lana'i 2010!

Hello friends!

I am back from our island get away on Lana'i. The theme of the weekend was Encounters: Mapping your Spiritual Journey. It was a refreshing time for me, and I totally saw the Holy Spirit at work in a BIG way there! We were able to hear messages from other Rise Leaders, and break into small groups to share and discuss what we were learning. I just love the Lana'i beach next to our campground. It's probably my all time favorite beach. The dolphins are jumping almost every morning! Saturday night, we heard from Leslie about the parable of Jesus feeding the 5000. We were challenged to look at which person we related with: Philip, Andrew, or the boy that gave up his lunch. I felt like I really related with the little boy. He had his lunch to give up, even though he didn't know what Jesus was going to do with it. I feel like I have my passions and gifts, but I have no idea how God wants to use them. The best part is, that all I have to do is obey Him when He asks me to give them over, and He will do the rest!! Then Jesus multiplied his meager gift and it spread and grew!

Christy, Alyssa, and I wandered up to the Four Seasons and splurged on delicious virgin pina coladas. That was what made it seem like a true vacation! It was wonderful.

We had a bonfire with smores and reeses cups (so gooooood!) and made sure to avoid sitting in the grass. There are cockroaches EVERYWHERE at night. Creepy crawly and scary looking! Four of us girls were blessed with a huge tent so we were able to spread out and sleep well! I woke up the next morning, and Alyssa and I made french press coffee and headed to the beach to start off my morning with a quiet time. Rise brought paddle boards so it was cool to watch everyone paddle out in the early morning. I read in Romans 12. Embracing what God does for me is the best thing I can do for Him. Readily recognize what God is wanting from me and readily respond. God always brings out the best in me.

We spent a lot of time on the beach Sunday afternoon! I adored every minute of it! There were new faces on our trip so it was great getting to know everyone and laughing and having a good time. Here is a picture of everyone who came on this retreat:
There were quite a few couples (married and dating) and even 4 little kiddos and I really enjoyed having the family aspect of it all! We got drizzled on towards the end, but it felt great on all of our sunburns :)

Te trip home was choppy and rainy, but we got to see a baby whale breech a bunch of times and that made it worth it! I loved the weekend, but it was great to get back to Maui.

Love you all!

Risa

whale watching

Friday mornings, I've started giving guitar lessons to a junior hai girl. We really hit it off on the purity retreat and so it's been so good getting to know her and spend time talking and playing guitar with her each week. She is such a great student! Then Friday afternoon, Leslie and I grabbed 808 Deli sandwiches to go and headed to the Monacai beach to talk and soak up some sun rays. She is so precious to me. We were able to secure the ever elusive lounge chairs that are NEVER available, so we stayed up on the grass and chatted while the waves hit the shore. Friday night, I was able to help sing worship. I have only sang on the Sunday worship team, and for Afterglow (which is after the service on Friday nights) so I was really stoked to be a part of that team.

Saturday, I slept in and it felt amazing! Christy was up making her fantastic cupcakes for Jena's birthday extravaganza in Lahaina that night. The girls hit Kamaole Park 1 to meet up with our neighbor Jenny and some other girls that are friends visiting Maui. Jenny had two paddle boards with her, so I was able to go out with her and paddle. We had a great conversation about what God has been teaching us lately. I love where her heart is at.

Saturday night, we all carpooled out to Lahaina (the 45 minute drive is a deal breaker for a lot of islanders) to get BJ's pizza and eat on a grassy knoll overlooking the harbor. We were able to go around and share what we love most about Jena. I am so thankful to have Jena in my life. She is mellow and chill, and her heart for her ministry just glows. She always has a kind word and is always encouraging and uplifting! It was so refreshing just hanging out and talking with all of the people there.
Sunday's sermon was so great. Pierre spoke on Getting to the Heart of Generosity. He presented a very solid gospel message that was convicting and powerful. Usually, I sit with other interns during whichever service I attend, but I was the only one at the 8:30 service. At the end of the sermon, he challenged those who didn't know the Lord to stand up and accept Him. And he also challenged those who had made a "wrong agreement" with Satan, or who were not walking with the Lord and needed His forgiveness and grace right now. The Holy Spirit was PUMPIN in there when Pierre was praying. And after the 10:30 service, I was informed that we ran out of Bibles! Praise the Lord! What a great problem to have!

The interns gathered together again and carpooled to Lahaina for the 2nd time to go on a whale watch! It was pretty incredible! It was such an adventure. My eyes were glued to the horizon for any glimmer of a fin or water spraying out of a blow hole. They are majestic creatures. We were able to hear the song they sing by putting a microphone underwater. Brandon told us that all of the male whales sing the same song, but they start and stop at different times so it never sounds in unison. Isn't that fascinating? The sunset was beautiful, and I was able to make some new friends on the boat as well! We ate in Lahaina and then headed home.

Please be praying for my visa. I have been really anxious about getting it all together, since it is my first time. I mailed it yesterday and I'm just giving it to the Lord, and trusting that this whole experience is in His strong and capable hands.

This is the Word I meditated on this morning:
"But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!.....And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes." Jude 1:20-21 & 24-25

How can we have our arms wide open, eager to receive His mercy? I always want to be right in the center of God's love!!

Risa

TSUNAMI DAY 2010

5:14- Alyssa and I are woken up by phone call from a frantic Jena. Earthquake. Chile. Tsunami. Pack up and head Upcountry.

5:16- I turn on my phone, and it is flooded with voicemails from a wide array of people.

5:20- Alyssa wakes up Sissy, and I call the Kim's in Washington to figure out the next step to take. It was a really tricky situation, because two of our kids were at friend's houses, so Alyssa and I had our work cut out for us.

5:30- Our plans change every 10 minutes. We're going to Kula. Then we're not. Picking up Hea. Then he's being dropped off. Putting gallons of water in the car. Canned corn and peanut butter getting thrown into a box with a broken bottom. Basically, straight up chaos. Talking with parents, neighbors, friends, trying to decide what the best thing to do was.

6:09- We're in the car with Sissy and the sirens go off. It's eerie. And still dark outside. I realized I forgot to brush my teeth and start to feel like it's going to be a loooong day. But all of us our together and we decide that home is a good place to stick until we actually know what's going on. Chris and Whitney came over to help with the kids and watched the news for a bit.

6:47- We are at a little over a half tank of gas, so I decide to brave the crowds of Kihei and see if I can get gas. After waiting in a line 0f 18 cars for 45 minutes, I shake my head and laugh at the craziness of it all and go back home. Jake called and asked if I had called my mother yet.

8:13- Leslie calls and says her Pampered Chef party got canceled due to it all and that we should bring the kids up to Maui Meadows (which is well above sea level) and eat the food she was going to make. I think that is a marvelous plan! We pile in to the car with all of our tsunami survival tools and head up.

8:20- It was unnerving at what a GORGEOUS day it was. I mean, one of the prettiest I've seen in my time here yet. Hot, but with a great cool breeze. We hung out at a friend's house for the morning. Dave put in Robin Hood, and we ate amazing food that Leslie prepared for us and just plain enjoyed Tsunami day.

10:43- We are beginning to anticipate power and water being turned off, and start planning to get up on to Cory's balcony and see if we could watch the shoreline. I live on the side of the island that wasn't where the action would be directly happening.

11:18- Keola put his duck floatie around his waist and we strain our eyes to see if we can see anything. But we couldn't. We get word that Kahului Harbor had a large amount of water recede, but other than that Maui was untouched.

11:35: In the meantime, we decide to swim in Cory's pool and relax. Tsunami Day didn't have to be all stress and no play. The power never went off, although Eddie works for the Electric company on Maui and they shut down a power plant and moved up, which is a big deal. So there was a lot of build up. Maui actually got the biggest swell, 3 feet, out of all of Hawaii.

12:30- Jena, Christy, and I realize we have to work at 1:30 and that we still have to go, despite this extreme crisis. Roads were shut down, but we made our way back to our condo to change and go in to help hospitality at a funeral at the church.

5:00- We leave the church, with some extra money in our pockets, and invite some friends over for dinner and a movie. After swapping stories with our guy friends (they live right on the ocean, and decided to stick it out at their place, and watch the whole show from their lanai) we were bushed. I looked back at what my day was supposed to look like and smiled, thinking how we never know how God is going to work out. I was going to sleep in, spend the morning with Sissy, work at 1:30, and then go to a UH volleyball game in Kahului that got canceled. This day was a surprise!

God thunders across the waters,
Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—
God, across the flood waters...
God's thunder spits fire.
God thunders, the wilderness quakes;
He makes the desert of Kadesh shake....
Above the floodwaters is God's throne
from which his power flows,
from which he rules the world.
God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.

-Psalm 29 (my favorite parts)

Thank you for your prayers. God sits enthroned above it all! He calmed the waters. All the glory goes to Him! I am so thankful for His faithfulness in my life!

Risa

baptism and oahu

The Presidents Day Baptism was pretty incredible! The interns were more efficient this time, in prepping and loading all of the stuff. We knew what we were doing this time, which made the morning fly by! One of my highlights was when we were moving stuff from the vans to the site, I looked out over the ocean in the early morning sunrise and witnessed a few whales jumping out of the water! They were jumping for joy for new life in Christ :) I was able to listen to the testimonies of those who were getting baptized and it was so powerful! After everyone had shared, the sound of the conch shell and the beat of the hawaiian drums beckoned us down to the water. We worshiped the Lord and the hula dancers praised him through dancing. It was wonderful. We then laid hands on the 31 people who were getting baptized and prayed over them. But my all time favorite thing about the baptism is when all the action happens. I am so honored and blessed to be the person who walks them out into the water to meet with the three pastors who do the actual baptizing. I was able to pray, talk, and celebrate with these brothers and sisters during this exciting and joyous moment in their lives. I absolutely love it! Then of course, afterwards there is food, and volleyball, and fellowship. And clean up was a breeze :) I was able to come home and have a restful afternoon after such a whirlwind of a weekend. This last picture is of me walking with Vanessa (fellow intern and cherished sister in Christ) into the water. Eddie Kim, an incredible man of God--whose house and children Alyssa and I are sitting this week, is on the right. What an amazing day!

"Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (Message)

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The work week flew by. My small group is still going through Acts. Then Thursday at work was a little rough, due to feeling under the weather and all of the baptism follow up that had to be done. Friday morning, Alyssa and I were whisked away to Oahu and island hopped our way over to Honolulu. It was very refreshing to be in a big city! Alyssa and I were able to meet up with Jeff (her boyfriend and the reason for our adventure over there) and explore Waikiki Beach on Friday. Alyssa and I spent some time on the beach soaking up some sun and reading our Bibles. It was much needed. We walked down to the Ala Moana Shopping Center, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of tourists and another side of Hawaii. Everything is very Asian influenced, with Japanese/Chinese on signs and such. Friday night we had girls night, and ate our take out dinner in our hotel room. It was such a blast :) I wouldn't have wanted to do this weekend with anyone else!

Saturday morning, we were straight up blessed by catching a ride with one of the baseball boy's parents:Nancy and Joe. The true blessing of our weekend. We were just going to rely on the bus system to get us out to the baseball field, but God provided more than we could ask or imagine. They provided so much love, food, and laughter this weekend. Oh, I just can't get over God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives! I managed to survive two double headers of baseball and I absolutely loved meeting Jeff and seeing Alyssa and him together warmed my heart. Another set of parents that was such a blessing to us was Sig and Lori. Sig was an adventure seeker/traveler when he was younger so we enjoyed chatting about our season in Maui and the travels he went on in his day. We were definitely well fed, with red vines, pretzels, sunflower seeds, and hawaiian style food in ABUNDANCE after the games. I love connecting with people and learning and loving. This weekend was full of new and exciting people and places. Just my style.

I really was able to take a step back and see the bigger picture this weekend. I am excited about my future, and what God has in store. I'm praying that he will gently loosen my fingers from grasping the things that only He should be holding onto.

My prayer, now that I'm back on Maui, and being flooded with all of the things I adore about my life right now, is that I will be here now. I am in a phase of the year that generally tends to be restless. He is so faithful. I am praying that I can trust the Lord first. Have faith first. Rely on Him first. Then He follows with His best.

Reese

*purity*

The Lord blessed me in a BIG way this weekend. I slept 3 hours on Friday night, after I finally came down from my high of writing a song with Steven, performing it during the offering, and then doing a set for afterglow with Steven. The intern girls and Jenny went to see Valentine's Day the movie. I LOVE my girls. I woke up at five, Leslie picked me up to go to Starbucks before our Rise garage sale that will hopefully be sending us to Lanai for a retreat in March. I got a coconut chai tea latte and it tasted like summer :) I helped set up the garage sale, then Whitney walked over (she lives next door) and told me I needed to be at the church by 730 to help load everything up for the junior hai purity retreat. YIKES. So we clamber into the Man-U-V and head to Hope. We prepared, prayed, kids arrived, and we headed out, the boys Upcountry to Uncle Pat's property and then the girls to conquer the road to Hana to Ka'enae. 20 girls total! We stopped at a gas station to air up my tire in the death star. It was almost completely flat. Then Jesse's van wouldn't start. Then Whitney's van wouldn't start. It was unreal. Satan totally didn't want us to go. So we prayed and got everything jumped, and aired up and good to go. The girls in my van were completely precious. We talked about boys, and how sick the surf was on the North Shore (one girl had her face pressed up against the window she wanted to surf so bad). The drive was spectacular. Winding roads, hugging the edges of majestic mountains with the ocean licking the shore next to us. It was a dream. Until one of my girls got sick and we had to assist her. ha! The retreat house was nestled in between palm and coconut trees. We left the windows open the whole time we were there and it rained when we fell asleep. The sessions were amazing. I mean, I expected to learn some things, but I am floored by the Lord at the things that come out of those girls. Whitney had me lead worship the whole weekend so I was able to connect with a few of the girls simply by taking them aside in our free time and singing together. I am so inadequate. I felt insecure around those girls, they are intimidating! But I can't imagine the depths of God's power and how he used all of us leaders there. Man. We went on a gorgeous hike to a little lake that's overflow from the ocean. I have pictures I hope to put up soon. That's when I had some solid conversations with a couple of the girls. They are so wise and curious and honest! God totally broke my heart for their hearts! And seeing Whitney lead them, and I was challenged by the other leaders: Jesse, Angela, and Alex. We prayed together and answered sex questions and hard things about boys, and relationships, and what it looks like to live set apart lives that are pure and holy. Basically, it was legit. And I adore those girls. And they are so uplifting and wonderful. I mean, they are struggling. But it was such a blessing to be used by the Lord in their lives.

I had the best quiet time ever this morning. I watched the sun rise on a stone wall overlooking the ocean. And read Hosea 6:3

"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

I pray God's peace and hope would fill you up abundantly today. Oh how he loves us. He is everything. Righteous. Holy. Perfect. I am pressing on to acknowledge Him.

Reese

Also, I hunted, retrieved, and cracked open a real coconut for the first time this weekend :)

new directions

Hello!

I started my day off last Wednesday with a paddle boarding adventure with my "friendtor" (friend and mentor) Leslie. It was absolutely beautiful! We go at 7 in the morning typically, and it's just starting to be light outside, but when you are out on the water, the sun comes up over Haleakala and it is absolutely breath taking. I could start every day that way. Even if the waves are huge and hard to get past to get into the water :)

The littlest things about Maui are what really get me. The incredible views, intriguing sounds- geckos make the weirdest noises!- and all the lovely smells. From lovely flowery scents to the icky sewage smell that's been creepin' on Hope Chapel lately. Rise went on a hike last Saturday and there were some pretty amazing sights! I will never get used to mountains. I love them. And waterfalls.

I've been floored by the Lord lately. I'm so thankful that He alone is my light and salvation. Psalm 27:1. That He gives His grace freely. I don't have to earn it. There is nothing I can or can't do to change the way God loves me.

I have a fresh outlook on things. I'm five months into my internship. I'm still living in a dream. But aware that it's reality. Last night was our Prayer and Praise night. I went to help early and ended up getting asked to help the MOI group lead worship. MOI stands for Men Of Integrity. I was the only girl they could get to sing. All of the men joked with me being the only howlie. Ha

According to UrbanDictionary.com, Howlie is a term used by locals in the state of Hawaii (usually not with a scrap of Hawaiian ancestry, usually Fillipino or darker-skinned) to refer to white people who moved to the state/island from the mainland.

I absolutely loved every second of the worship. We were out in the courtyard, the breeze was gently blowing, and the sun was setting over the ocean. There were about 10 men, plus me, and all of them were playing some form of strings or drums. I LOVE hawaiian influenced worship. And it felt so good to worship the Lord. We all serve the same King. Great is HIS name in all the Earth.

God is good.

Risa

worship

Something really cool happened to me on Friday night.

But it deserves a prelude for the full effect :)

I grew up Catholic, and my idea of worshiping the Lord was through hymns. Well, I didn't know what it looked like. A group activity only done in church. Then, I started at Trinity Academy, and saw worship happen with lots of young people. Hands were raised, eyes were closed. But I was torn. I didn't want to lift my hands out of obligation or to do it because everyone else was. People who raised their hands were extreme christians who were showy, in my mind. So I quietly stood, simply singing the words and meditating on their meaning. A year and a half into college, I realized what it looked like to worship practically, and in every day life.

-Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. -Ps 99:5
-Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.- Ps 96:9
-Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "-Luke 4:8
-Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe- Hebrews 12:28
-God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."- John 4:24

In college, I starting raising one hand, maybe, and never above my shoulders. Still missing that feeling, or I guess just thinking that I wasn't called to physically reach up to God. Then, I read Praise Habit, by David Crowder, and was challenged to live a life of praise in every single thing I did, not just with a guitar in a church or gathering.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:1 (the real kicker!!)

Finally, God has called me to Hawaii, and into singing with the praise and worship team. And I absolutely adore singing to my King. Harmonizing my praise and adoration up to His eager ears. Lately I've been catching myself standing on my tip toes during worship, wanting to be closer to Him. On Friday night, we were singing The Stand. The lyrics are something like this:

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

All this to say, that when the chorus came, My arms went straight up and I abandoned my fears, failures, shame, and stood in awe of the One who gave it all. He has been absolutely rocking my tiny world and I can barely find the words to express my heart (Romans 8:26). And when I was reading in Genesis 47, verse 31 stood out to me. I pray this for my future.

"...and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff."