Aloha!
Last week flew by! Jason made it safely to Bulgaria and I'm set with a list of things to do. On Wednesdays the interns meet with a staff member or other designated couple/person and they make us lunch. This month Michael and Laura Bagby have been meeting with us. They are such a blessing and I always feel physically and spiritually fed after our time with them. We are going through a book that they have written together and compiled on what really echoes into eternity: discipleship. They are challenging us to examine our lives and what we are pouring into, making sure the log is out of our eye so that we can let the living water flow out freely. It's been really great, and the food is always incredible! Alyssa and I took the afternoon to go to the beach. It felt so refreshing to float in the ocean and reflect on God and what He has been revealing to us. I don't know how I've lived so long away from the ocean! I feel like I can't go longer than a week without some beach time!
Thursday was a long afternoon in the bookstore, but I enjoyed it. I finally feel like I'm capable of holding my own in the daily tasks around the store so that's an encouragement! Thursday night I drove out to Wailea to visit my friend Erin. She is here for culinary school, so I said if she ever wanted to fix me dinner, I would be more than willing to give her feedback :) She made me delicious bow tie pasta with pesto and we ate it on her back porch that over looks a gorgeous golf course while the sun set. I loved just talking with her and spending time out of Kihei.
Friday morning the Spencers invited us over for acai bowls. Acai (ah-saw-ee) bowls are big here and they are my new favorite breakfast :) It's like a smoothie, with granola, and banana. So good! We sat around sipping coffee, soaking up wisdom from Jori and Mark, they have a great story and I admire them so much!
Saturday we woke up with the sun, packed up our tents and sleeping bags, grabbed some iced coffee and hit the road to Lahaina to catch a ferry to Lanai! It's a 45 minute ferry trip to another gorgeous island. Around 30 young adults from Hope Chapel went out together. It was an absolute blast! I loved the fellowship and getting to know people better. We had a worship session and some of the guys shared what was on their hearts. And of course, I learned the ways of how to make the perfect golden tan marshmellow for our smores :) We spent nearly all our time on the beach or in the ocean, and although I had high hopes for sleeping on the beach, we weren't allowed.....so we slept on the grass close to the ocean. I was content with the ocean waves lulling me to sleep. Sigh. Saturday morning we woke up and jumped straight into the ocean to snorkle and swim with the dolphins!! There were so many dolphins in the water! They are tricky though and it was tough to get close, but you could hear them when you put your head under water. What a dream. The Four Seasons Resort was breath taking and we spent some time wandering around up there. A truly great weekend.
1-2 "Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let's march into his presence singing praises,
lifting the rafters with our hymns!
3-5 And why? Because God is the best,
High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the other hand grasps the high mountains.
He made Ocean—he owns it!
His hands sculpted Earth!
6-7 So come, let us worship: bow before him,
on your knees before God, who made us!
Oh yes, he's our God,
and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds."
--Psalm 95:1-7
Risa Elena
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
aloha
~Aloha~
It's a word that does not translate easily, yet it defines and encompasses a race of people. In Hawaii, it's a common word, used in greeting and farewell.
Taken to its roots:
- alo means "in the presence of"
- ha means "the breath of life" with its implications of divine gift.
It is a tender word that has the power to shape a life. It is the single word that sets Hawaii apart from any place else in the world.
Aloha says "Come, bring your heritage, your family, learn aloha."
Risa Elena
It's a word that does not translate easily, yet it defines and encompasses a race of people. In Hawaii, it's a common word, used in greeting and farewell.
Taken to its roots:
- alo means "in the presence of"
- ha means "the breath of life" with its implications of divine gift.
It is a tender word that has the power to shape a life. It is the single word that sets Hawaii apart from any place else in the world.
Aloha says "Come, bring your heritage, your family, learn aloha."
- A is akahai, kindness
- L is lokahi, unity
- O is oluolu, pleasantness
- H is haahaa, humility
- A is ahonui, patience
Risa Elena
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
remix
Goodmorning!
This week at Hope Chapel is the first week they are allowing a craft fair on our grounds. It's every Tuesday through Thursday and it will be here indefinitely if they get good business. Hope Chapel is off Piilani Highway, but not the main road that lots of other shopping is done on that runs along the beach. It was great for bookstore business though! I went down for coffee and there were donuts and our espresso machine was up and running! So you can imagine how thrilled I was when it was my time to work and Leslie showed me how to make lattes, iced mocha's, and cappuccinos! Then I learned there were smoothies in the back to make as well. It was so great. Lot's of ministry opportunities too.
Jason will be leaving for Bulgaria next week. It's a trip he makes every year to teach his School of the Bible material to local churches there. Jason preached the sermon on Sunday called "Straight Talk about Integrity" and it was so great! He's a great speaker. So this week will be a week of loading up for next week and figuring out how to balance without him here.
Alpha is still going really well! Chris and I have discovered our table can be inconsistent and at first I was a little frustrated. But I am just so thankful that God is constant and He is the one that does all the work! Please continue praying for open hearts and curious questions in their pursuit of truth.
Last week I was blessed to co-lead worship at Big Rise, the young adult group that meets the first Wednesday of every month. Steven is so great at leading worship, and I loved strumming my guitar and singing with him. The night was intended to be a prayer and praise night so there were different stations set up for prayer, thanksgiving, praise, etc and then the main room of the house we were in was to be a worship area for about an hour. I loved every minute of it.
After we moved out of our wonderful house sitting home :( the girls came back ready to amp up our condo and make it more homey. So we switched rooms, Christy and Jena wanted bunk beds and Alyssa and I wanted to push our beds together, and we were able to decorate and really personalize our rooms.
On Tuesday's Alyssa has her high school small group girls over for Bible Study. It turns out one of her girls, Michelle, has scoliosis and had the same surgery as me (2 rods, 14 screws too!) Her curve was even more advanced and she had the surgery last August when she was only 15! We got to talk and compare scars and both of us were absolutely stoked to find someone who simply understood. I hope to spend more time with Michelle, she's such a sweetheart!
The children's ministry hired a new intern! His name is John and he moved here a couple weeks ago to live with his sister, who worked at Hope Chapel for a season. He was having trouble finding a job, so we suggested he pray about helping us out, and Toni is always looking for more help! He will get to move in with the boys on Thursday and his first day is today. Please pray for a smooth transition for everyone in this time!
I'm reading in Acts right now and I have been inspired, yet again, by the work these men of the Lord started for us to continue!
"So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers." -Acts 16:5 :)
Risa
This week at Hope Chapel is the first week they are allowing a craft fair on our grounds. It's every Tuesday through Thursday and it will be here indefinitely if they get good business. Hope Chapel is off Piilani Highway, but not the main road that lots of other shopping is done on that runs along the beach. It was great for bookstore business though! I went down for coffee and there were donuts and our espresso machine was up and running! So you can imagine how thrilled I was when it was my time to work and Leslie showed me how to make lattes, iced mocha's, and cappuccinos! Then I learned there were smoothies in the back to make as well. It was so great. Lot's of ministry opportunities too.
Jason will be leaving for Bulgaria next week. It's a trip he makes every year to teach his School of the Bible material to local churches there. Jason preached the sermon on Sunday called "Straight Talk about Integrity" and it was so great! He's a great speaker. So this week will be a week of loading up for next week and figuring out how to balance without him here.
Alpha is still going really well! Chris and I have discovered our table can be inconsistent and at first I was a little frustrated. But I am just so thankful that God is constant and He is the one that does all the work! Please continue praying for open hearts and curious questions in their pursuit of truth.
Last week I was blessed to co-lead worship at Big Rise, the young adult group that meets the first Wednesday of every month. Steven is so great at leading worship, and I loved strumming my guitar and singing with him. The night was intended to be a prayer and praise night so there were different stations set up for prayer, thanksgiving, praise, etc and then the main room of the house we were in was to be a worship area for about an hour. I loved every minute of it.
After we moved out of our wonderful house sitting home :( the girls came back ready to amp up our condo and make it more homey. So we switched rooms, Christy and Jena wanted bunk beds and Alyssa and I wanted to push our beds together, and we were able to decorate and really personalize our rooms.
On Tuesday's Alyssa has her high school small group girls over for Bible Study. It turns out one of her girls, Michelle, has scoliosis and had the same surgery as me (2 rods, 14 screws too!) Her curve was even more advanced and she had the surgery last August when she was only 15! We got to talk and compare scars and both of us were absolutely stoked to find someone who simply understood. I hope to spend more time with Michelle, she's such a sweetheart!
The children's ministry hired a new intern! His name is John and he moved here a couple weeks ago to live with his sister, who worked at Hope Chapel for a season. He was having trouble finding a job, so we suggested he pray about helping us out, and Toni is always looking for more help! He will get to move in with the boys on Thursday and his first day is today. Please pray for a smooth transition for everyone in this time!
I'm reading in Acts right now and I have been inspired, yet again, by the work these men of the Lord started for us to continue!
"So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers." -Acts 16:5 :)
Risa
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
grace driven.
Hey ya'll!
This weekend was a total veg out for me. I needed it! We lit the pumpkin candles and imagined that outside it was cool and crisp and orange leaves were on the ground. Then we walked outside and melted. I love that it is still warm here. Truly.
Last night was our first night to break into small groups with Alpha. Chris and I managed to pull together a young adult table so we snuck out to the playground with our group to get out from under the tent and get some fresh air. The first week was "Who is Jesus?" and our group discussion flowed really well. What a blessing! I'm so stoked for all the people in my group and the growth we will have in the next ten weeks.
I've really been trying to focus on the concept of grace for the past few weeks. What grace practically looks like and how I can exhibit it in my life. Loving people where they are at is so vital here. Maui is very transient. Generally people are either coming to Maui to run away from something, or seeking something. I'm just seeing the power of God so vividly lately it's incredible!
-Short update, but this week will be pretty busy so I'll have more to tell soon!
In Him,
Risa
This weekend was a total veg out for me. I needed it! We lit the pumpkin candles and imagined that outside it was cool and crisp and orange leaves were on the ground. Then we walked outside and melted. I love that it is still warm here. Truly.
Last night was our first night to break into small groups with Alpha. Chris and I managed to pull together a young adult table so we snuck out to the playground with our group to get out from under the tent and get some fresh air. The first week was "Who is Jesus?" and our group discussion flowed really well. What a blessing! I'm so stoked for all the people in my group and the growth we will have in the next ten weeks.
I've really been trying to focus on the concept of grace for the past few weeks. What grace practically looks like and how I can exhibit it in my life. Loving people where they are at is so vital here. Maui is very transient. Generally people are either coming to Maui to run away from something, or seeking something. I'm just seeing the power of God so vividly lately it's incredible!
-Short update, but this week will be pretty busy so I'll have more to tell soon!
In Him,
Risa
Friday, October 2, 2009
2 week retreat
Aloha,
The four girl interns were asked to house sit for a family in the church for two weeks. Even though it's practically in the same neighborhood where we live anyway, it's like a mini retreat staying here. It feels homey. And air conditioned :) Ha, and snuggling into a bed with a luxurious foam mattress pad and actually sleeping under the covers and staying cool is such a pleasant break from the usual. Alyssa and I had girl talk before we went to sleep last night and I just cherished every minute of it! I am just so thankful for Alyssa's tender heart and how both our hearts are in similar places. I love that she is a big dreamer and we can get excited about God's awesome plans for our lives. Mhhmm.
Yesterday I met with my friend Erin who is here in Maui for culinary school. She is so great! We ate at this quaint cafe called Cafe at La Plage. It reminded me of Edesias in Manhattan and I loved it! We sat at a table with a view of the ocean and I sighed with happiness. On Thursday afternoons I'm in the bookstore. After organizing bookmarks and putting belated birthday cards back in their correct spots I went over to the children's building to restock coffee supplies in the classrooms. I heard the melodious sounds of a ukulele class floating down the hallway. I found myself stuck to the spot outside their doorway just praising God that I was in Kihei, HI listening to a ukulele class--complete with "yes Lord!"s and "yeehaws". And the moment I walked outside and felt the warm breeze and heard the rustle of the palm trees and saw Haleakala in the distance I sighed with contentment. I love admiring and simply being in awe of the natural beauties and wonders God creates for us to enjoy. God has been growing this dream in my heart my whole life. It's His perfect plan.
A question I read in the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan was this:
"If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?" -John Piper.
This makes me think of my current situation (and also eternity). This is all I ever dreamed of and more. But I would not even be close to satisfied if I were here for men and not for the Lord....if I wasn't compelled by Christ's love and comforted daily by the thought that He wants me here. He's using me here. I am desiring to walk intimately with the Creator of the Universe. I think it is SO important to thank God for everything. For His blessings, for our tribulations. Praise Jesus for placing desires in our hearts and being joyful to serve Him because He delights in that! What are you living for?
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14
Risa Elena
The four girl interns were asked to house sit for a family in the church for two weeks. Even though it's practically in the same neighborhood where we live anyway, it's like a mini retreat staying here. It feels homey. And air conditioned :) Ha, and snuggling into a bed with a luxurious foam mattress pad and actually sleeping under the covers and staying cool is such a pleasant break from the usual. Alyssa and I had girl talk before we went to sleep last night and I just cherished every minute of it! I am just so thankful for Alyssa's tender heart and how both our hearts are in similar places. I love that she is a big dreamer and we can get excited about God's awesome plans for our lives. Mhhmm.
Yesterday I met with my friend Erin who is here in Maui for culinary school. She is so great! We ate at this quaint cafe called Cafe at La Plage. It reminded me of Edesias in Manhattan and I loved it! We sat at a table with a view of the ocean and I sighed with happiness. On Thursday afternoons I'm in the bookstore. After organizing bookmarks and putting belated birthday cards back in their correct spots I went over to the children's building to restock coffee supplies in the classrooms. I heard the melodious sounds of a ukulele class floating down the hallway. I found myself stuck to the spot outside their doorway just praising God that I was in Kihei, HI listening to a ukulele class--complete with "yes Lord!"s and "yeehaws". And the moment I walked outside and felt the warm breeze and heard the rustle of the palm trees and saw Haleakala in the distance I sighed with contentment. I love admiring and simply being in awe of the natural beauties and wonders God creates for us to enjoy. God has been growing this dream in my heart my whole life. It's His perfect plan.
A question I read in the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan was this:
"If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?" -John Piper.
This makes me think of my current situation (and also eternity). This is all I ever dreamed of and more. But I would not even be close to satisfied if I were here for men and not for the Lord....if I wasn't compelled by Christ's love and comforted daily by the thought that He wants me here. He's using me here. I am desiring to walk intimately with the Creator of the Universe. I think it is SO important to thank God for everything. For His blessings, for our tribulations. Praise Jesus for placing desires in our hearts and being joyful to serve Him because He delights in that! What are you living for?
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14
Risa Elena
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
tsunami watch?
Hi friends,
It's been over a month of life in Hawaii! It's absolutely incredible how fast time is going! On Friday morning last week, Pastor Craig and Mark Spencer took four of us out surfing at the Cove. I was struggling to get up this time, but got a rhythm going towards the end. I think I'm finally ready to take off the training wheels and start catching my own waves! I enjoy our time with Craig and Mark, soaking up their surfing knowledge, but also their wisdom about God and life.
My favorite part of the week is Friday evenings when the interns eat dinner together at the church. I look forward to just chilling and recapping our weeks. Friday afternoon I had a really solid coffee date with a woman that is on leadership team for Alpha with me. Her name is Sandi and she just has a lot going on in her life. Our conversation was totally spirit led and filled with some tears. God is so powerful. I love seeing Him at work so vividly in people's lives.
Saturday morning we drove up to the North Shore outside of Paia and checked out the surfing scene there. I definitely have surfer's stoke and it was cool just to watch and see some bigger waves and some surfers who live the surfing lifestyle. Then we got hungry and headed into Paia to eat at the Fish Market. I got the Mahi Burger and it was absolutely amazing. Mhhmm. I love seafood with my whole heart. We drove into town (Kahului) and hit up the mall for a little bit. It's open and breezy and it was relaxing to stroll through the stores and chill for awhile. We met up with some friends, drove through Wailuku and headed for Iao (Ee-ow) Valley. Iao Valley is probably one of my favorite things in Maui right now. We trekked through the jungle and passed guava you could just pick up and eat, or throw :) It reminded all of us of Jurassic Park. Ah, I loved it. Then Glenn led us to a spot where you could jump off rocks into the river. It was freezing! All of the girls were swirling around, struggling against the current while the boys were practically swan diving into the raging river--slight overstatement but once I clambered up onto the boulder and leaped into the water I felt invigorated! It was such an adventure climbing through the rocks and along a gorgeous river. I loved it. After our expedition at Iao, the four intern girls drove to the high school pastor's home to babysit their three kiddos- Brody, Brooklyn, and Braden. Between the four of us girls, it was a breeze! I feel like I hardly had to do anything! They are great kids.
Sunday I was so sleepy from all the events of the previous day. I was struggling to stay awake and hold normal conversations! God really spoke through Mike's sermon to my heart. It was on living an intentional and purpose driven life. Something that God has been gently placing as a priority in my life in my time here at HopeChapel so far. If ya'll get a chance to listen to Hope's sermons online, Mike's sermon was solid! He pulled a lot of Scripture from Ephesians 1. I came home after church and crashed for an hour nap. Chris and I went to Makena to play volleyball for the afternoon. I was so thankful to play some volleyball and wake up from my sleepy day. It was great. Then, the Pragnell's (Ben is the Young Adult Pastor) invited us over for a dessert/movie night. We watched Endless Summer II. It was pretty priceless. It follows Pat and Wingnut all over the world on their surfing adventures. I mean, who knew there was legit surfing in France? It was a great way to end the day!
Our first night of Alpha was last night. The dinner was incredible and I was able to meet a lot of new people! Our prayers were answered and we had over the amount of people we were expecting. God is so good. I sat with a woman who I had actually met before so we were able to talk and hopefully meet up outside of Alpha. Shibby. Thank you for all your prayers!
My quiet time is in Exodus right now, which I tend to brush off as story time, instead of viewing the stories as practical experiences to learn from. I was in Exodus 16 and I felt like I could seriously relate to the process of gathering only enough manna for the day. If they gathered too much in preparation for the next day, it would be gross and full of maggots. I feel like I get asked very frequently about what I'm doing after this year. Or what the future will look like. And I start to get flustered. But God promises our portion for the day.
"Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs."
God is calling each of us to live for today. Tomorrow worries about itself. He gives us what we need every day. And like what Mike was saying on Sunday, we should live intentional lives with what God gives us each day. Every morning His mercies are brand new! I challenge you to read Ephesians 1. It is packed with Truth. God's Truth!
Risa
(Oh and today there is a tsunami watch for Hawaii!)
It's been over a month of life in Hawaii! It's absolutely incredible how fast time is going! On Friday morning last week, Pastor Craig and Mark Spencer took four of us out surfing at the Cove. I was struggling to get up this time, but got a rhythm going towards the end. I think I'm finally ready to take off the training wheels and start catching my own waves! I enjoy our time with Craig and Mark, soaking up their surfing knowledge, but also their wisdom about God and life.
My favorite part of the week is Friday evenings when the interns eat dinner together at the church. I look forward to just chilling and recapping our weeks. Friday afternoon I had a really solid coffee date with a woman that is on leadership team for Alpha with me. Her name is Sandi and she just has a lot going on in her life. Our conversation was totally spirit led and filled with some tears. God is so powerful. I love seeing Him at work so vividly in people's lives.
Saturday morning we drove up to the North Shore outside of Paia and checked out the surfing scene there. I definitely have surfer's stoke and it was cool just to watch and see some bigger waves and some surfers who live the surfing lifestyle. Then we got hungry and headed into Paia to eat at the Fish Market. I got the Mahi Burger and it was absolutely amazing. Mhhmm. I love seafood with my whole heart. We drove into town (Kahului) and hit up the mall for a little bit. It's open and breezy and it was relaxing to stroll through the stores and chill for awhile. We met up with some friends, drove through Wailuku and headed for Iao (Ee-ow) Valley. Iao Valley is probably one of my favorite things in Maui right now. We trekked through the jungle and passed guava you could just pick up and eat, or throw :) It reminded all of us of Jurassic Park. Ah, I loved it. Then Glenn led us to a spot where you could jump off rocks into the river. It was freezing! All of the girls were swirling around, struggling against the current while the boys were practically swan diving into the raging river--slight overstatement but once I clambered up onto the boulder and leaped into the water I felt invigorated! It was such an adventure climbing through the rocks and along a gorgeous river. I loved it. After our expedition at Iao, the four intern girls drove to the high school pastor's home to babysit their three kiddos- Brody, Brooklyn, and Braden. Between the four of us girls, it was a breeze! I feel like I hardly had to do anything! They are great kids.
Sunday I was so sleepy from all the events of the previous day. I was struggling to stay awake and hold normal conversations! God really spoke through Mike's sermon to my heart. It was on living an intentional and purpose driven life. Something that God has been gently placing as a priority in my life in my time here at HopeChapel so far. If ya'll get a chance to listen to Hope's sermons online, Mike's sermon was solid! He pulled a lot of Scripture from Ephesians 1. I came home after church and crashed for an hour nap. Chris and I went to Makena to play volleyball for the afternoon. I was so thankful to play some volleyball and wake up from my sleepy day. It was great. Then, the Pragnell's (Ben is the Young Adult Pastor) invited us over for a dessert/movie night. We watched Endless Summer II. It was pretty priceless. It follows Pat and Wingnut all over the world on their surfing adventures. I mean, who knew there was legit surfing in France? It was a great way to end the day!
Our first night of Alpha was last night. The dinner was incredible and I was able to meet a lot of new people! Our prayers were answered and we had over the amount of people we were expecting. God is so good. I sat with a woman who I had actually met before so we were able to talk and hopefully meet up outside of Alpha. Shibby. Thank you for all your prayers!
My quiet time is in Exodus right now, which I tend to brush off as story time, instead of viewing the stories as practical experiences to learn from. I was in Exodus 16 and I felt like I could seriously relate to the process of gathering only enough manna for the day. If they gathered too much in preparation for the next day, it would be gross and full of maggots. I feel like I get asked very frequently about what I'm doing after this year. Or what the future will look like. And I start to get flustered. But God promises our portion for the day.
"Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs."
God is calling each of us to live for today. Tomorrow worries about itself. He gives us what we need every day. And like what Mike was saying on Sunday, we should live intentional lives with what God gives us each day. Every morning His mercies are brand new! I challenge you to read Ephesians 1. It is packed with Truth. God's Truth!
Risa
(Oh and today there is a tsunami watch for Hawaii!)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
rise day
Hi :)
Today nine months ago I was waking up from back surgery....it's unreal! When I think of the physical condition I was in less than a year ago, I can only praise Jesus for the physical healing He has blessed me with! I am able to play volleyball, hike, surf, swim, work longer than a nine to five job, and be virtually pain free! God is the ultimate Healer, yeah?
Tonight is small groups again. Then next week will be Big Rise where everyone meets together. I was asked to help lead worship and I am straight up amped! Alpha starts next week too. Three people put down that they accepted Jesus on the response cards from Sunday!! Wow, what a happy day in heaven. I am just praying that I can mimic Paul's character and seek these people out to encourage them in their walk. Fellowship is so important. I am meeting with two women this week just to talk and share our hearts. I love my job! It's almost been a month since I've been here. Mhhmm I love it.
Jake asked if I would be interested in spear fishing with him sometime! Haha I said yes please! Hopefully the interns will be planning a trip up to the volcano Haleakala soon. We have heard the sun rise is INCREDIBLE up there! There is just so many stinkin' fun things to do here! Yesterday was staff photos. It was so hot out! And we were looking into the sun. The interns all piled onto the slide and posed all cutie pie like :) They are great! As far as active goals go...Chris told me I should look into playing tennis. I would really enjoy that. Now the key is to find a teacher who will be patient enough to teach me!
God has really been revealing to me that I should be single-mindedly pursuing Him. Shaking off the hindrances that so easily tie us down. I have had this thirst to know Him lately and every time I open up His word for the drink to quench my thirst, He is eager to give it to me.
Love you all, let me know how I can be uplifting you!!
Risa Elena
Today nine months ago I was waking up from back surgery....it's unreal! When I think of the physical condition I was in less than a year ago, I can only praise Jesus for the physical healing He has blessed me with! I am able to play volleyball, hike, surf, swim, work longer than a nine to five job, and be virtually pain free! God is the ultimate Healer, yeah?
Tonight is small groups again. Then next week will be Big Rise where everyone meets together. I was asked to help lead worship and I am straight up amped! Alpha starts next week too. Three people put down that they accepted Jesus on the response cards from Sunday!! Wow, what a happy day in heaven. I am just praying that I can mimic Paul's character and seek these people out to encourage them in their walk. Fellowship is so important. I am meeting with two women this week just to talk and share our hearts. I love my job! It's almost been a month since I've been here. Mhhmm I love it.
Jake asked if I would be interested in spear fishing with him sometime! Haha I said yes please! Hopefully the interns will be planning a trip up to the volcano Haleakala soon. We have heard the sun rise is INCREDIBLE up there! There is just so many stinkin' fun things to do here! Yesterday was staff photos. It was so hot out! And we were looking into the sun. The interns all piled onto the slide and posed all cutie pie like :) They are great! As far as active goals go...Chris told me I should look into playing tennis. I would really enjoy that. Now the key is to find a teacher who will be patient enough to teach me!
God has really been revealing to me that I should be single-mindedly pursuing Him. Shaking off the hindrances that so easily tie us down. I have had this thirst to know Him lately and every time I open up His word for the drink to quench my thirst, He is eager to give it to me.
Love you all, let me know how I can be uplifting you!!
Risa Elena
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