Adventures

Sunday was Easter. Wilma made us reservations to go down to the Hole Koa military hotel for Easter lunch. We went with Joshua and Sydney's former nanny, Jenia and her new husband Stephen that had come to Hawaii for their honeymoon from Germany. They were really a great couple. We had a great time and enjoyed each other's company. After that I went over to the Smythe's house and hung out with their family. We had a group devotion time and sang a number of hymns. (I got to sing "Christ the Lord has risen today!" two times today :))
At the Hole Koa, the Easter bunny showed up. Funny story: When Sydney saw the bunny holding a basket of candy. She rushed over and grabbed two huge handfuls of his candy. So much that he only had a few pieces of candy left. I quickly explained that it was not ok for her to take that much candy. The funny thing was the bunny could not talk (since it was in uniform) and so when she took the candy he just stood there and waited for me to tell her that it she only needed a piece of two. The bunny was gracious to take a picture with the kids. I thought I would share that with you.
I have a distant cousin that lives here on the island, also. She called me on Friday and asked me to take her to church with me. This is a picture of Amber, her husband, Jesse, and their youngest baby, Conner. They also have a 5 year old, Colby, but he was busy riding his bike. She also asked me to take her every week. If you could. Please pray for this family. They do not have a car, and do not get to leave the base very often. Pray that they will be able to find a car that is suitable for their family. Also pray for their Salvation. It is very encouraging that they want to go to church. Pray that their hearts and eyes would be open to the Word.

On Monday, we ventured out to Bellows Air Force base training ground. This is where Jenia and Stephen were staying. IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE ISLAND I HAVE SEEN YET! It was absolutely gorgeous. I let the kids swim with Stephen, while Jenia and I sat on the beach and talked for a while. They have been doing a lot of tourist things and I have been asking her to pick out the best things to see so that when Susannah comes on Saturday, April 22, we can do them.
I am so excited about Susannah coming. I have lots of things planned for us to do and I will send you some pictures when she gets here. Thank you for your thoughts, cards, and prayers. They mean so much to me. Please pray for Susannah as she travels here. Also, Chris and Wilma are in Texas right now until the end of the month to find us a house, visit churches, and look for Schools for the kids. Pray that they will be successful in their search. Also for the sell of this house. It has been on the market since I have been here and has not sold yet. I miss all of you very much. I hope yall have a wonderful day.

So this week Sydney started her own hula lessons. It was so much fun watching the 15 or so little girls trying to dance all together. I was so excited. I think mostly because I know that they were having fun. It makes me want to learn too. Maybe I can learn and come home and teach everyone how to do it. We will just have to see. This picture was not actually taken at Sydney's practice. I took my 3rd cousin, Amber (who lives on the same island I do, with her husband, that is in the army, and 2 kids) to see the North Shore. On the way up there we passed a park where these ladies were doing hula under this very large gazebo. I am not sure if you are supposed to take pictures of them but we did anyway from the car. You can learn a lot from watching hula. Each song tells a different story. Sydney's class is working on songs like "Jesus in the Family" and "Jesus loves me."
This is a picture of the "sea arch." Courtney and I went to see it when we went on our round island tour, before she left. It was a really cool island rock that had this hole in the center of it from a hurricane a few years back. It is a tourist site because there is a Hawaiian legend that this island is part of a giant lizard that was killed and his body parts were spread all over the ocean (along with the surrounding islands). Weird, but people actually believe this stuff!
I got to experience something really neat on Sunday. My friend, Bethany and her husband, Jake went with me to visit another church this week. After that I went with them to Bethany's parents house with her 6 brothers and sisters, where Jake's family showed up with his 5 brothers and sisters, and then the Smythe's came with there 10 kids. It was so much fun. They had this get-together in lieu of Palm Sunday. We ate lunch, then fellowshiped and played games, then gathered together to sing hymns and read the story of Jesus riding into town on a donkey. Then after a brief discussion someone said "well...What are we having for dinner?" so they fixed something for supper and from there the women went on a walk and the kids watched a movie. The next thing I knew it was 9:30. It was so neat to be able to be a part of this group on this day. I really enjoyed it and really was able to see how the church, even though very different how we are very much alike. I knew, then, how much I hungered for fellowship and being able to see Christ's body having rest in each other on Sunday. My prayer is that I will be able to learn from these families. I think that is what the church is supposed to look like. Not only going and spending time at church but gathering and fellowshiping with one-another all day long on Sundays. I pray that God will continue to show Himself to me through the encouragement of these families. To God be the Glory!

So Spring break has been the worst 2 weeks to have spring break because it rained every day. I could not stay at the house any longer, so...I took the kids to the zoo in the rain! It was not raining by the time we got to the zoo but by the time we were leaving we had to trek through lakes to get out. Apart from the rain and the whining from the kids we had a good time and saw a lot of animals that you do not get to see in the ole Greenville Zoo.

Yesterday Courtney and I had to go out one more time before she left for New York. Yes, she is leaving me for 3 whole weeks. I am so sad that she had to go but will be looking forward to her coming back. We had one last day to go and explore. We decided to go to see the Valley of the Temples. What you see pictured is first Courtney ringing the bell. This bell sits outside of the temple and it says if you ring the bell and put money in the box you will have good fortune and happiness for years to come. Needless to say we went into the temple before we went to the bell. We are not Buddhist too so it really would not mean anything for us.
Inside of the front doors there is a huge Buddha in the center of the room. It is really the biggest idol I have ever seen. Mary Bell (who is currently raising money to go to be a missionary to Japan, and is used to seeing such places) said she believes that the idols are so big so that people would not steal them. It makes since.

From the Temple we went to see a island that they call Chinamen's hat. Hints the shape of the island. We had a great time and really just enjoyed each other's company. I will miss her while she is gone.
I hope everyone is doing well and that you all have a great day. I will write more very soon. Love you all!