Man Cannot Live On Bread Alone

Before and During of Our Kalihi Feeding

As of the end of July I have officially graduated from the Leadership School here at Surfing the Nations. Along with countless papers, books and teachings I also completed a 3 month apprenticeship with our Feeding The Hungry Department where I was trained as a distribution manager for our Kalihi feeding. In Kalihi we handout upwards of 600 food boxes every Thursday. Since my graduation I have been given the Department Head position. My responsibilities include the Kalihi feeding every week, our Wahiawa feeding twice a month, and a smaller feeding on the West Side of the island once a week. In total, me and a small staff oversee the feeding of over 2,500 people a month, the largest food distribution in the state of Hawaii. It is an incredible blessing and a huge challenge. On paper it sounds nothing short of epic. Getting to bless so many people weekly. But there is a mentality among those in poverty that they are owed something because of their state as well as the feeling that they need to fight to get what they need. It is an experience that needs to be seen. Often times it feels like trying to tame an angry mob. I have never been so stretched in love and grace in all my life. I have never truly understood a desperate need for the Holy Spirit. And I am finding out even more what it means to die to yourself. We have come to find that if the Lord does not fill me before these feedings, then people are going to go away hungry. We spend an hour every Monday, as well as many other empty mornings, begging the Lord to fill us up and to take us deeper, to turn the cheek to screaming, insults, ungratefulness, stealing, complaining, and to choose love in the face of such things takes a power that I cannot muster on my own. No amount of chee, or positive thinking, or herbal remedies are going to get you through a day like that. Buddha won't do it, and Oprah wouldn't stand a chance (trust me we give away stuff too). And the Lord is faithful to give us what we need to continue on and go deeper in understanding. So every week I get the opportunity to watch the Holy Spirit work through me and my staff as we choose to get out of the way. And as we do so, we get to see lives changed. I used to imagine it like a Benny Hinn conference where crowds are falling over and shaking, but what we've found is that through one-on-one relationships, getting to know someone's name and story and loving them for who they are, lives are being changed. One at a time. We've made friends with a man that believes the Government is out to bring him down, a guy who can shake and cry with rage when he is set off, and a woman that used to physically abuse me with hitting and pinching. These are only a few of the lives that are being radically changed by a radical God with a radical, out of this world love. A love that overlooks even the most serious of offenses. Oh how deep the Father's love for us. A love like this puts everything into perspective. I am humbled by the grace and mercy shown to me, that he would use someone like me to extend it freely to others.

Continue to pray for us as we interact with so many every week. That we would choose love over hate and anger, that we would be filled when we are empty, and that we would stay faithful in the small things like learning names and listening to stories. God is at work in Hawaii.

Aloha,

Jeremy

Ohai Junior Leaders - Sons

First Ohai Junior Leaders Meeting

This is easily my favorite post, because this is easily my favorite part of Hawaii. This, I believe, is why I am here. This has richly blessed me more than there are words. And this process has been as much about me as it has been about anyone else. 

For those that know the story, during my internship here in Wahiawa I fell in love with the wild, difficult, loving, beautiful children of Ohai Street which drew me back to central Oahu, 3,000 miles in the middle of the Pacific. During those months I spent time building friendships and trust among these twenty some kids. When I returned I knew that that relationship needed to change though. Grow rather. I desired more than to just be a buddy, I wanted to see them understand what it means to live life to the full, I want to see their lives radically change. But how, was the question. What do I do differently? And as we've begin to watch these lives begin to radically change I ask myself, what has changed? What happened? Prayer. Yours! Mine! The Staff here! Prayer is changing these kids! And here is what it is doing:  softening hearts, giving vision, creating opportunity. Miracles are taking place. "Woah!" your thinking, "Slow down, aren't you exaggerating a little?" Nothing short. 

McDonald's One-On-One With Carlson. Jesus, Leadership and French Fries.

Let me back up a second though. So a few weeks ago the staff of Ulu Pono (our after school program) decided that it was time to call six of the boys into leadership positions. Recognizing their influence on the younger kids on the street we sat them down and explained to them the impact that their actions have on those around them, both negatively and positively. Along with more responsibility, within Ulu Pono and on the street, we will be holding them to a higher standard of behavior and leadership. The boys, ranging from age 10-13 (one already previously being jailed for graffiti) were beyond amped to be affirmed and respected in this way. 

All this has brought me to a place that I now get to step in to mentor and disciple these boys, as they desperately need solid male role-models. Through one-on-ones I get to walk these boys through what it means to be a leader and be a man. How to treat those younger than them, those older than them, and as they are getting to that age, how to treat the girls. The boys receive plenty of affirmation and discipline as I walk them through consequences and apologies. Along with this I have been fielding a ton of questions about Jesus and the Bible, who he is and what he did for them, and then how that affects their lives. I get to teach them principles like being the bigger man, not striking back, and not allowing others actions to determine their own. 

The Boys Stepping Up and Serving At Our Feeding The Hungry Wahiawa Program

What does my resume look like for all of this? Grace and all your prayers! Please understand that every single one is being heard and changing the outcomes for these boys. You are changing their outcomes! (Let that sink in...) We are giving hope to those that are taught to have none and life to those who have no idea what that even looks like. These boys will become men and in turn effect this city, this world, and generations to come, whether for good or bad. Please continue to pray for me as I step out of the boat, and for these boys that the Good Lord will continue to chase after them with his relentless love. 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -Jesus

Molokai Mo'bettah

Part of my Leadership School here includes a "Big Adventure" trip. It is a trip that takes place every semester but this one was unlike I think any that have taken place. We were given the opportunity to go to Joyce Kainoa's homestead on the back side of the Island of Molokai. It is an area known for its remoteness, the worlds tallest sea cliffs, and the historic Hawaiian leper colony. Joyce was given the land in the 60's and raised her kids in true Hawaiian fashion, hunting, fishing, growing and gathering food. She home schooled them and all were given an education. Because of her accomplishments, and the beauty of the location, she has been featured several times in magazines such as National Geographic and others. This is not a location that many people are given the opportunity to go to. As a matter of fact when we talked about it in town the room would go silent. Eventually we had to stop telling people where we went. An old STNer however is a grandson of Joyce's and was raised there for the first 9 years of his life. We were given the okay to go and spent 4 days hunting wild pig, spear fishing and gathering fruit and shell fish. We packed in little food as the only way to enter was by boat. A 45 minute boat ride around the island to the North side which has only a handful of inhabitants within the 37 mile coast line. We were surrounded on both sides by the worlds tallest sea cliffs, some reaching 3,500 feet in the air. We hiked pig trails and stumbled across many old Hawaiian ruins. It was an experience that even the word magical would understate. The whole time whether I was gutting a pig for the first time or swimming in our gear in head high surf or spear fishing in dark waters, all I could think about was "Man, this is a big adventure." It is nowhere near my first and it is guaranteed not to be my last. The Lord has set me on a course where I can expect these sort of challenges and begin to call them a way of life. I am so blessed by the opportunities that have been granted to me, by the faithful hand of the Lord and by your love and prayers. I can never say enough, but know that not a moment has been taken for granted, and when I am out there you are all constantly in my heart and thoughts. I wish we could do it all together. But in a way, we kind of are.

"A Nice Guy... Sometimes"

     School is busy and I don't get to spend as much time with this guy as I would like, but as often as I can I do. Even if it is just running down to his house to throw him over my shoulders for a minute and see how school went. On days I have more time we go to the park or, in the case of this photo, to McDonald's. Stewart has a desire in his heart to be kind. For the age of six he is incredibly mature and understands more than he probably should at that age. When I ask how his day was he will tell me "good" which will force me to prod further at the conversation, or he'll answer "not good" and then immediately follow with a story of someone that was mean to him or to some other kid at school. He likes to tell me stories of him picking up trash when no one else does and how he stood up for his cousin. These stories make my heart soar. He has however been in a couple fights this year and definitely can show an angry side when antagonized by the older boys. Over this meal at McDonald's I asked Stewart what he wanted to be when he grows up, his answer was, "uh, uh UH, a STN, a skateboarder, a pastor, and a nice guy... sometimes." I have no clue where he even got the idea of pastor but it is so encouraging to know that in one way or the other Jesus is moving in this sweet six-year-olds heart. "A nice guy-sometimes" makes me laugh but it comes with a harsh reality that Stewart is raised to have to fend for his own in many ways which makes him feel pressure to be mean. 

     Please continue to pray with me for Stewart and the many other boys that he represents that the Lord would continue to soften their hearts, change their desires and work through our feeble attempts at loving them.

Adventure

     My second weekend here I took off into the peeks of Oahu with my SLS team. It was a time for bonding, and vision, but mostly for training and preparation for our "Big Adventure." Part of the program completion requirement for this leadership training course is the completion of a 5 day hike surviving off of limited resources except for what is provided by the land. We will depend mostly on gathering and fishing for our sustenance. These adventures take place every term on different islands. This term we have the huge opportunity to go to the back side of the island of Molokai. A place that can only be accessed by boat and less than a hundred Haole people (white people) have ever had the opportunity to visit. It is a piece of Hawaiian history. 

     

      I am beyond stoked to go out and encounter the Lord in this landscape and for what he will do in and through us on this adventure. My knowledge of the program and what will take place is limited at this point but I will be sure to keep you updated upon my return. We go for a week at the end of this month.

A New "Normal"

     I have the incredible privileged to spend the next 3 months with these two guys from Bangladesh, Shahadat and Aziz. We share bunks, a bathroom and kitchen among many other things, which has produced few problems despite our cultural differences. They are also part of my SLS (Surfers Leadership School) team, which is a pretty rad opportunity. I feel so blessed to be able to share my life and grow with these two guys. They lead a group of youth back in Bangladesh teaching them how to surf, give back to the community as well as water-safety training and various other things. They are entrepreneurs and dreamers and incredibly talented men.

     Living in such a diverse community stretches you daily as almost 20 different countries and even more cultures are represented here at STN. But for all the ways I am stretched I am grown. I am given a new perspective on what is "normal," on value systems, time constraints, priorities, diet, success, failure, the definition of the word "clean" and the list goes on! What an opportunity I have been given to see the diversity of our great planet, the love the Father has for so many and how uniquely we have been created.   

No Ceiling

     Surfers Leadership School is in full swing. Every Tuesday we spend time in a classroom setting going over powerpoints, working on our computers, taking notes, etc. On Wednesdays we get the chance to get out of the classroom and into nature. Though we are still learning, taking notes and the like, we also implement activities into the curriculum, which have included ocean rescue, sand castle building, and pulling a 15 passenger van with a rope. It is nice to change up the setting, enjoy the beauty of Hawaii and the activities really help to solidify the lesson in your mind. 

     

     Pictured at the top and to the left is a Wednesday that we spent at the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens. Whitney, one of our leaders, is teaching us the "Law Of The Ceiling" and how those following you can only grow to the point in which your leadership and character allows them to.