Kona Days

Wow.  I am only in the middle of week four and I feel as though I've lived here a year already!  This place is amazing and I am astounded that God would bless me so much as to bring me through this experience!

Living in Hawaii is interesting.  It's so strange to be living in a vacation destination when I, myself, am not on vacation.  When I go off campus I see so many older married couples walking around in Hawaiian button-up shirts and visors it's not even funny.  Okay, well it's still kind of funny.  This island is not very touristy though, so I am getting to know some of the locals as well.  So far I've been to a different beach every weekend.  I'm not used to living close to a beach.  I'm very sunburnt.  I like to say that I am becoming more of a YWAMer each weekend as I get familiar with my surroundings.  I've already gotten lost walking to Walmart, turning what was supposed to be a 30 minute trip into a 50 minute trip.  (Thanks but no thanks, Siri.)  Two weekends ago a bunch of us took some ill advice on how to get to a certain beach from some surf boarder dudes like this guy and we got on a bus that took us half way across the big island which we then took back to Kona immediately because they forgot to mention the eight mile hike from the point where the bus line ended.  It turned out alright though because it was an adventure and we got to ride through and see parts of the island we hadn't seen before for only a dollar!  And it was a fun bonding experience.

Week days are very busy and they consist of going from one thing to another without much time in between.  I go from breakfast, to corporate worship time in the Ohana (which means family) Court, to morning lecture, to lunch, to afternoon lecture, to work duty (I'm on groundskeeping), to dinner, to intercession time in the prayer room and I have about an hour at the end of the day until I go to bed.  It's wonderful and I am learning SO MUCH... I am just still trying to keep up with processing it all.  We also have weekly photo assignments, bible reading, and book reports to do, so it is very challenging but oh so rewarding!

We have a different speaker each week that teaches on a different topic.  The first week was on hearing the voice of God and it was taught by the PhotogenX discipleship training school's founder, Susi Childers.  The second week was taught by Layne Grime on identity.  This week, we are learning about the restoration of our hearts and healing the wounds from our past.  Our teachers are Tom and Donna Cole and they teach from the book called "Pure Heart" which they co-wrote together.  I will post another blog post soon about what I am learning about through their lectures.  It is really amazing stuff and the Lord has gifted this couple with an incredible testimony and ministry.

If you would like to know where I am going for my outreach ask me via e-mail, facebook, or call/text.  I AM SO EXCITED!

Here are some photos from my time here so far.  These are either photos that I've taken on weekends or for photo assignments in school.

Worship at the Ohana Court

This is Rachel from Florida.  She's a gem.

This is Lisa from Germany.  She's adorable.

Black sand from the black sand beach

It's a blast being surrounded by so many photographers

"LOST" anyone?