One Month In

To go through all that has gone on this past month will be a tough task.  I came here with almost no expectations for anything really.  I didn't know anything about YWAM and I hardly knew anything about the school.  Just a very few basic things.  It didn't take long before I was challenged by Christians and their way of interacting with God.  From worship, to prayer, to many different ways the Holy Spirit can work.  Does God really speak to our souls?  Does He want to communicate with us when we are listening for His voice?  One of the things I hoped to gain from this experience was to see church in a new way.  Different from Americas version of church.  We don't do everything right and I wanted to see how God worked in different areas of the world.  That was something I thought I would encounter on outreach.  Even though technically I'm still in the United States, God has fulfilled that desire.  I have seen people from all over the world and many from the States have a relationship with God that I never knew existed.  I didn't have to leave the United States to have my views of church and my views of God completely challenged.  Is it wrong because it's different or is it just different?  Do I need to throw away all of what I've been taught growing up in church or what I've learned in Bible College?  At first I thought I had to make a choice between the two, because they seemed to be on different ends of the spectrum, but God has opened up my eyes to see that they can exist together.  There are still a few things I struggle with and some things that I don't necessarily agree with, but I can say the same for any church I've been to.


So I guess the first month here has been a growing experience and an eye opening experience to what God is accomplishing in people and in the world.  As a DTS (discipleship training school) we've seen one of team members accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  His transformation is incredible, he's got an unending list of questions he's been asking with many people willing to pour into his life.  It's been awesome to see a hunger and thirst for God from classmates of mine who have never really had that desire.  Life has always been about them.  And through their relationship with God they are realizing that life is about first of all God, but about other people.  People come first, not our own agenda or our selfish desires.  Many people are living in small rooms with 7 or 8 people and having to adjust to life with almost no privacy.  What you gain in this setting where christian community is focused on is accountability.  Sin isn't meant to be kept in the closet of our hearts, but to be shared with brothers and sisters who can come along side and guide us through our struggles. Yes, it's humbling, but it is so freeing and it brings joy when you don't have to bear the weight of sin on your own.


I'm going all over the place in this blog, but sometimes I feel that way here.  With so much entering my brain during class and through many other things during the day.  Processing through things sometimes doesn't happen right away.  I can say that this has been one of the best months of my life.  Of course being in Hawaii is amazing.  The sunsets, the palm trees, the beaches, the volcanoes, the cliff jumping, the snorkeling, the waterfalls, the community, the friends, the leadership, the worship, and the teaching.  All of that has made this month one of the most incredible months of my life.

                                 It's mostly locals at this small beach. Its just about 10
                          minutes from the university and its a nice place to catch some sun
                  or even go for a swim. There are always people out surfing or boogie boarding.

    
     A nice row of palm trees at Magic Sands Beach.  Not quite walkable, but hitch hiking is legal
        here in Hawaii so we take full advantage of that.  Why Magic Sands Beach?  Because at
                        times there is only lava rock and other times its beautiful fine sand.















                           My roommate Ryan Bledsoe taking out the other team in the
                                                  YWAM Volleyball Tournament.




                 One of the local kids surfing at one of the beaches here in Kona just about 5
                                                      minutes from the university.    

                                 One of the skaters from Kona enjoying his time during
                                            Skate Night here in the Ohana Court.