GlobalFingerprints Red Backpack Project

The GlobalFingerprints projects consist of two things.  The first being making and distributing red backpacks filled with basic school supplies to thousands of children overseas.  The backpacks are simple to make with a very basic pattern.  Challenge attendees were given the opportunity to participate in making 5,000 backpacks this week. 

On Tuesday, 600 backpacks were completed.  If you do the math, at that rate, only half of the backpacks would get done.  Kids and adults stepped it up, the sewing room even opened an extra couple of hours at night (9-11pm), we forged ahead, and the goal was met.  On Friday night, backpack #5,000 was shown to us.  What an awesome feeling to know that we are a part of that.

(Kayla stops to look at the prayer wall.  Each red piece represents a prayer that a participant wrote for the children that are a part of GlobalFingerprints.)

The second part of GlobalFingerprints is adopting a child to support for $25 a month.  74 children were adopted!  Our mission team had adopted a 4 year old with funds that were raised for ministry expenses.  See one of my previous posts to see him.

This little boy, Sukana Simeona, is 4 years old.  I adopted him for Kavin who is 4 years old.  I thought that it would be wonderful for Kavin to have a child his age to see and learn about in another country.  Many times, we take for granted the luxuries and lifestyle that we live.  The little things that we have, most of these children don't ever hope to have.  By adopting this child, I hope that we're able to not only help another child in another country, but we'd be able to appreciate everything that we have.  If you are interested in adopting your own child, call the toll-free number in the picture.

Final Day of Challenge 2010

Today was the final day of Challenge 2010.  It was a day to finish out strong in all aspects of the conference...training, ministry (sharing, caring, and serving), worship, teaching on the Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12), and relationships both old and new. 

Our morning started with the youth worker's meeting where we were able to meet other youth workers in our district.  Hawaii has 8 EFCA churches, of which 6 are on Oahu and 3 are here in Ohio.  Of the 6, 5 meet or communicate regularly in youth ministry and collaborate with each other and other churches for larger events and camps.  It's amazing to find out that on the mainland, most EFCA churches don't have this collaboration.  Many don't even have annual district conferences or meetings.  We may be isolated in Hawaii, but I am grateful for my fellow brothers and sisters in youth ministry that hold each other up and provide the support that we need to succeed in ministry.  This meeting was the beginning of a network for some of our mainland brothers and sisters.

The day went on pretty much like the previous days.  We went into the morning gathering session with worship led by Kristian Stanfill and teaching by D.A.  The previous night was our prayer gathering, and you could feel the difference in the air this morning.  Our group headed to grab lunch and decided that we would split up for the afternoon in different ministry options.  While waiting for that to happen, we went back to visit our friends on the ministry staff.  Actually, Kayla was really looking to play volleyball.  That was probably one of the highlights of the conference for all of us...making friends with the Floridians!  As Ross commented, if we didn't participate in the ministry option, we probably wouldn't make the connections that we did.  So true!

David, Ross, Alexia, and Taylor opted to take the opportunity to do ministry out in the community.  Kayla, Shirlene, and I wanted to go and sew/assemble backpacks.  The goal was 5,000 backpacks by the end of the conference.  On Tuesday, they had completed 600.  By last night, there were still more than 1500 to go.  It didn't look possible, but the call for help went out, and answered it was.  In the second shift today, there were more than 500 people who showed up to help!  Some groups who had already taken a turn earlier in the week were asked to come back at a later time.  They started assigning people to work groups and stations.  Kayla and I were one of the last that were still seated, so I told her that we could go back for the next shift.  Since she had sewn on Tuesday, what she really wanted to do was personalize one before leaving.  Check out my next post for that.

The last gathering tonight focused on persecution.  What a great way to wrap up the week.  Nick spoke on what it really means to be persecuted for righteousness.  Visually, he built a wall and brought all the teaching from the past week together.  It was moving enough to drive one to tears.  Kristian Stanfill finished strong with leading worship that had the ballroom rocking.  I'll try to get some video uploaded on facebook.  It's not the same, but you have to imagine yourself in a room of 5,000+ lifting their voices and hands up in unison.  It's awesome!

Tonight, the city of Columbus celebrates our independence and freedom.  Earlier, the parade went down Front Street and fireworks went off at 10pm.  Our group got to watch from the window of the restaurant in our hotel.  Our hotel has very tight security.  The rooms opposite our hall are booked over a year in advance and start at $500 a night for the holiday weekend.  We're told that it's "the" hotel to be at...right across the river.  The streets are slighty crazy, but all our kids are safe.

Link to photos from Challenge:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aiondesign
(This is from Jon Rees on the Challenge blog)

Day 4 of Challenge 2010

This afternoon, we had signed up for one of the caring ministry options.  Our instructions were to catch a ride with another church with 30 people and get dropped off to pick up rubbish at our assigned location.  I stood waiting for our ride, and stood waiting for our ride, and stood waiting even longer.  I finally called the number on our paper, only to have it answered by someone at the church office in another state!  I explained who I was, and why I called...to find out where the missing group of 30 were.  Turns out, they weren't coming, and I wasn't able to pack my van to bring to Ohio, so we had to work with the ministry staff on an alternate plan.  By the way, if you didn't know that God is ALWAYS in control, you know now.  I took my team to wait for another van to shuttle us, but as it turned out, God wanted us to walk (yes, walk some more!) up the street to man the prayer station in front of Starbucks.

I'll get one of the students to share a story with you, but just know that we had an awesome time! 

We made new friends, Matt, Rafael, and (his name starts with an H), from a church in Miami.  Their youth pastor was the guy in charge of ministry options, so they ended up going with us.  The ministry staff team wear aloha shirts.  Ironically, US Bank has a poster in the window showing a family wearing the same shirts!  After an afternoon of prayer ministry, we WALKED back again to the Convention Center and sat around and played music until dinner time.  Our friends from Miami were constantly asked if they were the group from Hawaii, and we had to laugh.  Tomorrow, our team will wear our Hawaii shirts.

Links to Challenge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-C7tguByjs
http://vimeo.com/12999512

And from our Prayer Army-Prayer Points:


Please pray for the speakers; Geoff Stafford and Nick Hall as they wrap up the Beatitudes Thursday and Friday.

Please pray for the rally tonight as we will be having a Prayer Event.

Praise God as he is truly changing the hearts of our youth. We are witness to God's work in a youth group that was particularly selfish. Their youth leaders report a change in their hearts, changing them right before their eyes. Our God is truly Great!

Day 3 of Challenge 2010

Day 3 of Challenge, and we've gotten over the jet lag, but all this walking is catching up with us!  Our hotel is about 6-8 blocks from the Convention Center depending on which way you go.  We've got the time to about 13 minutes with a quick walk/jog, but that means a full day (7:45am to 11:00pm) there for us.  Today, we walked to the park down the street on our break to enjoy the beautiful greenery and ducks.  In the midst of downtown, you can find quiet and quaint little shops.  We stopped at Jeni's again for a cup of ice cream.  She's one of the featured ice cream places around the nation that makes very unique flavors.  Keeping in mind that we are always ministering to those around us, God throws opportunities our way even as we take our break.  Just like in Downtown Honolulu, there are people who are hungry and poor asking for change to eat or catch the bus.  Ironically, as Ross has his hands in his pockets holding onto whatever money is in there, someone always approached him to ask for it.  Specifically, the amount in his hand...$5, $1, a few coins.  We joked that he better not stick a C note in there, because he'll have to give that out.  Seriously though, in an area where there are thousands of Christians walking around this week, God is sending us out a little further to minister to those that are not on the Challenge radar.  How awesome is that?

The conference again "challenges" us in practicing the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5.  This morning D.A. Horton focused on the Pure in Heart (Matt 5:8).  Purity does not come naturally, we must hate sin so much that purity invades every part of our life.  We need to put the lens of God on to see the scripture for life.  Nothing foreign to the recipe of God should blemish our hearts.  The girls opted for Emily Dunham's session, "Desirable Beauty" in the afternoon.  God tells us that we are beautiful, and He loves us.  It is us who degrades our beauty (Ezekial 16:25), not God.  Closing out the night was Pastor Geoff Safford focusing on the Meek (Matt 5:5).  Unforgetable impression:  An army of men approach Jesus with weapons.  Jesus has an army of angels that could take them down at any time, but instead, He is led like a lamb to be slaughtered.  That is meek.  Wow!  When put like that, His obedience to the Father is awesome!  What if we were more like that?  Are we?

We're calling it an early night.  Tiredness is setting in, and we're fighting to keep sickness at bay.  Continue to pray for our health as we go out into the community tomorrow to minister to those in Columbus.  Pray for open hearts in the areas that the EFCA will be church planting.  The goal is THREE this year.

Video from Challenge Day 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMfWk_0UlPA

Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/Challengeconference?ref=ts

GlobalFingerprints Sponsorship Program: Nadonye Moke

Our team was blessed by a donation from a fundraiser that we did in March.  It was a totally unexpected gift that God provided on the day that we were going to participate with making red backpacks.  We decided that we wanted to use that money to sponsor a child with the EFCA's program for orphans and poverty stricken children in Conga.  The girls were asked to look through the profiles of the children and choose the one that they wanted to sponsor for at least a year. 

Meet our child in Conga, Nadonye Moke.  We are so excited to see what God will do in his life.  He is only 3 years old, so we have many years ahead that we can impact.

Day 2 of Challenge 2010

The morning starts off with a breakfast of eggs, sausage, and...potatoes!  Then it's off to Youth Worker meeting and time for the first morning gathering.  This morning, Nick Hall starts Day 2 of Challenge with Matthew 5:7...Merciful. 

Mercy must be experienced before it can be given.  Mercy is radical.  It is at the heart of God.  He gives us 5 components of mercy and challenges us to pray for 5 people.

We then go to eat, again, and it's off to our afternoon options.  Kayla, Alexia, and Taylor decide to spend a shift sewing backpacks with the GlobalFingerprints programs.  Shirlene takes them, and they spend some time helping to assemble the red backpacks that will be sent oversees to Congo, India, and Haiti.  These signature red backpacks will contain the basic school supplies to help an orphan or child in poverty to succeed in school.  Along with the backpacks, we also took the opportunity to sponsor one of the orphans in Congo.  More on that in another entry.

David, Ross, and Lisa went to the Youth Workers' Lounge, where Starfield took some time to meet with youth workers for a Q & A time and share their ministry of worship.  Interesting enough, one youth worker asked how we could pray for them, and these were some of their prayer requests:  both brothers are new fathers and are attempting to juggle families and work time, for discernment in worship gigs, for strong relationships, and to continue to serve God and be servers of all.

Starfield closed the day tonight with a special concert.  Kayla stood in line for an autographed poster, CD, and shirt.

Video from Day 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljjyQxE4GTU

Day 1 of Challenge 2010

We finally made it!  After many hours of sitting, flying, and running to gates, we are in Columbus, Ohio with teens and youth leaders from around the country. 

Challenge opened tonight with worship lead by Kristian Stanfill.  What an awesome feeling to be standing in the midst of hands raised high and voices lifted in song.  And by the way, we feel very short amidst the people here!  God spoke through  Pastor Geoff Safford on the Poor in Spirit (Matt 5:3). 

Tomorrow, we have our first full day and looking forward to hearing God's word and doing ministry.

Departing for Ohio

Today's the day.  We are excited to be on our way to Ohio and Challenge.  It is exciting to see what God will be doing in us and with us.  This morning, our FCF church family sent us off with prayer, leis, water bottles (thanks Jen!), and the continuing support that we've experienced throughout our preparation.  Our first group is en route to Columbus on American Airlines.  Kayla and I will be on the 10pm Delta flight tonight.  Please continue to pray for our safe travel.  We arrive in Columbus tomorrow and will hit the ground running with the start of Challenge.  As our shirts say, "To know God and Make HIM known".

Challenge Challenges

You know that you are doing a good thing when obstacles keep popping up.  We leave in two days, and as most of my major projects go, it comes down to the wire with making sure that every little detail is thought of and taken cared of.  This one is no exception. 

Our team met last for a final preparation meeting, but after I found out that the shuttle that the conference provides from the airport would drop us off at the Convention Center.  Now, for those of you not familiar with our planning quirks, our group ended up booking rooms at one of the three farthest hotels from the Convention Center.  Translation, we would be hauling our luggage for 5-7 blocks to get to our hotel.  We all agreed that we needed to go with Plan B...Super Shuttle.  But as God would have it, He intercedes again to take care of that.  I emailed the transportation person, Jon Rees, this morning to let him know that we would make alternate arrangements from the airport to hotel.  Immediately, I get a response that they will drop our groups off directly at the hotel.  He's making an exception, since he can't see us spending any more money.  Praise God for our brothers at Challenge!

As I'm reading through the Challenge facebook page, I realize that the many difficulties we encounter are so small compared to what others are going through to get there.  Here's what one teen is facing:

Wednesday...Special Urgent Request - A Teen from India is planning to join us for Challenge as part of our GlobalFingerprints Initiative and other things. He has his visa interview tonight. Please pray that his visa is approved and he can join us on Monday.

Thursday...Just got word...Ravi was denied His visa. We'll trust God has His best in mind for Challenge and Ravi. Thanks for praying!!

Just a reminder to us that God challenges each of us in different ways, but no matter what, there's always someone, somewhere, that may be facing more difficulties than we are.  Our transportation problem was so small compared to what Ravi is facing.

 

Challenge Bio: Pastor David Tamaoka

Pastor David Tamaoka, aka Canefield Hero, is a talented musician and proud dad of two.  David graduated from Moanalua High School and Kauai Community College.  He will be returning to school this fall at Pac Rim Bible College.

David is a veteran of missionary work.  As he shared at our final preparation meeting, he started off with YWAM's Discipleship Training School and served on various mission teams throughout the years.  In 1995, he was on his first mission trip, which ironically enough, it was in Ohio (Cincinnati).   Fifteen years later, he will be returning to Ohio with some of his youth group from Faith Christian Fellowship!

David released his album last year, Canefield Hero, and was nominated for a Na Hoku Hanohano award this year.  He's played for the HIM Conference at the Convention Center in the youth track, Don Ho's open mic nights, various church worship sets, and Starbuck's Aiea.  His album can be found in Walmart, Amazon, and several other stores, but you can also ask him to buy one too.

David's often found with Steph and their two children, Pennylane and Paxton.

Challenge Bio: Ross Ongie

Ross will be taking his second mission trip.  Last summer, he and his daughter, Alexia, were a part of Paradise Global Mission's Brazil team.  While others were tending to medical needs, Ross and two teens went into the community to serve with painting, cleaning, sharing the gospel, and praying in and for homes.  One of the interesting stories that Uncle Ross shares about is the woman who makes her living by selling cigarettes out of her home.  She is missing limbs (legs) and not mobile like us, but she makes the most of it.

Ross' testimony of God's will is evident in his life.  Last fall, he was taken ill, and only through the healing hand of God, is he alive today to share about it.  Ask him about it!

Ross is an architect by profession, but he is a man of many talents and skills.  Ask him about anything that you need fixed, and he can probably tell you how it can be done.  His giving nature has him ready to help or give you what you need at the drop of a hat.  Aside from that, he is a great cook.  Some of you were treated to his home baked bread.

Ross is one of three parents that serve on FCF's Youth Ministry Team as adult leaders who also have children in the ministry.  The real example of doing ministry as a way of life!

Challenge Bio: Lisa Letoto-Ohata

Lisa is the mission trip planner for our Challenge team.  She was a part of FCF's first mission team to Thailand in 2001 where they worked in the Lahu villages.  This will be her third Challenge mission (2004, 2006) with the EFCA.  Among the places that she has traveled to include Japan, New York, Indiana (Notre Dame and Purdue), Baltimore, Arizona, Oregon, California (top to bottom), Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Florida, and all the states you can drive through from Indiana to Washington, as well as, Big Island (the entire island!), Maui, Kauai, and Molokai.

Lisa has a passion for youth ministry which started in 1999 with FCF's summer volleyball league, Summer Slam.  She has since worked as Director of Volunteer Services and Programming and Community Projects Manager for Youth For Christ Hawaii.  Her other ministry "jobs" include FCF Youth Administrator under Mark Olmos and Lead Foster Care Liaison with Kokua `Ohana.  She serves the EFCA HI District in helping with planning and coordinating the District Summit in 2009 (missions focused), EFCA HI youth ministries with major events and camps, Family Programs Hawaii Peer Mentor (for foster parents), and sits on a number of non-profit boards.

Lisa is a full-time student with UH and currently teaches child welfare licensing classes through Catholic Charities Hawaii, works with Na Pua No`eau throughout the year, and does various contract work including speaking and training at various conferences.  She loves crafts, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. 

If you check out her facebook, you will find many food pictures taken at the places that she and Jeff finds to eat.  If not out, then you don't want to miss one of their parties with the `ono food spread!

Check out the Challenge facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=701638478&v=photos&so=30#!/Challengeconference?ref=ts

Challenge Bio: Shirlene Ideue

Shirlene teaches Kindergarten at August Ahrens Elementary, but will be teaching 1st grade next year.  She has previously served on mission teams to Brazil and Japan and traveled before to Canada, Mexico, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Antonio, Portland, Seattle, all the major Hawaiian islands, Tahoe, Reno, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

She likes to sail, hike, camp, hang out anywhere in God's creation but especially the beach, read, do puzzles, ride roller coasters with BIG drops!  Everyone knows what an outdoors person she is and eventually is a part of a hiking trip, camping trip, or sailing adventure. Food that she likes include ice cream, peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies with nuts, or any kind of chocolate with nuts.
Things she would like to do soon... sail to Molokai, go skiing-think I'm getting too old to try snowboarding :-)

Shirlene is married to Ryan and has two daughters, Shae and Brooke.

*Interesting note:  Shirlene is one of three Youth Ministry Team leaders that also has teen children in our youth ministry.

Prayer - Getting on Board with God's Agenda

This is taken from the Challenge blog:

May 2010 

Hey students,
It’s easy for prayer to become somewhat of a habit—a one-sided conversation during which we sometimes forget Whom we’re talking to. We forget that the power of prayer is not in prayer itself, but in the One we’re praying to.
Solomon, known for his wisdom, wrote, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few….Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,7, NIV). If you were with us for Challenge 2008, you probably remember the awesome testimonies arising from our prayer times. Prayer is awesome because the God we pray to is awesome.
How often do you sit and simply enjoy God’s presence? When was the last time you intentionally listened to God?  If you’re like most, the answer is probably rarely—if ever. Sometimes we’re convicted of the need to listen and worship God more, to spend time in silence before Him, and so we try. And we find ourselves easily distracted, impatient, maybe bored. We very quickly either proceed to our list of prayer requests or quit praying altogether.
Why do we find it so difficult? Too often, I believe, we try to “force it.” We sit in silence because it’s something we think we’re supposed to do. On the other hand, in those times like we experienced at Challenge 2008, when we’ve just been shown a glimpse of the absolute greatness, hugeness, and holiness of God, all we can do it stand in awe. What words could we possibly bring?
I’m convinced that what we need is not to learn the right things, but to see. The more we see of the awesomeness of God, the more the right actions—and the right way of praying—will follow. So as you spend time in prayer this month, ask God to show you more of Him. Learn to listen and allow Him to answer you. Be prepared to learn the sacredness of silence.
Prayer, after all, is not about getting God on board with our agenda. It’s more like allowing ourselves to get on board with His. And we can only do that when we know how His heart beats… when we take the time to listen.
Seeking God with you,
Glenn Olson

Challenge Bio: Taylor Hayamoto

This is what Taylor says:

Umm...I've never really went anywhere except California and the other islands, but I LOVE rollercoasters!  I go to school almost everyday, and I love to drum in rock bands!  I'm going to be a junior at Pearl City High School! Whoop whoop! 

Note:  Taylor is part of the band, Semi Sweet, and is an awesome drummer!  She's part of Faith Christian Fellowship's youth worship team and helps out with summer VBS.  Taylor has lots of high energy!

Challenge Bio: Alexia Ongie

FACTS!:
I've gone to Brazil once before for a mission trip.
I like to play music, swim, and EAT!
I'll be in eleventh grade at Pearl City High School.

*Note:  Alexia is a part of Semi Sweet (band).  She has an awesome voice and very talented musician.  She can also be found playing with the Faith Christian Fellowship youth worship team and at Starbuck's Aiea, with or without David Tamaoka!

Challenge Bio: Kayla Ing

My name is Kayla Ing, and I will be a senior at Moanalua High School.  I love reading, writing, and playing my sports.  The sports I do are kempo, volleyball, and softball.  I am also a graduate of the Center For Tomorrow's Leaders and participated with Na Pua No`eau's Aha `Opio Alaka`i program.

4 years ago, I attended Challenge in Purdue, Indiana and did mission work on a Navajo reservation in Arizona. I am part of our youth worship team at Faith Christian Fellowship, help with the Children's Ministry, and participate with our dance ministry.  I will celebrate my birthday (July 3) again while on our mission trip. 

*Interesting note:  I am the first baby to be born into our church, Faith Christian Fellowship.  My mom went into labor at the first family camp held at Camp Timberline in 1993.  My parents were the first couple to be married in our church by the founding pastor, Mark Olmos.