Aloha!
Okay...so it has been a really long time since I have blogged life stuff. I guess life stuff has just taken over and I've let busyness take it's toll on my communication. Well, it is a new year...and so I'm going to give it a new try.
Obviously, so much has happened in our lives and ministry since I last wrote. Our holidays, though completely different, were joyful and precious because of Jesus Christ and what they really mean! It was hard to be far away from dear family and friends, but God has richly blessed us with new family here which made it so much easier.
I got to host a Thanksgiving tea for a few ladies I work with. Several women were unable to attend, but even so it was a blessed time. Our church plant family (minus me...I was sick) spent Thanksgiving together. The women of the church each made 5 dozen cookies and got together to make cookie plates for our neighbors. I made gift tags which introduced us as the women of Island Grace Church, and included a scripture verse about the reason for Christ's birth. It opened the door for a little bit more interaction with a couple of our neighbors.
We spent Christmas morning home together as a family, Norm worked in the afternoon, and then went to a big gathering of our Church family in the evening. We exchanged gifts, sang, played games...a real family holiday. Another great joy.
All the kids at Christmas!
The day after Christmas we had a visitor arrive from Washington for a 10 day visit. What a whirlwind of fun and activity...remember our apartment is one bedroom, one bath...an adventure indeed. But really, it was such a fun time to get to explore more of the island. We got to see a couple of beaches we hadn't seen yet. We were planning on hiking Diamond Head one day, but our van broke down on arriving at the crater, so we left the kids to hike with a friend who had followed us there while we went back with the tow truck to get the van home and pick up the little car and go back to pick everyone up after their hike. They took some great pictures, so at least we got to see the view...sort of. Anyway, it is still on our list of places to visit in the future.
The View From Diamond Head
The day after we took our visitor back to the airport, we went back to work, where I have been given a bit more responsibility...and my own desk! Wow!
My Desk
The Women's Bible Study has just begun! We are going through a book called Shopping for Time. It is a small book, but has some really good practical insights from God's Word on priorities, and being intentional about the way we use the time God grants us and being fruitful for His purposes.
Norm and I have taken over the coordination and leadership of the Children's Ministry at IGC. We are really excited to be doing this together. I have started putting together curriculum, music, activities, etc. for the Sunday morning Children's Church. I am hoping to put together a monthly Kid's Club outreach also, for kids to bring friends and neighbors. I am thinking about doing it like a once a month VBS day. I really pray that it will encourage the parents in the church, as well as providing a neat opportunity for them to invite their neighbor kids for fun, friendships, and most important, a chance to hear the gospel.
Please keep us in prayer as we pursue God's glory here in Hawaii...that we would bear much fruit.
We love you! Thanks for reading.
