My First Week in Hawaii

Hi everyone!!!

Welcome to my official blog of my YWAM travels. My goal is to write weekly updates at least one every week so you can keep tabs on all of the trouble I'm getting into out here in the middle of the Pacific. I also want to continually share pictures, videos, quotes, and random thoughts of my time in Hawaii and the three months after wherever I end up going! I apologize for not updating sooner. The first week has been pretty hectic!

Our daily schedule is as follows:

6:15 -- Wake up or start to attempt to wake up

7:00-- Breakfast

8-12 noon-- Class (these are weekly lectures on the scripture. our first week was about listening to God's voice)

12:00--lunch

1:00--various skill developments

2-3:00--my ONE hour of free time during the day!

3-5:00--work duty (everyone has an assignment. mine is 'special projects' which I'm quickly figuring out is the overflow group haha basically all we do are random things the campus needs done. a lot of painting and moving things. basic manual labor)

5:00--dinner

6-8:30--evening class. On mondays this is our photography lecture. it varies by the day.

9-10:15--work out

So as you can see my weekly schedule is extremely busy!!

I have loved my time here in Hawaii so far. I have been here for nearly a week and a half but it already seems like I have been here a month. The first thing you notice when you arrive on campus is the diversity. The broad cultural spectrum is unlike anything I've ever seen. On the first night they had an opening ceremony type of thing where a representative from each nation presented their flag. There were 43 in all! I've me people from Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Egypt, China, Germany, Brazil, UK, Spain, South Korea, Cameroon, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and every part of the United States. I live in a room with 4 other guys. Two are from South Korea (Sudong and Aiden), one from Germany (Ben), and John from Washington state. In only a week I feel like we've been able to get to know each other on such a good foundational level. I love hearing all the different types of languages and hearing everyone's background stories. At first glance you would wonder how we would all communicate and learn to get along but it is so neat to see different cultures meeting on a daily basis to discuss and glorify our Lord and to share common interests and passions. We are all a lot more similar than you may think!

So I'm sure all of you are wondering how beautiful it is here. Well let me tell you. It is very beautiful. It still really hasn't hit me than I'm living in Hawaii. Our campus is about a 5 minute walk to the ocean and about a 10-15 minute walk to downtown Kona.

So the first week has been focusing on listening and hearing God's voice. Despite being here a week the Lord has been speaking a vast amount of truth into my life. The thought that I've been talking out with Him the past few days are my thoughts on doubting His power and His desire to use me in His plans. It was so neat to see God speak through other people to encourage me in this area. After prayer in class one day one of the leaders came up to me and said "I feel the Lord is telling me to tell you to believe who He says He is." Now keep in mind I hadn't shared a word of my thoughts with anyone let alone had a conversation with this girl. These are the types of experiences I've had the privilege and honor to experience and see. During another prayer another one of my leaders told me "God is telling me to tell you to accept the resolution in your life and remain steadfast." This spoke volumes of truth into my life. I have had a tough time accepting God's grace and forgiveness in my life the past few years so to hear that was very good on the heart :)

I want to continually thank all of you who have shown me your prayers and support! I would not be here if it wasn't for you and I believe that wholeheartedly. The Lord has been reminding me of how amazingly blessed I am to have friends and family like you! I love you all!

ps I can still text and if you want to call me the best time to call is the weekends. If you do call during the week just leave me a voicemail if I don't pick up and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

I'll leave you with a hymn that has a special place in my heart after my first week here.

THE CROSS BEFORE ME

THE WORLD BEHIND ME

NO TURNING BACK

NO TURNING BACK

Aloha!