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ALOHA Land!

We recently returned from a 10-day ministry trip to Oahu, Hawaii. Every year, all the Christian and MIssionary Alliance churches hold a missions conference, usually hosting a missionary on furlough. This year, our local district decided to send missionary candidates, not veteran missionaries on a missionary tour. In God's divine plan, we were chosen, and the location was Hawaii. Even after we ended the trip, we are simply amazed how this trip was all orchestrated...we truly receive this as a gift from God - as a wonderful ministry opportunity, as well as a time of rest for our family.

Ministry, our main purpose
For seven days, we visited 6 different C&MA churches to speak at their missions conference. The churches ranged from a very "white" church filled with military families, a very Hawaiian-populated church, and Chinese churches. We focused our talks on how we were called and what God is doing through our local church to reach orphans in China. We challenged the people that we are all missionaries, whether here or there. This past week, we were missionaries to Hawaii. Wherever we go, we want to bear the name of Christ to everyone. We shared about our desire to fulfill our primary calling to the person of Christ. Our calling as missionaries to a specific place overseas is secondary. We pray that our life stories and what is doing through SJCAC were a huge inspiration and challenge for the people in Hawaii.

Fun in all situations
In between all the ministry and speaking engagements, we packed our schedule with fun, fun, fun. Our kids did exceptionally well getting woken up in the mornings, taking naps in the car and driving all around the small island of Oahu. We enjoyed the beautiful waters, sand, and sunsets of Hawaii. We're so thankful for such a gift God has given to our family. We take it as our 5-year anniversary gift. When we were honeymooning in Cancun five years ago, we said we would try to make a big trip for our 5-year anniversary. After two kids, we thought this was an unattainable dream...but God knows our needs and requests, even before we ask. No matter how much we could've planned for such an ideal vacation, it wouldn't have involved all that we experienced. No vacation allows you to make divine connections with other believers, share about your passions in life to churches, get taken out to all the delicious joints of the land, have a wonderful home to stay in, and have other children for our children to play with.

This trip was truly an unforgettable time for our family. Thank you Jesus for such a sweet time.

February 12, 2006