another flat to surrender to God

Standing outside my house today with friends, one of the guys remarked "You have a flat tire?" I studied my car for a moment and began to nod. "Yeah, i guess i do."

Rewind: just yesterday i swerved to miss a stick lying in the road and was reminded of the time a couple months ago when the Lord used a flat tire incident to testify to His faithfulness and provision in every area I surrender to His Lordship. So yesterday as I drove I surrendered afresh: Lord, its Your car.

Back to Today: A flat tire. Again. I just stood there and said it aloud. "Its His car."

So my friend looks at the tire quick and immediately spots a screw-good news! I can just get the tire mended with a plug for less that twenty dollars.

As I started to take the lug nuts off myself so I could take the tire into town, one of the guys showed up. "Need a hand?" God provided someone to correctly jack the car up. Its His car.

When that was through, Jasmine took me into Walmart to get the tire fixed. God provided a ride to town. Then we put it in a shopping cart and were directed to line up at tire bay 1.

So i stood outside of Walmart with my sweet ride, getting a tan while i waited. But then came than unhappy revelation. As the employee began inspecting the tire, we all quickly noticed what had been overlooked earlier: a large crack along the side wall. The tire could not be repaired, but rather had to be replaced. Sigh. I had to remember yet again: Its God's car. He knew if was going to be twenty dollars or eighty dollars and will provide either way.

I was grateful for yet another opportunity to be encouraged by the Lord's faithfulness to care for me. And isn't He so gentle and perfect to remind me the day before that i need to keep a posture of surrender, so that when today's challenges rose I was ready?

zumba blues

i just felt the need to express that i miss my zumba nights with the girls. This last month plus has found us separated by rogue schedules, mainland trips, and our faithful instructor's real job. Sigh. I see my little bag of work out clothes hanging behind the door and am sad. I haven't done much else in the way of working out- just thinking about it makes my jeans feel tighter.

The bottom line is that while i do sorely miss out zumba fun and the work out it offers me, i really miss seeing that handful of girls regularly. i guess its just the nature of the zumba blues.

not enough

Tonight I feel small against the backdrop of the stories playing out across the face of the earth. Like a whisper against a roar of voices, all so constant that they pitch into a deafening static.

The news makes my mind reel. A first hand account of an orphanage leaves me without words. There is corruption. There is ignorance. There is injustice. There is violence. There is destitution. There is evil.

Things are as they ought not to be.

My whole soul aches and grieves. There is so many faces to the brokenness of Man, the wretchedness of our sin- the scope of it is overwhelming.

I want to change it all. I can't . There is not enough of me.

So i want to pray for it all and never get off my knees. I can't. There is not enough words. Not enough time.

And then i consider, in a pained pause: if even my small heart is deeply moved, I who see and know so little, how the heart of God must mourn over us! Him Who sees and knows all! How great and incomprehensible must be the depths of His compassion.

Comfort arrives embodied in this knowledge that I only feel in part and know in part- but that there is One Who both knows fully, and Whose love surpasses mine fully-as an ocean surpasses a mere thimbleful of brine.

There is not enough capacity in my little self either to comprehend the pain of the earth, or to make it right. But My God is Enough. He is the All Sufficient One. On Him alone my hope rests. He is my Peace.

He will right wrong. He will restore. He will overcome evil. He will make all things new. And He will come.

There is always dark before the Dawn. But it is not enough to hinder the day.

Saturday in the sun

Today began with the usual weekend breakfast with friends at Anthony's coffee shop, a short walk from my house. A couple old friends that are on island for a week dropped by, and the precious and familiar company was a joyful addition to an already lovely Saturday tradition. A few of us headed of to the south shore for an afternoon in the sun and a little surfing- in my case, very little!

Going out for burgers with a few of my students was the finishing touch to my pleasant Saturday. Its such a joy to have both old friends and new- and to fellowship with them here in a place so close to my heart... such a gift. I am thankful to God for this simple Saturday in the sun.

my lovely team

Just thought you'd like to see the faces of the outstanding people that will be joining me on outreach in December! I couldn't be more stoked with this group- daily my anticipation grows for how God will use us as a team in Asia!

Back L-R: My co-leader Dan, Casey, Mike, Daniel and Richard

Front L-R: Jennifer, Emmy and yours truly

at the old Ulupalakua general store

How amusing can one Saturday drive be? Evidently, very.

trees against an overcast sky

Providence at La Provence

I have been meaning to find this authentic french bakery up near Kula for over a year, since someone told me about it. It was so fun to finally get there! We sat for a couple hours drinking coffee and talking story. We told stories of friends, outreaches and God's work in our lives- it was a highlight in my day. As if that weren't enough, a mere cappuccino and pastry brought back tons of special memories of traveling in France with my dad last year, and made the time at La Provance all the more enjoyable.

When I momentarily debated whether or not to purchase the pastry, I thought sincerely how if my dad was with us today he'd insist on it...and bless my friends too. When we finally asked for our check, we were told that it had been taken care of. Someone in the restaurant (i know there was brothers and sisters in the Lord there) had paid our bill- the waitress said "God has it covered." I just marveled- even when my dad couldn't share the moment with me, my heavenly Father was there... and was all about me having a pastry and my friends being blessed too. I love His generosity and care- seen in the thoughtful expression of generosity by His family.

We were very blessed, and went on our way with joyful hearts.

driving Maui's Upcountry

I awoke to a cloudy and typically warm Saturday morning and went out to breakfast with Jasmine and Jason, as per usual. It was a happy start to a pleasant and relaxing day.

Around noon, Mike and Casey (two of my students) and I went for a drive upcountry. Upcountry is a special part of Maui- a world away from the typical beach scenery associated with the island. The air is cool, the scenery is reminiscent of England, and cowboys (or paniolo, in hawaiian) outnumber tourists. Its a refreshing change of pace.

And today we reveled in that pleasant, wandering pace.

going local

Last week I gave in to an aspect of modern Hawaiian culture which I have hitherto resisted with fervor. I ate Spam. Sure, its happened incidentally over the years- you can't help it here. It finds its way into the most unexpected dishes, and most my recollections of it involved trying to eat entire handfuls of it cold straight from the can in a relay race. But i had never sat down and ate Spam in all seriousness. Until now.

Last week I legitimately ate fried Spam with rice as a late night snack with friends. This morning I had it for breakfast. The fact that Spam is a popular breakfast food in Hawaii leaves most folks from the mainland incredulous. But here in the islands, its standard fare. Even Burger King has it- with banners in the window announcing "Spam in the AM!" Truth be told, its just not that much different than all the other stuff i eat on rice out here. From raw fish to fried chicken, eggs to tuna- its just another salty protein to go on the rice. Granted, its creepy if you don't fry it and increasingly unhealthy if you do. But i honestly enjoyed my breakfast of Spam, eggs and rice. Many of my friends love Spam musubi (a local favorite made by wrapping Spam and rice in nori seaweed) , but it is still definitely on my blacklist. There has to be limits.

Spam in the AM!