Mahalo Mai'li

Empowered. Convicted. Encouraged. Peaceful.
four powerful words that demonstrate the pattern of the Spirit of God in a person.
(Restless, by Jennie Allen). <--- Please read this book.


The end of May is here which means our stay on this beautiful island is nearing it's end .... for this chapter of the Hebert story. We had no idea that our stay would be less than one year, but here we are packing and sorting and calling car transport.
Insert the tears & shaking of heads &  squeals of anticipation for the mainland familiarities. The emotions are running high on all levels. We would give anything to transport so many of our friends, my entire class and a few beaches to the mainland ;)

Encouraged:
 We would love to come back as the Spirit leads, and are so beyond thankful  for the many relationships that were created over the months.

All you blogger friends know how much I adore Wadsworth, and how hard it was to walk away from it -to walk into a new school for a new year - but my Principal Suzie Lee nailed it. She is incredible. The staff at Ma'ili is incredible. They welcomed our Ohana with open arms, hearts and minds. Yes I brought some wacko ideas to my classroom- they worked in the war zone in the southside, they were bound to work here in the not so war zone, but very broken and needy zone of Maili.

We were blessed beyond our wildest dreams. My expectations for how Hudson's Special Ed PreK team should be were blown outta the water. They were so so so good to him and to our family. Their program that allows him to transition to Kindergarten a few days each week is so helpful for next year!

 Having both Hannah & Hudson on campus with me daily was super hard- never a child free moment .. but it was super amazing too. Hudson got air kisses each day at lunchtime while Hannah and her tribe of beautiful friends would run at me during recess with hot Cheetos fingers ( EWW!!), but so so sweet.
Then Matt joined the fun when he began student teaching. He was impressed by the staff and the leadership. He felt the aloha vibes and had so many amazing take aways from his time there.

As I tearfully hugged my principal Friday, after an amazingly beautiful ceremony for May Day, I wondered if the call to move back to the mainland was in fact from Heaven. Yes I have a job lined up, but no, we don't move solely for jobs. (And at that moment, Wadsworth was in lockdown for a murder in the area, caution tape and police investigations created madness for the staff. Thankfully all the students could dismiss at 3pm but staff was locked down til 8pm!) And I signed back up for ... that?? Is that really what God would direct us back to?  But then we just know. There is  a nagging and a longing in our hearts to go back to it. And like one of my fave authors writes - "when we have a burden that won't go away and it aligns with Scripture, you have to ask yourself is this God?" (Jennie Allen).

 

All the hearts for this amazing principal.

 The May Day Stars.

Aunty sat for 3 hot hours for these kids, armed with leis and Dunkin. That's #love.

 

Aunty's coworker brought me this beautiful Haku!

Empowered & Convicted:
We were called for that. We were called for the Southside. We know PGM is beckoning Matt back even if there's a glimpse that we have a little urge to stay in SEA too. We are adventurers at heart and although I truly dislike change initially, it is SO vital for spiritual growth on so so so many levels. You guys, believe me. It is so hard for me to pack my emotions up and pack our physical lives up. Saying goodbye is the hardest heart work ever ever ever.
But.
 It is so good to know that SO many days we were flat lining in our own selves. We were dead. But God- in HIS mercy - picked us back up and gave us new hope for each day. It is ONLY by God's grace that we had the amazing year that we did. God gets ALL the glory in this chapter and in all the chapters. We weakly tried to do His work - and show His love to all the kids and all the parents that we came in contact with & we know that He will complete this good work.


And with hearts heavy... but overflowing with thankfulness & excitement & anticipation, we press forward!
Pray with us that the journey to Okanogan is safe, fun and memorable. Pray for the souls at the meetings and the hearts of the preachers. (Playing the part of a preachers wife with three very energetic kids gets overwhelming & hard, but.. we know God will give grace!)
Pray for the community that we are leaving behind. The souls with seeds planted. We are expecting a pretty beautiful garden here soon
Pray for the assembly here. We will miss each one & their love for the Lord and for each other!
Pray for the new building to get ready with a sense of urgency to redeem the time, for the many souls just waiting for love!

Peaceful:
 The joy of Lord is our strength and we need that especially in the busyness and chaos of the next week or so.

{So as each of us processes how we should spend our lives, know that nothing matters without the Spirit of God. He empowers every move we will make for his glory. He is God in us, with us, for us and through us.}   (John 3:6-8)
Spirit of God : Phil Wickham