovingly stored all our gear in her kindergarten room. When ever a new challenge arose in REAL, she always sounded a little ambivalent, but the thing about Britni is that she'd get it done. If it was something new, something hard, something seemingly impossible, she'd dig in and make sure it got done. I came to depend on her greatly. A lot of the time she was well outside her comfort zone and her decision to dig in and get it done took heart too.
Britni too took the time to let Barbara and I know we were appreciated. Sometimes it can be a little lonely being the "bosses" so to speak. I mean, who wants to hang out with their boss and her husband in their free time right? But Britni treated us as friends and always seemed eager to include us in whatever was going on. Britni has a big heart and her appreciative attitude meant a lot to us.
It isn't it interesting what we associate with a name? For many people the name Britney conjures up images of pouty-lipped, platinum-blond pop singer who lately seems to be going to all kinds of extremes to stay in the waning limelight. Until this year, that's what would have come to mind for me too. But now when I hear the name Britni, I think of a someone with honey-colored hair snd sparkling eyes who has gone to all kinds of extremes in loving service, and who's light is growing brighter, shining from a heart of love.
The first farewell. Britni is the first to leave early Sunday morning, June 3, 2007
Britni and Missy
Britni and Grant
Heartfelt Hugs. I felt rather paparazzi-like, dispassionately snapping away during these tearful moments, but it was a great way to keep from bursting into tears myself.
Britni takes "The Long Walk" "The Long Walk" is my term for the walk from the airline agent to the immigration and security checkpoints at the Saipan International Airport. Everyday travelers and those leaving on vacation do not take "The Long Walk." "The Long Walk" is for those who are leaving the island for good, or at least for a long time. It is the final good bye to Saipan. This is Britni's long walk.
"Harry" and Me. People have said that they imagine I was like "Harry" as a kid. I take that as a high compliment as "Harry" is way cooler (and more coordinated) than I ever was at his age. However we both do wear glasses, get good grades, and love to read. . .
He has glasses. He hasn't been living with his parents. He attends a very special school where he learns the skills he'll need to fight the forces of darkness. He has teachers who have taken a special interest in him, who recognize and nurture his potential. He has a tight-knit group of close, loyal friends. He has faced many challenges in life but always tries to stay positive and cheerful. And this summer our journey with him and his time at that special school, after seven years will finally come to an end. Who am I talking about?
Why, "Harry" of course! Not Harry Potter, mind you, though his love of the popular Harry Potter series is how he earned his web nickname. No, I'm talking about "Harry" one of our beloved students at the SDA School. We've watched "Harry" grow up from a solemn, bespectacled Kindergartener to a charming, articulate, and funny 7th grader and it's been a joy to be a part of his young life. If you read this blog with any regularity you've seen his name pop up numerous times, whether he's starring in the latest REAL Christian Theater production, playing on the junior varsity basketball team, or camping out with the men. "Harry" has been living with his grandparents for many years, but will now be moving to the States to live with his mom. I'm very proud of "Harry" and we will certainly miss him.
There's one more thing about "Harry", one that seperates him from his literary namesake. While Harry Potter must depend essentially on himself, on his own "magic" for defense against the dark arts, our "Harry" has found his power lies not in himself, but in God. Togehther with Jesus, you can be sure that wherever "Harry" goes, the light of love is shining and darkness is on the run.
Harry clowning round with his buddies at the airport on the day of his departure, Sabbath, June 2, 2007.
Time to go: "Harry" says good bye.
"Harry" with his grandmother
"Harry" at the airport with friends and teachers who came to say goodbye.
"Our group of new teachers is amazing! These seven new women and one man, for lack of a better term are all stars and they rock. . . . They just go full tilt all the time. They’re out scrambling all over the island, soaking up all the adventure they can. They arrive every day at work fired up and full of good cheer. They teach amazing lessons, charm the kids with their charisma, bring their A-Game to every school activity. We are truly blessed to have these girls and guy and we thank God for bringing them to our school this year." --Quote from The Journal Online, September 2006
The All Star Team at the Half-Way Point
"And just like that, the year is half way over. It seems only yesterday that the all star team swept into town ready to take on and take over the world. And what of them now? Are they still all stars? Absolutely. Amazingly as the rigors of the year have borne down on them their glow has not faded, but shines stronger than ever. They still do amazing work at school and breathe life into everything they touch" --Quote from The Journal Online, December 2006
The All Star Team at Season's End. L to R: Babs, Jari, Virle, Heather, Larene, Me, Mai, Grant, Britni, new summer school teacher Rosanna Beharry, Missy, Layla.
So how did the All-Stars end their season of dreams? On a high note, after three encores, in a blaze of lights, a microphone held aloft while the entire audience sings along in unison to their signature song. They shone all the way to the end and where ever they are now, you can be sure they’re shining still.
They never lost their fire, if anything it deepened to white-hot devotion to their mission, to the kids they’d come to love, to the friendships they’d found, to the Savior that made it all possible. And when the end finally came, no one wanted it to be over.
Rock on, G-Rant.
First Encore: The Final Joint Worship
For the final time, Grant strapped on his guitar, strummed the first chords of “Herman”, and swung into the “anti-pork eating” anthem about Herman, the pig on the run, that Grant wrote. For the last time, Britni led the kids in raising imaginary milk glasses as we kicked into one of our favorite joint worship songs, “Milk.” The kids sang loud and strong and the All Stars had a blast as always.
"Milk, Milk, Milk, Drink that Milk, Eat those Words and grow stronger/ Mr. Postman sent to me/A copy of the NIV/Read the Bible and grow stronger/ I can't wait any longer. . ."
Left to Right, Britni, Layla, Grant & Missy
Second Encore: The Paamaalam
Each year, the church has a “Paamaalam”, a going-away party for the departing teachers. We eat, play games, watch a slide show, share memories and appreciation. “Paamaalam” means. . .well, I’m not sure what it means. Something having to do with good bye in Filipino. . .Anyway, Barbara had the kids from the school help plan this year’s Paamaalam and they, and their parents, turned out in droves to say good bye and thank you to the teachers who’d given them so much of themselves.
At our church, the tradition is that at the pamaalam those who will be leaving us sit on chairs at the center of the room so that we can all gawk at them. This is their punishment for leaving us. . .Kidding. Seriously, though, they do have to sit in the center of the room and there is an opportunity for everyone to get up and say their tearful words of gratitude, farewell, and tribute while they sit there and try not to cry. They also get a chance to make a little farewell speech as well. From Left to Right: Grant, Britni, Layla, Missy, Jari, and Heather.
The All Stars where they made their name, where they put their heart and soul. . .with the kids. See if you can pick them out--Britni, Grant, Missy, Layla, Heather, Jari, and Mai.
The first good byes. Grant's wearing a shirt signed by students, colleagues, and church members. Each departing teacher got one. One more song. . .the All Stars join their church family in singing "The Power of Your Love" at the end of the pamaalam.
The mantle is passed to a student. One of our students plays guitar on "Power of Your Love"
Final Encore: The "Wake"
(At left, in the girls apartment. "The Man" from REAL Christian Theater is in the foreground, with Missy and Bev chatting at the counter).
After the church pamaalam, several of us gathered back at the girls apartment to "wake" Britni, or more accurately to stay awake with her until it was time to take her to the airport. Her flight departed at 4:00 A.M. and she had to be at the airport at 2. So we stayed up. Bev, Mai, Grant, Brit, & Layla at "The Wake"
We kicked back, watched some of Bev's favorite "dental hygiene" moments on Youtube, laughed, cried, talked, reminisced and savored our final moments together.
"The Final Song: Leaving on a Jet Plane" This is a version of the song created by the All Stars and sung for Britni right before she left for the airport.
If you're a new teacher planning to come out to Saipan and you've read this blog and the others to come highlighting each of these teachers, you might feel a little intimidated. "Wow, how do I live up to that! I'm not a rock star. . .how can I ever fill their shoes?" Well, I think these guys would be the first to tell you they're no one special. They were just doing their job. This, of course, is what all heroes say. And in a sense, it's true. These All Stars--Britni, Grant, Heather, Jari, Layla, Missy--got back what they put in. They put their whole heart and soul into their students, their school, the church, their lives in Saipan. They understood why they were in Saipan. They gave, and gave, and gave, and when they couldn't give anymore they went diving or went to sleep or did the tank swim. . and then gave some more. In return, they got the undying love of their students, the appreciation of the veterans on their team, and a rich, fulfilling year. The lesson is simple. The more you put in, the more you'll get out. Give your all, like these guys did, and you too can be an all star.
And if that doesn't work, you can always take lessons from the rock star who is staying on, Miss Odiyar!
No one can ever replace these people--their contributions were unique. But then so are yours--Jesus will use you to touch hearts and change lives, and you too will shine like stars forever.
Every time I stop by Ebisuya, my favorite bakery, for some danishes or the the world's best sushi I've noted this sign for the World Massage I've been studying it for a couple of months now and I just don't get it. Suffice to say, I'll never be utilizing their services.
Barbara and I pose with "Micronesian Queen" & "Holly", 2/3 of the class of 2007, after the graduation ceremony.
Thursday, May 31st was our 8th grade graduation at the SDA School. As graduations go, this one was very low-stress. I really didn't worry too much about it and it all came together very smoothly and simply. We started on time and ended inside of an hour. It was fun, touching, sharp. Maybe that was because this is the sixth graduation I've been class sponsor for since I began my teaching career as a student missionary in Chuuk. Maybe it was because there were only three graduates. But most likely it was because "Holly's" mom and her team of relatives did a gorgeous job of doing virtually all the decorating for the graduation. The class's theme was "Stars" and they stayed up all night the night before graduation to make dozens of foil stars, hand-lettered sign, and many other beautiful touches. The graduation would not have been anywhere near as lovely (or stress-free) for me without them and I am deeply grateful.
The Three Graduates Excited graduates, "Micronesian Queen" and "KoreaY" before the processional.
Our commencement address speaker, Grant Graves and 7th grader (now 8th grader) "Harry." His message: "Never Give Up" as illustrated in the life of Winston Churchill. Check out Grant's blog for the full text of his speech. In keeping with Grant's core value of efficiency and brevity, it is short but powerful.
"M" plays "Pomp & Circumstance" during the processional.*
*"M" doesn't actually play the piano. We just had a midi file on a floppy disc in the keyboard, so it played automatically. "M's" responsibility was to press play, but he's a consumate actor and I'm guessing most of the people at the graduation thought he was actually playing.
Britni with her graduates. Their graduation was on Tuesday, May 30. Britni did a fantastic job!
Grant's ready to go. In that bag is some home made apple pie for the road, in honor of our afternoon of "men making pies".
