The Police

Tom & police students before ceremony

About a year ago a policeman approached Tom and asked him if he would be willing to teach English to the police.  A class began and has continued for the entire year as the police students have gone consecutively through the 3 levels of English classes we teach.  Today they celebrated a ceremony for all the hard work they did and received their certificates.  I mentioned in my speech (speeches are obligatory in this culture) that working with the police was not quite like any other class I've had before.  It was noticeable right from the beginning.  When I arrived in the classroom, all the students stood at attention and saluted me!  I felt like a general. "At ease gentlemen!"  They were also great singers!  Probably all that practice directing traffic, but they sang in full deep voices and on key. You've never heard a prettier ABCs!

After ceremony w/ certificates

There was a certain attrition rate with the class.  We began with 47 students! But by level 2 it had been reduced to 30. For level 3 only 15 regularly attended and only 10 of those received all 3 certificates.  But there is something special about being devoted to a class like this.  Many times we do not have the same continuity.  The classes move on, new students arrive and we slowly begin to forget the names and faces of students that came before.  But these students are not so easy to forget.  We have worked hard together for a long time.  We have forged friendships.  I've been fishing with one.  Another one took me to his fields and loaded me down with freshly picked cucumbers and lettuce.  I've had long talks with another.  Another has a son in the same class as my son, and we talk as we stand at the gate of the school waiting for the dismissal bell to ring.  I went to a wedding with another.  The police are busy around town too, directing traffic and checking papers, but now if I see them I receive big smiles and loud hellos.

It's interesting to think about the relationships we have here, to consider the people we were destined to meet and why.  The police are the ones who handle immigration and are supposed to keep track of the foreigners on the island. Early on in our time on the island, a policeman who lived near us came to visit. We were explaining where our colleagues lived and he cut us off rather ominously by saying, "We already know where you all live." The police are the ones to keep an eye on us. They are the ones who write and stamp our visas into our passports to stay here. So in some ways the police could be troublesome for us, but we have been blessed to find favor with them, and now consider many of them as friends. 

Student showing off his 3 certificates!

Going to get visas finalized is a friendly affair. Traffic stops are filled with smiles and handshakes. A police officer knocking at our door is now a common and welcomed event. The same ominous police officer is now a friend and was at our house this week wanting to learn for himself more from us and asking for a book.

We didn't know what would come from this police class but we see a hand guiding it all.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The police class ended well and it was a great certificate ceremony. We found a house and our interactions with the landlord have gone very well! Even our kids are excited about it which is a real answer to prayer. Our new landlord is also willing for us to store our stuff at the new house during the months we're in and before we "officially" move in. This is a big blessing. We've seen a lot of these final loose ends coming together and we are thankful.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We are in the middle of an extended time of prayer for the islands because this weekend is the Night of Power during the month of fasting where islanders believe God will answer prayers and give visions/signs. Pray with us for God to show Himself to islanders in a real way. This week a horrible thing happened on our island-- a young 3 yr old girl disappeared from outside her house and was found dead three days later. People suspect that she was abducted. Too often the abuse of children is overlooked or dismissed on the islands. We pray for an end of the mistreatment of children. Pray for the devastated family as well.
 It is going to be a big week. This week is the biggest holiday of the year at the end of the month of fasting. We will go around to all our neighbors and say goodbye. We are moving this week- pray for the final packing and the logistics. Because of the holiday, we will have to move things into storage early and live the last couple days without a fridge or stove. Pray it all goes smoothly. Finally this week, we leave the island- pray our final conversations and interactions with islanders go well.