Life in American

Samoa

PRAYER

REQUESTS

- The end of the school

year

- Girl’s Night Out

- World Teachers

- VBS in June

- Teachers traveling back

to the states, and two

traveling to Japan on a

mission trip My 6th grade homeroom class (minus a few)

before our Children’s Day

The girls are at it again!!

Life in American Samoa pg. 2

For this Girl’s Night, we decide

to introduce them to the

wonderful world of painting

with paintbrushes! There were

some very “interesting”

pictures created that night!!

Life In American Samoa pg. 2

Living in a place like American

Samoa, we get to appreciate a

different side of God’s creation.

We talked about His creation

and that He created us,

wonderfully and uniquely!!

Continued from previous page

Girl’s Night Out has been

such a blessing, as it has allowed

me to develop relationships with

the Middle School girls outside of

the classroom. I think one Samoan

lady put it in perspective the best.

She said, “Those girls will open up

more to you than they would to

another Samoan.” I had to stop

and think about that statement,

and I realized how true it was.

Sometimes it takes the outsider to

make the difference.

And he said, “Truly I tell

you, unless you change

and become like little

children, you will never

enter the kingdom of

heaven. Therefore,

whoever takes the lowly

position of this child is

the greatest in the

kingdom of heaven. And

whoever welcomes one

such child in my name

welcomes me.” Matthew

18:3-5

Life In American Samoa pg. 3

Blind Man’s Bluff

WE DECIDED TO PLAY “BLIND

MAN’S BLUFF” FOR OUR LAST

GIRL’S NIGHT OUT TO

EMPHASIZE THAT WE ARE

BLIND WITHOUT CHRIST! WE

GO THROUGH LIFE

SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING;

AND WHEN WE FIND CHRIST,

OUR EYES ARE OPENED!

WE HAD 18 GIRLS SHOW UP

FOR OUR LAST NIGHT OUT!!

Life In American Samoa pg. 4

March:

March was an exciting month for us as we looked forward to having a week off for Spring Break. However, we

weren’t going to have a break because we were headed to New Zealand for a mission trip. After spending the

night in Western Samoa, we were on our way to New Zealand to work with a Samoan church doing Back Yard

Bible Clubs. It was such a shock for me as I went from hot temperatures to cold temperatures. It was spring in

New Zealand, and I hadn’t felt cold in months. It was all very strange for me being just right outside of

Auckland. Not only did the driver drive over 25 mph, but they also drove on the wrong side of the road! All of

that aside, it was a wonderful experience to be able to worship with and work with the Samoan church there.

We were able to fellowship with some wonderful people and minister to some beautiful, sweet children. We

were all sad to leave when the week ended.

April:

April was a busy month for having Girl’s Night. We didn’t have one in March so we decided to have two this

month. Our first night we painted canvases and talked about how God’s creation and how He is working on us,

making us what He wants us to be. Just like a painting, it doesn’t look like much to begin with; then as you

work on it, it becomes a beautiful masterpiece.

Our second Girl’s Night we made friendship bracelets. Just as we learned how to weave threads together to

create a bracelet, the Bible tells us that a cord of three strands stays strong.

This was the first time I celebrated Easter away from home. For Good Friday we had a combined chapel

service for the whole school where Mr. Brian brought us the simple, but powerful message of the cross. We

had the opportunity to take some students up to the stage where there was a prayer garden set up to pray

with them. The Holy Spirit was moving among the students that morning! Later that afternoon I had the

chance to take my 6th grade class up to the chapel and we spent the period going on what Christ did on the

cross. When I was done speaking, I invited my students to pray and I had the privilege to prayer with many of

my students. While I was with a group of girls praying, one of my boys asked Mr. Larry, who was there with

me, to speak with him. In chapel that afternoon, he gave his life to Christ. Words cannot describe the joy of

speaking about the sacrifice of Christ, praying with my students, and seeing one of them come to know Christ

as his personal savior. As I told Larry later that night, “Today made everything worth it.”

Life in American Samoa pg. 5

A Look at the Past Few Months

Saturday night we, Tafuna Baptist Church, had our Easter service. We had around 60 people come and had a

wonderful time celebrating our risen Savior. Two people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior that night!

We had many of the World teachers come, and I know that seeds were planted. It was a wonderful night;

however, we all had to turn in early. We had to be up at 4:30 to catch the bus to Pago Pago for our

association’s sunrise service. Mandy and I were asked to perform a short skit for the service and we got to

dress up and proclaim that the “Tomb is empty!”

May:

It is hard to believe that this school year is coming to a close! On May 10th, we had our big and only fundraiser

for the school. It is called Children’s Day, and it is a night where each grade performs a dance and then they

have a traditional Samaon dance involving a taupou (princess) and the manaia (prince). They get to dress up in

traditional Samoan outfits and perform a traditional dance while the rest of the class claps in rythym. Here is

where it gets really interesting. As part of their culture, the family members come up while the children are

performing and either throw money at them or stuff it down their tops. They also dance along with them. It

was a fun night and I even earned a dollar for the school myself!

A few days before, Dr. Phil Roberts came to American Samoa to teach seminars on Jehovah’s Witness. The

next morning, after Children’s Day, we went to his seminar and learned about their beliefs and also how to

witness to them. There aren’t as many Jehovah Witnesses on the island as Mormons, but we have several and

one hall is located right down the road from us.

The rest of May will be busy with finals, summer missionaries coming in, getting ready for VBS in June, 8th

grade retreat and graduation, and of course the end of school.

Life In America Samoa pg. 6

“God’s Still Working On Me”

Just like the lines of the old song, God is working in me as I live and minister

here in America Samoa. Over the past six months my life has changed; I have

grown in my faith, and God has opened my eyes to many new things. Having

grown up in a place where pretty much everything is at your fingertips, it was

quite a challenge to move to a small island where options are limited. Being forced

to do without so many of the things which I took for granted back home, I had to

adjust to being without. God has helped me adapt and be content with what I do

have. I have learned an appreciation and contentment for the simple things of life.

All I do is look around me and I see families that live in one room houses and

families that do not have much at all. It is amazing how you can find joy and

contentment without having all the things the world tells us we must have.

God has also been deepening my faith as I trust in Him to provide and to help

me adjust to being away from home and in a new culture. When you are away

from everything you know, all you have is God. God has shown Himself faithful

time and time again. I have learned to trust Him for everything. It’s a deeper level

of trust that I have learned here.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of

God belongs to such as these…and He took them in His arms, placed His hands

on them and blessed them.” Matthew 10:14,16

Life in American Samoa pg. 7

“And we know in all things that God works for the good of those who

love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

The Harvest is Plentiful:

There is still plenty of work to be done here in the “fields” of American Samoa. Seeds are being

planted, but the work is not yet finished. American Samoa may be a tiny island in the South Pacific, but it is not

paradise. It is home to a lost and hurting people group. God is calling me back for another year to minister to

the students and community here. I have been blessed by your prayers and support as I followed God’s calling

and came to this tiny island last July. I have been strengthened and encouraged knowing that you are praying

for me as I serve.

As I look to the next year here, I humbly ask that you would consider praying and seeking

the Lord’s guidance about continuing to partner with me. I have included a budget for the upcoming year. I

completely understand if giving is not a possibility for you this year, but I would be very grateful if you are able

and feel led to give. Thank you for your continued support.

Please make all checks out to Julie Kitchens and send to the address below. If you are

sending to NAMB, please place #9911 on the For line. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me

at julius90@aol.com.

11 Month Budget

Total:

Travel Roundtrip plane ticket from the States to American Samoa ($2000); New Zealand Mission Trip ($550)

$2550

Food/Misc. $4400 Medical Insurance $1872 Ministry Girl’s Night $300 Total Exp. $9122

9359 Mud Creek Church Road Or NAMB

Adger, Al 35006 Attention: Accounting-MSC

PO Box 116543

Atlanta, Georgia 30368-6543

Life in American Samoa pg. 8