From August 2022 to June 2023, I served as a student missionary in Pohnpei, Micronesia, teaching English and U.S. History. Each of my students holds a special place in my heart, but one student, Shawn Mark, stood out in a way I will never forget.

Shawn was the kind of student who brought light into every room he entered. I appreciated his smile, laughter, and constant jokes, and he never failed to greet me each day with a polite “hello” and ask how I was doing. Though he sometimes struggled with English, he persevered. Outside the classroom, Shawn was a talented basketball player and a loyal friend who genuinely cared for everyone around him.

Nine months into my time in Pohnpei, on May 24, 2023, tragedy rocked our campus. Shawn passed away unexpectedly after a sudden illness and hospitalization. The vibrant, fun-loving 16-year-old boy who had been in my class just days earlier was suddenly gone. We received the devastating news early that Monday morning, right before I was scheduled to teach his sophomore class. That day, productivity was impossible. Instead, we grieved together—crying, hugging, and simply sitting in shared sorrow. The entire campus felt the weight of the loss.

Though I tried to provide comfort, I felt utterly helpless. It was one of the hardest days of my life, and I couldn’t help but question why God had placed me in such a heartbreaking situation.

I will never forget the following days and Shawn’s funeral. Although at the same time it’s an emotional blur, over two days, we mourned and celebrated his life. The first night was an open-casket service in his home filled with worship songs, and the second day was his burial. As an American, I had never experienced this kind of funeral—such a communal and extended mourning process—but it was clear how deeply we all needed that time together. The night of singing was both beautiful and heart-wrenching—a powerful reminder to cling to God’s hope and strength in the face of loss. At the service, our vice principal read entries from Shawn’s journal, written in response to daily prompts I had assigned in English class. Hearing his words brought a mix of pain and gratitude, showing how thoughtful and kind-hearted Shawn truly was.

Watching our school community come together in the wake of Shawn’s passing was one of the greatest displays of love I’ve ever witnessed. His classmates resolved to finish the school year in his honor, rallying around the hashtag #AllForShawn. The stories they shared highlighted his selfless character and the lasting impact he had on everyone he met. We created a memorial board filled with pictures and stories of Shawn, displayed just outside the high school building. It became a gathering place where we would reflect on his life and share memories.

Watching everyone say their final goodbyes, touching Shawn’s arm at the funeral, and sitting at his empty desk in the days that followed felt surreal. How could someone so full of life be gone? Yet, even in the depths of grief, I found solace in my faith. My students also turned to their faith for comfort, reminding each other that we would see him again. Their resilience and unwavering belief deeply moved and inspired me. They are truly a strong class, empowered by the Holy Spirit. I choose to believe that Shawn is not gone forever—that one day, we will be reunited in heaven. Through this loss, one truth became undeniably clear: in both grief and glory, great is God’s faithfulness.

We clung to each other, and we clung to God. I believe the only way we got through the rest of the year was by leaning on God’s grace and strength and the love within our community. Though our time with Shawn was far too short, I will always be grateful to have known him.

I thank God for my year in Pohnpei and my sweet student Shawn Mark.