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