Aloha from Marsha

Good Morning Friends,

I am happy to say that all my complaining of the last few weeks had finally ended!  We are now settled in all snug and happy in the guest rooms of Olivet Baptist church.  Tony officially starts his classes this next week and we're excited. He’s already hit the ground running by preaching at the local Chinese church (in English) and the Japanese church has snagged him for an upcoming service (in Japanese). In his words, he’s “happy as a boy in a bathtub full of bullfrogs!”

We've been visitors on and off to Hawaii since the early 80's when we began flying thru on the way to Japan.  We lived here 4 months last year, so it almost feels like a home away from home.  Tony's remembering how to drive on the 'wrong' (to us) side of the road, and we're beginning to re-discover some of our favourite foods!

And don't forget the lovely CHICKENS!  For some reason, there are feral chickens all over the island, even in the middle of town.  I’d forgotten how lovely it is to wake up to "Cock a doodle doo!" outside the window.  Of course, I have to wonder why the rooster thinks that 3:30AM is time to wake up but.......

I came across a brief history of Baptists here in the islands and thought I could regale you with some interesting information over the next few weeks, or until we have some ministry news to report.  That way maybe you can enjoy a bit of this tropical island with us.

You might say Christianity came to Hawaii in an interesting way.  

It seems that there was a little boy of 10, on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, who after his entire family were slain by Hawaiian warriors, was taken in by an American ship’s captain bound for New Haven, Connecticut.  On board for many months, the little boy was taught English, along with another Hawaiian cabin boy. and was given a modicum of education.  By now he was a teenager and was boarded out in several homes, until he came across the son of the president of Yale, Edwin Dwight and his friend Samuel Mills.  Mills taught Opukahaia (now renamed ‘Henry’) to read and write, and naturally led him to Christ.  Together, with some other Polynesians and native Americans, they were trained in Christianity and education in a new launch of the "American Foreign Missionary Movement", a group preparing them to return to their homes to spread the Gospel. However unfortunately, just as he had graduated and was making plans to go back to Hawaii in 1918, he died of Typhus.  He was just 26.  Mills used his testimony to stir up interest and in 1820, several couples landed in Hawaii.  The journey took 5 months.  

There are a few actual facts of this story noted in the famous James Mitchener book (and the  60’s movie)  "Hawaii".  Although the book is largely fictional, I think the author represented the zeal these young people pretty well.  Not surprising then that by 1845, Hawaii was listed as a "Christian Nation".   

Does this story sound just a bit familiar?  How many of us have "befriended' a foreigner, maybe even a refugee, and seen them come to the Lord.  How many of us have been thrilled to see them 'return to their homes' to spread the Gospel?  I know of Vietnamese refugees who have done exactly the same thing, finding Christ in Texas refugee camps and then dedicating their whole lives to teaching their own people.

This is not a story just for history It's happening right now all over the world.  People have reasons, sometimes tragic, for finding Christ.  It certainly reminds me of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20.  

That's what keeps us going every single day, and I so appreciate you supporting us in your thoughts and prayers.

Until next time!

Marsha

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20