When you have time to think and remember and consider............

  

It has been a glorious week in Hawaii.  I have learned that you can not believe the National Weather Service reports here.  It was showing cloudy and windy for every day that we were scheduled to be here and I am very happy to report that it has been SUNNY (and windy) most days.  We have only had very misty showers a couple of times and they passed quickly.  And we have experienced some very different weather around the island as we drove all around Oahu.  It has been interesting to look at the map and think "well, I'd like to go there but it looks really far" and then to discover when you put the location into the GPS that it is 28 miles and 45 minutes away!  And the really BAD traffic we were warned about (around Honolulu and the airport) was just a couple of miles of slow interstate traffic.  If they want to see BAD TRAFFIC they should visit Chicago!  We did have some road construction on the two land road on the east shore and we were delayed by flagmen for about five minutes.  Again, nothing compared to Chicago.  It is all about perspective once again, isn't it?

These lovely flowers above were on our breakfast plates today at the ocean side cafe we visited. We planned our day today to begin in the "Punch bowl crater" which is just above Pearl Harbor.  The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located there.  (Again, I was surprised at how quickly we got there from our hotel.... just a matter of minutes).  It was another awe inspiring place - quiet and peaceful.  There is an overlook trail that gives amazing views of Honolulu and Waikiki as well as Pearl Harbor.  Ken was off taking many photos of the Memorial itself (which is breathtaking) and the trees and flowers that line the rows of graves.  I had time to just pray and reflect in that sacred spot.  It is interesting that visiting a place that neither of our sets of parents ever saw has caused me to think about them so much!  Part of the reason is that April marks the anniversary of each of their deaths... my mom (5 years) on the 12th, Ken's mom (7 years) on the 15th, Ken's dad (1 year) on the 17th and my dad (31 years) on the 19th!   It doesn't matter how long they have been gone, they are always in your thoughts.  As I was sitting in the car, looking at the amazing view, I was thinking about how blessed Ken and I were to have our parents at our wedding.... and these pictures came to my mind.

It was a very long time ago (will be 42 years in May), but in my "mind's eye" this is still how I was picturing them today!  So, here we are ....at about the same age as our parents were way back then!  

Sitting in a cemetery sure gets you thinking!  Ken and I are very, very blessed.  We have been able to travel and see so much of our country.  This trip takes another state off of our "bucket list" of visiting every state!  It is one thing to read about places or even see them on TV or in the movies.  It is quite another to actually experience them.  My mom always wanted to visit Hawaii.  Sadly she never did.  Again, I feel very blessed to be able to be here.  

I have been shocked by the incredibly large number of homeless people that are everywhere around this island.  There are men and women sleeping on the beaches, in the parks and under the trees.  They travel around during the day on the city buses or walk along the roads.  Today we even saw a place on a very steep cliff where a homeless person had erected a tent and tarps, hanging over the edge with all of their belongings around them.  Very scary.  And there are very few churches around and we have not seen any shelters or food pantries.  The most amazing thing about all of these people around, is that not a single one has been asking for money or food.  They seem to keep to themselves and don't bother anyone.  But it makes me wonder what the churches are doing to help these people.  Traveling around the island gave me a much broader view of Hawaii than just Honolulu or Waikiki.  Most of the towns we visited had many, many lower class homes and apartments and many needing serious repair.  It left me feeling that Hawaii might be a great place for a mission trip!  

Yes, it is good to remember just how blessed we are.  There is nothing like seeing another place to make you appreciate your home.  As always, it is good to go away but even better to return home.

Our time here is coming to an end.  Tomorrow we are going to a Hawaiian Luau!  And then we take the long plane ride home.  There has been so much that we have seen....so many pictures taken and so many memories to scrapbook in the future.  In this tropical paradise with amazing views and with homeless sleeping under the trees..... one thing remains on my mind....

The love and faithfulness of God in Jesus is all that matters!  It is bigger than the mountains, it is higher than the sky and more than anything!  That is the true blessing!  

Jesus, thank you for reminding me of the blessings of our parents. Holy Spirit give wisdom and provision to the churches here in Hawaii to reach the homeless population.  Thank you for sunny days and waves and quiet places to help us keep our focus.  Keep us mindful of the needs around us.  Amen

Snapshot of the last four days..............

This was my first view of Hawaii - from the plane window!  That is Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach!  It was a much welcome sight after the very long (9 hour) plane ride.  We were delayed leaving Chicago because they had to "De-ice" the plane!  Yes, it is APRIL!  But that morning it was snowing/sleeting and about 30 degrees.  It made getting on that plane much easier knowing we were going to 80 and sunny!  

Our days have been full and wonderful!  We have sat on the beach, eaten lots of seafood, and walked a great deal.  We have seen same amazing things.  But today was beyond what I was imagining.  

This is the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.  We actually came to Oahu because we knew that we wanted to visit this place.  I made reservations well in advance of our trip and was given 2:30pm today.  Everyone said that unless you get reservations in advance you will never get in since it fills up quickly.  The weather was less than ideal - windy and rainy.  When we got to the ticket booth we were told that most likely they would be shutting down the ferry out to the memorial by noon because of the gusty winds.   We took the first tickets that they had (which were for 1:00pm) and were told that it might be possible to get in earlier "on stand by" if you waited in line.  I sent out an urgent text to my small group to pray that the weather would clear and that we would be able to get out to the memorial.  We got in the stand by line at 11:25 and the 11:30 group was lined up.  We were so surprised when the guard motioned us in saying there were 7 empty slots!  Thank you Jesus for answered prayers!  (And for the "miracle" of texting that makes prayers happen over amazing distances at the tap of a phone) The movie that is shown first was............... well words really escape me.  I guess serious, sad, amazing, unbelievable, are all words that come to my mind.  Most was actual movie footage from the events..... and some of those images will be in my mind for a very long time.  Then you take the ferry to the memorial.  The ship is visible in the water and there are rings of oil still escaping from the tanks.  It was 15 minutes that I will not forget.  Both my dad and Ken's dad served in the Navy in World War II.  I remember very clearly my mom talking about that day....December 7, 1941 and what they heard and how they knew what was ahead.  I was wishing that our parents could have had the chance to visit this place.  

The movie was interesting because it pointed out that there were a couple of mistakes made by the United States that helped make the attack successful for Japan.  The actions of just a few men brought about the United States participation in the war.  I love that the USS Missouri is docked right next to the Arizona. Japan signed the surrender ending the war in the Pacific on the deck of that ship.  This represents the "book ends" of  WWII for the United States.  The Arizona marks the beginning and the Missouri represents the ending of that terrible time. The emotions of this visit were very much like those I experienced when visiting the World Trade Center Museum in New York City last summer.  

It is never more clear -  the effect of sin on this world.  

 I was so thankful that there was beauty all around us to help refocus on all that is good and pleasing.  We took a long walk and then later, watched the sun dip into the ocean.....

There is more to share but for today, this is enough.  God is good.  He is beautiful and He reigns over this earth.  Now more than ever, Jesus needs to be revealed to the world!  And we need to be the ones to show the world just who He is!

"The entire universe waits with excitement, yearning to see the unveiling of God's glorious son's and daughters!" (Romans 8:19 - The Passion Translation)

Jesus, thank you for amazing sunsets and flowers and trees and birds.  Thank you for the ocean and the waves that wash over my feet.  Holy Spirit, keep us mindful of the power that we have to show the world who Jesus is.  Keep our hearts sensitive to the reminders of those who have gone before us.  Amen