Malea Sandstrom, our Sunday School Coordinator, definitely has roots in Pacific Beach. She still lives in the same house that she grew up in, and she attended the same schools that both of her sons later did--from Pacific Beach Elementary through Mission Bay High.

She came to PB UMC as a child, along with her younger brother and her mother and father. They were all active members of the church. Later, however, during the years that her two sons were growing up, she went to church in Point Loma, where there were more families. After that time, she came back to the corner of Ingraham and Thomas. Malea recalls that when she returned to this church, the thought that went through her mind was, "OK, now I’m home."

Malea began her work at PB UMC a few years ago as Sunday School Coordinator, also assisting with the Saturday night service. A little later, she and her son Dennis were hired to lead the youth group. Her duties expanded even more when she was hired also as the church custodian. From the beginning, Malea had been teaching part-time at the La Jolla United Methodist Church nursery school. And as her hours and responsibilities increased there, she had to decrease her work at PB UMC. Although she resigned first as church custodian and later as the Youth Group leader, she continues to serve as Sunday School Coordinator.

As Sunday School Coordinator, Malea has the important task of recruiting and assisting teachers for the children. She must make copies of lesson plans for the teachers, in addition to coordinating who is teaching on which Sundays.

Malea also observes Sunday School and offers any help that might be needed. When the curriculum packets arrive in the church office, she distributes them to the teachers. An important part of her job is communication--getting to know both the children and their parents.

Once PB UMC began having two services on Sunday mornings, her workload increased, and now four teachers are needed each week, two people for each service. Since each teacher serves one day a month, Malea has 16 people with whom she works. Two classes are provided: one is for preschool through first grade and the other is for second grade up.

"I love this job," commented Malea. "The teachers I work with are all so committed to providing a meaningful--and enjoyable--hour each Sunday. And we have a wonderful group of children and parents!"