Summer break has now come to an end, but the memories created and the lessons learned will be remembered for years to come. Praise God for this experience!

The 4 following Sunday's we will hosting recaps:
7/18 MCC
7/25 CCAA
8/1 WCBC
8/8 ECC

Praise God for fulfilling His Word - the harvest is truly ripe. This week we were able to be apart of God's plan for 12 children who dedicated their lives to Christ for the first time!!! We are rejoicing with the angels.

Blessed

"practical" "real" "awe-inspiring" "challenging" "convicting"- are all descriptions from the group regarding this year's EFCA youth conference. The theme was "UNDO: Restoring the Original." We explored the Beatitudes in depth throughout the week. We were privileged to be under the teaching of people such as Sean McDowell and Geoff Safford. We also learned new doctrinal terms like "Canonicity" and "Pneomology" - be sure to ask your kids what those mean and how they learned it. God spoke and evidently moved in the hearts and minds of each student. But now we are being put to the test to see what we will do with these encouragements and lessons learned.

... I sit in the Baptist Student Center as Northern Kentucky University where we are staying for the week. We have hooked up with River of Life Church in the heart of Cincinnati. On Sunday we got to share the Lord's Day with them and meet Gordon Havens. Gordon is a man of energy, vivacity, adrenaline, but every ounce is centered on prayer, the gospel, and loving God and people. After the Sunday service we fellowshipped with the members than went out onto the streets to pass out fliers for our first block party.

Speaking of the block party - it is definitely a different neighborhood than any of us are used to. But we have also happily learned that people are friendly and welcoming. They give you a moment even if they've got their headphones in. Today was Findlay Playground, we did face painting, balloon making, sign dance, hula - and of course the main draw...free food. There are many stories to tell, but I will save that for another time.

Please pray for unity within the group. Also that we can maintain good health and rest. But most of all pray that we each will be uncharacteristically outgoing and loving towards the children, families, and people made in God's image. We cannot do any good on our own, but as it says in Romans 1:16 "..it [the gospel] is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...."

Matthew 6
"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven."

We're here!

We made it safely and in one piece! Well, sort of. Four team members have been stuck due to bad weather and mechanical issues. Please pray for the Okimoto's and Thea.
Currently, I am sitting in what is a Sunday school room in a very large church facility. Faith Church EFCA has allowed us to spend the night here. The place is huge with many rooms, doors, and windows. It is also storming outside - thunder, lightning, the whole shabang.

We had the privilege of meeting a handful of the youth that attend this church. We showed them a few skits and dances and learned a little bit more about Ohio and Ohioans (is that a word?)
That was a superb blessing.

John 15 "I am the vine you are the branches, apart from me you can do no good thing."

Please enter into the LORD'S presence on our behalf, pray for unity and selflessness!

Thank you and Aloha.

"Today is the Day....

...that You have made let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24

The long awaited June 26th has arrived and that means we depart. The majority of the group flies out tonight and we arrive in Ohio on Sunday. The flight is approximately 7 hours including a layover.
The first week as we attend the EFCA Youth Challenge Conference in Columbus - please pray that we won't merely be spectators or worse yet, critics. Pray that our minds will be challenged and our lives be changed. That we will be sponges soaking God's truths so that in the following week we may pour out blessings on those in Cincinnati.
I am not certain that we will have internet access readily available but I will do my best to keep you all updated.
Feel free to leave comment and I'll be sure to relay them to the group!

Ephesians 1:17 "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,"

Aloha!

Just a few more days....

I've been chatting with other team members and the excitement is definitely growing.
After CEF and a kids camp in Maui over half the team has been able to see God at work this summer.
God is always at work, that is truth, but having the privilege to actively serve and to seek His kingdom first, there is no greater joy!

Illuminate - What we intended to be as a night to share the light of Christ with the lost turned into a time of praise and commissioning. Here is the group minus 3

Please pray...

...for each individual. That we will be soft clay ready for molding but also bold servants ready to work in the "fields."
Here are the names of each member of the team according to their home church:

Waipio Community Baptist (1):
Jenny J.

Christ Church at Aiea (3):
Gabe T.*
Chad R.
Joshua F.

Ewa Community (2):
Andrew C.*
Nicholas B.

Grace Bible (1)*
Kimberly Y*

Mililani Community (22):
Leslie H.
Hannah K.
Justin K.
Nathan K.
Pastor Steve K.
Gary O.
Auntie Nancy O.
Kevin O.*
Chris R.
Aaron S.
Adrian S.*
Uncle Joel S.
Auntie Crystal S.
Josh S.*
Sean S.*
Sean T.
David T.
Uncle Jonathan U.
Auntie Mutsumi U.
Matthew U.*
Tina U.
Thea W.

*these students are also serving with Child Evangelism Fellowship. They are currently attending the training camp and will being teaching at 5-day clubs and day camps the weeks following the Ohio trip.

New Summer, New Adventures....

Hey Folks,

Once again Mililani Community Church along with 4 partnering churches are joining together to create a summer missions team. This summer we have the opportunity to head over to Ohio. We have the largest group yet - 29!

For the first week during our time there we will be attending the EFCA Youth Challenge Conference in Columbus. The theme this year is "UNDO" and we will be privileged to hear talks centered around the "Beattitudes!" The dates for this is June 28-July 2.

From there we will be heading down to Cincinnati for our outreach with the inner city community. Our host church and partner in this endeavor is River of Life. Our goal is to help to get the word out to the community about the church and build relationships with members of the community surrounding the church. We will be hosting 4 block parties each at different parks with the intent to be a light and share the love of Christ. We have planned to use face painting, balloon animals, music, hula, food etc. to gather people and connect with them. Also each of the block parties are times to get the word out about our final goal - "Illuminate."

Illuminate is a night of music, dancing, and food etc. at the church. Hopefully attended by those whom we interacted with at the block parties. We hope to get the word out about the church and have as many opportunities as we can for the gospel to be shared.

Well, that's just a quick summary of our plans. But we know that God has everything under His control and will be directing us accordingly!

I, personally am growing increasingly excited as the trip grows closer! Please pray for the preparations and final weeks leading up to our departure. And stay tuned for more updates!

Here's a picture of (most) our team:

Ephesians 6:15 "and, as for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace."