More departures

Last chance for pictures with my family before heading off to the airport after another too short visit...

with my dad

with my sister and niece

en route to the airport (its getting to be routine)

And lastly, final glimpses of me and my niece's matching boots:)

It was a short but sweet visit- I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend time with my wonderful family before heading off to Asia in a week and a half. Blessings abound.

fresh air and family

After all that turkey, a little exercise was in order! A family trip to the park served well to walk off a little stuffing, and be thankful for one another's company.

Turkey tastes good even when you haven't slept in over 30 hours

Not a wink of sleep on my flight, but arriving in Arizona to see my family and darling niece was enough to keep me bright eyed and bushy tailed. Well, that and a quick stop by the airport Starbucks:)

My niece Isabel is absolutely precious- though we have spend extraordinarily little time together, she lavishes me in cooing affection and cuddles. My sister and her husband say its inexplicable, being as she doesn't behave that way with anyone else besides them. Regardless, I'm terribly blessed by her mysterious affinity for her Auntie Liz... I just adore her- and its awfully sweet to have the sentiment be mutual.

Isabel served as Turkey watcher for the morning...

...my dad, sister and grandma took it from there...

...and when the feast was in order...

...we feasted!

It was lovely to share a Thanksgiving meal with my family in my sisters cozy new house- such a blessing to have each of them in my life...and to have stuffing and cranberries besides!

late cranberries not withstanding

Before leaving Maui to fly out to visit my family, I got to celebrate Thanksgiving with my friends and students from the base! The meal was great- the belated arrival of the cranberries not withstanding:) One Thanksgiving dinner down, one more to go... Arizona here i come!

"Fun" is obviously the operative word here- there was plenty of it, along with lots of laughter, pie eating, and merry hearted thanksgiving.

blessed and then some

As if its not enough that I have been given a truly amazing family, I get to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with them tomorrow. They generously made a way for me to come and join them (gathered in Arizona) for the weekend. This is so special- particularly seeing as I am leaving for Asia in just about two weeks and will be missing yet another Christmas with them. I am so blessed at this opportunity to gather with my family before i head overseas for these next few months- it will surely be a refreshing, encouraging and cherished time.

God has been so gracious to all of us- and my heart overflows with thanksgiving for His provision and faithfulness throughout this year and every year. In difficulties He has provided His grace, and in faithless times He has demonstrated His faithfulness. And besides all of His providence and mercy, He condescends at times to add to all His overwhelming goodness some completely gratuitous blessings like cute nieces, peppermint mochas, boots, and stuffing.

Truly, I consider myself fully blessed ...and then some.

Mainland bound in just a matter of hours...

when dreams become answers

Ticket prices for our upcoming trip have been prohibitively expensive. We have prayed for God to provide in that circumstance. I personally prayed fervently for God to show me a way- however unconventional- to take this team on outreach. I felt I had looked high and low for affordable fares to no avail.

Last week I had a dream:

In it my friend was showing me pictures of a hotel she planned to stay in. I told her that I had stayed in the same hotel before-and she explained that she was staying there because she could get a lower rate there. I tried to recall the name of the hotel, and my friend supplied it: The Vayama.

When I woke up in the morning, that name- Vayama- was stuck in my head. I have never stayed in a hotel by that name. But it was such a specific word lingering in my mind. Later in the morning i suddenly recalled that vayama.com is travel search engine/website I had heard of a long time ago. It was too peculiar a coincidence to blow off and the name would not cease ringing in my head: i went online and looked up the website as it was spelled in my mind. Sure enough, it existed. I entered our trip dates and destination.... and up came prices several hundred dollars cheaper than the going rates. I simply stared at my screen in wonder.

For weeks I had checked every site I knew of and none had these fares available. I have to conclude that the Lord answered my prayer in the form of a dream- showing me where I could find affordable fares. This still is overwhelmingly wild to me.

This week, the Lord has brought together provision for four of us to finally purchase tickets. (This is important because we are nearing the 21 day advance deadline, where tickets generally move up into a higher price bracket.) When I went online today to make the purchase, should I have been surprised that the only site with the several hundred dollar cheaper fares (on the better quality airline & with the best itinerary & enough seats available for my group...) was Vayama.com?

So four of us are ticketed to depart on December 12- and we continue in prayer, asking for God's provision for the remaining three team members. He is certainly able to provide a way for those He has called.

Today i am full of wonder at His leading, and of gratitude at His miraculous provision that has come together before our eyes in just a few short days.

Praise God- His resources are vast, His might boundless, His depth of insight unplumbed!

It is marvelous in my eyes.

in case you were wondering, corollas don't qualify as four wheel drive vehicles

Another brilliant Saturday outing! Some of the guys from the base and I decided to go hiking upcountry in a pine forest (an apparent anomaly in Maui) and it was quite the adventure. First off, I didn't know quite where we were going but got there regardless. Or close anyhow. Then came the stretch of unpaved road I was warned of...but i was told that you technically didn't need a four wheel drive for it. I now believe you technically do. Fortunately, one of the guys was a skilled driver and i gave up the wheel to let him navigate the deeply rutted road. We got there and back intact, but if i ever go back its going to be in a truck:) My car was (still is, actually...) covered- truly covered- in loose dirt.

That said, the hike was lovely. The cool pine air, the views across the cloud tops where we could look down on the West Maui Mountains (we were opposite them on the slopes of Haleakala volcanic crater), and the quiet forrest trails in good company...it was an unusual and pleasant afternoon.

This was probably my last weekend to do an all day outing of this nature before outreach- time is flying. So I was all the more grateful for the peace and happiness of a good companionable ramble through the woods. I tore a gaping hole in my jeans, got pine needles in my hair and was covered in dirt and soot (off burned trees I climbed over)... I was definitely immersed in the day:) And in the end, Polipoli was fun.

One month and counting...

Today marks one month to our outreach departure date! It feels like every day I am striding faster toward December 11. I am very excited to return to Asia and join in what I can see the Father doing there- He is stirring up so many hearts toward Himself and bringing His truth powerfully into people's lives! Already I participate through prayer for the people of this nation, and in just a month... I will again participate face to face, sharing the truth of the gospel in relationship and conversation!

rain only enhances the coffee

The last two days of steady brooding rain, punctuated by fitful downpours, has been admittedly welcome to me. It really only enhances the pleasure of a good cup of coffee. And i get to wear my red plaid wellies (galoshes) that my dad bought for me. Its the little things.

hope

Lately, I have had a great deal in my heart. Precious things. And concerning these things i cherish hope. Hope gives courage to go on when i don't dare. Courage to wait. Courage to trust. To breathe and wait patiently. Though precious things come nesting, there is time before the whole story is apparent. Like little blue speckled eggs, these delicate things take time to make plain the promise they embody. Like creamy buds in sunlight, they hold glories only to be known by patience. Hope is the warmth that works upon my heart to stay around to feel the beating of new wings and smell the heavy fragrance of milky blossoms. Hope gives the courage to believe that what is not will one day be...and makes us dream of the miracle of life. Of beauty.

Precious things are hidden in my heart. Time will tell what they become. But hope holds me here with courage to trust the goodness of the One who gave them. There will be beauty.

"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." 1 John 3:2

day's end

This weekend, some friends and I walked down to the point shortly after the sun had set... just to watch the end of the day fade away. Its always a companionable walk and nice place to reflect, talk, pray, take in the view, and appreciate the beauty of Maui at day's end.

i love that this is home.