Boris

So our already packed house has yet another resident...well, on the front steps at least. A strongly built, exceedingly well fed, and well cared for cat has appeared in the past week and taken up residence on our front lanai. He is forever lolling about on the steps, only slipping out of sight in the hot afternoons to languish under a cumbersome table on the patio- dead asleep. His tail is like leviathan's- a heavy rope that you can hear thudding on the steps when he is in an excitable state of mind. You would be excused for thinking he was part labrador. 

After protracted consideration, I christened him Boris. 

 Boris really must be the pet of some neighbor, but they probably don't know he has a double life. They assume he is out catching rats and exploring the cane fields... but he instead parks his lard on our front steps from dawn to dusk- with rare and short departures (probably to go eat meals at his home).

He objects to being held or having his soft belly touched much- though his healthy coat may be stroked upon his back or head. He is equally feisty about his abbreviated but hefty tail.

He is rather a ridiculous animal- with entirely too much personality. He rolls around continually on the top step- and often falls asleep on his back with all fours sprawled to the corners of the compass. Some of the girls in the house suspect Boris of being a female, but Boris is hardly a lady. And i am pretty sure Boris is a male. However, in the unfortunate case that the contrary is discovered, a back up feminization of his name has been decided upon in advance: Boris-Marie.

Boris is generally rather pleasing to have about. I don't think its my imagination that he likes me in particular- even though i scold him most (for putting his head through the hole in the screen door and other such antics). The other night, after i was on the patio speaking to him, I closed the door and went to my room. Next minute, Boris had got himself up onto a lean-to roof under my window and was standing looking in at me. He meowed and tried to fit his head through the glass louvered jalousies- which of course looked ridiculous. My roommates thought it was quite entertaining, which only encouraged him, of course. I told him off neatly, and he laid down on the little roof facing me- so that his head was on the same level as my pillow, and just a foot or two apart through the window. It was very sweet, but the gesture has not been repeated. Maybe because i sprayed him with water at 5.30am today when he was indulging in a howling spree while facing off with his evil twin, which i have named Ivan (the Terrible). About once a week they meet in a tense stand off that wakes up about half the neighborhood (if the street's armada of roosters hasn't already beaten them to it).  

Its nice to have a pseudo-pet like Boris- even if he does have his moments. 

Doesn't he just look blissful?

more students to love and serve!

Our first week of the Fall quarter kicked off with a series of events culminating in what we call a Love Feast. We gather our entire base staff and all of the new students from both our Discipleship Training School and our SBFM (all nineteen of my students!)for a lovely meal at a church facility in Maui's refreshingly cool upcountry. 

Besides sharing a meal and celebrating the arrival of these students in our family for this season, we aim to demonstrate our heart to serve them during this time of growth in their lives. We do this by literally washing their feet and having a staff member pray for every one of them individually. It was a remarkable night, as always- blessing and encouraging our students. 

Fifteen years coming- and still wholly unexpected

During this hectic week before our Fall students arrive, the base scheduled one of our ohana dinners- a special family style dinner. I felt that having a special event for the staff in such a swamped week was unwise, but just went along with the decision. 

On the designated evening, I showed up, had a quick work related chat with a friend, then together rushed into the dinner late. 

As we entered, my friend fell back and the room ahead of me erupted with applause- and voices yelling "Surprise!" I thought it was a spur of the moment plot to tease me for being late. I rolled my eyes and shook my head...but they all kept looking at me. Then i realized my friends and coworkers were taking pictures and recording videos on their phones... and became even more embarrassed... and confused. 

They parted like the Red Sea to reveal a table towering with Dr.Pepper cans... and a banner proclaiming "We love you, Liz!" I was terribly confused as to what was afoot.

Finally my friend Josh rushed over, grabbed a can of Dr. Pepper, and popped it open in a Nascar victory type manner and handed it to me quipping "To fifteen years!" amid more cheering from the crowded room. Then it finally dawned on me: the ohana dinner was a cover for a party, celebrating my 15 year anniversary of serving with YWAM in Maui!

I had made jokes earlier in the year about throwing myself an anniversary bash, but had completely forgot about my Maui anniversary in the crush of the coming semester. Some close ohana, however, had not forgotten- and brought the entire base onboard for an evening in my honor. I was presented with leis from our leadership team members, given handfuls of notes, and ushered to a seat at the head of a long table of friends.

On a screen in the corner, photos of me and my outreach teams alternated with photos of squirrels, couches and lamps were cozied in the corners, framed photos of the various schools i staffed, led, or administrated were set around the room, and dinner was served. The menu? Sausage McMuffins and hash browns. (Some of you may know of my obsession with this fast food breakfast combination- i tend to rave about it:) Haha. So here were dozens of friends and colleagues, all dressed up, having Dr.Pepper and Sausage McMuffins for dinner, and taking turns standing to share about how God has used me to impact their lives, the nations, and the ministry of the base here. 

It was amazing, ridiculous, precious, hilarious, an enormous encouragement, and a wholly unexpected blessing.

As per base tradition, I was sat down in the middle of the group who then gathered around to pray for me. It was a special time of thanksgiving, blessing, and support. Afterwards, I took photos with members of my last couple SBFM outreach teams- precious young men and women that I have had the privilege of investing in- that have come back to serve as staff. 

Mike and Emmy (who are from my China teams), and Aimee (from my London Olympic outreach) will all be working with me in the SBFM this Fall

Suzy, Margrethe, and Kate (all from my Nepal team) are all serving as staff now and will be supporting the base Discipleship Training School this Fall through Administration, Hospitality coordination, and outreach leading! Its such an honor to have mentored these young men and women and to see their lives and service distinguishing them as fervent disciples and servant hearted leaders.

Altogether, this party honoring a decade and a half of my service here was an overwhelming blessing and tremendous encouragement to my heart. I am so grateful to everyone who participated in making it such a special evening- and so thankful to the Lord for placing me in this outstanding ohana. Its such a privilege to serve Him here with these precious brothers and sisters.