Kauai trip and Thanksgiving 2010

I'm looking out across the ocean on the amazing island of Kauai, admiring the serene beauty and outstanding creativity of only our Creator. I can only imagine how the psalmists of the Bible felt as they, in the midst of turmoil in their lives, sat in the beauty of God's creation and let the Holy Spirit minister to their needs. When that happens, it seems only natural, to let His transforming peace consume our tired and burdened hearts. I think it's so important to spend time in what He's made (creation) and be still and know that He is God. In my life it's easy to be so caught up in the busyness, our "to do lists", people's expectations, but a small 4 day vacation of just enjoying what He's made can be such medicine to the soul and a remedy to a tired and weary spirit. Needless to say, Kauai has been wonderful.

Thanksgiving Day we flew in to meet my Grandma, her sister and My great aunt Pat, her daughter Diane, and my uncle Steve and Aunt Wendy. We had a wonderful turkey dinner compliments of Safeway. Friday we spent at the beach laying out and attempting to tan and enjoying the water when the sun got too hot. Saturday some of us went to Lihue and did some shopping:) Today we enjoyed going to church. The pastor is one of David and I's peers from Bethel. He and his wife just had a baby, and it was so neat to catch up with them and some of our other friends too. David's roommate, Greg, and his wife Lindy also live here. I enjoyed getting to know them better, and to see David fellowship with an old friend.
We head back tomorrow. In just a few weeks we'll be in Colorado enjoying Christmas with the family. Ohana is a of big importance in Hawaii, and I believe in keeping with that importance even though our family is on the mainland. I hope that family will always be of high importance in our lives.

According to my husband, after Thanksgiving is the time for the Christmas music, so blast that music loud and clear, and let the Christmas season begin. But despite the busyness, let's sit in His creation, and remember His love for us. The reason why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. And, from Pastor Matt's message this morning, let's also remember the reason why He came too!

Thankfulness

Aloha,
I'm not sure if there is anything too new to report. Besides sitting in the mall with one of our students for a couple hours as she and a few others await for the Harry Potter movie 17 hours early, or playing cowgirl at one of HMC family's farms while they go on a much needed vacation, or getting ready to go on a fun little Thanksgiving vacation to see family in Kauai, we haven't been up to too much.

For the past few days, David and I have been taking care of a family's farm out in the boonies of Hawaii. David and I truly enjoyed being near animals again (4 horses, 4 goats, 3 dogs, and 3 cats). It was great to be out in nature, enjoying God's creation.

Just a quick thought to share. I was reading a friend's blog and she shared her mission statement or purpose statement. Just the idea of having a mission statement was amazing to me, an individual mission statement. You hear about company's mission statements, but why shouldn't we have a mission statement too as individuals. A mission statement motivates, focuses, reminds, and brings clarity. What would your mission statement be? I'm going to start working on mine.


Have a wonderful week!
Kelsey

horsebackriding in November

These are pictures from Monday. I had the privilege of going to the Harris farm to visit with the Harris' and another gal and see the animals and ride the horses. Classy, the horse I'm on, is a new addition to the farm. She reminds me a lot of BJ (stubborn, doesn't want to leave her horse buddies, but gentle and loving). It was a little taste of Colorado. I believe this is the first time I've gone horsebackriding in November:)
I had such a wonderful time of fellowship with the two other ladies. Praise the Lord for such loving friends and awesome and gentle animals:)

So it's a rainy day in Hawaii and I have decided to plant myself at Starbucks and catch up on work and watch my favorite show Chuck. It's been relaxing and much needed. I feel a bit guilty, because while I'm enjoying my "day off", David is out washing cars with students in the rain for a "pledge drive" to raise money for this summer's missions.

So I don't have a lot to "report", except that a truly loved teaching 5th graders for the past 7 school days. My favorite moment while teaching was this:

During Bible class we were talking about the Old Testament books of the Bible. I asked students to turn to the book of Ecclesiastes. One of my students raised his hand, and in all sincerity said "Mrs. Poole, I don't think I have that book" :)

Cute kids:)

I wanted to share something that I've been learning. One of the women from church gave me This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti to read thinking the story is similar to that of David's and mine since we have been in Hawaii (which I would agree now being half the way through). However, I know it's a fiction book, but I believe Peretti may be on to something in his description of the spirit world. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authority of this present darkness." Peretti describes the spiritual world/battle in such depth, but he always emphasizes this point. The good guys, the angels, are strengthened by prayer. The angels recognize prayer covering and prayer support as a powerful weapon, and without it, the darkness can and will often prevail over a person, location, and/or community (land). But the cool thing is, that one person praying, can fuel and strengthen the angels to defeat a mass amount of demons, or the hardest and most powerful demons... that's one person praying. Imagine two people praying, or five...or a whole church. Imagine the damage that a whole church praying can do to the dark world. This book also illustrated another point, a scary point, and that is these demons of darkness, dominions of Satan, are truly out to steal, kill and destroy all of humanity sparing no one. And their methods are often so subtle at first and lead to such incredible bondage later. Boy, do we need to clothe ourselves with the armor of God each and every day. Your thoughts?

kelsey.poole09@yahoo.com

Aloha,

Kelsey and David:)