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