Warmest Holiday Wishes...

Merry Christmas from the White Sand Beaches of Saipan....

Our 2008 Christmas Letter:

Hafa Adai & Merry Christmas to all of our family & friends!
Can it be true? It is almost 2009? Where has time gone? We feel like it was just a few months ago when we were writing last year’s Christmas letter; but as time has gone by, so much has happened and so many of God’s wonderful blessing’s have been revealed. It is absolutely amazing what can happen when you allow God and trust in God to do what HE wants’ with your life. This year has truly been a testament to that for us. So much has happened and it has been beautiful to see how God works out all the details that we tend to worry about. Now, you may be asking what those details may be for the Sawyer’s and since it is the time of year we send out an updated letter of our lives, you are fortunate enough to hear about those details! But to keep this short and you sane we will hit you with the details of importance.

In January, Mark turned the big 2-5. He wasn’t too excited about it, but as his 26th birthday is upon us, he dislikes the thought of it even more (just had to throw this detail in for him, hehe). As for me, in January, I began substitute teaching in three school districts, which all were great learning experiences. One even turned into a full time position: April through June I taught in a third and fourth grade classroom in Washtucna Washington. Much to our surprise, it was a perfect opportunity by preparing me for the upcoming changes we were going to face. During this time we were currently trying to figure out where God was calling us and where we would both have jobs.

In March, Mark and I both applied and accepted teaching positions, which meant we were moving from Kahlotus, where Mark had taught for 3 years. Much to our families (and mine, Brittany) surprise we weren’t moving back to either of our home towns, but farther from family then we all had expected. Mark and I moved in August to the island of Saipan. Which has brought us to where we are now; Hafa Adai from Saipan! On August 2, our plane landed on the island of Saipan. Saipan is a 5x13 mile island in the middle of the South Pacific, located in the group of islands known as the Northern Mariana’s. If you have heard of Guam we are roughly 100 miles north. Saipan has about 60,000 people living on it with a daily average and yearly temperature of 80 – 85 degrees. Notice our Christmas photo, which we took on December 2.
We are both teaching at Saipan Community School, which is a private Christian school. I am teaching the third grade and Mark is teaching junior high language arts, definitely a change from wood/metal shop, but he loves it and is truly enjoying the new curriculum to teach. God has blessed us richly since being on “our” island. We have made some wonderful friends, attend a wonderful and beautiful church (which has no walls and looks out on to the teal blue ocean), enjoy a challenging bible study, work in a great school with wonderful students, and are simply enjoying all the little adventures we have been able to join in. We have become weekly jungle hikers, Mark is playing ultimate frisbee twice a week, we are snorkeling, and are still in awe of all the activities that we get to participate in that the northwest doesn’t often possess.
If you ever want to get away from life in the states, our door is always open, we would love to have visitors! In fact, for Christmas we are getting a great present, Mark’s parents will be flying in on the 23rd and staying with us for 9 days! My parents will also be visiting in March, we are so looking forward to both times with family and giving them a glimpse of our life on Saipan; And with that we are now open to say, we will be spending more than just a year on this island. We have really felt God’s calling and we will be staying on island at least for one more year or until we are called back home. We are hoping to start up a Young Life ministry next year, which this island is very open too! However, we will be coming home for our summer vacation. Hopefully we will be flying into the Seattle airport sometime around the 6th of June and be staying until the first week or so of August! We are very excited to see all of our family and friends, along with getting to meet two new family members! Julie, Marks sister and her husband Rob welcomed Mya Elizabeth 2 days after we arrived in Saipan, and Mark’s other sister Suzanne and her husband Jake will be welcoming a baby boy in March! We can’t wait to hold those two!

Well I guess we should let you get back to your Christmas shopping, decorating, baking, and time with family or whatever the Christmas season brings to you, but we wanted to wish you all a wonderful and meaningful Christmas! We are missing you all and wish we were home to be with you, but we will be thinking of you and wishing you were here as we are snorkeling or playing on the white sand beaches on Christmas day! Hehe. No, but seriously, Merry Christmas and May God reveal to you his beautiful blessings he has in store, and just remember to sit back and enjoy the ride he has for you. It will take you in directions you never would have thought (like for us, Saipan, never thought this was part of it, but have received an over-whelming blessing).
Please continue to keep us in your prayers as you are in ours. And remember, Christ is the reason for this beautiful season.

With all of our Love,
Mark & Brittany