Whirlwind

 whirl·wind n

1.            a column of air rotating rapidly around a core of low pressure

2.            something that happens very quickly, or a rapid succession of events (often used before a noun)

That is how I feel these last few weeks have been.  I have embarked on three different trips in less than 3 weeks:

            From Oahu back to Big Island

                        From Big Island Back to Washington

                                    And I’m currently en route from Washington to Montana!

OAHU

            I left Oahu at the end of the New Testament portion of the Honolulu SBS (School of Biblical Studies).  Our students are already deep into the Old Testament having finished Genesis and gearing up for more.  Though I am not going to be staffing their Old Testament term, I will continue to pray for them and would ask you to join me!  Studying the Bible is not a minor task… not only is it a lot of work academically, but spiritually as well!  Pray that they might not be discouraged, but would endure to the end!

BIG ISLAND

            I spent two weeks in Kona visiting with my roommates, friends, and neighbors… And packing up all of my belongings to move back to the mainland.  Scuba gear, guitar, ukulele, clothes… my bags were not light! 

            In this time I had the opportunity to serve with Deep & Beyond on one of their Snorkel Days for people with disabilities and one of their Adventure Camps for disadvantaged youth from the Kona community.  This Three-day biology “day camp” is designed to teach youth Biblical life principles alongside lessons on Marine Biology.  For example, on Day Two we took the youth on a hike to Kiholo Bay where there are several brackish caves.  They learned that life couldn’t grow when there is complete darkness.  Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis and animals need plants for food.  So we swam as a group to the back of a cave and turned off all of our dive lights and Annamari, my friend who founded Deep & Beyond, shared that we need the Light of Jesus to have Life. 

            I also had to let go of my car after I discovered it had a blown head gasket and starter.  I was able to sell it for $100 on Craigslist, but it discouraged me for several days.  When I prayed about it, I felt God kept reminding me that He’s got me.  He’s got this – my lack of a car or finances to buy one on the mainland.  And I felt challenged to write down some of the blessings and ways God has provided for me over the last 10 years.  I wrote down only a few things for each year since 2002 and I could have kept writing for much longer!  Why should I be discouraged, why should I doubt?  He has always provided for my needs, and I can trust that he will continue to do just that.  He’s faithful even when I’m not… when I worry or stress out about minor things, He’s still faithful. 

            Last thing I want to share about my time in Kona… I was able to go diving one last time with my friends, Annamari and Stephanie and Annamari’s husband, Jeff.  We went to Puako, one of my favorite dive sites, and swam through arches and caves.  We saw moray eels, snowflake eels, a crown of thorns starfish, a titan’s trumpet sea snail, honu (green sea turtles), and all sorts of beautiful marine life.  But the best part was finding two perfect reticulated cowry shells next to each other at the mouth of a cave. The problem was one was kind of behind a pencil urchin and hard to grasp with my dive gloves.  So I just grabbed the one that was easier to grasp and swam off, afraid I was making my dive buddies wait for me too long.  But as I swam off I thought, “Wait a minute, I want both of those cowries!”  So I went back and took off one of my gloves and grabbed the left-behind cowry and put it safely with the first in my zippered BCD pocket.  As I put it in my pocket I felt like God spoke a promise into my heart, as clear as I’ve ever heard.  He said, “I will not leave you alone.”  Isn’t that an amazing promise?  Thank you, Jesus, for that reminder!  With you we are never alone!

WASHINGTON

            I had 1.5 days with Mom & Dad in between Kona and Montana, so Dad decided to make the most of it… we went wakeboarding both days!  Then I repacked a quick carry on bag and Mom & Dad made me a packed lunch for the train and Dad dropped me off at the Amtrak station. 

MONTANA

            I will be attending the SBS North American Hub Boost – a Conference for (just as it sounds) giving SBSs in North America a “boost.”  SBS Leaders and Staff are gathering to discuss and learn what works and what doesn’t, why we do what we do, how to improve grading and tests so they teach and not just assess, etc, etc.  I’m so excited to get to spend one week connecting with other SBS staff and leaders who have been doing this longer than myself as well as other newbies like myself.  I love that we are gathering and seeking ways to constantly be growing and improving!  I think all ministries and individuals need these sorts of times… at least I know I do. 

AND BEYOND!

            After this conference in Montana, I head back to Washington for two weeks!  If you’re in the area, I would love to see you at that time! 

            After Washington I head south to LOS ANGELES to staff the Chronological SBS.  I am not sure how I’m getting there yet, but it will be sometime during Labor Day Weekend that I make my way South. 

            Thus ends my rather long and tedious update.  Bless you all… and if there’s one take-away I’d like to share with you is this:  God is your provider (always was and always will be!)  So…

            “Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings see what God has done.”