And the snow came down...

These pictures are from a while ago but I'm just getting them put on my computer. 


Over the weekend we got completely buried in our house! Because the snow was so high I had to shovel it into tubs, and dump the tubs in our shower. It really didn't matter how often we shoveled, it would just fill back up. Luckily we got the help from some highschoolers and they got us dug out! 

Our window when we woke up in the morning! 

The front door...

Tub after Tub of snow to the shower...

Our Shower got really full of snow and it took FOREVER for it to melt! 

Amber trying to melt it down.

Yay! Bjay and Guy to the rescue!

It took them a LONG time to dig us out but we were very thankful for them both!! : )

Decisions, Decisions

Life is all about making decisions. Some decisions are easy to make while some decisions are extremely hard to make, leading to second-guessing and questioning the decision once it has in deed been made.

In March, I had a decision that I needed to make. Whether I was going to come back to Chevak for another year. I knew that I was going to be faced with this decision sooner or later, so I started thinking about it at the beginning of the year.

It would have been very easy for me to say, “Yes, I can definitely do another year here.” But I didn’t want to be stuck with the second-guessing feelings that would have been associated with a quick decision. While I was definitely leaning towards making that quick decision, I wanted to make sure that I was making the right decision.

I was thankful that I had to two friends that I was able to talk to about this decision and a family that was going to support me regardless of the decision that I made. So, I talked to my friends about my options, they suggested that I were to seriously sit down and consider the pros and cons of staying here.

There were many points for both sides, I have missed my family this whole year, and I missed the simple pleasures of being able to go to the movies or go to a restaurant, I knew that I eventually want to get a job closer to home, but was it time to start that journey? I loved all the kids that I got to know and teach this year, I could have the opportunity to move up with my kiddos to first grade, I would be able to watch my junior class graduate, I wouldn’t be another person that would walk away, and both lists could go on.

So, when contracts came out I made the quick decision and signed it. I was still torn with what to do (I guess that sometimes it only makes sense to make things difficult for ourselves). Basically, I knew that since I signed it, I was going to be “stuck” with this decision.

Ever since then, there have been certain instances where I have been shown that I made the right decision. I’m excited that I’ll be here for another year. It looks like I’ll get to move up to first grade with my kiddos, I’ll get to see my junior class graduate, I’ll get to make an impact for another year.

I’ve also made some other decisions recently:

·      I am going to be going back to school. I want to get a Master’s in counseling.

·      I am going to become more involved with the culture here in Chevak.

·      I am going to make my own Kuspuk.

Sometimes decisions are the hardest thing in the world, but it’s good to know that whatever decision is made the Lord is leading the path! : )

A little lesson in Yuraq

Yesterday I went AND participated in my first ever Yuraq practice. 

It may not seem like much, but it was a HUGE step for me. Think about being out of your comfort zone...well that is exactly what this was. Not only am I not a huge fan of dancing but this was also a completely different type of dancing. Throughout the 2 hours that I was there at their practice, I think we practiced 4-5 different dances. The entire time I had to watch the males that were sitting on the floor in front of us to follow their every move. I was so focused on them that when one of the rubbed their eyes, I did the same thing thinking that it was part of the dance!  I'm really glad that I went, in fact I definitely plan on going again next week. In a few weeks we are having another 'festival' here kinda like the one that I talked about at the beginning of the year. Well, some of the people here in the village are teaching the teachers how to Yuraq and we'll be doing them during Winter Fest. I'm extremely nervous about it, considering I'm completely uncoordinated. But I'm going to do it. 

Also this weekend I successfully made Oil bread by myself. I had some of the highschoolers test it out and they said that I did really good! I'll post pictures as soon as I get them on my computer. (I'll also have pictures from the Chevak Native Youth Olympics Invitational) Saturday, I also starting making my own Quspuk with some of the other teachers that work here. I'm still only in the beginning stages but hopefully I'll get to work on it more this weekend and post some pictures of that as well! : ) 

This week is SBA and HSGQE testing so I haven't had my kids the past 2 days. I'm looking forward to Friday when I get to see them again! : ) 

~Quyana Agayun~ 

Dear Father,

I'm not sure where I'm actually going to get with this post, but it's worth a shot. 


Dear Father,
 I don't have all the answers.A Please help me. I'm not sure I know what I'm doing. I don't even know what you want me to do. I feel lost in direction. I know that you brought me here for a reason, I'm not sure I really see the clear vision. More specifically, sometimes I question myself and you. You know the things that are troubling me right now. Please be the light that I need, not just me but those certain individuals need. There a few kiddos that specifically need a break from what's being thrown at them. Will you give them rest and peace? Give them strength and give me the strength to continue to be there for them. I'll find my strength at the foot of your cross. Quyana Agayun! 
-Love the lost and weary

Glimpse into my world...

As I've been promising for the Lord knows how long...pictures! This post is going to mainly be pictures (and there are ALOT of random pictures but I'll do my best)

Peter one of our highschool friends was teaching us to make oil bread. :)

He has to come make it for us pretty often...

Part of my Word wall...which I actually re-did today (looks like I'll have to take more pictures)

Meeting area. 

Writing Journals! They love getting to write in these! 

Eliminates a lot of fights and arguing! 

One of the tables in my room. 

The view from my classroom window. Yes, those are the swings...the snow has taken over the playground! 

Our apartment after the 1st big storm! And our apartment is on "stilts" due to the perma-frost. 

Our neighbor's apartment...the drift covered the ENTIRE door.

Another view..

Our use to be stairs...which are still to this day completely covered!

One of the smallest of the drifts in front of our door

It grows over night...

good-bye stairs

Two highschoolers that we paid to come shovel us out. It's snowed too much since than to have our door/porch shoveled out. 

One day, I went to the post office. Four of my kiddos spotted me and insisted on coming with me. Not only did they come with me, they pulled the sled, loaded the boxes, pulled it to my house and brought the boxes in my house. Then they tried to build stairs in one of our drifts so they could get on the roof. 

The drift up to our roof...this was the farthest they could climb on it.

: )

Half of my class with their pen-pal letters from my mom's class and her friends class. These letters are currently hanging up in the hallway because they wanted to show the school their new friends!

Start of the Lena B. tournament in honor of Lena B Ferguson who was a teacher/basketball coach here in Chevak! The girls getting ready for their grand entrance...

Lady Comets! Game 1 Victory

Getting ready for the first boys game

Start of the first boys game. ALL of their games were MEGA INTENSE! 

KK and Kendra. KK took all the basketball pictures for me! 

Boys game 2

Start of intense ending...

1st Overtime...

End of 1st Overtime...still tied! 

2nd Overtime. WE WON! 

Girls Championship game! Which they won! : )

Celebrating at the end of the tournament! Girls Champions...Boys 2nd place

Boys took 2nd in the tournament!

Girls took 1st!

Chevak is also hosting the regional tournament which is starting here next week! I'm not sure if I can handle it. Mary and I tend to get a little over-worked during the games! 

This week I'll be taking more pictures of what goes on in my classroom...look forward to those coming!