A few weeks ago the Lord began to highlight to me that I am on outreach here.. sounds funny since am a missionary in Hawaii but I see my self as trainer of young people.. making disciples of the ones that come and stay on staff short term or long term. I see myself as helping the students have a safe place to grow spiritually and love being a part of sending them out to the nations. Yet He began to actually let me know that the calling is even more then that.
Kieva is in the second grade and I can count on one hand the amount of times I have volunteered to help at his school. The reason being that I truly feel like a country mouse living among city mice. When I first came I tried to chat with people but could tell that I am so very different from the type of woman who lives here. I long for days at the beach, I long to be able to walk across the street to see the ocean. I want to make friends by joining an outrigger team.. and not have to fight traffic to get there. Basically I miss Maui and my friends!
The women here are city savvy, ultra scheduled, professional types who have had family roots here for hundreds of years. They mingle with one another but really socialize with others who have graduated from the same high school as them. Some of them have known one another since birth ( literally!). Many of them being of Asian descent they are quiet, proper, and controlled. .
I don't think anyone would ever describe me that way!
So as you can see volunteering amidst this can be lonely and not so fun. And yet it was like an epiphany that I am outreach everyday. I believe everyone can be a shining light wherever the Lord has placed you.. but the difference for us is that we are in a place we would not choose. We love Hawaii.. country Hawaii, and we are learning to love this part of Hawaii.. Life is uncomfortable and yet so full of peace, as we know He has called us here.
So today me and three young women from the base volunteered for Kieva's school. We helped sell Haku lei's, wristlets, and headbands. They were beautiful.. each different, full of color, and made with aloha. The Haku leis were also made by volunteers and I could tell that our point person was disappointed in the quality of many of them. It seems that she has been making them since she was very young.. so she was use to a certain quality within the craftsmanship. She also was not too sure about us.... outsiders. We waited for her to let us know when we could be useful. She slowly began giving us jobs and allowing us to help. The fun really began when the children and parents came to try on and purchase the lei's. Everyone was excited about the beauty of the lei's and the beginning of the 50th year celebration of the school .By the time we left I could tell that they had warmed up to us... just a little bit. And I am sure that if I continue to volunteer at Kieva's school maybe in a few months... maybe a year, they will greet me with open arms too. But either way I will be open and I will assimilate as best as I can so others can see the light, the beauty and the aloha of our Father God.
