Hit and Run

I think there is one thing that we can all agree on that is worst than being "Stuck in Lodi"- and that's being in "Stuck in jail (in Hawaii)". I came very close to experienceing this the other week. It's a classic Jaime/Jeni story. Jaime telling Jeni to do something and Jeni stupidly following without questioning... here's what happened:

Jaime and I were in our church parking lot. She was in her car and I was in mine. I backed up to leave and I felt a big bump. I thought I ran over something. When I turned around to look, these druggie guys were hanging out their car windows yelling at me and waving their hands at me. Yes, I had hit them (maybe I should have turned around to look BEFORE I felt the bump).

It was apparent that I had hit them. So I smiled at them with that I-know-I'm-an-idiot-smile, and pulled back into my parking space so that we could hash things out. I look over at Jaime and she is waving at me like a mad woman telling me to get out of there ASAP. The way she was looking freaked me out. I thought they had a gun or something. So I drove out of there as fast as I could (I'm suprised I didn't hit someone on my way out). As soon as I got onto the main road I called her and said, "Why did you tell me to leave?!" And she said, "Those guys were mad at you Jeni, they were yelling at you." "Yeah," I said, "Because I hit them." She then advised me to go back. I guess she thought that I was flirting with them because I was smiling at them and pulling back in. ???????? Thanks for the vote of confidence Jaim.

We went back to the parking lot and they were gone. Their car was there so we checked it out and there weren't any dents or scratches. And they were total druggies. They didn't have a liscence on their car, just one of those peices of papers that says, "Aloha." And it was awesome because a friend of ours from church was there and he looked around the car for any damage with us... there turned out to be none.

Time Flies

I cannot believe it's almost November! We have been doing a really bad job of posting lately- sorry! I thought maybe I'd just let you all know some things going on in our lives....

The biggest thing that pops into my mind right now is that Jeni has this WHOLE week off! And I don't. She has totally been trying to downplay it so that I won't get upset, but it was pretty obvious this morning when one of us had to get up and the other didn't! But she felt so bad she woke up anyway and was going to make me breakfast! I told her that most likely I wouldn't be up if the situation was reversed, but she's always been much sweeter than me :). I am glad she has the week off and since I've always known I wasn't getting a break, it's not that bad.

The last two Sundays, we have been playing volleyball at church. Well, I watched last week, but I played last night and it was so much fun. I haven't played in years and pretty much sucked (yeah, this one guy traded me away to the other team! The nerve!), but it felt so good to play! Jeni is a stud and I kind of felt like the unathletic sister who came to town.... but that's ok. I'm going to start training at least an hour a day and I'll show them! Just kidding. I'm not training at all. I was a little worried about being able to get out of bed this morning since we played for two hours, but I made it! The only things that are sore are my legs.... wonder why. :)

We also started a mentor program where we both have an older woman in the church to hang out with and mentor us in a way. We both got awesome ladies and it has been amazing. They fit our personalities perfectly and mine even has a similiar back problem! They didn't know that when they matched us up- talk about God hooking us up! She's has been dealing with her back problem for about twenty years and knows so much about backs in general. She has a been a huge help physically, but also emotionally!

Hmmmm..... what else? We are still living in our little place. This past week, our neighbor moved and in moved a couple with a three month old baby. Not only is our place small, but it also has VERY thin walls! Jeni hears most of the crying, but yesterday I had to leave because the poor guy was crying for over an hour. But it's not all that bad, definitely could be worse.

We have been making a lot of friends at church and go to an awesome Bible study on Tuesday nights and another one on Saturday. Our Saturday night service is usually followed by Smore Night on our porch and this week we even had a guest. :) We got to hear his testimony and it was such a blessing to be reminded how loving God is... and how He can change our lives and when we're born again, He really gives us a new life. It was rad.


Our first quarter of school ends this week for me (Jeni ended last week) and pretty soon Christmas will be coming up! We bought our tickets home.... December 22- January 2.

I can't think of anything else. I'll ask Jeni. I decided I'm going to put her on picture patrol while she's off this week. There are so many beuatiful things here... and some bizarre too (like the pigeon that attacked us at dinner the other night).... but that's it for now!

I'm an Auntie!!!

Well, technically I'm not an "aunt", but in Hawaii, it's a sign of respect to call elders "Auntie" or "Uncle". A lot of Jeni's students call her Auntie, but they eventually learn to call their teachers "Miss" or "Mrs." Because of that, I don't have anyone calling me auntie.... until recently! :)
Jeni and I take some girls that were in her class last year to church with us and guess what they call me..... Auntie Jaime!!! Oh my gosh, I love it. The funny part is they call Jeni Ms. Elson and me Auntie Jaime so I think people get really confused when we are all together. This morning when I dropped Jeni off at school, the sisters (they are seven and eight) were getting there at the same time and came and gave me a hug. Then when they left they said, "Bye Auntie Jaime!" in their little Hawaiian accents. Oh, they are just two cute!

Pencil Sharpener

Oh, the things kids say...
I have a little bit of a cold. Today I held 3 kids in from recess (Peter just happened to be one of them). While they were in here, I blew my nose. Peter and another girl stopped what they were doing and looked up at me with a look of confusion/disbelief. Then Peter said, "Auntie, you sound like our pencil sharpener."
Oh Peter...

-Jeni (I want to sign my name so that you don't think that one of Jaime's highschoolers are saying these silly, silly things. I mean to think, that I could blow my nose loud enough for it to sound like a pencil sharpener. Now that would just be embarrassing.)

But he called ME stupid

A lot of funny things have happened to me during my 3 years of teaching. Probably the all time funniest happened last week.

I have a little boy named Peter who is full of energy. He is the typical "boy". Very hands on and physical.

On the way to lunch 5 boys (Peter included) got in trouble. I had to leave them in front of our school office by themselves while I ran in to get something. I came out to find one of my sweethearts, Kaleo, hunched over crying hysterically. One of the other boys told me that Peter had punched him in the stomach. Peter instantly started crying but managed to muffle out, "But he called me stupid!" I explained how we don't hit when others call us names and that he would have to go talk to the principal. Oh man, he went crazy, crying up a storm... He cryed for the next 5 minutes and kept saying, "But he called me stupid!" over and over. Finally in my sternest voice I leaned over so my face was right in front of his and said, "Peter, it doesn't matter that he called you stupid. Is he in trouble right now? No. You are. Because you hit him." He looked me in the eye and in a clear and frustrated voice he said, "BUT TEACHER, he called you stupid!"

My natural instinct was to hug him, thank him, and ask him why he didn't clock the little punk in the kisser. But I fought the temptation, mustered up my dignity and said, "Peter, it doesn't matter WHAT he called me, you can't hit people."

Funny huh? Yeah, kind of.
Jeni

Mike Moore

On September 27th Mike joined Jesus in heaven. As sad as it is to know that I will never again see him at church or at their home, it's amazing to think of him with Jesus. He loved Him with all of his heart. He loved to read His Word. It's awesome to know that he is completly healed, probably dancing around his Savior or sitting at His feet listening to stories from the Bible.

For those of you who never met Mike, let me tell you a little bit about him. He was Josh's baseball coach for many years. Loved baseball. Loved coaching his sons' teams. Six years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and was given months to live. Pastor Perry went to pray with him in the hospital and Mike ended up entrusting his life to Jesus. From then on he was a changed man. He still loved baseball but coached for the glory of God. From what I saw, his desire was to bring glory to God through everything he did. Throughout his illness he would write updates on his health. In these emails he would thank God for the colon cancer, knowing that it was the way that he came to know Him. In fact, I just found an article from the Lodi Newspaper about Mentors. Mike was one of the mentors featured.

"I thank God for my colon cancer. It changed me and I think I'm really making an eternal difference now. I pray everyday that God will put me in a place where I can be of some assistance to somebody and show them the joy that I have," he said.

Our world is full of sickness, pain, and evil. What do people need these days? Hope. Mike found his hope and strength in Jesus. I'm thankful for his life, for his trials, his pain, and his love for Jesus. Knowing that God used all of those things to draw people to Him. When I think of how many people will be in heaven because of Mike Moore, I get goosebumps.

Mike will be missed. But there is comfort in knowing that he is in a better place and that he is completly healed.

"For I consider the sufferings of this present time NOT WORTHY
to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18

His Eye is on the Sparrow

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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,
for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than
they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his
stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass
of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all
these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34



Lyrics to "His Eye is on the Sparrow"

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I know He watches
Me

School Days.... school days

It's amazing to believe that it's almost October! October has an important significance for teachers. Actually, every month has a special significance.... each first of the month means you survived a whole month (and you're 30 days closer to summer vacation)! And surviving the very first month of school feels like the greatest accomplishment ever. Jeni's little kindergarteners are finally starting to calm down... did you know that teachers actually have to teach them how to color? And cut? And glue and glitter? And how to stay in your seat and not run into the parking lot in the middle of class? My biggest problems so far are keeping one of my fifth period students to keep his shirt o

Our new best friends!!!!

I Can't Resist...

Wait a minute....

Jeni and I have begun to realize that we are not actually very young anymore (actually, she is a whole heck of a lot younger than me... but still). Here are the top ten things that have happened to us lately (ok, mostly me again) that confirm this oh so disturbing fact.

10. I have found myself saying to people in their early 20's lately, "When I was your age....."

9. Converse, plaid kool-lats (spelling???) and popped collars are back in style- and I remember sporting them the first time around.

8. "Teeney Boppers" like Brittany Spears are now married and having children!

7. Jeni spends almost an hour a day putting sunblock and moisturizer on.

6. We consider a leisurely three mile bike ride "good exercise".

5. My hair is actually turning gray... thanks mom and dad.

4. Most of the activities we go to at church are mostly attended by 19-21 year olds. Nothing will make you feel older than that!

3. I was talking to a girl at church (a 24 year old) and telling her about this other girl I met (a 31 year old), and here is how the rest of the conversation went:
Her: Is she married?
Me: No, she's single.
Her: Oh, that always makes me so sad to hear about people that old still being single. I wonder what happened- she's so pretty.
Me: Oooook, nice chatting with you- gotta go.

2. My body has been pretty torn up lately and I was reading a book and in response to someone asking how he's doing, a character in the book said, "Well, if I wake up with no pain, I know I must be dead, so I guess I'm hanging in there." (Or something like that, you get the point). But, yeah, I know how that guy feels!

1. The other day I went to a get together with some of Jeni's friends that I haven't met before. When we walked in one said, "Jeni! And this must be your mother!" No joke.....

Prayer

We have some dear friends who are going through a rough time. Many of you probably know who we are talking about, Mike and Kathryn Moore. Mike is fighting cancer and is very sick right now.
Please pray for the healing of his body along peace and strength for Kathryn, his wife, and Darin and Matt, his sons. Mike is very sick and in a lot of pain. Please pray that God would touch his body and him get through this rough time.

Drumroll please......

Ok, maybe I was exaggerating a little bit when I promised an "extreme" makeover. But, as you can tell by the pictures.... it was very drastic! I don't think we got enough "after" pictures- we should have taken wider angle pictures, but these will do for now! It's just really hard to get our WHOLE apartment in one shot :).

Canned Meat Product

If you ever read a menu and see the description, "Local Style", it probably means that item is loaded with Spam, a local favorite. We took this picture at McDonald's recently... these are their "Local Style" menu items.

I Can Hear You Pee

I know, I know, that's not very ladylike. Sorry. But over here, that's true in every bathroom you are in. There are very few closed in windows as we know them in California and in many places, there is just open air near the roof of the building. I just walked by the student bathrooms at Jeni's school and saw those windows and realized that its not one of my favorite things about Hawaii. Just thought you might like to know :).

In other news.... Jeni and I are both in our third week of school. We are in that frantic, "I'm never going to catch up phase," but things are getting more organized every day. We are trying to write more on this blog, but we don't have internet at home anymore and when we're at school, we have been working 'til we drop (oh, I know you feel so bad for us :>).

So stay tuned for more recent news and for pictures of the inside of our place.... it recently got an Extreme Makeover!

Relief for Hurricane Victims

Here are just a few organizations you can donate money to to help the hurricane victims.
- American Red Cross
www.redcross.org
-Samaritans Purse (Franklin Graham)
www.samaritanspurse.org
-Salvation Army
Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY


Also, please visit my friend Doug's Blog to hear how to help someone we know whose home was destroyed in the flood. Herbie graduated with me at Saint Mary's and needs our help. The information is on the Sept. 3 entry at this site: http://griffinmorocco.blogspot.com


Please keep our friend Cassie and her mission team of 75 people in prayer as they are heading to Batton Rouge to do relief work and grief counseling this week.

Coming to an End

It has been awesome having Nate, Linds, and Nolan here in Hawaii. They crashed with us Friday and Saturday night. And then they went to stay at Turtle Bay Sunday night. I think I might have mentioned it in an earlier log but I keep thinking about it. It's so awesome to see and to get to know your friends' children. He has a part of both of them. He has Nate's kicked back personality with Lindsey's curiousity and focus.

It's been awesome having them here. I wish that they could consider moving here but I know that that is out of the question with where they are at in their lives.

It Is Well

This past week has been a terrible and confusing time in our country. Because Jeni and I have no TV, we have been spared seeing the mass of images being played over and over again in the media. I have heard of so many heart wrenching tales in New Orleans and know we are all shocked and deeply saddened by such a devastating tragedy.

Yesterday, I had a discussion with my junior English class about this. After class, one of my students came up to my desk and told me to be grateful I don't have a TV. She said she can't stop watching the news reports and it makes her so sad. I am sure you all feel the same way. We are all probably wondering what can we do from our remote locations. If it would help, I know many of us would fly across the country to be there and do anything we could- but no one really knows how to help right now.

In the midst of this, I know so many people are feeling despair. I read an article that was saying that we call natural disasters like this an "Act of God." It certainly doesn't portray our God in a very loving light that we attribute such a terrible thing to Him. But, yes, it is an act of God. There are many beautiful, wonderful, miraculous works of God that occur every day also, but this flood is what is happening right now.

As I was driving just now, my favorite hymn came on. It is called, "It Is Well" written by Horatio Spafford. It is a song with extremely powerful lyrics- the basic point of the song is that no matter what comes our way, our soul can be at peace because of Jesus. This kind of song is very easy to sing in times of blessing. When the sky is blue and shining and everything is just right, I know I can belt it out with the best of 'em- but in times of trials, it becomes something totally different. The story behind the writing of the song is an amazing one. Horatio lived in the 1800's in Chicago. He was very prosperous for a time and had five beautiful children. But when his son was four, he died of scarlet fever. Some years later, Horatio's wife and four daughters were sailing to England when the ship sunk. Horatio received a telegram from his wife the next day which read, "Saved alone." Only his wife survived, his four daughters drowned. Of five children, they now had none.

It is in the midst of this great tragedy that he wrote the song, "It Is Well." The lyrics read like this:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the joy, of this glorious thought
My sin, not the part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord
Oh my soul

And Lord haste the day
When my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back like as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the
Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul.


No matter the sorrow Horatio was facing (and I would venture it was great), he was still able to find hope. As Christians, we know our only hope is in the Lord- we know it is well with our souls. We know that no matter what we face on this earth- we know it is a short time. And we know we will be spending an eternity with our loving heavenly Father in perfection. In a place so wonderful we cannot even imagine it. This is what caused Horatio to declare "it was well with his soul." Like Romans 8:18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" in heaven.

As Christians, we need to live with this heavenly perspective. Let us not be the ones who are despairing here on earth. We have hope in Christ Jesus. We should not be the ones who are glued to CNN, speaking ONLY of the tragedy. We need to be speaking to people of HOPE. SO many people know nothing about hope. Think about how grieved we are, but we know this life is not all we have. Imagine those around us whose only hope is in this world. What a frightful place to be. I pray we are the ones spreading messages of hope.

Can we offer answers to the questions of "Why?" Probably not. Should we not be sad? Absolutely not. We should be sad, it is beyond a terrible thing. But we should not be hopeless. These are two different things. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but notforsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." Friends, we are not destroyed- we have hope because Jesus Christ died on the cross to spare us eternal damnation. We will be spending eternity with Him in heaven, where no natural disasters invade and destroy. We have an inheritance that cannot be taken away. Our hope should not be in our earthly "things". That means our big houses, our fancy cars, our looks, our money, our prestigious jobs, our standing in the community.... none of these things are eternal. Yes, your eighty or so years here might seem "comfortable", but in the light of eternity, what is the value of any of this? We know our lives are but a vapor and pass so quickly. And, unfortunately, we can see how quickly these things can disappear. Our eyes need to be on Jesus in heaven: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2

It is in times of terrible tragedy that we need to be sharing our hope boldy with those who have none. It is because of God's love that we ourselves are free. It is because of God's love we should seek out the hurting and offer a shoulder to cry on.

If you are reading this and you are not a child of God, I want you to know how much He loves you. The maker of this entire universe created you. He knows you by name. He knows every hair on your head and He is waiting for you to come to Him. When I am speaking of peace, He is it. Being a Christian doesn't mean your life ends, it means your life will begin in an amazing way and it begins with and ends with God's love. I believe He appoints a time and place and He might be calling you right now to respond to His message of love. How do you become a believer? You simply tell God you know you are far from Him. Although you feel far from Him, He has always been and will always be right there next to you. A prayer that leads you to God doesn't need to go through man- its you and God. It can go something like this, "I come to you God in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. I now confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins and was raised from the . I confess I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I put my eternal soul into your hands. Jesus, please save me." Being a part of God's kingdom doesn't mean all your problems with disappear, but you can experience a peace in the midst of those problems like you've never known.

If you are coming to Jesus right now, there is an entire host of angels rejoicing over you right now. Welcome to the family!

For all of us (me included) I want to leave off on this note: Where is your life right now with the Lord? Can you say, as Horatio did, "Whatver my lot.... even so, it is well with my soul." If not, go to Jesus. Start with the truth that it is well with your soul and ask for God to show you His peace. He longs to work in and through you to spread His love to this hurting world.
May God bless you all, no matter the worldly circustance you are facing this day.

God's Faithfulness

Wow, I've just been writing away... Jaime's second day of school.

It's just that God is so good to us. As many of you know, Jaime's back went out the day before school started (she spent the whole day in bed- the WHOLE day). We got a chair for her to sit in the next day but she was still in a lot of pain and could barely stand and walk.

Here it is a week later and her back is almost completly better (almost).

The Lynotts Have Arrived

Nate, Linds, and the cutest little baby flew into Honolulu Saturday night. Jaime and I were able to meet up with them in Waikiki the next night for dinner. Whoooo-ee is their little one cute. It was super cool to get to hangout with them and get to know Nolan. He is a Sweetheart.
We also got to hang out with them yesterday at Turtle Bay. (for those of you who don't know, Turtle Bay is a fancy resort close inbetween where we live and work). Jaime treated me with a day at the spa for my birthday. It was SOOOOO nice. We sat outside and had our legs and feet massaged. It was cool because we got to hang with the Lynotts for a little bit. I haven't mentioned anything to them yet, but I can tell that they should live on the North Shore. It's just in them.
Right now they're staying in a dump in Waikiki. Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday night they're going to stay with us and the rest of the nights at Turtle Bay. I'm a little nervous that they will think our place is a dump too. It's not that I think it is a dump, it's just that seems to be the general opinion of people who have visited. We'll keep you posted.

Better is One Day in Your Courts

We went to church Saturday night and something pretty significant hit me. There's this worship song that says, "Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere..." When we sang that song when I was at Bible College I would always think about college. I loved Boise State. I loved my friends. I loved the carefree living. I loved everything about it. I had a really hard time leaving Boise. While singing that song months later at Bible College, I would think, "Yeah, being close to You is better than when I was in college." My walk with God has struggled a little since living in Hawaii. For one reason or another I haven't felt like I'm in His presence. Not to say that I'm not in His presence, I just haven't felt as close to Him as I have in the past.


We sang that song Saturday and it hit me, the most precious place to be is in God's presence. People always say, "You're so lucky that you get to live in Hawaii." Which we are, it's beautiful and I love it. But honestly, the best place to be is in God's presence, dwelling with Him. Trusting Him for everything, loving Him, feeling like you're alone with Him... nothing comes close to it.

Just a thought.

" Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." 1Peter2:1-3