Surfing With The King

Yesterday we were asked to take one of our days off and work a contest. It may seem like okay really -- get over it you are working a contest, but days off are very precious here (they rarely happen). But okay really it was only a surf contest and I love surf contests... and what better than a Christian surf contest down in Waikiki! So we loaded up uber early yesterday morning and headed down. For the first bit they were a little disorganized but once we were put in our areas - life was good. Dan and I were heading up the prayer table. No one was really coming over, which duh who would walk up to a table and say I need prayer. But we are so used to the prayer tent at FTH - praying over hundreds of people that the silence of people wanting prayer was sorta shocking. Dan is from the UK and there are so many interns here, a few of them tend to fall through the cracks of the "get to know ya". Dan was one of them for me.

 

Just messing around... bah.hah.

(my love from the PNW - Renee)

We got to sit there and totally just pour into each other - basically have mini testimony time. It was epic, it challenged me a lot. And you know when you believe something, than you speak it out to someone - it tends to sound a tad different (that was me and it rocked me - in a good way). After a bit we decided that we would just sit and have a talk with Jesus, just as if he was sitting right next to us. It was grand. We just sat a prayed for like an hour and the minute we were done this lady walked up to us. She wanted prayer. We got to pray with her and hold her as she wept. She than told us about her Muslim husband who is from Bangladesh  -- and if you remember we just got our team back from Bangladesh. We scooted her over to Chris ( head man of the trip ) and let them connect, it was great and totally a Lord led thing. Than once I was done with the prayer tent (Brother if your reading.. sorry) it was off to water patrol.

 

  

 

I paddled out and sat at the buoy to kick surfers off the break. I was out for the last heat and since the competition went until 1 and their permit had the break until 4 - guess who got to surf Queen's with only 4 other people. It was epic, they continued to blow the horn and act like the competition was still going on, while we just surfed Queen's like we literally owned the break. For those who don't know Queen's is crowded when it's pitch black and raining - this place is the coveted break at Waikiki. It was epic. I even got the water camera out with me to take some video of taking off at Queen's (sound better than the video really is.. but it's the idea of it all). The surf comp was so good, just close your eyes and imagine worship songs being blasted from the stage on the beach at Waikiki, as people surfed for Christ, prayed, in fellowship and just straight up love'n life. That was the contest!

Happy Birthday Emelie

 

So last Wednesday was in celebration of dear Emelie's birthday. Ellen and I came up with this plan last week and started plotting right away. We started with little notes hidden in her room. The first one something on the lines of "This Wednesday you're mine. Don't ask anyone about this note or else!" She was flipping. The next day we gave her a note and it mentioned something like this. "I heard you talking about the note, don't do it again or else. Tomorrow is the day, wear your dress and I should find you at 4:27 face down in your bed, with your head in your pillow case." We needed to make sure she didn't see us when we went to get her. The last note had a list of things to pack and another funny mention of what to do. The list was a sort of things she needed + stuff like a slice of bread.. just to mess with her head. Wednesday came and we sat on the bed next to her so she thought we were still there. We than had Tiff come in and blind fold her from the back. Me, Ellen and Nikki ran into the car and never made a sound - nor did Tiff. So we are all in the car. Em is still blind folded, talking to herself as we all are silent driving away.

 Having fun in the car... screwing with Emelie's mind!

 

It was so entertaining messing with her.. and she had NO idea who we were... and actually we were the last one's on her list - since she thought we were sitting with her and than stayed there.

 

My dear Ellen! Our plot worked!

 

She was so confused at this point it was great!

  Our girls night out shot. We finally took the blind fold off and surprised her with Feca (a Swedish thing that basically means.. let's have snacks and talk) on the beach. Tiff totally saved out butts and prepared all of the Feca stuff that we had bought at the store. Earlier on in the day we had an intervention cleaning need - which sorta messed with our plans and Tiff saved the day with her Mama skills! (muah to you Tiff).

 Enjoying Feca + POG. It was so much fun! We just sat on the blanket and watched the sunset and than played fun girly games and just hung out.

 Ellen and I... probably listening to one of Tiff's stories at this point. Who knows -- all I know that this night was epic and so needed.

Our last part of the adventure was to appetizers. Tiff treated us to a little love at the restaurant. It was so great. We just sat and loved on each other, chatted and celebrated Emelie's birthday. It was honestly an epic night with some super solid girls. After this we headed off to get ice cream and enjoy it in the "bar" with some good ol fashion deep talks. God has blessed me with some crazy amazing woman, in the crazy amazing island, with this crazy amazing organization. Em I hope you had a great birthday celebration. Much love to you! I'll miss you.

I got to get better at this

Man oh man. I got to get better at updating - because when the time comes to sit and update ... I try to rack my brain about the things that have happened and I draw a blank. I don't want to continue to just update on the things I have taken images of, I rather you know the things that have changed me, molded me, broke me, and healed me. I rather I go into detail about the blessing it is to have the reality of "God, break my heart for what breaks yours" come rushing into your life. Last Monday our fasting day went a tad different. We walked in silence around our neighborhood, praying for the spiritual walls to fall as the walls of Jericho fell. We went into the woods in the pouring rain and sat alone with God and just fully basked in his beauty and creation. My time here is getting better and better yet harder and harder. The challenges are daily but the reality of the love that pours from those challenges our weigh any hardship they could bring. I'm being super challenged to be patient as living with a community is proving to be harder and harder each day. Everyone of my roommates (minus me and Sandra) has gotten the flu and I pray that I don't fall into this sickness. Our outreach is soon, my Mom comes soon, and just the thought of being in bed instead of on the mission each day ruins me. I have recently picked up a new book called "Crazy Love" and it is completely flipping my mind about Christ's love for us. Cindy's teachings are getting more intense and more interesting. We are diving into new topics all the time and the whole classroom is hungry for answers to their questions. The other day she pulled out a part of her testimony and showed us a little about the Mormon church. Cindy was a Mormon (whole new blog post) and the insight to their twisted perception on life, love, Christ and especially marriage threw me for a loop. She is uber qualified to be teaching on this as well, it was not just her faith but her life - she was a teacher in the Mormon church, leading conferences, classes, seminars in her early 20's. On Thursday we were at Feeding The Hungry again (FTH if that happens to pop up) and this week was crazy for me. I love this outreach but I'll have to admit it isn't my drive for STN. Some people live for FTH days, I on the other hand just know that on those days I will be stretched beyond my limits - needing the shoulder of God and it's a growing day for sure. This week I was overwhelmed with the impact these amazing people had on my life. Emelie and I got to speak with a man for a good while about Jesus. Just straight up talk to him about our Father. He had a lot of questions, doubts, concerns, assumptions.. you name it - he had it. Not to say I had all the answers of even half of them but God totally led the conversation and it was great. It made me go home and search out some of the answers to those questions  - which I totally loved. As FTH kept on going the prayer tent this week proved to be way more intimate and completely rocking my world. Normally on these days we get home around 5:30. This specific day we got home around 8:00. It's crazy that I walked into it having a "uhg not again...but it will be good for me tude" to "was I just here from 11-8?" The food bank totally rocked my world with veggies and fruit and I couldn't have been more fulfilled from a day of serving the homeless. FTH continues to be a challenge for me but a challenge that always changes me more than I could imagine I could ever possibly change anyone else.

Some things that could definitely use some prayer this week would be the health of us all - not just me but all of us. Living in community is impossible to keep the sickness out and how epic would it be if the sickness cycle stopped. Also our outreach has hit some issues with visiting the leper colony - the trail has been closed. So pray that the trail will re-open and our team will be able to make it down to the colony to love on the unloved. And beyond the STN walls keep Jay Stewart in your prayers and the entire Stewart family for having a loved one sick is so hard. And as for me just keep praying that my heart will be open, my ears will be ready to hear God's voice and my feet will move in the direction of his will.

Much Love and Aloha!

an update in photos

 

The other morning we all decided that we wanted some good ol beach time. A crew of us headed to the beach for a sunrise worship. We got on the bus around 5 am and we were sitting under the stars at the beach awaiting the sunrise. The surf had picked up that day too - so we had some entertainment as well. It was such an epic time. At one point Renee and I had our ear phones in listening to some solid tunes, having our own mini worship service. God just rocked it that morning! Honestly how can you deny him when you are given a moment like that... do you really think it was all an accident!? But honestly if I could do that every morning I would. It was breathtaking and completely impossible to wrap your head around. ( keep your eyes out for more pictures - yet to be uploaded ). Okay but honestly having quiet time on the beach with some of your closest "new" friends...just solid.

 

 

The other day for we had an interactive little test thing that showed us through a series of questions - how we best connect with God. I could have told you that before the test but it was fun to see what other people would say. At the end of the test I was named a "naturalist" -- someone who sees God through nature. After we were tested, we were split in our groups and my group went to the botanical gardens for our time. This was my favorite image I snapped while I was walking around. One because of the colors but two because of where and why it was taken. At this point Emelie and I were scaling the side of the cliff to get to the other side. On the side of the cliff there was this one plant, vibrant and foreign to all the other ones that surrounded it. Also I love the fact that I got to snap a pic with the ants in it -- they were every where!

 

This was a little love from Zen. He was so cute and just clung to me the whole night. This was post the STN Olympics. We had ultimate Frisbee, tug o war, and a paddle battle.  Our team won the paddle battle in the water and won a few bucks to Starbucks. It was a day that the entire STN team was on the beach - which never happens. It was such a good day of bonding and BBQing, surfing and hurting ;)

  

Me and Zach -- this was an epic sunset and this boy is totally like a little brother to me. He was the first person I met off the plane and is still one of the guys I hang with the most. He totally reminds me of a friend back home and this little boy has a heart of gold.

 

FINALLY! Friday sushi time. A little get away from the property to have some sushi with two of the best Swedes! Mimi and Ellen :)

 

 A Saturday off! Thanks Daddy for sending me your camera so I could have a blast in the water trying to take some shots. 

 

Linda (Swede) Johanna (Swede) SO MUCH FUN.

 

On the way back from our day off we hitched hiked instead of taking the bus. I love hitching rides and this particular time I just had to shove a rusty staple in my foot.. but I think it will be just fine! This pic was taking in the reflection of the cab window.

 

Having a little too much fun riding home.

 After our Saturday off we were off to Surfers Church. Kavika was teaching again this week and he just rocked it. He is so passionate! His main take home for me was just hitting us over the head with stop praying for people to go to heaven - start bringing His Kingdom to earth. "As earth as it in heaven". He just rocks your comforts, your routines, your assumptions and challenges you to be vibrant and on fire in everything, claiming things in the name of God. On the way home we jumped in the back of the truck and just gazed at the stars. Once we got out of town it was pitch black and the stars were epic and as we drove down the road the Swedes started in on an acapella worship song. I can't even begin to explain to you the dream I was living. I was sitting in the back of the truck, on a warm night watching the stars fall from the sky. I was wrapped in the arms of two of my good friends and the entire truck of Swedes sang in epic harmony in worship. Listening to them poor their hearts in song in a language I do not understand was breathtaking. PTL for a wonderful night!

An update on "me".

So lately I feel like I have just been giving updates on what we have been doing and even at that... I tend to update the things I have time to take pictures of. And those things are our days off, our times of goofing off and playing. Because when we are in class, at work, serving, or on outreach -- my time is not even close to the camera. There is not a moment to stop and take images and than I fail to update everyone on that part of my day. So I am so sorry. But for this update -- let me update you on "me".

Before I got here, I was certain I would be surfing everyday. Before I got here, I was set on a trip to Bali. I was set on being at the beach all the time, in the sun every minute, eating fresh fruit, good foods, and smoothies. I figured we would be teaching kids how to surf - just like we do at home. I assumed I would never have time to be on my computer and I would always be out on a mission. I knew we would learn about God and that I would be challenged with living with so many girls. I had read about our outreaches and I had braced myself for a few things. I knew we fasted one of the days but I never thought twice about the impact it would have. I just figured -- eh we can't eat for a day -- no biggy. I was pretty certain I would be here for 3 months and want to stay in Hawaii because who wouldn't want to live here. All of these things and a few more, compiled together made up my recipe for Surfing The Nations. Little did I know that my recipe was not the same one God has planned. For mine seemed to be made from a box, only with a few outside additional ingredients and God had a whole recipe from scratch ready to challenge and stretch me in ways I never imagined.

With that crazy recipe ... let me fill you in as much as possible. For each day there is a new addition of ingredients. My heart as been flipped upside down. God has pushed me in so many ways it's nuts. I find myself yearning to be in fellowship rather than wanting to surf by myself and get away. At home I was spoiled by knowing the break and here I'm the outsider. It's as if my priorities have done a complete flip and even though I'm learning a lot - I'm still standing on my head sometimes trying to figure out how to live. I never would have thought I would be praying over people - hearing their hurt and hugging them, loving on them, showing them they are worth it. I knew we would be working with the poor but I never would have  guessed we would be living with them. God has pulled me out of every little comfort zone and stuck my right in the middle of chaos and crazy. How could I have imagined I would have been on a Bus Outreach where I have met some of the most amazing individuals. I would have totally missed out on meeting the woman who found out she has cancer and is now visiting all the places that she lived and loved. I had no idea I would be sitting next to such a story. We talked for the entire bus ride about her life in Sri Lanka, Hawaii, the Mainland, Europe... Sri Lanka? Seriously out of all the places someone could have lived - she was in Sri Lanka, a place that is been pulling my heart for the last few weeks. She was so full of life and so absolutely blessed to have met me, me me? Lady I'm blessed to have met you! The outreaches we go on are nothing I could have ever expected. I would have never thought that I would be holding a little boy, as he is clenched on my side he looks as me and grabs harder. He cries when his Mother comes to get him and as soon as she sets him down he runs back in my arms. It brings tears to my eyes to simply imagine what is going on at home. I bend down and grab him, hold him and try not to think about his hurt but rather just loving on him. I would have never guessed I would be serving the homeless every week and even though many treat you like you are worthless and need to give them more, screaming at you in a language I've never heard - I still smile because Christ fills me with so much joy I can't help but continue to love them. Who would have guessed I would be loving living with so many girls, who would have guessed that I love that most of my roommates are Swedes. I'm pretty sure prior to this I've never even thought of Sweden. God has rocked me, stripped my of all my clothes. I am no longer dressed with the garments I had before - I now stand completely naked in front of him - praying, searching, yearning for clothes to glorify him and only him.