OFF TO FIJI

Yes I know the missionary life is a tough one but someone has to go to the islands as well as the other countries and God has found favor with my team to send us to Fiji. We are preparing and doing much cultural study on the people of the island. It seems a very hospitable culture and family oriented. There are a few Fijians on the Kona base and a couple who have just returned that are sharing with us and helping us to be prepared and not offend right off the bat! We are learning the do's and don'ts of island life and the importance of our unity as a team. There will be much interaction between the children and us and that leads to relationship with the rest of the family. The Fijians respect the wisdom of the elders and the preciousness of the young. In between are the young adults who work to train up the young and learn from the wise. What a concept! I was going to share the last couple weeks but will wait till I have more time. Until next time, May you be covered with the dust of your Rabbi..........

OFF TO FIJI

Transformation Process

So I apologize for not updating sooner. However we are on quite
a rigorous schedule! Monday thru Friday we start the day with
breakfast at 6:15 - 7:30 Mondays corporate worship for an hour in Ohana (family) Court from 8 am to 9 am and then on to class until lunch at 12:00. Wed. I have my one on one with our small group leader at lunch time. Monday and Wed. we have outreach prep from 1 pm till 2:30 and Tues. and Fri. we have small groups. From 3pm till 5pm every day we have our work duties.( I am getting to garden in tropical weather which is so very different from what I am used to! Learning a lot.) After that we have dinner from 5pm till 6:30 and we are free to do our class reading, work on our journals and our 2 book reports that will be due during this 5 months. Wow I am tired just going over it all. On top of that our class meets in the pre-school area which is at the bottom of this somewhat steep hill and our room is at the top! God has a sense of humor for sure..I had said I wanted to lose weight while I was on this Journey and He is making it all quite possible in His quirky little ways!
So the corporate worship is incredible. I am enjoying it tremendously. Our classes have been intense as well. We have speakers each week with specific topics and I will give you a little taste of each one:
Week #1 was Brian Brennt on The Character of God. Brian made class so much fun and confirmed that the Christian life can be fun and should be! God is LOVE.
The word tells us to pursue love, put on love, increase and abound in love, be sincere in love, unified in love and fervent in love as Jesus is fervent in love for us! God wants us to replicate His character on earth. There is only one problem, satan does too. We went through some of the Names of Jesus as well. I love this kind of study. There is so much meaning.
Week #2 was Doug Richardson on Hearing Gods Voice Doug showed from the beggining of class by knowing all our names and entering into relationship with
us that hearing Gods voice is all about loving other people. It's NOT ABOUT ME!
The Imagio Deo of God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit in relationship with me in the center of their love. Doug touched on a couple points I would love to share.
1) Don't believe everything you think!
2)The difference between "doing" and "being"
We are made to "be" not "do"
We must put ourselves at stake if we want to know God. We must live out LOUD!
The nature of the Kingdom is not to end evil but to overtake it, by hearing His voice and being obedient to His calling.
Week #3 we had Kristen (a man) and Cindy (incredible worship leader) from New Zealand - Corporate Week - we met in Ohana Court everyday.
They talked about how God will shake all of the things in our lives until He remains! The things that shake us can be our best friend, but others may think we are crazy. Matt. 22:14 all are called few are chosen ( Gods response to how we position our hearts, our desperation for Him, our hunger to be filled with Him.
Kristen told us we need to have better times in private with God than we do in public, to find that secret place and spend significant time with Him only then will He give revelation because His desire is relationship with His people!
Week #4 Dr. Bruce Thompkins -Plumb Line
This was a video series and very intense. Amos 7:7 talks of Gods plumb line and how we are all out of line with God. How we can swing to either rejection (unbelief) or rebellion (pride) or both. Thats where I was swinging back and forth between the two and not even aware of it. We had a day of ministry time for each of us in our small groups and it was there that I was delivered from so much pain from my past I had no idea was buried in there. I feel such a peace and am learning the love of God through these wonderful people He has put into our Crossroads class. I also have new eyes for so many of my friends back home and my dear sweet family. So exhausting physically and emotionally but well worth it! Praise God for His love and care.
Week #5 just ended and was done by Don Stephens (no not the guy in the book)
Don spoke on Biblical World View.
God created everything for His glory and wants that glory to shine through His people to other people until the evil in this world is overcome by the light of His glory. His glory is revealed in so much, music, nature, movie moments even. The seeds we sow we will reap. Truth produces life and lies produce death. However if we add truth to to death it can begin to grow! Praise God. Go to all the nations and bring the kingdom to them. We don't want to take over the world just influence it in the 7 spheres (education, family, media, church, govt., commerce & science, arts & entertainment) and as we do this we are planting seeds of truth that will over grow the weeds of the lies of the enemy. The church is the body (His people) visible and relative, the kingdom is the Kings territory ( all creation)
invisible and absolute.
I will post more in a week or so. Keep up your prayers God is doing a work.
Love to all in Jesus name!

Community Living

So this is the view from our front lanai (balcony) and these are my roomates I will be living in community with for the next 5 months. We are a unique group.Grace is our youngest at 23, she has a contagious laugh and just fills you with a happiness looking at her.Grace comes from Virginia,USA. Susan is one of the 3 older women in the room and has such a nurturing spirit about her that makes you quite comfortable in sharing anything.(She knows what I am talking about hehehe)Susan hails from the great state of Washington, USA.Next is me and most of you know me I hope.I am from California, USA. Christie is one of 2 Aussie's in our room. She comes from Perth and has a gentle and quiet spirit about her, but I am guessing there is much more there waiting to come out! Keisha is a precious prayer warrior coming from the state of Kentucky, USA. She has been at IHOP for the last couple years and her competitive side is showing now as we start playing UNO! hehehe. Kim is the other older woman to join myself and Susan. She comes all the way from the other side of the big island in Hilo. She is Korean born and has such a child like spirit. So very sweet and innocent. She also has her car with her! WhooWhoo! Last but certainly not least would be our warrior preacher Sally, from Melbourne. The other Aussie in the house. Love to listen to them speak. She is a strong presence for the Lord and looking forward to seeing how He uses her. So here we are 7 women, one large sleeping area, a community room we share with another 6 women and one bathroom with A shower and 2 stalls!
Incredibly life has been so smooth these past weeks. We all get along very well and have learned to give and take quite well. The consideration level grows more everyday..God is so very good!
More to come.