"Go light your world . . . "

Sunrise atop Haleakala

The relationship that light has with darkness was established when God’s spirit moved at Creation.  The Genesis account states that God separated light from darkness.  (Can you imagine what it was like when they were mixed together?)  From that instant on, Light had power over darkness.  (Hallelujah!)  Recently, we have heard and seen many examples of this fact, both in the natural world around us and spiritually. 

  In August, during the Perseid Meteor Shower, at 3 AM one morning several of us went up on the rooftop at H.I., away from the bright city lights to count the “shooting stars”.  Did you know that most of these are mere particles the size of marbles down to the size of grains of rice that burn up when hitting the earth’s atmosphere as far as 60 miles out!  Another dramatic example of the power of light would be, someone striking a match at the opposite end of a blacked-out, indoor football stadium.  It could be seen several hundred yards away.  Isn’t it wonderful that someone entering that same stadium while illuminated could not open a 1 cubic inch container of thick darkness and dispel all the light contained in that same place?  LIGHT ALWAYS DISPELS DARKNESS, even a tiny spark!

There is an oppressive spiritual darkness in many countries of the world especially in Asia and Africa.  These past weeks we have heard many stories illustrating this and the challenges facing the participants from these countries.  It has been so exciting to see how, in the space of 25 days they have come together, and through the influence of strategic, international facilitators, small group discussions, and prayer cells each have formulated action plans for more effective, targeted evangelism through their workplace influence and personal relationships.  To throw out the light of the Gospel.

 At the closing convocation when their diplomas were presented, it was an emotional experience to hear a select group of them share their choral choice of a Kathy Troccoli’s song “Go Light Your World”.  For the last verse, the lights were dimmed and they took out their cell phones and waved around the flickering candles app as they sang.  The “director” was an Armenian pastor participant from Lebanon and the pianist an Indian physician participant.

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit who brings fire

Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

I have excerpted a video clip below of the first and last verses sung by them.

 The participants' early morning  group prayers and singing in the garden before taking breakfast 

Leon with Men's Session Resident Coordinator
 on left and Christian Coptic priest from Egypt on right

This shows what countries were represented and how many participants
came from each; also the list of professions represented.  

This takes me to our other recent experience, that of our second trip to the top of the Haleakala volcano mountain at 10,000 feet.  This time we left at about 3 AM to drive up to the summit by about 1 hour before sunrise.  We wanted to catch the first rays of dawn waking up the island of Maui.  We were NOT disappointed at the glorious display of colors and constantly changing array of clouds and rays of sun as it crested the horizon.   How awesome is our Creator God!  I so love the passage in the book of Job, chapters 38-40 where God answers Job’s probing question of where are you God?  There is so much beautiful poetic expression about God’s hand in nature.  In Job 38:19 (CEV), God rhetorically asks Job, “Where is the home of light, and where does darkness live?”   [“if you’re so smart, Job”]

Below, I have pieced together several video clips of what we saw as the dawn broke.

By Saturday, Oct. 29, all of the men participants had left the Institute for their respective countries and our time to pack up after our 3-month service stint at H.I. had come.  On Wed. morning, Nov. 2 we flew from Maui to the Big Island-Hawaii, for a 3 day visit there before starting a week visit in Oahu and our eventual return to PA on November 13^th.

"A little slice of heaven . . ."

What a thrill it has been to spend nearly three months here on the island of Maui.  It's hard to believe that in nearly ten days we will be leaving, as our 3-month assignment will have been completed.  There have been so many possible things to share about in our blog that it's been difficult to keep a balance between what we've experienced in our travels about the island during our free time, and the incredible stories, relationships and transformations that have been happening within this conference center.

One of the men's team-building exercise games, the first day after arriving.  They needed to devise a way, with pieces of rope and a small plastic pail, to transport the water contents from one pail to another one about 35 yards away.  They could not set foot inside the white plastic pipe circle around the receiving pail.  Two teams of 30 men each competed in this.  Some emerged as leaders, some workers, some cheerleaders, etc.  :)
CLICK on photo below:

One expression I have both used myself, and heard from others is—this experience, is in many respects, a “little slice of heaven”.   I truly believe that outside of the reading of the book of Revelations, what comprises our weeks’ activities are a foretaste of just that!  Here’s what I mean. 

Just looking purely at the physical surroundings of the island of Maui.  The incredible natural beauty of creation—the shorelines, the underwater beauty of marine life, the majestic volcanic mountain of Haleakala, the lush tropical flora and fauna, the power of the surf, the sweet aromas of many of the tropical flowers, the beautiful Hawaiian melodies and accompanying, expressive, swaying hula dances is one facet. 

The constant interaction we have among the 20-30 volunteers builds fast bonds of friendship, accountability and encouragement.  Monday to Friday we spend 30 minutes of inspirational sharing together as volunteers.  We vary the days between inductive Bible study, personal life stories, prayer and praise.  We hear of God’s faithfulness in our personal by bringing us through deaths of spouses, surviving cancer, concern for wayward children, forefathers being saved from the ravages of war to create a lasting legacy.  Amidst the tremendous diversity and years of experiences we feel quickly unified by one Spirit and one motivation to be servants in God’s Kingdom work here right now. 

And then there is the beautiful international tapestry of participants coming together from all over the globe, for one purpose—to learn more effective ways to communicate the gospel.   It’s amazing to see that in just 2 or 3 days after arriving there is a lot of close communicating and sharing and embracing of one another going on.  The other day one of the men said that he counted 96 different times during that week he had been involved in some sort of small prayer cell activity!  These were with varied groups of individuals, throughout the day, as part of focus response sharing after lecturers, etc.   Even though a practical use and understanding of the English language is a requirement, to see so many diverse cultures and mother-tongues, styles of music and expression come together in one place, especially as we praise God together it seems to fit the picture of Revelation 7:9-10--

⁹ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Although the 60 men from 25 different nations started their month-long evangelism training conference 3 weeks ago I have not taken time to highlight any of their activities.  The 25-day conference is a rigorous, 6-days a week 12-hours a day schedule for the participants.  The faculty are all non-western presenters who, themselves,  have at one time completed this same training.   They are brought in from their respective countries of residence for a week or two for the several sessions series of the curriculum they are presenting, and then return to their places of employment or service. 

One of the reasons why the training of H.I. is so effective is that the faculty are not full time, “professional” trainers or lecturers.  Rather they, themselves, are on a daily basis “fleshing out” the very principles of living out the Gospel message that they are advocating.  And H.I. is constantly screening the “best of the best” of the graduates, based on their effectiveness in the marketplace, and inviting some of them to return as adjunct instructors for this ongoing program.

Although we as volunteers do not get an opportunity to sit in on any of these daily participants’ sessions (we are busy doing the janitorial, maintenance, and housekeeping duties we volunteered for) We do interact with them during our evening dinners together and Sundays, which are free days for both volunteers and participants.  There is, however, one event which the volunteers get to attend with the entire group of participants, and that is the Global Forum, multimedia reports given by regions, based on the geographical proximity and religious challenges of each of the countries represented at each conference.  These are very powerfully presented by the participants of that region.  A different region is featured each day for 5 days and lasts about 1 ¼ hours.  The participants of that region decide and plan together how there will introduce their individual countries to the group—population, tourist attractions, economy, religions, how and when in history Christianity was introduced to that country, what are the challenges to evangelism today.  This information is shared through creative use of multi-media, dramatic skits, etc.  At the end, there is a powerful time of prayer and laying on of hands by the other non-presenting participants of that day.  We have ALL become much more aware of what our brothers and sisters of the global church are faced with and how we can more specifically and effectively pray for and encourage them as we walk with them.

This has gotten a little longer than I had intended but I wanted to give a fair representation of how rich our time has been as we daily go about our duties here at the center, and not just the external exploration of this beautiful island and its people.

Summary information shared by one of the specific regions in the Global Forums

Effective use of "breakout discussion" groups to help appropriate principles taught in larger sessions

A skit depicting a witch doctor's approach to a client's problem 

After a region's global forum presentation, that group receive special prayers from the rest of the group

An example of regional information shared

This video below includes examples of the wonderful singing by the men; first clip from a worship service inside the auditorium, the second piece was an impromptu songfest after our regular, Friday night, pool-side dinner time together.

Highlights and trivia from Hawaii

 This blog represents a bit of a creative mix of photo journalism and interesting trivia facts about the Hawaiian Islands that may have escaped your bank of knowledge until now.

A couple weekends ago I experienced the highlight of my time in Maui with an "air-trike ride"--a powered hang glider.  The glider flight was out of the Hana airport, about a 2 hr. drive from here at Kihei, but we got to fly out there on a friend's Cessna 172, taking only 20 minutes.  As we were taxiing out to the runway, I mentioned that I had soloed in a Piper Cub J-3 about 45 years ago and was on quite a few Cessna flights during our 3 year stay with Wycliffe in the Bolivia jungles, and enjoyed all those moments.   My friend said "Well then, you can fly this plane, go ahead and take off!"   After a little resistance he talked me into taking the yoke and with his hand lightly on the left-hand controls I did get to "pull it off".  What fun!  So I got in on a "tufer" flight experience that day.

Click on photo: does Karen "safe and secure" in the back seat? 

Controlled in the air like a hang-glider (by weight-shifting, or pushing on the wing bar),  but being pushed through the air with a motorized propeller, rather that solely depending on wind currents.  We were up for an hour and I got to control it about half of the flight.  The last 5 minutes were with the motor shut off and gliding peacefully down to the airport runway from 4500 feet altitude.

doing a tight spiral over  a 400 ft. waterfall where we had hiked
in to about 5 weeks earlier

Going through a cloud the skilled pilot puts our sun-shadow right in the "bull's-eye"
of a perfect, circle rainbow below

Getting a friendly helicopter "escort" (see just under wing tip
in upper right) for about 60 seconds, by one of the pilot's buddies, running
 a tourist helicopter tour service

Engine shut off for last 5 minute glide to runway below

Hawaii Facts and Trivia from website:    www.50states.com  

1. The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.
2. Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
3. Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.
4. More than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.
5. There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.  Vowels: A, E, I, O, U Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W
6. From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.
7. The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.
8. Under-sea volcanoes that erupted thousands of years ago formed the islands of Hawaii.
9. The Hawaiian Archipelago consists of over 130 scattered points of land stretching some 1,600 miles in length from the Kure Atoll in the north to the Island of Hawaii in the south.
10. Hawaii was the 50th state admitted to the union on August 20th, 1959.

11. Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time.) The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
12. There are four counties in the state of Hawaii (Kauai; city and county of Honolulu; Maui; and Hawaii). Each city has a mayor and council in charge.
13. The wind blows east to west in Hawaii. The highest recorded temperature is 96' F (Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92' F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature (under 3000 feet altitude) is 56' F. Temperatures under 60' F may occur but rarely more than once a year. Average daytime temp. (July) is 82' F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72' F.
14. There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-American about 32%; Filipino-American about 16% and Chinese-American about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.
15. ISLAND OF KAUAI

1.       The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

2.       The Waialua River is one of five navigable rivers in Hawaii. It drains off Waialeale Mountain, which averages 488 inches of rain per year and is considered the wettest spot on earth.

14.   ISLAND OF OAHU

1.Honolulu is the largest city in the world -- at least it has the longest borders. According to the state constitution any island (or islet) not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago, that stretch to Midway Island (1,500 miles northwest of Hawaii) part of Honolulu. Honolulu is about 1,500 miles long or more distance than halfway across the 48 contiguous states.

2.    More than 100 world-renowned beaches ring Honolulu.

3.        The world's largest wind generator is on the island of Oahu. The windmill has two blades 400 feet long on the top of a tower twenty stories high.  

4.       The island of Oahu draws more visitors than any other to Hawaii. One-third of the state's best surfing beaches are on Oahu.

15.   ISLAND OF MAUI

1.The island is home to many famous attractions including Haleakala Crater, the old whaling town of Lahaina, the road to Hana, and Kaanapali Beach.

2.       Haleakala Crater (Ha-lay-ah-ja-lah), is the world's largest dormant volcano.

16. ISLAND OF MOLOKAI

1.    Molokai is known as the most Hawaiian Isle.

2.       Molokai's east end is a tropical rain forest and part of the island receives 240 inches of rainfall a year.

3.       Molokai Ranch Wildlife Park is home to rare African and Indian animals.

4.       Kalaaupapa was once a leper colony administered by Father Damien.

5.       The island contains the world's highest sea cliffs, Hawaii's longest waterfall, and the largest white sand beach in the state.

17.   ISLAND OF LANAI

1.       The island of Lanai is considered Hawaii's most secluded.

2. The island was once the home of the world's largest pineapple plantations.
3. Hulope Bay is a marine preserve and considered one of the best diving spots in the world.
17. ISLAND OF KAHOOLAWE Once used as a target by the U.S. Navy and Air Force the services are cleaning up unexploded shells. No one is allowed to go ashore without permission. The island consists of an uninhabited area of 45 square miles.
18. THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII The Big Island is Hawaii's largest at 4,038 square miles. It is twice the size of all other Hawaiian Islands combined.
19. The largest contiguous ranch, in the United States, is in Hawaii. The Parker Ranch near Kamuela has about 480,000 acres of land.
20. Ka Lae is the southernmost point in the United States. It is located at 18:54:49 N 155:41:00 W.   There is a constant 27 knots per hour wind blowing east to west, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
21. Two of the tallest mountains in the Pacific - Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa - dominate the center of the island.
22. Kilauea Iki is the world's most active and largest volcano.
23. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world (measured from its base at the ocean floor).
24. The island houses the world's biggest telescope and more scientific observatories in one place than anywhere else in the world.
25. The island is the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts and orchids.

Two-wheelin' the West Maui Loop

On a recent Saturday we decided to run the perimeter of what's called the "West Maui" part of the island on a rented, Kymco 300cc scooter.  (Brought back some sweet memories of yesteryear!)  The weather was perfect and the winding coastal road was definitely cycle-worthy, some parts of it even too narrow for 2 approaching cars to pass.

Pic taken before leaving H.I.; and yes, Karen DID wear a
helmet for the duration of the trip.

Mapped out portion of our 75 mile, day-long scenic road trip

[click on photos to enlarge]

Before we got too far into the more rugged country we stopped off at famous Leoda's bakery and pie shop just before reaching Lahaina.  Since it was late morning by then we decided to share one of their "savory" pies; a chicken pie.  Made me homesick for the frozen Myers chicken pies my mom would keep around for the few times when we were kids that she might not be home to fix dinner for the family.  Mmmmm, what a treat!  (Remember the "TV dinners", too?)

Scooter seat had roomy storage area for our hiking day-pack

Kapalua Coastal (walking) Trail

"Dragon's Teeth" (Makalua-puna Point) at Kapalua is a bizarre lava formation that owes its existence to the wind and sea

CLICK BELOW for video of  surfacing , 5-foot long, 300 pound green sea turtle (honu) in Oneloa Bay, near the above photo; the video also includes a nearby kitesurfer further out in the bay.  After mating the female takes up to 2 months to swim to the French Frigate Shoals, 600 miles west of Maui, to lay her eggs!

Stopping by to take a look at the Olivine Pools far below (see some swimmers testing out the warm, sea-water trapped pools)

Following the beautifully, winding coastal road, approaching the 600 foot high Kahakuloa Head in the distance

Getting close to the Kahakuloa Head

The secluded Kahakuloa Village nestled in the cove behind Kahahuloa Head.  Notice the quaint, green Keawala'i Congregational Church on the right-hand side of the village.  It was built in 1832.

One of the tight,  single-lane, hairpin turns along the way (In a car--hope you don't meet someone coming toward you!)

A "buzz" of activities

We apologize for the long silence.  But that doesn't represent a long period of mundane inactivity here at H. I.  On the contrary;  there has been a lot going on here with the training sessions and participants along with some special guests.  The institute's founder, Dr. J.H. along with the board's newly appointed CEO lady, Dr. B.U. visited us about 2 weeks ago.  What a privilege to sit at the dinner table with him and hear his wit and wisdom and sharp memory of important details from decades ago and his call to begin such a impactful, global,  evangelism-training ministry.  At age 92 it was fun to even, on rare occasions, see him quickly reach for his smartphone to "google" a minute fact he wanted to confirm!

That same week (week 3 of the women's session) we got to hear some dramatic presentations. All 58 of the participants from 24 countries were grouped into 5 different geographic regions of the world. They were asked to present to their fellow participants and us volunteers using drama and multi-media and music what the religious and cultural status of their countries are, some historical facts of the influence of Christianity in their regions and challenges they face in sharing the Good News to those who need to hear.  There were some very poignant portrayals of challenges they are facing in many places.

Portraying the challenges of confronting powers of witchcraft 

After each reporting group shared, the entire assembly surrounded
them and offered powerful prayers of blessing, and for boldness and
God's directive hand to be upon them 

Sharing the dinner meal with the founder and the incoming CEO

 A few days later there was an international praise night and all the ladies dressed in national costumes and each region or country offered praise songs and many with dances.

Malaysian praise dance with one of Karen's friends pulling her
up front to participate in one song with them

Karen with some fellow volunteers and international participant ladies

Giving you an idea of the countries where the women participants
came from and the varied professions they represented

Sumptuous convocation banquet meal 

With our good friend, the "resident coordinator"
for all the participants; she is a medical doctor
from the Philippines 

Leon, with  Nigeria's first woman
Presidential candidate (2015); she is an H.I.
graduate and teaching facilitator at this session

The convocation and diploma ceremony last Thursday was the culmination of the month's training. The evening began with a formal dinner in our dining room and later included the women singing a wonderful missions song that is offered in the video below.  Here are the song's lyrics:

"WE SPEAK TO NATIONS"

 Hear the sound

The sound of the nations calling
Hear the sound
The sound of the fatherless, crying

Who will go for us?
Who will shout to the corners of the earth?
That Christ is King

We speak to nations, be open
We speak to nations, fall on your knees
We speak to nations
The Kingdom is coming near to you

Oh, we speak to strongholds, be broken
Powers of darkness, you have to flee
We speak to nations
The Kingdom is coming near to you

We speak to you, be free

(Yeah yeah) Be free

Hear the sound
The sound of the nations worshipping
Hear the sound
Of sons and daughters singing

We will go for You

We will shout to the corners of the earth

That Christ is King

[Click on photo for Choir singing video]

Preparation for communion 

The last event was a communion service on Friday morning including all the women participants from the 24 nations along with all of us volunteers.  It was one of my most meaningful communions in recent years ending with the  "Go ye into all the world .  .  . "

We said our sad goodbyes as all of the women departed throughout Friday night and Saturday.  And by Saturday night into all day Sunday we welcomed the 60 incoming men participants from 30 countries to start the men's session today--Tuesday.

From one Red Hill to another, same day

Saturday (9/17)  was another day to explore some of the wonderful contrasts of nature that surround us here in Maui.  We spent the day with 3 other volunteers from the institute.  We started the day by driving about 10 miles south along the coast from here at Kihei.   The Hawaiian Islands are the creations of long-ago volcanic activity.   The island of Maui is the result of a “volcanic doublet” formed from two volcanos that overlapped one another to form an isthmus (or level valley) between them.  The “younger”, though non-active volcano that forms the eastern 75% of the island is Haleakala (“House of the Sun”).  Its last eruption was around 1790 and lava squeezed from a surface vent flowed down it’s southwestern flank and created a large (360 ft.) hill by the sea coast, called Pu’u Ola’I, nicknamed “Red Hill” by the local dive boat captains.

The hill is made up of crumbling lava rock and gravel with mostly scrub brush growing on it.  The 20-minute climb was hot and wound its way through the underbrush.  But the views from the top, of the coastline and the nearby islands, was spectacular.  The climb down was a bit more treacherous with the loose gravel and rocks wanting to give you a free, quick “ski ride” down the trail.  (I’m refraining from blackmailing Karen with a classic shot of her getting back up, using her trekking poles. :) )

From there we drove about 2 miles to check out a good snorkeling beach but this particular morning the surf was a bit too churned up for good visibility, so headed back home.

By mid-afternoon we headed the opposite direction into the interior for our first visit to the 10,000 ft. peak of the Haleakala Crater.   Interestingly enough the summit parking lot is built in a shallow crater called Pu’u’Ula’ula (also meaning “Red Hill”).   The main, large crater is oval-shaped and is 7 miles long by 2 miles wide and 2600 ft. deep.  So we started the day at sea level, then climbed a 360 ft. red hill and by late afternoon drove about 46 miles up to another "red hill" at 10,023 ft.  (Actually this volcanic mountain starts on the ocean floor and rises to 29,703 ft.; 675 ft. higher than Mt. Everest, but 19,680 ft. is below sea level!)

One of the incentives that prompts many to go to the top, is to see either the sunrise, or sunset.  The cloud cover is usually around 6-8000 ft. level so you get to see the sunset lowering into the clouds rather than into the horizon.  This night, however, there were an abundance of clouds so it wasn’t as spectacular as some nights.  We were glad we were warned in advance of the 3° drop in temperature for every 1000 ft. of elevation.  So we borrowed some sweatshirts and winter jackets kept here at the institute just for this purpose. It registered about 46° there at sunset.

I must mention that I have a profound respect for my friend, Larry, who invited us to go along with him and his wife on this trip.  He is about 15 years younger than me and a serious bicyclist (brought his along from B.C., Canada); and about 3 weeks ago cycled (in the rain) from Kihei (@ sea level) to the top (total of 46 miles; actual climb from sea level about 30 miles) in about 8 hours! 

[CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM]

Looking south along the coast from Red Hill

Looking out toward Molokini Crater (straight above Karen) where we snorkeled last week

Leon looking up toward Haleakala Peak (pic below)

Karen negotiating her downhill moves

Red Hill up close from nearby beach

Red Hill in distance

At Haleakala summit lookout

Showing part of the 7-mile long crater

Getting ready to stake out our spot for watching the sunset, with Larry and Lorine

Bundled up, waiting for sunset

Getting a "twofer"--Within the same hour a sunset and a Harvest Moonrise