the Cruise...and other pictures!

Me on the boat. The best birthday present ever! My husband is an amazing man!

Jake and I at the top of the boat!

My little Korean girl who danced with me on the cruise. Jake and I will be bringing home a Korean girl that we will be adopting...especially if she looks like this adorable little girl.

Some crazy Korean tourist man and I dancing!!

the local Chamarro dancers

my little girl and I dancing to "I'm Your's" - Jason Mraz

Jake and I with one of the dancers


After opening all the presents from all the family, friends and students. Thank you all so much. I felt truly blessed yesterday and still do today. I love you all! THANK YOU!

Our Saturday away at Managaha, the view of Saipan from our retreat! :)

Jake's retreat!

another adorable little Korean girl - dressed up for Halloween!

Jake and Ms. Amanda, leading the Halloween chapel on Friday mornings, with the 6th graders!

On a recent hike to the blowholes.

Jake and I at Cowtown Beach!

So two weeks ago we went to the 2nd Annual Saipan Tatu and Arts Festival, and well, you can't leave without a souviner, so here it is! :)

after the tattoo!

Where does the time go? SERIOUSLY????

I'm not sure exactly what it is, but something must accelerate the rate at which time passes here on Saipan. Its like we go to church on Sunday, focus on relaxing in preparation for the week, and then all of the sudden its Thursday night. One thing that might cause this phenomenon is the constant weather. I think that the temperature has varied about ten degrees since we've been here. No leaves are changing color. No crops have been harvested. Unless you look at the calendar, you could swear its the middle of summer.
Anyway, a couple of big things have happened since the last post. First of all, Mark and Brittany and Jackie and I went to Managaha (a 7 to 10 acre island about a mile off the north west coast of Saipan) for a little island relaxation last Saturday. The ferry ride to Managaha is about fifteen minutes long, and its free for locals; two very good reasons to take advantage. We hung out on the beach and in the water for a couple of hours. We were all fairly tired, but it was just a great day to relax and take a nap (which Jackie and I both did in our hammock). The excitement of the day, for me, was snorkeling with a couple of black tipped reef sharks. They were maybe two to three feet long, and I came within fifteen or so feet of them. Not really a close encounter, but boy was my heart racing, especially when one of them turned around and headed toward me.
Jackie's birthday was the other exciting happening of late. Jackie and I took off for Garapan on Wednesday after work and tutoring. We stopped to do a little shopping before heading to the public docks to board a boat for Jackie's birthday present, a little dinner cruise. The boat held maybe 30 to 40 people (mostly Asian tourists).We headed west from Saipan toward the setting sun. We took some sweet pictures (which will soon be posted) and then headed in for a buffet style dinner. The food was really good, but the best part of the night had to be the entertainment. A Filipino man with a synthesizer was at the front of the boat and kept the cheesy love songs blasting for about half the night. Listening to "my heart will go on," and similarly corny songs from a man with a heavy accent was pretty entertaining to say the least. Then the show picked up a notch when three traditional island dancers came forward and performed for a couple of songs. Finally, to cap the night, the crew invited the crowd to come forward and join the dancing. Now first of all, dancing is difficult enough for me when I'm on solid ground and with people that I know. I was totally thrown off by the tourists and the rocking of the boat. None the less, Jackie got me to come out for a couple of dances. And, don't tell her, but I had a pretty great time. Jackie was definitely into it. So into it that she ended up dancing with some crazy tourist man and an adorable 3 year old Korean girl. Jackie was really going at it, even getting applause from the tourists and the crew of the boat. In fact, one of the servers said that Jackie was the "star of the show." Very true, and very very entertaining. The cruise only lasted about an hour and a half, but it felt like longer, in a good way, and was definitely worth it. Now just in case it takes us a bit to get the next blog out there, let me give you a rundown of what the next week or two holds for us. First, this weekend we have a couple of math competitions to supervise. Then, later on Saturday night, we and the Sawyers have been invited to the house of a couple from church. Sunday will no doubt include some sort of venture in to the jungle; one last chance to tire our selves out before the week. Then next weekend we have a weekend get-a-way with an organization that emphasizes bringing couples closer together. Should be fun.
Well, unless I'm forgetting something, I think that's all for now.
I'm gonna sign off and leave the photo-adding to Jackie, she's better at that stuff than I am.
We both hope that you all are doing well.
Thanks for checking up on us (and please keep us in your prayers)
Love,
J and J

pictures...

Jake and David trying on some sweet hats!
Some of Jake's 8th graders
Pastor Dickerman talking to my class.
Climbing into the ambulane on our Fire Station Field Trip!
My 1st graders!!! :)

Sandy and I - the Canadian Thanksgiving cooks :)
Jake and I :)
Terry (fellow teacher and awesome amazing woman) excited that we were playing Apples to Apples!
making sure it's sharp!
Out to dinner, amazing dinner, with David and Nina - also amazing people. :)

New Things...

This past week and a half has been very busy. We've had long weekends and long days and these next two days are report cards and parent-teachers. Volleyball keeps me busy everyday til 5 and Jake has tutoring plus helping with volleyball and his new sport: ultimate.
Last Friday we had a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with our bible study group. It was so great! Pastor and Sandy and I cooked the whole meal minus a few extras provided from others. We laughed, gave thanks, worshipped our Good God, ate, and played a game. It was nice fellowship. I am really thankful for the church group we have here. It's a great community of believers who genuinely want to help and love you.
This week has been busy getting report cards and grades ready. Tomorrow theh Parent-Teachers start. I'm a little nervous - because they are my first ones. Most of my kids are all doing great. I have a few Korean students who need to work a little harder and perhaps tutoring will help. Pray that God works through the languages and what needs to be said will be said and also understood. :)
I've been a little homesick this week as well, especially the amazing friends we basically lived with last year. I miss you all so much - we both miss you. I was able to talk with Katie Jansen, one of my closest friends, early yesterday morning, before school and that was such a blessing. God really provides what you need, when you need it.
Today, the 1st graders went on a Field Trip. My first one! :o
We went to the Fire Station. It was alot of fun. They let the kids climb into the truck, all go into the back of the ambulance, climb on the truck and take lots of pictures. We then went beside the fire station to the park and I just let them run around for about 30 minutes. I had some awesome Mom's with me - who were very helpful and watchful and fun! :)
Besides all that we had a double-header in volleyball tonight and games yesterday as well. They played awesome yesterday but tonight not so well. I was discouraged tonight and found it hard to get into the game myself, so I can imagine what the poor students felt like. We have one more week and it is almost over, so keep me in your prayers for perserverance for the last week.
Keep us both in your prayers for Parent-Teachers tomorrow and Friday and also as we head into a 2nd quarter, with new exciting things to hopefully happen - like American Thanksgiving break. ha :)
love always,
J & J (but mainly the first J - jackie)

Blessed

This week I was reminded of how God has blessed us since we've been here.
Our new friends and family here.

Sandy, the Kindergarten teacher and amazing woman gave me a little care package. I couldn't have needed anything better that day. SHe's perfect and it was just what I needed. So I thank God for her!

And on Tuesday we had Mark and Brittany over for dinner, as well as David and Nina. Nina is a local Saipan lady and David is her boyfriend. David happens to be Canadian :)

I love them both to death - they are amazing people. As are Mark and Brit and Jake and I are so blessed to have amazing friends like them. So we had dinner and played some games and talked and had a great time. Amanda came over after her tutoring and she is also another blessing in our lives. She is happy and cheerful and always knows what to say. Plus we think alike and it's been so awesome getting to know and love her as well. So thank you Lord for these people in our lives. We are truly blessed.

And one more blessing: Tomorrow is Friday AND we have Monday off! Thank you for that as well God!

a picture of the Sawyers and us.

Time Flies

This past week went pretty fast, as did the weekend. Jake is keeping busy with Math Courts. It's a math competition the school is involved in. He is the head proctor for the junior high, so he has to make up schedules to practice with the kids as well as all the review sheets for them. I'll be helping him at the meets, as well as the elementary kids are their meets. It's been good for him - to learn to be organized so all the kids know what's happening and what to do. He kept busy with that this weekend as well.


Yesterday we meet an older couple from church, Beverly and Dean Brubacker, as well as another man David Creel, for some snorkeling at Pau Pau Beach. It was pretty awesome. You could walk far out towards the reef and snorkel around. We saw tons of awesome, colorful fish. After swimming there we went up to the Far East Broadcasting base where they live/work. We had hamburgers and salad for dinner and blueberry pie for dessert. It was so great! After eating and good conversation we played PIT. Then Jake and I took the 35 minute scooter ride back. haha! Some of the awesome fish we saw (not our pictures):



the black and white zebra fish - they are so cute!!!




Today we had church, then a cheap lunch with David and Nina, Pastor Greg and Sandy, four amazing people. After lunch we went to the Grotto. We swam there. It was so clear today that you could see the underwater caves. We snorkeled and jumped and swam there for a few hours and then came back here to Sugar Dock and swam around and talked here. Then a yummy $1 Taco Dinner at Oleai's - the only restaurant with a patio on the beach. A great but fast weekend.
Here comes another week...and then only one more week until Report Cards. I can't believe how fast it's gone!
How are you all doing? Keeping busy with life? Any new things going on that you could let us knwo about??? We'd love to hear how things are going for all of you that read this. We miss you all tons!
Keep praying for us as we continue to learn how to live and teach in the Asian culture but also as we continue to live and learn from each other. We value your prayers. Thank you!
Love always!
Love,
J&J

Chinese Food and more life...

Susan, the Mom of my Chinese student Henry
Tami and I at Ladies' Night!!!
Me in my new $3 high heels!!
Marissa and I!!!
Some of the ladies and their neat hats!

At Henry's house - Henry jumping from the piano to the bed.
Henry and I
Shirley with all the Chinese food!
Henry jumping again...
The Qian children, Anna (2nd grade), Shirley (4th) and adorable, crazy, never runs out of energy Henry - in my class! :)

almost October...

Things here in Saipan have been moving along. The month of September is almost over and we will soon be into October and then Report Cards. I can't believe how fast things have gone. It's crazy. School is getting better for the 1st graders and I. I've started praying aloud in my classroom, for my classroom and students every day. I can also feel your prayers are working and I ask that you keep praying for me as I teach them and grow in my patience for them.
Jake is doing well. Pray for him as Math Courts (the math competition he's in charge of) picks up soon, as well as Science Fair, which he is also in charge of. It's the organization things that he needs the help for! :)
Other than that, things are going great for us. We keep busy with work, volleyball, hanging out with friends both staff and island people we've met, each other and living life here on a tropical island. It's still interesting and there are always new exciting thinsg to find, learn and see.
Just this weekend in fact, my Chinese student Henry invited me and two other teachers over for some authentic Chinese cooking - at least we thought we were goin to learn how to cook it. But once we got there - all the food was prepared and on the table waiting for us to eat it. So there are plenty of times where we are lost in translation here but over all - it's been great getting to know so many different types of people. We do really love it here.
Thanks so much for all your prayers. Keep them coming as we continue to learn knew ways to teach to the culture here and discover new things about ourselves, our marriage and our friendships. Thank God for all the blessings still though! :)
Love you all!!
Love
J & J

in pictures...

We witnessed baptisms this morning after church. These two girls were adopted from China. Abby and Emma. Emma is in my 1st grade class. They are adorable, smart and loving girls. It was a blessing to watch them. It was also neat just to see a baptism in the ocean. :) What a great God!
That's their Dad in the blue shorts taking pictures. Pastor Abe in the yellow shirt and the lead pastor, Pastor Greg next to Emma.
Emma and I after she was baptised!! So proud of her! :)


Jake and I on the beach after church

random Saturday afternoon
how tired we were after our 2 hour hike/run/walk through the jungle on a trail that Wesley Horlings created. It was awesome!!!
Some of my students in art class. This is Ken and Ye Lee.
Jon Paul (or J.P, as I'm allowed to call him) and I. And yes, he has tons of silver teeth!!

Here's my class being silly. If you look carefully at the girl in the pink shorts, she is bowing at the camera. Ohhhh Yoo Jin!!!
Ms. Winkfield and I and our volleyball team. 6th, 7th and 8th graders!!!! SO fun! :)

In action. The first game we won! :)

Life is so good here. Thank you God!!!

Start of Week 7

So another week and weekend has come and gone.
It's been a busy week, with volleyball every night of the week, meetings after school, Ultimate Frisbee for Jake and grading and planning. Teaching is going really well for Jake. He loves the middle school age children and is really enjoying planning and teaching them Math and Science. He is in charge of the Math Counts and Math Courts competitions that the Junior High does and so that is starting up now and will keep him somewhat busy. He is very involved in Ultimate Frisbee which meets on Wednesday and Fridays. It's his new lacrosse since he can't play that! :)
Teaching for me is alright. I'm not sure how much I really enjoy it. I'm having a hard time wanting to wake up in the morning to go teach them. I was reminded the other night that we are in a ministry here and need to work for the ministry of God. But it is still hard. The kid's don't listen very well and I feel like I'm not doing enough to help them learn because I spent so much time trying to discipline and get them to listen. So besides the fact that they are the most adorable little children and I love them, it's really hard to teach here. So keep me in your prayers and I continue to learn and grow in how to become and be a better teacher.

Besides teaching, Jake and I are doing good. We are making new friends and growing in those relationships as well. Sometimes I have a hard time opening up to people when I know things will change in a year and people will be gone - so pray that the Lord will continue to work in both Jake and I in our new relationships here.
I have this new friend, Nina. She is a local Philippino woman and I love her to death. We go swimming every Tuesday and Thursday for about 45 minutes and this past Saturday we did Yoga together. She is a wonderful woman of Christ and a great friend and I'm so thankful to God for the fun times we can enjoy and the conversations we can share.

As for what's new...we are in the rainy season and so it continues to just rain and rain here. And will probably do so until November or December.
We are starting our 7th week of school already!! Can't believe how fast the time flies by. We are really enjoying the island, the church we are a part of and the people we continue to meet. We are truly blessed and highly favored, like our Pastor says. We thank God for Pastor Greg and his wife Sandy. They are two amazing people and are becoming mentors to Jake and I both in our faith but also in our marriage. God knew that we needed some people like them when we came here and here they are!
So many blessings - we are very happy. Thanks for all yoru prayers and love!!! We appreciate knowing we are in your thoughts. Continue to pray for us in teaching, but also as we learn to adjust to the culture and better yet, understand living in this culture.
We miss you all!!
Love, J & J

P.S. If you ever want to send a postcard or package or cards or anything here is our address:
Jake and Jackie Van Dam
500069 Beach Rd.
Saipan, MP
96950
- We LOVE getting mail!

Sick in Saipan

One of Jake's beautiful flower pictures to share!

Hello! This week is progress report week. That means we are half way through our 1st quarter. Yikes!! It's also been a really busy week with volleyball. For those of you that don't know - I am the asst. coach of the school's volleyball team. Ms. Winkfield, the 5th grade teacher and I are coaching the 6, 7, 8th grade co-ed volleyball. So glad I don't teach junior-high - although sometimes 1st grade isn't that enjoyable either.

Anyhow we lost our first volleyball games today but I was so proud of the kids. They did so much better than I have seen any of them do in practice. It was awesome. I'm really enjoying coaching volleyball. It's a fun sport and the kids really get into it.

Besides being busy this week, Jake and I are doing. He is getting over cold #1 here in Saipan and I am just beginning cold #1. It sucks. We live on a hot, humid island and I have a runny nose and sore throat. Silly little kids - start covering your mouths and washing your hands. Oh well - life of a teacher I guess - busy, busy, busy, sick, lost patience, love for the adorable needy little kids, enjoyment of hanging out with them after school, and more grades.

Please keep us in your prayers, so that this cold/sickness will pass by quickly; that patience will grow alot faster and hang on longer during the day, and that God will give me especially, what I need everyday to teach these 1st graders.

Thanks for your prayers and love. Send us emails: jcqlnvndm@gmail.com or jkvndm@gmail.com to let us know how you are doing and how we can remember you and pray for you. We miss you all!

Love always,

J & J

On the Ferry....

The Sawyer, Mark and Brittany and us on the ferry!

The view of the island Managaha from the ferry.

just getting on the island
The whole group after intense volleyball... haha
view from the spot we picked on the beach. That's Saipan in the background.
Another view of Saipan

Catch up!

Life moves faster here than I thought it would. We have now finished the fourth week of school and our progress reports (mid-terms) are due this coming Friday!!! Thanks so much for all your prayers and thoughts as we've continued to adjust to life here, to our new jobs of teaching, to a new set of friends and even more to each other.
We've been blessed even more since last time. We had last Monday off of school and we were able to spend the weekend enjoying more sights on the island and off the island. We hiked to Forbidden Island. It's quite the hike but it was worth the refreshing swim in the cold ocean water. Then on Monday we went with the youth group from church, the Sawyers and Joel the PE teacher to Managaha Island. That was incredibly beautiful. Just the blues in the water, the fish you could see while snorkeling and the weather. It made me think again about how we are living here and not just on vacation. I'll post some pictures once we get the chance.
We are blessed. School continues to go well. It has it's days where I wonder why I'm doing this, but for the most part - Jake and I both love teaching, our classes and the school!
The friends we've made and continue to make are incredible. The really do become your family when you have none nearby. God has blessed us with some incredibly, caring and loving people and we couldn't thank Him enough for the Sawyers, Joel, Amanda, Sandy and soon her husband, Terry and the Winkfields. We love you all so much!
Well Jake and I are off to take a ballroom dancing class! :)
Hope you are all doing good. We love you all and miss you all tons!
Love J & J