A Week Full of Christmas

Waianae Baptist Church started out our week with a Christmas Eve Eve Candlelight Service on Sunday night.  They were joined by the Chuukese Mission and the Samoan Church.  Both of these churches hold their services at the Waianae Church each week, one on Sunday afternoon and the other on Sunday night.

On Christmas Eve we went with our friends, Jeff and Sharon on a whale watching luncheon cruise.  We barely made the boat after stopping at Lyon Coffee Company, the Princess Hotel in Waikiki to see the hugh gingerbread village and then Sam’s and Costco looking for Krispy Kreme donuts which we did not find.  Since there is no Krispy Kreme on Oahu you can only get them when they are flown over from Maui.  It’s funny how you don’t start craving something until you can’t have it.  On the cruise we did see parts of some whales, like the hump back and the tail, but never the whole whale.  The little boy in the top left picture was from Japan and had on a North Carolina Hanes t-shirt.  They did not speak much English but we think Ann got them to understand that we were from NC.  Lots of smiles anyway.  We then stopped at a famous shopping place, Hilo Hattie's with the big shirt and were given free shell leis.  We also sampled several different flavored macadamia nuts including Spam.  Then we went to New Hope Church to see their presentation of “A Christmas Carol da real story”.  It made us laugh and cry.  Afterwards we had dinner at Anna Miller’s Restaurant.

We started out Christmas morning with a somewhat traditional breakfast of Cinnabon coffee cake, eggs and grits on our lanai.  John and Lorrie invited us out for Christmas lunch at the Hale Koa in Waikiki.  There we had a delicious buffet lunch with front row seats for the entertainment.  We enjoyed looking at the Christmas decorations including more gingerbread houses and a walk down Waikiki Beach.  It was a very enjoyable but very different Christmas Day.

After Christmas it was back to work.  Billy and Ed put up a new light pole, cut branches off a tree, picked coconuts and made mulch with the chipper.  Ann and Fran cleaned cottages and the floor in Plantation Hale.  New guests came in on Wednesday so we all have been working to serve them.  Fran got her chance to ring the dinner bell.

Fran and Ed headed back to NC on Friday.  We enjoyed working with them very much so it was sad to see them leave.  Their replacements came in on Friday night.  They are Mae and Chuck Copper from Spruce Pine, NC.  We have met them before on some Baptist Men trips.

On Saturday Ann talked Billy into stepping out of the box and doing something he never dreamed of doing.  Uncle George has a Christian ministry on the beach which includes free SUP lessons (also known as Stand Up Paddleboarding).  It was so much fun and really easy in the calm waters of Pokai Bay.  Bottom pictures-Billy shows the correct way to get off the board and Ann shows the other way.

From his Facebook page Bay of Dreams this is Uncle George’s mission statement:  My mission is to give all peoples a free chance to experience God's creation from a prospective that most people have never seen it from.  And in doing that giving each of them the quiet time they so badly need to free the mind so to better deal with the challenges of their world. And this becomes the start of some great friendships.

You can read more of his story here: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20168008/everyone-has-a-story-to-tell-uncle-george-and-bay-of-dreams-in-waianae

 

Getting Ready for Christmas in Hawaii

Busy week with lots of guests meant lots of time in the dining room and dish washing room.  Ed got to ring the dinner bell.  The upper cabinets arrived for the kitchen we’ve been working on so they were installed.  Ed & Billy painted the porches of the K cottages.  The ladies worked in the dining room and cleaned rooms when the guests left.

Our guests this week, Christ’s Embassy Hawaii, consisted of 100 youth from 7 to 21, plus their leaders.  They learned a lot and then had fun and enjoyed their meals.  We have seen youth eat but these probably set a record.  But then they were up and out @ 5 a.m. doing exercise.  On Thursday evening they invited their sponsors, their parents & us for the service to speak and show what they learned this week.

Billy is now able to check off one of the things he has wanted to do for many years.  We visited Pearl Harbor.  It was important to him since his Dad served in the Navy and joined, as many others did, right after the attack. 

Ann worked at the Waianae Baptist Church Food Pantry again on Wednesday morning.  This will be her last time because they are not having it the week of Christmas and New Years because the Food Bank will be closed on the day they usually pick up the food.  On our way back from Pearl Harbor we stopped at the Waianae Mall and Ann got to sit in Santa’s lap but she forgot to tell him what she wanted.  Actually our wants have been answered by GOD.  He has provided us with a happy place to serve, meet new friends and enjoy ourselves.  Santa did give her two tickets for free Shaved Hawaiian Ice.  On Wednesday evening we went with the Waianae Baptist group to the homeless shelter to serve a meal and listen to Pastor Bryan’s message.  They also gave toys to the children.

On Friday night Ed & Fran went with us to meet John & Lorrie at the Polynesian Cultural Center for “Christmas in Polynesia”.  We rode in a thirty passenger canoe to view a good Christmas light show which started out with the birth of Jesus.   Then it took us on a trip to the north pole to see Santa.

On our way to the Polynesian Cultural Center we stopped at Kahuku Grill to eat.  The food was good but as we sat down Ed saw a picture for their famous desert – Homemade banana bread with chocolate chips served warm with ice cream and drizzled in chocolate.  Being we were full after the meal we were good customers and stopped by on the way back home for desert.

They say only a small percentage of the people of Hawaii are Christian. But many MERRY CHRISTMAS signs are posted (notice the sign in the grill’s order window) and we have met many a person over the past seven weeks that enjoy sharing about their love for CHRIST.  We have also seen several wearing t-shirts with GOD supporting logo’s while we were out and about.  And when a comment is made about the shirt to them a good discussion follows.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and as they say in Hawaii, Mele Kalikimaka.

Work, Hiking and Another Christmas Parade

This week we did not have any camp guests but there was plenty of work to do.  Billy & Ed installed rollers on most of the kitchen appliances so they could be rolled out for cleaning.  Then they were rolled out for that good cleaning.  They also installed plumbing and cabinets in Mauka unit 1 so long term volunteers could stay in it.  Ed became friends with Mr. Mop while helping Ann and Fran clean the K Cottages.   Billy installed insulation in the directors sunroom ceiling & walls.  Next week he will be hanging bead board paneling.

Ann and Fran cleaned the K cottages.  They also cleaned and painted one section of  the 2nd floor lanai in the Plantation house.  On Wednesday evening we celebrated Ramona’s birthday.  Ann cooked dinner and a Ho Ho Birthday Cake which everyone loved.  Fran spent a good deal of time pruning shrubs & weeding.

Ann and Fran worked at the food pantry preparing the bags and boxes and helping to serve the the meal.  Luke (top left) was there with his grandmother.  He is a virtual walking animal encyclopedia and Ann enjoyed talking (listening) to him.  Tomi and Serah (top left) are two ladies that help each week.

On Thursday afternoon we went to the beach to watch the sun set which was cut a little short by the clouds but was still beautiful.

Friday was our day off so we started it off at Diamondhead State Monument.  It was a long uphill walk but well worth the views.  Billy was amazed that our military set up defense systems at the top and had to haul ammo up there.

After leaving Diamond Head we made a short visit to Hanauma Bay (top right) which is the most famous of all Hawaii’s snorkeling beaches.  We did not have our swimsuits so we may come back later.  Then we went on to the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse.  Again a long walk uphill but the views GOD provides from the top are worth it.

Saturday was parade day for Waianae.  We only had to walk a very short distance to find a good spot for viewing.  We were very pleased to see so many churches represented along with the military.  It was a great day for a parade although it seemed sort of warm to be watching a Christmas parade.

Our hearts are broken because of the tragedy that happened in New Town, CT.  Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

Roofing, decorating & painting

This week we had a team from Cool Springs Baptist Church in Sanford.  That is Billy’s first cousin, Ira’s church.  They arrived late on Saturday night and had Sunday off so we did not see them until Monday at breakfast.  Monday morning Billy, Andy, Ed and the team started removing the tiles from the directors house.  Then then they cleaned out years of dust & debris.  While doing the cleaning they discovered several electric wires that had to be repaired.  Then the fun part – installing insulation.  With all prep work done, they laid plywood, paper & shingles.  Shingles were delivered by a conveyer boom truck so they were put right on roof.  Group picture on the finished roof– David (out front) Janie (2nd row) then from left  Ed, Steve, Billy & Andy.

Kay & Fran went to help serve breakfast at B&B (that’s bags and breakfast at the food pantry) with Ann on Wednesday.  The rest of the week was spent helping Ramona paint floors and decorate for CHRISTmas.  The entire bottom floor of the plantation house (except for the kitchen) was swept, mopped and painted.

Ann got her wish and was the cook for a week.  All great meals along with Billy’s favorite desert “ banana pudding” home made & hot.  We also bought us a CHRISTmas tree for our room.  Group picture (from left)  David & Kay Ward, Ann & Billy, Fran & Ed Tetlak, Janie & Steve Bistrow.

Since we finished the roof early they gave us all 2 days off so the guys took the ladies shopping.  We found this beautiful tree in front of a mall entrance.  Ann tried on some new hair just for fun.

On Saturday night we went to the Kapolei City Lights Parade, tree lighting, and fire works.  Was got to see some hula dancers and Mickey and Minnie.  The town hall was decorated with beautiful Christmas Trees.  We actually sat in the median of the street since we had no clue to which side of the road the parade was routed.  We had a nice young couple sit next to us with two little girls.  He was in the Air Force and had just moved here from South Carolina.  It was a fun evening.

Janie Hooper

This dear sweet lady and friend of ours went to be with Jesus this morning.  This video was made on her 93th birthday.  Please be in prayer for her family.

Toys For Tots Concert

This week Billy had a special project to keep him occupied.  He installed insulation and sheetrock in the ceilings of our bathroom and the one next door.   Since he was busy with that project Ann got to do all their cleaning jobs by herself.  That included sweeping and mopping the entire downstairs floors of the plantation house.  On Thursday a men’s group from New Hope Church arrived and stayed until Saturday after breakfast so we had our usual mealtime jobs.  When the group left Ann helped Ramona gather all the linens and started washing while Billy finished painting the bathroom ceilings.

Ann worked at the food pantry on Tuesday and Wednesday along side of her new friend Christy from Alaska.  Christy, her husband Bill and their son live in Alaska for the warmer months and then are on mission for six months somewhere else during the winter months.  They have been to Nigeria for several years and adopted their son from there. The lady in purple is Moana.  She is in charge of the pantry and has a heart for serving God.  Billy picked tomatoes from the camp garden for the pantry meal and the workers.

Waianae Baptist Church is where we have been attending church since we arrived.  Today, the first Sunday in Advent, was also their Hanging of the Greens.  We participated along with our new next door neighbors and fellow volunteers, Fran and Ed from Cary.  The church is right next to the camp so we can walk to services.  The sides of the sanctuary on both sides are doors which are opened up to let in the island breezes.

After church we went to the Hawaii Theater with John, Lorrie  and some of their friends for the US Marine Corps Forces Pacific Toys for Tots Concert.  It was a great event.  Billy even enjoyed it.

Drummer Boys

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Campfire Time

Work This Week-This week we did our usual cleaning of rooms after the group left.  As special project this week we cleaned and then painted the rails and post of the Peterson house.  As usual we did some yard work.  One type of the trees here grows what looks like a giant bean but it is only rubbish.  However they are heavy and were weighing the tree limbs down so Andy pulled them off while we cleaned them up.  They will be ground up for mulch.  We had a new group come in on Friday. Both of us got the privilege of ringing the dinner bell letting our guests know it was meal time.

Around the Camp-Each of the storage containers here on the campgrounds have been painted.  They look so much nicer and also have a biblical message on them.  We had a  group of young people here learning leadership skills.  They invited us to their camp fire meeting on Saturday night and we’re so glad we went.  Several of the men leaders are very talented on string instruments and have great voices which they used to lift up praise to GOD.  They had “open mic night” and many of the youth and adults gave testimonies through words or music.  It was a blessing to be a part of this service.  One young man in particular impressed Ann with his testimony.  His name is Kioni and he feels God is calling him to start a church in Korea.  The little girl in the bottom right picture is Ari, Ann’s new friend from the Food Pantry.

Time Off-After we finished work on Sunday afternoon we met John & Lorrie at Christ Church in Kailua for a community sing along of Handel’s Messiah. The choir actually did most of the singing and they were very good.  We had copies of the music so we could sing along but the only song we really were familiar with was The Hallelujah Chorus.  Billy wasn’t all that impressed with this type of music but he was a good sport and didn’t whine.

Afterwards we went to John and Lorrie’s house to spend the night.  On Monday morning we saw a large group of children walking up the hill on the street by their house.  Lorrie said they were from the nearby school and it was a tsunami drill.  Lorrie also let us pick oranges for breakfast from one of her trees.  

Later they treated us to a early Christmas gift.  We went to the Kualoa Ranch and took the Ocean Voyage.  We first crossed a fish pond in a flat boat where the small fish come in through small holes to eat but as they grow they can not get back out so they continue to eat & grow until harvested. Then we rode out about a mile on the catamaran.  When we turned around the island had such a different view.  On the way back in we stopped at a reef and watched the sea turtles.

Now it’s time to get back to work.

Early Thanksgiving Celebration

This week started out slow with not a lot of work to be done.  We had a group stay Sunday night so we had one cottage to clean on Monday afternoon.  Billy started the week off watering, cutting grass, changing light fixtures and picking the garden (which is one of his favorite jobs).

Ann worked at the food pantry on Tuesday morning helping to get things organized and on Wednesday Billy joined her and others to help pack the food bags and boxes.  The bags are for singles and couples and the boxes go to families.  We both helped serve the breakfast meal that is prepared by Richard & Barbara.  Many friendships are being formed here.  May is in the picture with Billy and Anna is with Ann.

Since Wednesday was our day off, when we finished at the food pantry we headed to Honolulu.  Our first stop was the  National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific also know as the Punchbowl, an extinct volcano.   It serves as a memorial to those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces and many who gave their lives for us lay at rest there.   It was a very beautiful and moving place especially the chapel with all of the flowers for Veteran’s Day.  Afterwards we went to the Puu Ualahoa State Park and Rain Forrest which is just on the edge of town.  There we found great views of Diamond Head, Honolulu and Waikiki and lots of green trees and plants.

On Thursday afternoon 120 Hawaiian Baptist Academy 9th graders and their chaperones joined us for two days.  Very well mannered group of youth.  For Friday supper we served Thanksgiving dinner.  Billy was privileged to be asked to offer the prayer for the meal.  After each meal different groups were assigned to help with the clean up.  Billy and Andy are having too much fun washing all those pots & pans.  Looks like they are up to something.

The group left mid morning Saturday and we finished our cleaning early (well we didn’t finish it but saved some for Monday) so we went to  Ko’olina Beach Resort area.  It is just a few miles away but what a difference regular watering makes for the grass and plants.  It was lush and beautiful.  After a walk along the beach on the walkway that goes to each resort, including a Disney resort, we continued to the Ko’olina Yacht Harbor and saw big boats, little boats, everyday boats and yachts.  Afterwards we went in to Kapolei to do some Goodwill and grocery shopping.  We decided to eat supper at En Fuego.  It was delicious and not too expensive either.  Billy had the Grilled Mahi Mahi and Ann had the Ahi Stir Fry.  We will be eating there again.

Friday Ann went to the grocery store and when she went back out to the car there was a group of about 60 young men and women across the street protesting.  Their signs read things like “Stop for pedestrians” and “Share the Road”.  Evidently there have been some close calls and deaths with people being hit by cars that are not giving pedestrians the right of way.  The center left picture is Tony & Paula, our cooks, on the  left,  Lindsey on the right who is the secretary, and Andy & Ramona in back who are the camp co-directors.  Sunday was the pastor’s wife’s birthday and lunch at church.   After a little rest we went to Gary Reed’s home for an art show and reception.  Gary has a beautiful home and yard (and the art was nice too).

We are missing our family back home but feel so blessed to be able to serve God in this beautiful place.

Week Two in Paradise and Our 29th Wedding Anniversary

On Tuesday  morning  Ann went to help sort food at the food pantry at Waianae Baptist Church. On Wednesday morning she went back to help serve breakfast, listen to the message that was shared and then helped give out bags & boxes of food.  She is making lots of new friends.  That afternoon she helped deep clean the K cottages and then disappeared to the prayer garden where she weeded the flowers and cleaned up.  Billy spent Tuesday and Wednesday moving beds so Tony, Paula & Ann could clean.  Billy & Andy moved 12 (heavy) drawer cabinets to the storage shed.  Billy also repaired many screens and pressure washed the Peterson cottage porch.  On Thursday Ann & Billy painted the porch with a sand based and very thick paint.  It was kind of like painting with red clay.  There are many geckos here and many of them live in the cottages and we have to clean up after them.

We were able to slip away early a couple of days to go to the beach.  Ann also found a great place to take pictures from the 2nd floor of the main house.  We are on the dry side of the island and this (bottom left) is about as close as we get to rain.  There is a public park across the canal.  Friday & Saturday were our days off for the week so our way out we went to Walmart to get a few items.  Ann saw some sweet potatoes that were definitely not from Nash County.

On Friday we went to John & Lorrie’s.  They live on the wet side of the island in Kaaawa  (yes it has three a’s and is pronounced Kaʻaʻaʻwa) Their house is on the side of a mountain with a beautiful view of the ocean.  After we got settled in they carried us to Kualoa Ranch , right down the road, for lunch and a quick look around in case we wanted to come back to do some of the activities they offer.

After lunch we traveled south along the shoreline stopping at several scenic points.   The last picture is the four of us in front of a calm ocean and the famous and much photographed Chinaman’s Hat at Kualoa Beach.  For supper we went to the officers club on Kaneohe Bay Marine Force Base where we ate Mongolian style.

On Saturday morning we had pineapple, mango and dragon fruit for breakfast.  The dragon fruit was pretty but not all that tasty. 

Saturday John and Lorrie took us to Waikiki Beach to celebrate our 29th anniversary.  Before dinner we took a walk on the beach and around the hotel area.  We saw four weddings (no funerals).  We had dinner in the KoKo Café at the Hale Koa Hotel.  The Hale Koa Hotel on Fort DeRussy Armed Forces Recreation Center is a resort serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.  Click on this link to read it’s history.  It sits right on Waikiki beach and is beautiful.  For dinner we all chose the Grilled Citrus Mahimahi.  For desert Billy had Coconut Cream Pie and Ann had Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Syrup.  It was all delicious.

On Sunday morning we went back to Waianae Baptist Church.  We feel very welcome and at home there.  Pastor Bryan talked about how even though the candidates he voted for did not win, he was at peace with it because God is still in control and He can use good and wicked people to accomplish His purpose.

Aloha, We’re In Hawaii!!!!

We arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday afternoon to start our tour of duty at Puu Kahea Conference Center in Waianae, Oahu.  It is part of the Hawaii Baptist Convention and offers a place to have adult retreats, seminars, meetings, training events, worship experiences, children’s camps, youth camps, and prayer retreats.  We will be here for two months doing cleaning, maintenance, yard work, dining room duty and other projects.  We plan to have some fun too.

John & Lorrie, friends from home who moved here 13 years ago (middle & top right) met us at the airport to welcome us to Hawaii with beautiful flower leis.  Andy & Ramona (top left), the camp directors, were in route to pick us up but were in heavy traffic due to a wreck on H-1.  They gave us beautiful sea shell leis.  After we got our baggage we all went to eat supper while traffic cleared up some. It took us approximately an hour to travel 5 blocks to eat.  We were scheduled off on Thursday (our 1st day) so we could rest from the flight and look around.  So we walked to the beach (6 blocks) for a beautiful view. Yes I wore my jeans and shoes but I took my shoes off so I could stroll in the water with my bride.  We are way out in the Pacific and on this side of the island (west) the waves are very calm. 

On Friday & Saturday we had to report for work. But before we could leave our cottage Billy had to show Ann how a golf cart works (now she’s a pro). Billy started the day off weed eating while Ann went through some of the rooms and made sure they were ready for arriving guest. She also cleaned the porches off from the grass cutting. After lunch and a little break we helped in the kitchen serving supper.  Ann is working the serving area getting it stocked and then keeping check on it. Billy is in charge of beverages and dish washing.  After a day off Sunday we were back at work on Monday morning.  We cleaned the rooms that were used on Friday night as well as the main house.  It didn’t take Billy long to remember why a mop is not his friend.  But he is sure they will be on first name basis by January.

After church on Sunday, our day off, we road to the North Shore beach area.  We made several stops.  At the first stop (center and center left) the beach was so beautiful and folks were also surfing the big waves. Then as we wandered a few feet over this little girl keeps talking about seeing the turtles. On the beach were 12 LARGE turtles resting or sun bathing.  Several more were still in the water.  What a sight. 

Then we went to the north end where we stopped and got shrimp & rice off a food truck. While eating Billy noticed an issue with the van. It had a pin hole in one of the radiator lines so we began heading back just in case.

We headed back south (top pictures and bottom left) and stopped at an area that had a coral wall around it. The water was calm inside and rough outside and suddenly the rough waves would break over the coral with amazing sights. Then it would run off the coral and into an area people were swimming and snorkeling.  We saw several sites where waves were big and lots of surf boards but only a few in the water.  It is amazing how calm the waves are here on the west side and how big and rough they are on the north.  But hey “That’s the way GOD made it.”

As we are here in Hawaii serving GOD as we feel called, many of our friends and many more people we don’t even know are serving GOD in the north east following the destruction of Hurricane Sandy.  We know they are doing it because they feel it is where GOD is calling them.  We lift each of you up in prayer each day and say THANK YOU for serving.

Busy At Home

We have been at home for over a week now and trying to get adjusted to a different schedule. Billy has been busy tearing out and replacing the floor in Ann’s workshop.  The termites feasted on it last winter.

At the end of the week he is happy to be finished with that job.  On Sunday he is going to speak at Corinth Baptist Church in Elizabeth City for their men’s breakfast.

Ann has been cleaning and organizing a house that has been neglected for over a year.

She is so ready for some fall weather that she has been doing some fall decorating.

Billy is starting to feel restless now that he found out NCBM has been asked to go to Walker, LA for mudout/tearout and roofing (installing tarps).  Ann is feeling a nudge to step out of her comfort zone and go on a foreign mission trip.  For now there is a trip planned  to see Kim and Brandon and hopefully a trip to see Josh. 

Pu’u Kahea Baptist Conference Center

October 31 we will be flying to Hawaii to work at Pu'u Kahea Conference Center for two months.  Yes, we will be spending Christmas there.