What do you see?

We've been in Hawaii now for three weeks, and I'm beginning to be asked the question, "What are you doing?"  And while I understand the sentiment behind this question- the longing for some kind of change to be immanent, the new haole* face that is both hopeful and suspect in the same smile- I can't help but think the more appropriate question might be, "What do you see?"

It's really easy to jump into a situation and start doing a bunch of stuff without taking the time to observe.  For those who are driven to be a part of any kind of social and spiritual transformation, the slowness of listening is borderline drudgery.  We fool ourselves into thinking that our doing equates to positive movement.  Not all movement is equal, especially in relation to a new context with different issues, different people, and different identities.  If we don't take the time to observe and learn, our hasty actions may cause more harm to those with whom we wish to be friends.

Learning to see is always the first step in any work.  We must ask the question, "What's going on here?"  How does the story of this community in Kona relate to the story God's redemptive work?  And, we can't understand how God is moving and will continue to move in this place unless we first understand this place.  Joy and I enter into this community like infants, dependent on the community to teach us their pattern of life, their culture.  If we don't take this time, remaining blind to the nuances of life in Kona, our ministry here won't be effective.  Without dedicated time to observe, we will continue to carry our cultural heritage and language over/against this place, expecting conformity to our way of doing things.

Ultimately, our guide is Christ's move into humanity- the Incarnation.  Just as God fully immersed God's self into our state of living, taking on human flesh and the cultural heritage of Jewish life and all the social and political instability of first century Palestine, we too must fully immerse ourselves into a different culture, allowing our cultural blindness to be restored.  We must be given new eyes.

Pastor Ryan is in the middle of series on Vision.  He preached, "Our witness to this community cannot begin with a crow bar, using texts to prove people wrong, but with our posture praying, 'My Lord and My God.'"  For us, this means entering into this place with humility.  We do not want to force our way into change, especially when we do not yet understand the measure of change that God desires.  And that's the rub, we know God is working here in Kona.  We know God has gone before us preparing people and places for our arrival.  We know there is a general darkness in need of Christ's light.  The Kingdom of God is real, physical, tangible transformation that can be seen and touched through God's people.  But we need to first learn what God's salvation looks like in this place.  What needs saving?  What gifts and graces in the community are latent and just need to be watered?  What powers need to be critiqued and countered, and who are the ones who have been marginalized and oppressed by those powers?  Who are the ones open to our presence in this place?  What work of God has started already that we can join?

The next few months, we'll be in the process of receiving new eyes.  And we'll be sharing some of our observations and reflections with you as we learn to see again.

* Haole is the term used in Hawaii for foreigners, tourists, mainlanders, or just plain old white folk.

General Update

• We bought a car! 

• Eric continues to interview for a job.  The next phase is Monday - prayers appreciated. 
• I am in the process of becoming a volunteer at a local elementary school that's within walking distance of our home. It turns out I need to fill out a few applications, have an interview, and a TB test. I hope to have all of that completed this next week. 
• I have been in contact with two different playgroups/moms groups. One is a playgroup that meets weekly and the other is a moms group that meets monthly. I plan to attend both of these groups this week :) 
• Eric is busy meeting with church members, local pastors, community members, and community groups. Right now, our role is to observe, learn, and know the community and context of our new place. He is also plugging into our local church, attending staff meetings, prayer groups, and spending time with Pastor Ryan to better acclimate to a new congregation.
• We are feeling settled in our transitional space. Actually, we feel so settled that we're not looking for another house yet. We want to have outside employment lined up before we move, and we also want to spend time getting to know the various neighborhoods before we commit to a location. 
• The details of our move have taken up more time than we anticipated. We had some damaged furniture in the move, and Eric has spent time almost every day for the past 10 days or so dealing with the insurance claim. And while opening a new credit union account was easy, transferring funds from our bank in Tennessee has not been quite so easy.  Right now we are trying to make sure we have all of our bases covered as far as automatic withdraws for student loans, health care ministry, etc. 
• We met our fundraising goal!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping us along this journey. Any additional funds (not yet pledged) will go first towards a midwife, and second towards year two of our ministry in Hawaii. 
• We have gone to a beach one day each week that we have been here. Justice loves the "sandbox!" 

Transparency

Allow me to begin by saying, we are undoubtedly right where we need to be. However, as we become more settled and the rush of "things we need to do" calms down, the reality of being transplants in a new city sets in.

While I consider it a great honor and privilege to be home with my daughter, it is HARD! It's challenging when I don't know where to go, or what activities we can participate in. I have been spoiled this past year with a fantastically supportive MOMS Club, and a daily calendar of activities and playgroups in the homes of other mamas. I'm not looking for all-day entertainment here, I'm looking for an hour out of the house. An hour when I can look in the faces of other dedicated, struggling, and beautiful moms who are giving their best to their children. A time when I can share a laugh, or share some tears. A time when another mom can say, "Hang in there. We're in it together."

In full transparency, perhaps another reason I'm struggling this week is because I've been working during the days for the past 3 months, and Eric has been home. Looking back over the past 5 years, my times of greatest struggle are when I'm unemployed. And here I am, in week TWO of not having a job, and I'm going a little stir crazy!

I know I'm not alone. And I know that any of you who have moved to a new city can relate. This is, quite simply, part of acclimating into a new community. Soon, these emotions will pass. Soon, our calendar will be full and we will practice saying NO in order to preserve our sacred family time. Soon, we will begin to make friends. And instead of sitting at this picturesque coffee shop on the beach alone, I'll be sharing life with another.

At dinner time daily, when we pray with Justice, we thank God for our blessings. Today I'm thankful for the blessing of technology; for FaceTime, for email, for the phone. And I'm so incredibly thankful for the Fasani family. Most missionaries are planted in communities where they literally know no one. We are so fortunate to already know a family we met in Nashville a few years ago, thankful to be in this mission with a team.

First Week

We've moved in, hung a few pictures on the wall, and purchased a few things that didn't make the move with us (garbage can, toaster, blender, etc.).  We're feeling as settled as we expect to feel.  We know we are living in a transitional space, and driving a borrowed car.  While those realities are with us daily, we are trying to not be anxious.  We are blessed with everything we need right where we are.  And Justice has friends just a few steps outside our door.  Oh, how she loves having playmates!

Those we have spoken with are seeking, "updates, updates, updates!"  So here's what we can share.

1. Our little family is trying to form new rhythms.  We have been shopping an unbelievable amount of times; trying to find the best and most cost effective way to grocery shop, as well as picking up necessities that didn't make the move with us.  Every day brings about new things that we forgot about. We try to make these trips in the mornings, while we focus our day/time around acclimating Justice well.  This has been extremely important to us, as we know our little girl has been through significant transitions these past few months.  We are grateful to say, she is doing quite well.  Sleep patterns have returned, independent play time has returned, and our little J-bird is growing right up!  Her sentences are astounding, and her creative play has really taken a leap this week.

2. We are meeting people.  The church hosted a potluck in our honor.  We had ample time to socialize and begin forming relationships with the people we will worship with on a regular basis.  Over the weekend, we attended a prayer meeting with a few families who are trying their best to be intentional about discipling their children.  And one day last week, I attended a movie and discussion called "The Guerrilla Midwife." I was able to meet fellow pregnant mamas, a few midwives, and potential friends.

3. Eric had his first interview a few days ago at a local coffee shop.  We are prayerfully considering our employment options, and hopeful to integrate these schedules as well.  I am anxious to get out of the house a few days a week, and I hope to volunteer at a local elementary school as soon as Eric has a work schedule!

The people we are meeting are grateful we are here.  We have been received warmly from the church community.  However, right after the "We're so glad you're here..." pronouncement comes the second sentence.  Folks seem genuinely interested in letting us know the work we are doing will not be easy.  Already in our first week we've heard about brokenness, hurt, neglect, abuse... the struggles of the community.  And from what we gather, the hurt is deep.

Looking forward, we would be honored if you would join us in praying for our family.  Pray for us to continue to develop healthy habits, for it is only out of our health that we can effectively minister to others. Pray for employment that will be an eye into the community.  Pray for maternal care during the rest of our pregnancy and birth.  We have just begun calling and meeting midwives!

Moving In!

Several of you have asked, wondered, emailed or called about how we're doing.  We made it, and we're doing great!  But this week has been exhausting.  We're trying to catch up on sleep and adjust to the time change, all while getting settled in a new place.  So I'm here to share some pictures today, and we'll be back soon with another post :)

Our transitional home; dining/living room space

Kitchen (obviously)

Some generous families from the church welcomed us with fruit (mangos on the counter, lilikoi in the vase), chocolates, bread, jam, salad, juice... 

Top fruit: lilikoi; Bottom pink fruit: guava

Papaya tree in the backyard. 

Moving company came on Thursday.  This is everything we shipped from the mainland.

Justice watching the movers unload 

These boxes of (mostly) books are sitting outside, and will likely sit there until we find a permanent home.  

Justice is excited to have her table again - and even more excited that she can sit in her chair and see birds :) 

Unloading the kitchen

Departing the Mainland

Justice and her "J-bird" tree at Grandma's house. 

Saying goodbye is never easy.  Our family in Michigan had a little party for us, so we were able to see a lot of people and eat grandma's yummy cake! 

Standing outside O'hare airport - here we go! 

These pictures are from our second flight.  We flew Chicago to San Jose on Monday night, had an overnight layover (got a hotel) and our second flight was San Jose to Kona.  We landed in Kona at 10:45 am on Tuesday, Sept. 3.  All things considered, Justice did great on the flights.  We were able to snag an extra seat for her on the second flight, and that helped a lot.  When she was awake, we read books, colored, talked to our neighbors, ate snacks, and watched a little elmo :)