Flossie and Caramel Macchiatos

Aloha once again! Well the team from Oklahoma Baptist arrived safe and sound with luggage following shortly after ;) but their time here has been great so far! Thank you for your prayers! We have been super busy doing many activities with international students, including hiking and snorkeling! Looking at God's creation never gets old! I continue to meet very cool international students, most recently, 2 girls from Spain!
We have started making our airport pick-ups, yesterday we picked up a student arriving from China. It was very emotional for me to get to see how powerful a warm smile and a hot meal can be for someone! I could not imagine moving into college all by myself in a different country! The student we picked up decided to come to Bible study last night because he is interested in learning about Christianity. How cool is that, his first night in America and he comes to us?!?!
This morning we visited Valley of the Temples (picture) just continuing proof of the diverse culture in Hawaii.

Later we ran to Sam's Club to pick up supplies for the welcome bags we give to each student at the airport. It was a mad house! In case you haven't heard a tropical storm, named Flossie, is headed for the island within a few hours. Your prayers for our safety are appreciated. While in Sam's club it struck me that people all around the island are in full preparation mode for a storm, as they should be, but I wondered if we prepared for the storms in our own life as much as we do physical storms, how different our lives would be? Storms come in everyone's life yet while people flock to the store for water when weather hits, how often do we forget to drink the water that Jesus gives, the water that will let us never thirst again!?! (John 4) Just a thought.
I came to Starbucks to take advantage of the cool rainy weather to indulge in my favorite drink, a Caramel Macchiato. I went home to drink my macchiato and write to you, however upon arriving at the spot in which I was setting up in the living room to write I split my drink! EVERYWHERE! Yeah, I could get upset about losing a drink I can't afford to "replace" and think to myself "whhhhyy ME?!?!" But instead the I thought on the verse in Job, "God gives and take away" so instead of getting upset I thanked God for the one sip I had left in my cup. Then feeling that God was telling me to go back to Starbucks, I packed up my bag and headed back. They instantly recognized who I was from the 10 minutes before, and after explaining what happened they gave me another drink....FOR FREE! AND THEN, I got t have an awesome conversation with the barista. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!
Well I better head back before I get blown away ;)
God Bless,
Christie

John 4:13-15
 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

Let's get real!

I have already been here a week! Yet, it feels like a lot longer; I have already learned so much and met so many people. It is very exciting to see and share an island with so many cultures. Yesterday, at a cookout (on the beach :) 4 continents were represented!
A few fun things:
~ I went on my first big Hawaiian hike, up Pu'u ma' eli' eli
~ Found my way around driving by myself (a great accomplishment anytime you move to a new city!)
~ Been able to meet many international students
~ AND The team from OBU comes in just 2 days! If you could continue to pray as the team and we prepare for their arrival.

I titled this entry "let's get real" because I wanted to address an issue before too many entries. A woman once shared with me how discouraged she became from reading blogs from other Christian women. She felt so defeated from reading what seemed to be their perfect lives'. So I will try my hardest never to be "fake" on this blog. Of course people don't share every detail of their lives' on the internet (as it should be) BUT my life is far from perfect, I have good and bad days just like everyone else, but God's amazing grace helps me through! On this blog there will be posts of all emotions and want to share those with you following my ministry here, so we can pray through them together!

Well that is it for now!

God Bless,

Christie

Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV)

⁹ But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
    indeed, I cannot

First Few Days in Hawaii

Aloha! Well I arrived safely in Hawaii, late Monday evening and have been getting settled and learning all about the ministry here. To give you a basic overview I will be serving the physical, social and spiritual needs of the International Students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. There are approximately 1,600 international students with the majority being from China, Japan, Korea, Canada and Taiwan.
I am learning my way around and trying to get ready before a team from Oklahoma Baptist University arrives, next week! Please keep me in your prayers as I try to adjust to life in a different place. God has made this transition smooth thus far, and I have faith that He will continue to guide and comfort me.
God Bless,
Christie
Psalm 139: 9-10 
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.