First Day in Hawaii

Well I made it hawaii safe and sound! thank you everyone for your prayers.

Hawaii is such a different place. It is a completely different culture and not what I expected. It doesn't feel like the United States at all. At times it almost feels like a third-world country. Soccer is king here. I asked pastor david if I could drink the water last night but it was totally fine :) There are lots of different ethnic groups here. Different islands from eastern Asia, Japanese, Chinese, Tahitian, Native American, White (which they call Howley), and native Hawaiians. There seems to be some animosity between white and non-white groups, but obviously that is not the case for everyone.

Andrew and I are staying with the youth pastor David and his wife Kelsi who live an apartment in Hilo. When we step outside we can see the bay (which apparently is inhabited by hammerhead sharks!) and its really cool. There are beautiful flowers, plants, palm trees, exotic birds, trees I have never seen before. At times if you block out the traffic and downtown buildings it seems pretty primitive. God's creation is so amazing. Nothing is the same. It is so diverse and vast. I am just in awe.

My body is still adjusting the time difference, which is six hours behind from home. I went to bed at 10:30 last night to the sounds of loud neighbors and decent traffic. I woke up at 6:30 Am and i thought it was noon. I was so disoriented.

I went down by the bay to take some time with God. Rocks of all shapes and sizes littered the shore. I found a good rock to sit on, but never became comfortable because of all the insects (including huge red ants!) that were around. But I somehow I managed to sit down and be quiet before God and He gave me this really cool image. The rocks closest to the water were the smoothest. The rocks farther away were rougher and more of a pain to climb around. Also the rocks that were farther up in the tide had some type of life growing on them. The rocks on the shore were barren. I felt that God was showing me that the more we are in His presence, the more he can smooth out our lives like the water smoothes the rocks. He can smooth out the character traits, flaws, and habits that are ungodly. And the closer we get to the water, the more that life springs out of us and benefits others, like the rocks that had moss-like plants growing on them. But some people are content to stay on the shore and be "safer." They don't want to get wet. They get harder and rougher. And some people are content with a splash here and there but don't want anymore than that. Sometimes the waves get pretty big and it might be intimidating. But God wants us to just jump right in and be in His presence so that we can be changed and spring forth life. so that is my goal while I am here. To dive right into the presence of God everyday. because I need to be smoothed out and filled up with His abundant life. Hopefully you all can do the same.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Diving in,

Nate