Connections

So we're being integrated into working with the youth groups at church. I'm excited and a lil nervous for these next steps and putting my heart into this new church community. God is opening doors and hearts and it feels good. It will be a new experience for me and my husband to get involved together as well - good stuff! The youth (jr. high/high school) program is a little unstructured at this time but the leaders are lining up curriculum and activities for the coming year, and I'm blessed to be a part of it.

We're even getting to know a few surfers around town too, just cuz we all surf and always welcome a companion with which to do so. Glad to see familiar faces out in the line up too sometimes. The swells are up even in the south right now since there are mighty winds so we went out yesterday and it was a rough session but always worth it.

I'm trying to get mentally prepared for the surf camp next month. I've sent my booking form and payment in full so there's no turning back now. I just need my plane ticket and to make my packing list and I'll be set. (Except for the part where I'll be missing my hubby a lot.) I feel like I'm at the level I wanted to be at before the surf camp and I just hope I can really take advantage of the time, waves and teaching I'll be getting over in Maui. This should be a once in a lifetime experience.

Speaking of once in a lifetime experiences...I swam with dolphins at Sea Life Park. Not free swimming but hung out in the tank and exchanged kisses with a big ol' dolphin, then they give you a ride across the pool. SO FUN. There was a turtle habitat and a penguin habitat as well - my faves. My boo surprised me with that adventure. He's the best.

Good night world...

Little steps & Bad dreams

I woke up at 4:00am on my day off because I had a bad dream. Bad dreams, of the demonic kind, are not strangers to me. I've had a few that left me terrified to sleep for months at a time. The past few nights I've had bothersome dreams and weird dreams, but tonight was straight up scary. Long story short, my friend was being distant because she was being possessed - yeah, no good. So I woke myself up, and started reading my bible and praying out loud. That is the best way to recover from a nightmare. God does not ignore your request for His presence, and demons tremble at the name of Jesus.

I've been meaning to write about more progress with church and just our lives here in Hawai'i. I received a call about serving in the youth ministries at church since I filled out a card indicating that is my interest. It sounds like there is a need to someone to step in, and it makes me excited but scared at the same time. I know God has me here for a reason, but subconsciously I've been scared to fulfill that purpose. Have you ever been hesitant to take those first steps because you know it's a commitment and it's gonna be big? This is an occasional pattern in my life. Even if it's gonna be great, if it's gonna be big, I may take longer to dive in. And this isn't necessarily discernment, but more often out of fear. I'm growing.

I'll be meeting with the youth pastor next Sunday for more details and to begin getting involved. This week we'll be meeting with the worship leader and maybe his wife to hang and talk story. Hopefully we'll be joining their small group on Wednesdays as well. I'm excited to be moving forward in our walk together and our church; it's a new experience for us to share.

Well, I better try and get some more sleep...