green means go

Well, my favorite color is green, fact.  April showers bring a green springtime.  Somewhere where seasons wear more emotions on their face it'll be making an appearance soon.  Green is the color of life, and sustenance ... the kind before it's printed on and passed around, regardless, still of importance in the spinning world.  Trees, like the large one I'd gotten tattooed on my back 1/2 a decade past... yes, still green, a caucasian benefit.  I've been blessed to live in"paradise" for the past 10yrs, and I don't mind the lack of noticeable season changes.  I live on the island of Oahu in a valley that's green 365 days of the year.  Yesterday I was standing on the Napali Coast of Kauai, yes, it was green.  Green means go.  Here's whats going on...   

It's official, the Koreans have taken over :) YWAM Honolulu has begun our April 2014 quarter with over 20 Korean students in our Korean Ministry Discipleship Training School (KDTS), and ~10 in our English speaking Discipleship Training School (DTS).  We are looking forward to a quarter of meshing cultural lines, becoming one as the body of Christ is to be.  I am personally excited for a quarter of leading worship on a multi-lingual team where we will be balancing English and Korean music lyrics and styles.  This quarter all of our corporate meetings will be presented in both English and Korean.  I will be continuing my full-time role as the Hospitality Guest House department-head.  Interested in a visit??? email me at hospitality@ywamhonolulu.com or check us out online www.ywamhonlulu.com for corporate meeting times and information request links!

My YWAM Responsibilities...

*This quarter I will also be teaching a breakout group lecture for the YWAM Honolulu English DTS on the topic of Worship, 1 hour a week for the next 5 consecutive weeks.  This is something I have done in a previous quarter and had been a highlight of mine.  I am looking forward to deeper revelations and new growth in myself and others through the opportunity of teaching on a main passion of mine. 

*Effective the beginning of this quarter I have been appointed as oversight of the YWAM Honolulu Prayer Room.  To be actively involved, available, and initiate the goings on of the YWAM Honolulu Prayer Room.  A small livingroom on the backside of one of our quanset huts, a special place on base set aside for prayer and worship, established in 2008.  Over years at times falling through the cracks, it's purpose and use at times neglected, or shifted, under unclear oversight.  I've felt stirred to steward this.  My heart is for honoring God.  I want to see YWAM Honolulu Prayer Room as a place set-apart for God's sake, a place dedicated for seeking and soaking in His presence, not out of necessity for communion, but out of honor and love.  That Holy Spirit would dwell and fill this place and our lives with the heart of the Father and the victorious authority of Jesus.  That we would be a tribe of people that live in the blessing of the overflowing God's presence.  Establishing and up-keeping prayer rooms around the world is on the list of my lifelong callings... why not now and here!  I am passionate an dedicated to steward this.

Please join in pray for the moving and working of the Spirit of the living God at YWAM Honolulu in the Manoa Valley!

headlines...

Chinatown- forever holding a special place in my heart.  I will continue in co-leading weekly community outreaches for the new DTS students in street evangelism, and partnering with PS150, working primarily with the homeless community.  Continuing to dream of any future opportunity to see an established community of believers living amongst.

New Hope Town- my instant family unit.  Joined more then just a worship team a couple months back; doing life, a growing, caring, crew of friends.  Drawn and considering missions opportunity within.  Interested in partnering more of YWAM with this, my home church New Hope Town.    

Medical- my trade.  Somehow along the line I became a nurse 1/2 a decade ago, and God set me up with a great gig, and it has carried on for years.  Flexibility, amazing authority figures, a main hospital on the island of Oahu.  Now my balance act of time, priorities, and necessities seems easy flowing.  Close to 3yrs in, a life of fulltime mission alongside a very-part-time medical career consisting of 5 to 10 hrs a week. 

recent travels...

Kauai- blessed with a stones-throw trip to the farthest west that the USA has to offer.  Inspired by a YWAMer wedding.  A beautiful, whirlwind adventure over the last four days.  I'm wondering why is took me 10yrs of living in the Hawaiian islands to make it over there, the "garden island" proves it's name true.  Feeling refreshed, God's creation is amazing.   

Thank you for your prayers and support!

     

Today I was born, and here's what's become...

Time establishing there has always been something bigger then self.  Often times feeling over-my-head, yet fully alive.  Amongst all the unknowns I become undone, almost everyday... and in that acknowledgment of the divine, life makes since:)  Hello year 29!


I've recently described this current season to a group of friends as a "night-sky".  Mysterious, exciting, scary, and absolutely beautiful.  I'm in absolute awe of God.  Movement is happening, God is the constant.  Finding fear in God alone.  Freedom in gleaning, growing, going... forward.


Currently, in the center of our 2014 winter quarter lecture phase at YWAM Honolulu.  Current training courses running; English Discipleship Training School (DTS), School of Biblical Studies, -full of unique individuals who are valued active parts of this tribe.  Community-living, living out the simple gospel, -a radical norm for us.  Our YWAM Honolulu Korean Ministry is also running a Korean Business DTS in town.  Over my past 2 years and 9 months as an operational base staff managing the YWAM Honolulu Hospitality Guest House I have had the privilege in hosting incredible individuals and families from around the world at our very unique home in the Manoa Valley.  Our DNA; Jesus Christ, family, and a heart for the nations.  History shows us to be a place of restoration, and a place where people discover calls and destinies.  We are a YWAM base known for pioneering, in fact "Pioneering Ministries" was the original name of this base location over 30 years ago when camp was first set!  (www.ywamhonolulu.org)


There is another hat that I wear at YWAM Honolulu, and this one is my primary passion, -Worship Leading through music.  Over the years there has been an expansion of skill, including supernatural impartation defying logic.  With in this last quarter we have seen a expansion of resources and outlets as well.  Blessed by a local church, Christ Fellowship Hawaii, with an incredible full system of new sound equipment.  We've also been stepping more outside the YWAM bubble, last Monday YWAM Honolulu Worship team traveled with our own small gig-set of sound-equipment and ushered in heaven at a local restaurant in the city.  We are also looking forward to the upcoming opportunities including; leading at Resurrection and Life Ministries 24hr prayer watch in Waipahu  2/28/14, and at the HIM Conference in Honolulu 3/20/14-3/22/14. 

over-my-head... night-sky... pioneering...

A Chinatown February Sunset

Chinatown update;

...mission statement, vision statement, bullet point objectives, business action plan, nonprofits, boards, profits, politics, resources, teams, locations... the list goes on and on and so does the learning process... forward motion? Yes, learning a new subculture of pioneering!

mission statement~

A community of Christians living in the Chinatown district of Honolulu, Hawaii.  A home-atmosphere marked with the presence of worship and prayer.  A location to connect the local church's attention to Chinatown, and to host short-term outreach teams.  Relationship focused, working on the streets and alongside current ministries in Chinatown.  Targeting multiple sub-cultures within, including but not limited to; advocacy for the homeless, and influence of the arts.  Partner ministry of YWAM Honolulu -"Lighthouse".

*Isaiah 61:1-4 

*John 17:11

    

Flashback to 2012 -my messy scribbles that confirm the journey. 

Please pray for YWAM Honolulu, Worship, Chinatown, and Lighthouse! 

New things

Oh the things that will be in 2014... 

So, this is the New Year... and I DO feel VERY different.  Not accredited to a new resolution or a self-willed blank slate, but from divine release.  I got a deep passion, stirring ever deeper, and I am seeing the blessings, living in the reaping.  Dreaming, sowing, investing and wrestling with the calling, and seeing the release, it's happening (*see below! <3).  The harvest is indeed ready.  Understanding and agreeing to the work of reaping.  A cup of suffering and along with blessing.  It's all amazingly worth it.  My heart is at home in the Kingdom of God.   

YWAM Honolulu has been my home for the past 2 and a 1/2 years.  Running the Hospitality Guest House, leading worship, involved with local churches, partnering with community outreaches, and a part-time M.A. at a local hospital.  Jesus is my Savior and the cause of this life of adventure. 

...so, there was my three sentence resume.  

Here is my heart in bullet points.... <3


<3 Family
I continue to see my perspective change from victim, widow, failure, and orphan, to; victorious, beloved, successful, and adopted.  My family runs deeper then blood, it runs in Spirit.  I am honored to do life with these people; the close community at YWAM Honolulu, the realness of humanity at PS150, the relatable friendships through Triple S, and the changing face yet solid grounding of the local church -looking forward to setting roots at NewHope Town.

Praying to learn and live love.



<3  Ushering in God's Presence
Music Worship leaders styles can often can be defined or detected by observing their natural direction of leading, their way or form of expression.  It can be seen by the individual, or others, by seeing the places and times that fits the best for each leader's God-given uniqueness. Some worship leaders lean towards large church settings, some in small living-room home-groups, children's clubs, youth groups, healing rooms, in structured conferences, or around a campfire, ect.  Though I enjoy and have partaken in quite a variety, my heart has increasingly gravitated to leading worship in the places of oppression, with those in need of deliverance.  My heart is for ushering in God's presence into the poorest and the darkest.  

Praying for Holy Spirt led effectiveness.



<3  Chinatown Oahu
I got this longstanding love relationship with Chinatown Oahu.  I see such beauty in the ashes.  Somewhere over the years the people of the streets now all have faces, names, and stories.  Here I  have met those with the deepest longing and needs; for belonging to a family, and finding rest in God's presence.  Chinatown is no doubt a spiritual disneyland.  A poor and dark place here in the Hawaiian islands.  Homeless population out the roof.  Boarded up buildings, and urine stench on the streets. Beggars and strippers, drugs and brothels, game rooms and temples, bars and clubs, the list goes on.  Bustling multi-cultural open-marketplaces during the day that you walk around and feel like your in a foreign Asian country.  At night, it's the kind of place people roll up their windows and lock their doors as they drive through what would appear to be a post-apocalyptic handful of city blocks.  This place of bustling, and hustling, is far overdue for the love of God to move in and change history.  Casting vision.  Yes, I'm all in.
    
Praying for the reality of revival.




"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort those who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion.  To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit

of heaviness. That they may be called trees of righteousness.  The planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.  And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolation of many generations." ~Isaiah 61:1-4

Politics, Airplanes, and a Campground.

Adventure and spontaneity are two word not unfamiliar to my journey.  This past month or so I've found myself inside the Hawaii state capitol, on a plane to Kona, and standing in front of 80+ women at One Love Ministries Women's retreat at a campground on the North Shore of Oahu.  Locations and people vary but a theme flows; Worship and Intercession. 

Politics.
Combining the second thing that people often try to avoid in casual conversation, alongside religion, -politics.  As Christians we are called to stand for truth, in a manner of love.  Willing to be messengers of light, in obedience, boldness, and respect.  The church on Hawaii rallied together at the state capitol to support traditional marriage as the definition hung in the balance.  Hearing of this, one of our invested local YWAM staff members and myself felt compelled to join.  We loaded up a couple 15 passenger vans of YWAMers (students and staff) to join in intercessory prayer for an afternoon at the state capitol.  A significant experience for us all.  For many of our YWAM students it was an eye opening experience to be at the front lines where religion and politics meet and the sobering effect of the reality of spiritual battle over laws and morals.
 

Airplanes.
Something about being in a plane makes me alive, and dream in color.  Open door, confirmation, trip to the University of the Nations on the big island, a 30min plan ride from Oahu.  Connected with those running with a common vision for worship.  A 3 night getaway, refreshing, and stirring.  Seeking God's face, and seeing things set in motion.  Bonus  treasured time visiting a close friend.  Radical corporate worship times.  Fiery speakers, leaders, dreamers, and lovers of Jesus. Divine networking, and connecting dots to a bigger picture.  Waiting on the ripple effects of this visit.

(Kona prayer room)

 


Campground.
Through a couple divine sequence of events, I ended up with the opportunity to lead worship for One Love Ministries Women's retreat this past weekend at a camp on the beautiful North Shore of Oahu.  The retreat theme was "Faith like a Child".  I was blessed by a friend who came to joined last minute.  Between her; violin, guitar, and voice, and my; guitar, keyboard, and voice, we had a blast switching it up at every session.  Holy Spirit showed up, filled up, breakthroughs, revelations, tears, and laughter.  Familiarity, and many new faces.  One Love Ministries is my original foundation of church on island.  About a decade ago at my arrival I was adopted in, invested, seen through ~7 years of a lot of seasons of life.  For the past several years natural distance occurred due to full-time staffing with YWAM, involvement in other ministries on island, and travels that brought me in other directions.  This past weekend was a full-circle, refreshing reminder of the blessing, thank you One Love Ministries for all you've done, and do!  Highlights;  being in God's creation, early morning Bible readings on an empty beach, and worship around a campfire.  Overall refreshment.

(Camp Homelani)

(personal study of Acts)

 

     

(YWAM Honolulu living room prayer room)

We are rounding the corner to the holiday seasons.  This year I will be staying on the rock (Oahu).  Here at YWAM Honolulu, in 3 weeks, 2 out of our 3 schools, our current D.T.S. and S.O.M.E. students will be departing for their several month outreaches around Asia Pacific, it's possibly about to get much more quite around here.  All though students, school staff, and some homebound-for-the-holidays base staff will be going out, I have a full schedule of guest coming in, the YWAM Honolulu Hospitality guest house is booked through the end of this year.  Continuing current responsibilities; managing the YWAM Honolulu Guest House, leading worship, and involvement with island community outreaches such as with the homeless in Chinatown.
   




Transitional season.  Recently released communication, my current home church will be ending it's season of ministry.  Christ Fellowship, a plant from Christ Fellowship and Antioch church in Waco Texas, has been active on the island of Oahu for the past 7 years.  I have been involved for the past ~year, running the sound board, playing keys, and vocals. The last service will be December 8th, 2013.  Dispersion, where I go is an unknown.

My journey. Ever growing, pioneering ever stirring. To simplify, write music, and to be ready. Willing.



           

Fall 2013.

   

     A familiar path, like clockwork a new quarter commences at YWAM Honolulu and a reset button in our lives is pushed.  Often times leaving us temporarily out-of sorts, we adjust to shifts in the spiritual and physical.  September 2013 is happening, we're off the ground and on our feet walking it.  A new start, the fall quarter has begun at YWAM Honolulu.  3 schools in progress; English DTS (Discipleship Training School), SBS (School of Biblical Studies), and SOME (School Of Missions and Evangelism).  An additional 50+ people have moved onto our 3 acre base within the past few weeks, we're cozy.  My primary responsibilities as a base-operational staff revolve around managing the YWAM Honolulu Hospitality Guest House (~2 years and counting!).  In addition, there has been some new things added to my life...

***********************************************************

I am now teaching on Worship, a small "break out group" of 5 DTS students and 2 DTS staff, once a week for an hour.  My first time teaching at YWAM!  A glimpse of what I will be teaching on; defining worship, summary of some major world religion and cult expressions of worship, Biblical examples through the Old and New Testament of worship, personal verse corporate and lifestyles of worship, typologies and styles of Worship, modern day Christian worship movements across the globe; ect.  On the first day (this past Thursday) I asked their reasoning for choosing the Worship break out group and what they hope to see from our time together. The responses varied, as expected.  Some desiring freedom and understanding of the purpose of worship, some questioning how Worship actually effects the spiritual realm, some searching to carry Worship into different areas of their lives, others choose just because they love God and love music, and so on. I am excited to see what these next 5 weeks have in store as we all learn and grow together.     



I am now also leading additional worship music throughout the week, in new settings and with new arrangements of people.  I'm blessed by returning staff, who I have had the pleasure leading worship with in the past, now back!  I am now helping in leading the weekly DTS Worship nights.  At which times much ministry and freedom has been found entering and soaking in God's presence.  I have also recently started playing keyboard at my home church Christ Fellowship, rotating Sunday mornings with continuing running the sound board.  Also, YWAM Honolulu will again be volunteering at River of Life (homeless feeding service and rehabilitation center) this quarter, at which times I look forward to join in again (after a long summer break) by plugging in and playing background worship music in their cafeteria during the mealtimes, as my schedule allows.  (I will be continuing playing keyboard and singing in the YWAM Launch band at our weekly meetings.  As well as being on the rotation for leading YWAM base Worship during intercession every Monday morning.  Plus on rotation for leading worship Friday nights in Chinatown at PS150. Also in the YWAM Honolulu prayer room mon-fri, every lunch hour, at which time the Worship leaders (-including yours truly:) take turns leading worship with intercession/scripture reading.)

This quarter I am also now the Chinatown outreach base-staff leader for the current DTS.  I'll be helping to drive 15 passenger vans full of DTS students, and do outreach, in Chinatown every Friday night.  I look forward to introducing 20+ students from across the world to my friends in Chinatown, and to have them come alongside and take part in the work God is doing in the broken-down and darkness in Chinatown.  We are partnering with PS150 (see past blogs explaining this ministry); giving messages, leading worship, street evangelism, ect.

***********************************************************

     Honestly, this season kicked off and I immediately felt very stretched, a full plate of responsibilities and opportunities at; YWAM Honolulu, my local home church, and with community outreaches such as PS150, and other night outreaches that I am still connected with on a lesser volume due to my packed schedule.  On top of this, my part time job as a Medical Assistant has been evolving as a Dr. that I work for has switched his practice to a concierge/boutique style medicine.  The blessing to this switch is my medical skills are expanding as we are now servicing a larger amount of tests in office including; blood draws, EKG, PFTs, vision, hearing, and more.  Perhaps in a bigger picture God is equipping me for a broader spectrum of medical mission work... or at least how to multitask!  In the midst of all this, I have been increasingly stirred to press in and seek God's face.

(Alamoana beach)

PRAYER POINTS

to REST

*To live in that peace that passes all understanding is a beautiful thing. To fall more in love with Jesus. To spend extended quite times with the Lord. To be filled up and invested in friends. To enjoy God's creation!

that the JOY of the Lord would be my strength

*With out it I couldn't do what I'm doing.  I NEED, and want:), more of the joy of the Lord in my life!

PROVISION for carrying on

*Never once have I gone hungry or been without shelter over these past two years as  a full-time missionary.  God has provided, 2 faithful supporters, and a supplemental income working as a Medical Assistant.  I believe there is even more I would be able to do for the Kingdom with an increase of supporting partnerships, please consider:)

practical needs & dreams...

*My acoustic plug-in guitar is worn with a failing pick-up, the time is coming to consider a new investment.  A professional guitar is a tool for the way I am called to advance the Kingdom.

*I desire to widen my perspective and visit other hubs of Worship for the sake of gleaning, giving, and growing.  I would like to visit the University of the Nations prayer room in Kona, and/or the International House of Prayer in Kansas city.  Both locations I have contacts and possibilities of housing available.  I am considering short visit(s) before the year ends, if the Lord wills. 

(University of the Nations)

*I desire to go to the nations.  I am passionate about ushering God's presence in dark places... there are many dark places all around the world!  My heart is for outreach, pioneering, community living, the poorest and the darkest, third world countries, and simply living to share the good news -the love of Jesus!  If the Lord wills, I'd love to go on a short term mission with in the next 12 months...  or go to a third world country long term!  Whatever God says:)

fresh VISION

*Anything can happen, life is an adventure.  My 2 year commitment to YWAM Honolulu ended Sept 1st, 2013.  I have been in revaluation of where God is calling. I am committed here and now to all the responsibilities mentioned above, through December 2013.  Change is happening and coming, YWAM offers much freedom and many opportunities in many directions. Asking the Lord for fresh vision! 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!

 

Living the dream.

Alive

Fully alive and awakening to more of God, revelations of His love dwelling in His presence, ...and it keeps getting better?! Dimensions outside of space and time, discovering the mysteries of the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, -overwhelmingly beautiful. Advancement of freedom found in balancing out relationship with equal attention to the Father, Son, and Spirit. My heart is in heaven. Passion birthed from pain, expressions testify to redemption, singing a new song! 

Psalm 96  Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!  Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!...

Facing Changing Seasons

September 2013 milestone marks the end of a 2 year commitment to YWAM Honolulu as the Hospitality department head, blessed.  Since my return from a short-term trip to Thailand a few months ago, I have been seeking and stirred for this new upcoming season.  Reflecting back 2 years ago, when with such confirmation sent from above, I had stepped in to be rooted at YWAM Honolulu.  It happened, quite a journey, lessons, reality switches, the miraculous, so many amazing stories over these past 2 years.  Understanding the free-will given from a limitless God, future options not lacking.  My underlaid desire is doing life for the sake of love for the Kingdom come.  Moving forward in God's directives and blessings. Decision time.  

The New Era

*Abundance of joy and peace, lifts and settles my soul to stay at YWAM Honolulu, moving forward in recommitment!  Motivated and stirred to live the dream, -heart after God.  New opportunities within YWAM Honolulu have brought even more confirmation for this new upcoming season.  I will be continuing managing the Hospitality department, leading worship, and now teaching once a week for the September English DTS students on the subject of worship.  Already the preparation for these things have ministered and moved within. 

PS150, Chinatown,  8/2/13

*I have also recently stepped into running the sound at my home church Christ Fellowship, growing and rounding knowledge in the area of the calling -leading worship. 

*The continual connection and ministry happening in Chinatown moves forward alongside all this, I feel more at home then ever with the "homies" (homeless).  

*I am blessed to continue my "tent-making"  very-part-time job as a Medical Assistant at Queens hospital, as the Lord leads, for the stewarding of finances and medical skills.

*Fully invested in this community of YWAM Honolulu and the island of Oahu until God says go.  Believing in God's sovereignty, seeing divine orchestration for the now and the future.    

Home Turf

There is a culture of increased intercession and worship growing here at YWAM Honolulu, fire is catching!  We have been daily coming together for worship, public reading of scripture, and prayer, over our lunch breaks.  Many late evenings, and free times on the weekends, have been given to seeking and living in God's presence.  Evangelism is stirring up more and more, faith is building, the body of Christ functioning. 

YWAM Honolulu is currently running; Korean Discipleship Training School (DTS) 

English School of Biblical Studies (SBS) 

The Hospitality Guest House is getting ready for an upcoming packed season hosting speakers from 3 training schools running in September 2013; the continuation of SBS, an English DTS, and a School of Missions and Evangelism (SOME). 

We stand on truth. Revival is reality. God's love is the filling and the overflow!

Needs

PRAYER; Lord's Will Be Done (in everything!)

SUPPORT; Prayer and Finances (current committed monthly supporters totals ~$175 ...praying for an increase! Please ask the Lord if He is calling you to partner!)  

RESOURCES; Finances (one time gifts!) and Tools for the Call (on the wish list; keyboard and amp!)

THANK YOU... BLESSINGS ON YOU!

Adventure in Asia :)

Thailand is a colorful culture, scattered with intricate tapestries, and architecture throughout. 

The worship of idols is common practice in Thailand, many statues created as "gods", yet many pieces simply expressions of the artistic detailed Thai culture.

I spent 2 weeks in Thailand, with 40+ hours of well worth travel time combined. Blessed to have had the opportunity to experience a little bit of everything from back neighborhood house-restaurants (Thai food is amazing!), night markets, meeting new friends, a few tourist attractions, off-roading, pedicures, and connecting with ministries on the frontlines.  Was able to see multiple geographical areas from cities to suburbs to the back-country northern rice fields.

Bangkok

Chiang Rai

The several day mission conference in the center of my adventure was inspiring, unexplainable through words, an amazing opportunity to personally witness amazing things God is doing around the world. Major missions leaders such as President of Campus Crusade, CEO of IHop, and founder of YWAM shared inspiring vision and informative testimonies.  A major highlight of my trip was visiting my Compassion child, praise the Lord all the details panned out THE day I got on the plane heading to Thailand.  Asked, knocked, sought, and it opened(Matt 7:7)!  Living a life of faith, often times results in stepping into the unknown, with God's leading!

Tuk-Tuk

At one point of my adventure I waved goodbye to friends in one city, and left on a "tuk-tuk" (taxi) to a bus stop in order to travel by bus 3 hours up north (in the direction of the Laos/Berma boarder) to meet my Compassion child the following day.  At that moment in that "tuk-tuk" heading to the bus stop I realized  I was in the middle of Thailand, all by myself, with just little conversational Thai consisting of "Hello" and "Thank You".  No phone, no way to access the internet, no confirmation of a place to rest my head that evening other then a few emails from possible contacts whom I was not even able to relay an arrival time or exact location within a particular city.  I thought about my limited money tucked in my passport in a pouch around my waste, an equivalent of about 50 American dollars, and my close-to-empty bank account back home, with no access to funds, no plans, 3 days left in Thailand before my departure home to Hawaii.  At that moment, I though "...what am I doing(?!)... this is crazy(!)... Jesus, I LOVE MY LIFE (big smile)".  God has allowed me to live an exciting and interesting life to say the least, it's these kind of moments and memories of adventures with God on the edge that I treasure. Well, I survived, overwhelmed and blessed as God showed up. The contacts turned out to be two amazing girls my age that arrived at the bus stop up in Northern Thailand, granted it was a few hours after I arrived and was sitting on a curb praying hard for what came next, as the sun was setting. My last few days were amazing; experiencing God's hospitality, answers to prayers, provision, and divine orchestration.

Thai child playing on a gravel pile at dusk. (Not my compassion child.. but about the same age.) 

The day-visit with my Compassion child was that following morning.  I have been supporting and writting letters to him for the last ~4 years.  The visit shifted that whole relationship forward, interactions creating reality. To see and be in his home village, school, church, and share a meal with him and his mom and other Compassion workers there was awesome. I was also blessed to meet more contacts in Northern Thailand, connected from my home church in Hawaii, and got to see an awesome ministry of an International Christian School they are running.  Such an adventure; time with God, inspired, motivated, stretched, blessed!  Sincerely happy to be back in Hawaii (not because I couldn't see myself staying in Thailand, or another country, longer-term at some point...) but for now Hawaii IS home. Starting a new season of life here, changes, Thailand adventure couldn't have of come at a more perfect time, filled and refreshed, ready to see what comes next in life...


Here are some more pictures I took during my travels;

Monks... can't go outside without seeing orange.

Street beggar

Christian Ministry

Walking Street night market

Night Market performer.

Temple

House of Eden Ministries

Northern Thailand city golden clock tower.