A Pilgrim's Problems...Solved!

It was Sunday night and I had been released from work in time to keep my hopes of attending the nightly service at a local church alive. The sun was setting as I drove down the lower road on my way to Kona, and I ventured off the road only briefly to watch the sunset. The road I had found this day had been cut through the lava field and the condition was only slightly smoother than the lava field itself. My car has great heart, and full of confidence we made it down this four wheel drive only road. It was great fun!!! My car was enjoying showing off it's momentum as other handsome Toyota's simply stared in disbelief as we made our way skillfully toward to coast. And I'll have you know, we'd have made that trip except for one small problem...something broke.

So, my car and I had a moment of silence as we sat only yards from our coastline goal. The sunset was beautiful, begging an audience of admirers, so I climbed out on the nearby piles of black lava and enjoyed it's beauty, neverminding the empending problem of being stranded by nightfall.

After the sun had set, and I had talked to a few friends via cellphone, I began a long trek back to the highway. My car had not simply broken completely as I had feared, but was only stuck in reverse. My gear stick was uselessly floating about as I FURTHER impressed the admiring Toyota's by going BACKWARD on the impossibly rocky road. Oh yeah, I know my car was strutting...we made it out just fine.

I decided to make it back to work to ensure that I would have a job the next day and begain a long venture of driving over 20 miles that night, in reverese. Wow. Tis betterto go forward than backward on the straight and narrow road. Trust me. But, alas, a few hours and a crick in the neck later I was safely back in the employee parking lot, only slightly depressed at missing the Church meeting...again. I will make it soon. I am only encouraged by the struggle to make it to the fellowship!

I napped until work, caught the shuttle, and considered my options while at work all day. I determined my only option was to figure out how to fix the problem myself. Hopefully. So, after work I disassembled my console, and learned more than ever about how that whole gear shifting thing worked. I was told that it was my "linkage" that broke. I don't know...it was the thing that the stick is attached to...looked more like an elbow to me. So, I ducked taped my "elbow" together and I'll have you know that the Cricket is running just fine!!! I had help from Jason, my co-worker in getting the tape tight enough, and we were set by sunset. Yeah!!!!! No worries, i'll make it to that Church service soon...I'm sure of it!

Christian Home!!!

Yeah! The day finally came! I found a place to live!!! I enjoyed one more night under the moon after my long flight back from beloved Texas, and greeted the Hawaiian sunrise with renewed determination to find a room before it set again! I was calling places out of my price range even, praying for provision...and I found it!!! I went and looked at this house, loved the chinese lady who lives there, and her 82 year old Philipino husband is just awesome! The room and house are all nice, but I took it when 1) she lowered the price for me, and 2) FOUND OUT THEY ARE CHRISTIANS!!!! I think I almost lost my bid when shouted Praise the Lord a little too loud! :) They're funny people, but a blessings. She's in her late 40's...he's not...they're funny. But, he's a great cook and when I have come home while they're at the dinner table, I am ushered in to share...no questions about it! So, I enjoyed a fine dinner in my new resting place followed by after dinner entertainment by Papa Chen, who is known as one of the finest accordianists in the Islands. Best I've ever heard! I have the funniest/greatest video of him playing How Great Thou Art, with her working hastily in the background to find extra food to send upstairs with me.
The house is nice...feels more like a lodge than a house because it's so spacious. Papa Chen built it many years ago. It has a great ocean view, is somewhat close to work (35 min.; great for here!) and it came with a bed!!! It's so nice to sleep horizontally...

Enjoy the photos...

Home Coming!

Yeah! Today is the day...I'm on break at work now, but am heading to the airport as soon as the work day ends! I can't wait to see you all...call me, we have to squeeze as much fellowship into a week as ever before. I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

Much Love,

Dolphin Time!!!

Yeah! I was finally able to get in the water today for a surprise encounter with my favorite dolphin! His name, Kolohe (coal-o-hey), means Rascal, which he is. Ten dolphins live in our lagoon, most all of whom were born here. After charging, checking in, and watching several people partake in one of our programs, it was VERY good to actually experience what it was all really about!

I wasn't expecting to swim with the dolphins today, and was thankfully wearing my swimsuit underneath my work uniform! (It's sometimes nice to go to work with my swimsuit on underneath so that when the day feels long, one can think that they're just on the way to the beach and running a few errands on the way...works for me.)

That was a fun part of the day, but the day started much better than any previous as we were finally able to have a "Lead" meaning with the supervisor, Diana. She's a very sweet lady, who longs for us to be "happy," and to be a friend even more than a boss. In case some do not know what job it is that I've taken...let me explain...I'm still trying to understand! My assigned role is to be a "Customer Service Lead." This means that I understand EVERYTHING about the company as far as retail, charging, check-in, program info, and most importantly, how to fix problems with our direct customer service. I have been shuffling through the learning of the EVERYTHING but today I was finally able to invest some of that. There are three "Leads," including Jason, Ty, and myself. Our meeting with Diana was good. I put myself in charge of typing up the "minutes" of the meeting to send off to all the top managers, and LOVED IT!! Finally I felt useful as one of the big problems was solved...and my General Manager seemed quite impressed. It's nice to have a bit of affirmation every once in a while. Today went much more smoothly than ever concerning the issue we were trying to fix. It was an easy solution, as many are, just needed to be seen and dealt with. Whew...there's hope for me here yet.

My fellow Leads are in the picture at right (Ty next to me, Jason next to her), as we're giving Kolohe a signal to splash us...which he did. As you can see I'm very turned around...the water was cold and I'm just not way into fishy salt water yet...which Mike, our trainer was way to aware of. I got splashed a lot. The other girl with us was in a regular program and we were joining her since there were no others signed up. One of our interns was so excited for she was convinced that she was a girl on a tv show called the Bachelor, so I don't know if that's a good thing or not...but she was really nice, and loved the program!

After work I went to the carnival in Kona with Keone, Ty and her husband and CUTE 3 year old boy. Very fun. There was a great Reggae band playing and Keone just couldn't help but get up and dance by the stage when the singer called for it...Though no one else moved. I was urged forward, but bowed out gracefully...I am injured you know!! Then I went on one of those very spinny, topsy, turvy rides and thought only my flip flops had surrendered to gravity. However, I was then handed my cell phone, which was in a few pieces. I have no idea how it got out of my pocket...but I also don't know how that ride was legal. Good news though! It still works!!! It was already broken, and though the screen design is changed a bit, it still makes and receives calls quite well! I am SO impressed!

Pray for Keone (Key-own-E). We were able to have a really good talk tonight. He'll be a really good lil' brother here. His birthday is three days before my best, real little brothers! Neat guy, has survived a lot. His mother died suddenly in bed when he was in eighth grade (he found her) and he has been all but raising his twin sisters (now 13) on his own since. Very strong spirited, mature, ambitious young man. I was able to meet them tonight and they are precious!!! But please do pray for him to come to know the Lord. We were able to talk and he is one of FEW who have shown any desire for something deeper than the often very shallow "laid back" lifestyle of the "Islands." Pray also for a girl named Selena, and for my boss Diana, and for ALL those at my workplace and on the Island...but those by name for now.

Please also continue praying for the Spiritual life of those who have received Christ and are now striving to be a part of the Body! Like me!!! The church I have been meeting with, although only 8 people, has been struggling with the Leader...ship and the differing views...like clapping. It caused a bit too much commotion this Wednesday, and many just long to worship!!!

Hallelujah, I miss you, I'll see you soon! Aloha,

Sunrise...Sunset...

I GET TO SEE A WEST TEXAS SUNRISE IN ABOUT A WEEK!!! YEEEEHAWWWWW!!!!

Yes, I did intend to update this more regularly, but for fear of rambling on without stopping, I choose many nights to not even "go there!" However, tonight I will as I am spurred on by the hope and anticipation that I plan to be in TEXAS in less than a week!!! I never knew I could be so happy about such a thing! I have missed the good land, and great people before, but WOW, this is almost too much.

It has been hard here, to be honest, but I am learning to take every day at a time - and in each have found enough strength to continue on. However, I despise simply "getting by" for I LONG to prosper, and to bless and to BE USEFUL TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD!! I am so thankful for the job that I have, but it is disappointing at times. I'm doing more retail work than direct customer service, and the learning stage is never my favorite. :) I sat down with my boss today though and had a good, very honest talk about everything going on. She is very sweet and has blessed me many days with her patience and understanding.

There are interesting aspects about my job however...our VIP of the day was Wayne Newton for example. That was kind of fun, and he has an ADORABLE little girl! But, I feel bad for his wife...her left ring finger must get sooo sore under all that weight...all the other girls didn't seem so sympathetic though.

I am so hungry for spiritual community right now. It is hard to work in such a worldy environment and to not be surrounded at the end of the day with those who can remind you, and rejoice with you about Who we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. But it is good to learn to trust in Him to supply all needed.

I overheard two ladies talking at Starbucks last week and they definately mentioned the name of Jesus a few times....and I pulled up a chair. After they got over the shock of not knowing what i was doing, I explained how GREAT it was to hear people talking about my Lord! They laughed and told me about some fellowships that I have been trying to seek out. Today I was supposed to meet with one of those ladies, Kristy, who is a leader in the Youth With A Mission program base over here, tonight for a worship gathering. I got through work hoping for this, and was very disappointed when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong when closing the store...so I got off work later than ever and was too late to drive an hour to Kona where the worship was being held. Very sad, but very beautiful sunset still! I was surely in awe.

Please keep praying for me, and my physical health especially. I had to call in an hour late to work this morning (very embarrassing) because I couldn't move well this morning as I had a nice fall yesterday when my back didn't cooperate in the most graceful of ways! After prayerful stretching, and the usual ice...I was on my way. Small delay, and I don't want to complain about the pains, but I do long to move and act with my fullest potential! But, that is in the Lord's hands...and I'm trying to leave it there. :)

I miss you all more than you know, and pray for you very often. It is good to feel close in the Spirit of our Lord through prayer...Oceans and land masses have got nothing on the Spirit of Unity!!! The sunset tonight was beautiful, but I anxiously await its rising on me again in Texas! I love y'all, SEE YOU SOON!!!!