Anxious

This is our second work and witness trip to Wahiawa, Hawaii to help in the Wahiawa Church of the Nazarene.  Last year we put a new roof on the church.  This year we are scheduled to paint the exterior and interior of the church, lay tile in the basement, and paint the public living area in the patronage.  We have a huge task and fewer people than last summer.  Sometimes we are tempted to be anxious but the Bible tells us not to be anxious.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:25-34

Today we planned the menu for the next two weeks, searched for a boom lift, and bought tile.  It might have been easy to be anxious about everything.  There were questions, about time, money, and materials.  Worry could have immobilized us all, but we stepped out in faith.  The boom lift is scheduled to be delivered on Monday, and costs as much for the week as we were told it would cost per day.  The order for the tile was canceled by some unknown person for an unknown reason but did not sell.  We bought it today, and God supplied a vehicle to pick up all 45 boxes tomorrow.  Many calls were made to find a refrigerator off Craig’s list.  Either we did not hear back or there was something wrong with the refrigerator so we still need a refrigerator to store the food for the team.  Pray that God provides that in His time.

Our Father, God, shows us that we are loved not because of what we do but because we are His children.  We can rest in His mercy.  If we do not have the courage to trust Him with our future, God shows us that fears only hold us back.  We are valuable to Him.  He planned for our lives here on earth and for eternity and His grace and mercy is not just for us, but also for us to share with everyone we meet.

Do not be anxious.  God has a plan for the people of Wahiawa and He will carry it out. He is our loving heavenly Father.

Written by Bonnie Young

 

Up Dates on Hawaii

God Cares

 

Pastor John called to report several exciting things:

1.    He just returned from attending the first session at Point Loma in his Master's program.

2.    The church meant their budget requirements for the third month in a row.  In the prior year and a half this had never happened.

 

3.    Someone from the church bought floor tile and installed it in one of the basement rooms of the church.  The church flooded before we were there last July ,and this is the first of many rooms to complete.

 

4.    One of the members of last summer's work and witness team members gave money for living room furniture for Pastor John and Carla's home. They chose patio furniture because it is more maintainable with their son Peter's use.  The cushions are washable and replaceable. 

 

In our church, we have been in a study of Nehemiah.  Through the study of Nehemiah, we see that God cares about and watches over everything.  God had plans for Nehemiah and He provided.  Jesus told His disciples in

Luke 12:2-7  There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Pray for Carla.  She goes in for kidney stone surgery the 21^st of November.

Praises to the LORD

The long process of the roof and gutter replacement is finally finished.  Pastor John sent pictures of the new gutters last weekend.



                   

He also reported that Rachel, the volunteer youth worker was granted a local preacher’s license.  Her ministry is growing.  Another military lady has started attending church, and she started a women’s ministry that meets once a week. Praise the LORD for His blessings.

 

Bonnie Young

Riders on the Storm

Pastor John and Carla spent the last several years riding storms.  When we arrived in Hawaii, much like Job they were exhausted.

Job 6:11-13   “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?  What prospects, that I should be patient?  Do I have the strength of stone?  Is my flesh bronze?  Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?"

Since we were there in July, Carla took a refreshing trip home to Florida for her parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary.  The children went back to school.  The roofing project was completed except for the gutters that the church is paying to have done.  Pastor John was accepted into an online Master’s program out of Point Loma.  The new youth ministry is flourishing.

Their strength was gone, but God in His mercy sent workers, friendships, family, and resources to lift them up.

Continue to pray for their family.  God is not done working, and we are not done being used.

Bonnie Young

2x10 Removal Complete

Does the rain here in Colorado remind you of Pastor John’s hanging off the church in the hurricane?  Well, I have terrific news.  Last Saturday several men showed up to remove the 2x10’s that were put on the roof before the roof replacement started in July.  The men safely removed the boards.  Now, other people can put up the new gutters.  God has His timing.  He is never early or late.

Psalm 37:7  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

Bonnie Young

Children and Youth

Just a few days before the Crossing team arrived in Wahiawa a new family from Colorado Springs began attending Pastor John’s church.  Rachel the wife, had been active with the youth ministry in Colorado.  She told Pastor John that she would start a new ministry for the youth of the church.  What she found was a church family in need of ministry to both children and youth.  She recruited two other women and two weeks ago they started an active program.  Sunday morning, September 1 the church had 10 new people, and they all said they were there because the programs for their children.

Matthew 19:14   But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.