Today I taught for the second time since arriving in Hawaii. I addressed 120 or so Korean students ranging in age from 18 to 60, with lots of young people and families (30 kids or so). The really new experience for me was speaking through a translator. His name was Moses and for those of you who know excited I can be when I preach, take pity on him. He did a fantastic job and on only a couple of occasions did he have to ask again after misunderstanding myAussie accent.
I taught solidly for three hours (15 minute break in between). The group had already had 90 minutes of worship and prayer (7.30am - 9am) and this afternoon had electives and work detail, It really is a full life for YWAM students.
At the end of the session I got to meet a number of the students who were also pastors back home in Korea. How humbling it was for me to sense their mission-focused hearts. They really are an amazing nation and people. I got quite emotional at the end when they gave me a traditional Korean farewell which involved singing and a lot of hugs from the men!
This afternoon I borrowed Jon's motor scooter and explored Kona a little. The town is fairly spread out and has a population of 10,000 or so. The beach-front is rugged with lots of lava outcrops and not many sandy beaches, but with crystal clear turquoisee water. Lots of resorts give it a feel not unlike Noosa or Byron Bay.
Tonight I went up and ate in the communal meal area. Seeing me on my own, Nelson came up and spoke to me. Nelson is 19 and from Montana in the U.S. He has just finished high school and in a couple of weeks time will leave with 8 others on a 3-month mission trip to Cape Town in South Africa. Nelson was a really cool guy. The really, really coolthing he told me was in response to my question as to how he found himself at YWAM in Hawaii. He shared that his grandfather had attended a Discipleship school back in the early 70's and encouraged him to do the same. What an amazing legacy this organization has!
It's a very small world. My uncle lives near Melbourne, his wife's sister did a DTS in Kona 21 years ago and will be in Hawaii this week too!
Blessings
Posted by: leeann | December 03, 2008 at 03:31 PM