Joshua 1:7

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Joshua 1:7 - Alan

Devotion for Monday, July 12, 2010

Scripture - So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are wait for him. Hebrews 9:28

Observation - Christ's soul purpose was to bring his lost people to himself, by him coming the first time and dying on the cross for man kinds sin. We have the opportunity for salvation for the second coming.

Application - It is so easy to forget about the basics of our faith. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we might be saved. At times I get all caught up in all the detail of Christianity. Am I doing the will of God? Why am I struggling with this sin over and over? I can't talk to people about Jesus my life is a mess. I am not a good example of a christian. Someone else like Uncle Mark, needs to share the gospel with them. This only brings discouragement and disappointment. Not the life God set up for us to live.

Prayer - I pray Lord for this team that they will stay focused on the simplicity of the Gospel. To walk in confidence that they have been called to serve and preach the Gospel not only with actions but with words as well. Give them the hearts to connect with one person in a way that will change both of their lives. Amen. - Aaron Harris

The Team is Off with Bags of Crocs!

Wow! The Children's Ark of NHDH along with so many others gathered over 200 pairs of crocs to take with them to Haiti! What an amazing blessing! Thank you to everyone who was a part of this.

The Haiti Team is en route as we speak headed to Miami, their last stop before Port-au-Prince. Let's continue to keep them in prayer. Electricity is sporadic but we'll be updating as we hear from them! In the mean time, we'll be posting a daily devotion that we can read as a family, whether in Haiti or Honolulu, we can meditate on the Word of God as an 'ohana.

Q and A with Matt

Q: Is this your first mission trip?

A: Yup.

Q: If you could describe the way you're feeling as you prepare for this mission trip in one word, what would it be?

A: Nervous.

Q: What are you most excited about?

A: I've always liked to study human behavior. I'm most excited to meet the people, to learn more about their culture. I want to to be inspired by their outlook on life because ours is so different here.

Leading By Example

My wife, Tara, and I are so blessed to have four amazing daughters! Early on we had decided to focus our outreach efforts on helping children whenever possible. I have to tell you that there is no reward, on this earth, bigger than having your own children willingly helping others in need. Be it working on donation drives for the Children’s hospital, loading semi trailers heading to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, or working at an orphanage in China, we always participate as a family. Although, due to the unrest in Haiti, they will not be making the trip this time, my participation is made possible by the unwaivering support of my family. I want them to know, especially Tara, how much I truly appreciate all of their help in preparing for this mission trip to Haiti.

Since I was a little boy, Haiti has been a part of me. I was probably four years old, when our preacher at a small church in Baton Rouge, LA., heard the call and became a missionary to Haiti. I remember him bringing back pics, and showing them on the old slide projector. It was the little kids that stuck with me! It didn't matter how little they had... they all had huge smiles on their faces. The devastating earthquake in February brought back memories of those pics, and I wondered if any of those kids were one of the 230,000+ that were killed that day? When the opportunity to join the Hawaii to Haiti team came up, I could not say no. Seeing all of the kids, who lost their mommies and Daddies in the earthquake, running around in the hundreds of new crocs that were so graciously donated, I know that my life will be changed forever...and I can't wait!

I feel honored to be part of this very dynamic team from our church, New Hope Diamond Head. Their willingness to jump in and pull this whole thing together, in such a short timeframe, shows tremendous dedication and their true Love for all of God's people! I am stoked to spend the next ten days with these guys and gals, because I have seen this group in action and they know how to... Git 'er Dun! - James

A Circus Act

It seems like there's this ongoing battle in my mind, a circus act of trying to juggle the responsibilities of being a responsible husband, reliable worker, full time artist, clean house, laundry, and cook dinner all @ the same time. Within all this mayhem of stuff and hoopla. I loose perspective on what’s really important. There's definitely something stirring up in my spirit. I need to set my priorities straight and return back to when I first fell in love with God. Out of sight out of mind is my motto, and the less time I spend with God, I loose sight of his perfect plan he has for me and my wife. I fall deeper into my own little world trying to build a temporary kingdom that will crumble and fade to dust one day.

Seeking first His Kingdom - Kristof

Haiti, Here Comes the Aloha!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

That verse that is so me! My mother and stepfather trained me to be a loving person of God from a very young age. Always happy on the outside, fun spirited and loving I was. Somewhere my path was changed and I fell away from the Lord. Inside I heard his calls to me but chose to ignore them, not for just a bit, but for a long time. Twenty- two years to be exact. My life even though was full of things, I was empty. I tried everything I could to fill that emptiness, but nothing worked. Until two years ago when my seventeen year old son said Dad, "I think you should come and check out the church I go to, I think you would like it." So I said why not! Well from the first service I knew I was on the path back home. The Lord spoke clearly and louder than ever before. He said to me " I've been waiting, come and do my work ". Since that day I raised my hand at NHDH my path has become straighter and clearer than ever before. I heard every message so clearly. To get out there and do what I was called to do, Obey the Lord. He then gave me a vision to work with the Homeless in the community, so I listened this time, and boy did he open the gates. Since then I have been doing my best to serve him. I then heard about a mission to Haiti, and that my skills could be used for this trip. I thought wow, this would be a great thing to do for God, our Church and the people of Haiti. When I heard we would be able to help children, that just touched my heart and sealed the deal.

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" ~ Mark 10:14

I am so grateful and so blessed to be apart of such a wonderful team and an awesome Church. I have never been out of the country and on any type of mission. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us, our families, and our church in mission field and here at home in paradise. We are so lucky to live in Hawaii. So Haiti, here comes the Aloha!

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing ~ Corinthians 13:3

Serving to Glorify Him - John M. Gestrich