Family Fun

A mother-daughter selfie when we went to see the sunset. What a precious time together!

What an exciting few weeks we have had! Anneke’s parents “Opa & Oma”,  sister “Tante Martine” and friend “Tante Judith” visited us from the Netherlands. We had such a precious time of fellowship with one another. The girls quickly got used to their grandparents and my dad now has about a year to get his back realigned after the many piggy back rides and sand castle building he did. My mother introduced Hope to her first eyeshadow & mascara experience and of course she loved it! Tante Martine showered her nieces with gifts which they opened in great anticipation. Together with Tante Judith the two ladies taught the girls numerous songs and dances. Tante Judith is also in the business of making jokes, so much so that Hope now will make random jokes explaining to me that, that is what Tante Judith always does!

Opa playing in the sand with REJoyce. One of the many things we enjoyed

It was something we had all been looking forward to for almost a year and now the time finally came! We enjoyed so much fellowship and it was a real special family time for all of us.
We are so grateful to all of them for visiting us and miss them already. REJoyce walked to their door yesterday knocking and calling their names. When there was no answer she gave a kiss to the door… 

 Church History

Saturday April 4th our local church family “Mokuaikaua” celebrated its 195th anniversary. It was the day that the first missionaries came to Hawaii carrying a “black box” which was used to contain the Bible. According to a prophecy the local priest had decreed, the truth would arrive to the islands in a “black box”. So when the friends of Henry Opukahaia sailed all the way from New England aboard the Thaddeus with the first Bible in Hawaiian language they did not realize the doors that would open when they set foot here. A great wave of people got saved and within 30 years 96% of the Hawaiians were attending church! Approx 2000 people were getting baptized PER DAY in those days. A lot happened since then, but today at the dedication of the rock where the missionaries set foot ashore many local pastors from the island gathered together and declared “do it again, Lord”. To see so many different churches coming together was really a historic moment and brings eager anticipation as to what will happen here in the future.

The re-enactment of the first missionaries sailing into the harbor

Local church pastors praying together

The children looking at the little boy actor who played the role of Henry Opakahaia

Jackson was part of organizing this celebration and he helped mobilize more than 200 volunteers! Yes it was a busy day! The girls were enthralled by the re-enactment of the story and we are all reminded of the significance the islands of Hawaii have in the Lord’s heart. A year and half ago it was discovered that the land where we are staying at the University of the Nations was originally missionary land dating back to the descendants of these missionaries that set foot here 195 years ago! Hence we are living and serving in the middle of church history- what a privilege! Yes, Lord, do it again!