9 more days

The count down has begun and home is just around the corner. We are so excited to return to the people we love and the work we enjoy.
At the same time as we pack our bags and start saying goodbye's we can think of a thousand wonderful memories we've made this season with family and friends.
THANK YOU.
Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to
* Rest
* to learn about the process of birth and parenting
* Teaching 'Osi about American culture and the English language
* So many wonderful friendships we have made and renewed here
* Sweet time with our family
* All that 'Osi has learned through Pastor Mich's discipleship
* All Jen has learned from fellow MOPS volunteers: their love, encouragement, and example
* Great fellowship with our Missions partners

Oh! And Isaac slept for 3.5 hours straight last night! yay! What more could this young crazy couple as for?

Treasure all these things

I fell out of any normal routine after the baby was born, including my morning quiet time, and I've really been struggling as a result. So this morning I resolved to get back on track again. With Isaac on my lap we prayed for forgiveness and fresh revelation. God taught us a beautiful lesson from Luke 2:8-20, through the shepherds, the angels, and Mary.

After the shepherds experienced the miracle of angels and seeing the Savior they went out and told the whole village. "And all who heard it were amazed."
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
I think there is a time for us to experience God and tell the whole world about it, like the shepherds did. Don't hide our light under a bushel but boldly declare the great things He has done for us.

But there is also a time for us to be like Mary and treasure miracles in our hearts, ponder the grace of God, and meditate on all He has done.
I need to do that more. I've had alot of rainy days lately with no sleep, when my precious baby won't stop crying and everyone else is annoying. On those days I really really need to start pondering the miracles I've treasured up in my heart - fight the blues with the blessings.
Have you treasured up miracles in your heart lately? Save them for a rainy day.

delirious

This is how I am experiencing Motherhood:
For the first time in my life I am willing to sacrifice all sleep, work, vanity, and sanity for this little guy who spends 80% of his time eating and the other 20% pooping.
We have had brief moments of sleep sprinkled over the past 3 weeks, but I fear I am still losing my mind. Last night I told him "ok we're going to pray now for our family, dear God please bless 'Osi and myself and....the baby.
what's your name again?"



Isaac Halalilo, I adore you.

Announcing

Our beautiful baby, Isaac Gray Halalilo was born on December 5th,2009 at 12:58 p.m.
He was 7 pounds 7 ounces; 21 inches long; and absolutely perfect.

Thank God for family!
One of the greatest blessings of our lives is family. Praise God we have both been able to stay close with our own nuclear family, and with one another's. 'Osi sometimes says "our family is our first missions field", meaning that we need to work hard for peace and loving relationships with our nuclear family. After that we can start looking outward to loving and reaching the rest of the world.

Getting involved

We absolutely love our church family at Camano Chapel. Everyone is so loving, we are overwhelmed every week we go through the door. Thankfully we have a little free time on our hands while visiting so we have been able to volunteer in several programs. 'Osi's been helping out with EYP (Jr. High youth group) and joined the Sunday night volleyball team. He is also being discipled by Pastor Mich and is so grateful for the new Paul/Timothy relationship they are developing.
Together we have volunteered in the infant nursery, soothing crying babies has been great practice for us. hehe
Then Jen has been helping out in Home-school Co-op and MOPS, thoroughly enjoying the other volunteers as much as the energetic toddlers.
If you are interested in being involved in a loving church family, we recommend Camano Chapel. For 20 years it's been a loving Mother hen to Jen, and 'Osi is so lucky to be adopted into the nest.

Tongan Missions Dinner

We hosted a Tongan missions dinner at Camano Chapel last month. This was a way to say thank you to our missions prayer supporter team, and others who have been praying for Tonga. We are so thankful for all the people who came, including 'Osi's family from Seattle.
'Osi entertained us with Pacific Island dances, (I mean cultural presentations - because we don't 'dance' in church right? =)

Hiding our pumpkins

I've been introducing 'Osi to American culture and he believes nearly everything I tell him. So now we can do all the American traditions, plus some I make up, and the ones that are normally reserved for children!
Going to the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin was a must - only he insisted that I was hiding one under my shirt, so he did the same.
He paid for his now, I'll pay for mine next month. hehe

There's no place like home

Hello friend,
We just wanted to let you know we're back in the U.S. again and have been so overwhelmed by the love of friends and family who have been welcoming us home...we especially want to thank our Camano Chapel family for their excitement. You always treat us like celebrity's even though we're only simple, young kids trying to follow Jesus.
Thank you all.
So we will be home for the next 3.5 months, for the next 3.5 reasons =)

1.) We're having our first baby, and would love to give birth in an environment that is safe, healthy, and familiar for Jen. At least this first time, she needs her Mom =)

2.) This is a great opportunity for 'Osi to meet our family and friends in the U.S., and experience American culture.

3.) Jen's Mom is having major surgery next month. We want to be here to care for her, and drive our little sister Mary to school and soccer practice everyday =)

Also....Jen is meeting with the YWAM Publisher in Seattle, with a book on Missions that she has been putting together.

Please feel free to call or write anytime! We would love to spend time with you if it is convenient, or at least catch up over the phone.
360-652-7430
God bless you with great joy!
-'Osi and Jen

Bula from Fiji!

It’s 8:45p.m. and the youth are starting to gather at the outdoor crusade. They told us it started at 6, but Fiji time is a fluid concept.
I (Jen) was beginning to get bored so I fished super glue out of my purse and began fixing my broken sandal. A few minutes later the pastor called “‘Osi, our guest from Tonga, please come up and share the word of God with us!” I am so proud of him—this is his first time preaching in English to a giant crowd of people.
The message went smoothly, we all laughed at his jokes and shouted “amen!” at the appropriate times. But then he throws a curveball and calls me up to sing a song with him! I have a dangerously squeaky singing voice, and in the excitement of the sermon I had somehow managed to superglue my fingers together, which were glued to my dress, and also glued to my leg. So I awkwardly hobble up to the front, smiling, smiling, extremely nervous.

Thankfully it was a short song, and the Pastor didn't ask me to sing again. (?) But I have all new respect for my husband, having the courage to take any opportunity to share the gospel with one person or a hundred. It reminds me of our Father who invites us to represent Him and serve Him even when we’re awkward, can’t sing well, and glue our fingers together. hehe

Hallelujah!
We're really enjoying our time in Fiji, while waiting for 'Osi's visa interview on September 15th. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement.....we really praise God for opening many doors for us to serve the Missionaries and different villages in Fiji too.

Everyday we have been able to do door-to-door evangelism, youth crusades, prison ministry, helping tons of young Missionaries write their first newsletters.....God is so good, keeping us busy, using our talents. Never a dull moment!
Here's a picture of us with a local youth group we were helping with.

We're in Fiji

We are here now applying for 'Osi's visitor's visa to the U.S. We really want to visit Jen's family and have the baby in the U.S. for citizenship and health reasons.

We arrived last week and have gotten settled into the Youth With A Mission in Suva house with the couple here who just started a counseling ministry. Their names are Jerry and Debra, and they are in their late 50’s, He is Fijian and she is American. Very sweet couple, we have really been enjoying getting to know each other, sharing our testimonies…..
The day we arrived I called the U.S. Embassy to make an appointment for ‘Osi, but they said that they have changed all their Visa policies, everything is much stricter starting this month, plus the rates have been raised, and all paperwork is online. So I filled out all the forms online last night (I had to do it 6 times because their internet server kept crashing! Praise God for the perseverance =)

Then I was able to make an interview appointment for ‘Osi. The bad news is, now is peak visa season so people from around the Pacific have been coming in for visa interviews, and there are no available appointments until September 15th. Sooooo we booked the appointment, and will keep checking in to see if there are any cancellations and possibility of an earlier one.
But ‘Osi and I prayed a lot about what God wants us to do while we’re in Fiji. We were really encouraged by the word, and feel that He is leading us to get busy in some kind of service and evangelism while here. So please pray for open doors =)

After praying we met 2 young Missionary guys from South Nandi who have been helping lead a youth crusade in the city this week. They invited us to join them in the crusade, and preach to the Fijian youth. So that’s what we did =) We joined them all week in the afternoons and evenings, helping with the crusade. 'Osi also taught the guys a Fijian praise dance, so they are performing that tonight at the crusade =) We also joined in a prison ministry over the weekend.

I’ve also be helping Debra get her counseling office set up – her wireless and computer stuff, as well as making some brochures and fliers for their ministry and counseling school. Today I sketched a few logos for her..... I want to help her with advertising, so that more people in Suva know they can come here for help and healing as well as training in counseling if they want to take the school.

So it’s pretty exciting so see how God is working, we always have our plans but His are much better, right?

We still really pray to get the visa to come home to the U.S. to see our family/friends and have the baby in December – please keep praying for that.
But in the meantime we’re happy to “be about our Father’s business” =)

Tragedy in Tonga

Friends, please pray for Tonga. There have been many tragedies happening lately on each of the 3 islands of our kingdom. One of the most terrible tragedies happened this month, when an inter-island ferry the MV Princess Ashika sank killing 93 passengers on board. The victims were mainly women and children who were trapped inside the ship while they were sleeping.

While they were sailing a storm arose and somehow the ship flipped upside down. Many of the men (staying outside on deck) were able to jump ship, but the others were trapped inside when the ship began sinking within seconds.

'Osi lost one of his Uncles, his Mother's eldest brother. So we are mourning for him and all the families who lost loved ones. This is a major tragedy for our country because families are so tighly knit and our population is so small. Losing 93 people in Tonga is relative to losing 237,166 Americans (comparing the population size). So nearly every person in Tonga has lost at least one relative. Everyone is hurting.

Please pray for our people.

(Here is a photo of some survivors returning home)

Happy 6 month Anniversary Honey - let's weave baskets!

Loloma has been teaching us how to weave baskets from coconut palms!
And Jen made a stunning "Happy 6 month Anniversary" hat for 'Osi. King of the house =)
he is wearing it proudly.

We plan to fill the baskets with taro (Tongan potatoes) after we harvest it, to sell it in the market. Taro is one of the main food staples in the Tongan diet. Nearly every Tongan meal includes "Tongan food", one of the many varieties of starchy root vegetables we grow here.

Typical (exciting) day on the job!

'Osi (middle) preached some words of encouragement to the country, through the local Tonga TV station.

Jen's been helping out in
the mission's office,
with communications projects.

'Osi recently spoke at an outdoor evangelism night in one of the villages. He has a passion for reaching and teaching the youth of Tonga.

Tongan Pregnancy Lore - according to Jen

Being pregnant, for the first time, in a foreign country has been an adventure, let me tell you! Everyone is excited for us, every female, Aunty, and Grandma in the village wants to give their advice about what I must do in order to have a perfect baby. Everyday they surprise me with new rules.

Sure, every culture has their unique brand of pregnancy lore - but I dare any to be as creative as Tonga.
For starters chili peppers are forbidden. Unless I want my newborn to have twitching eyes syndrome. I don't, but mind you there are limited flavor additives for Tongan food - we can either put copious amounts of salt on our daily yam/taro portions - or chilli. I love chilis! But when I catch myself reaching for the tiny red treasures I can feel every eye accusing me "Do you really want 'Osi's child to have twitching eyes??"
Coffee is completely tabu.
Even one cup. One tiny cup. Being from Seattle, the mecca of fine coffee (Starbucks), it is my birthright to be a coffee addict. I even downloaded the International and FDA caffiene standards for pregnant women, 1-3 cups a day is perfectly fine. But alas, I must sacrifice my coffee cup on the alter of good motherhood.
Octopus (another favorite) is also forbidden. Otherwise the child will be born with splotchy octopus skin. That's ok I don't need a Star Trek baby.
Too many carrots (fav. veggie) is also bad. Otherwise the child will be born orange, so I'm told.

The GOOD pregnancy lore, I am thankful for is that I am no longer allowed to touch cold water anymore. Since we don't have warm running water 'Osi now carries the responsibility of handwashing our clothes and dishes. And I don't shower anymore.
Just kidding.
I heat up the kettle and take a bucket bath. Which I sometimes do for the clothes and dishes too, because 'Osi has to hang up all the laundry. (They believe pregnant women should not stretch or reach up their hands too much.
The most fantastic story I've heard is whoever I stare at the most will resemble the baby. Thankfully I spend 95% of my day staring at my husband. So we're expecting a very handsome child.

Please let me know if you can explain my frequent sneezing and crazy dreams. Last night I dreamed that kung-fu Thai fighters were taking over our village. Thankfully I was able to surf a tidal wave to a deserted island where my missions leader was making pancakes......(maybe it was the octopus I snuck a bite of when no one was looking. shhhh)

Needless to say God is teaching me alot about humility. While my hormones are raging and I can't have coffee, this is the royal test of submitting myself to the culture I am called to serve. Please pray for me to love my neighbors....and follow the rules.
-Jen

Another praise report is that we both have many opportunities weekly to do evangelism with other missionary teams on campus. Sometimes we go from door-to-door in villages, other times we meet in churches, village halls, or do open-air events with cultural dancing, worship and preaching.
Here is a picture of 'Osi dancing (front, right) for an outdoor evangelism night.

The blind will see!

As always, God is doing great things in Tonga, and we are so thankful to witness His work here. This past month we were sent off campus because we couldn’t pay all our room/board fees.
As we were praying with some other students what to do next, one of the girls asked us to go to her village to pray for her sick father.
Her family is Mormon, so when we visited them we shared some verses including Matthew 11:28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” After this we laid hands on him, praying for his healing. This man was very old and weak, as well as blind. After praying fervently we all expected a miracle, but the man remained blind, tears streaming down his face as he thanked us for our encouragement and prayers.
On our walk back home, we encouraged our friend that God loves her father. But sometimes it takes time for prayers to be answered. So we kept praying for her Dad everyday, and 2 days later God provided $700 to pay our debts, and our friend called saying her father is healed, the blind man can see again!

70 years!!

Happy Birthday Loloma!
This weekend we celebrated Loloma's 70th Birthday. (Loloma is the dear lady living with us while taking her DTS). Her daughter and Granddaughter flew in from New Zealand, and we had a huge birthday celebration with her family and the entire missions community.
It was a great time of celebrating God's faithfulness and blessing over Loloma's life.

She truly inspires us, like Psalm 145:4 says "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts."
We are so blessed to live with Loloma everyday, sharing our house and everything with her; amazed by her stories of Gods faithfulness over her whole lifetime. We also praise God because in a few months we'll be able to do the same for our "next generation". Then we will have three generations living in one house.
Hopefully God will give us all 70 years to "tell of his mighty acts".

Excercising our faith

'Osi had a interesting experience excercising his faith lately.
The farmers surrounding our village were burning their feilds, preparing to plant new crops. The other night 'Osi noticed one fire behind the camp was getting larger and seemed to be coming quickly toward our houses.
He noticed one of the staff of our mission running around frantically asking for the Director. 'Osi thought "I don't know where the Director is, but who am I? Who am I in Christ? I know my position as a child of God. I can go ask God for miracles and He will answer my prayers."

So he marched confidently towards the fire at the end of our campus, and said "In the name of Jesus I command this fire to stop by the time it reaches this coconut tree. You will not harm our houses."

Then 'Osi returned to the main chapel building where we were all gathered to have a meeting. During the meeting a few of the girls were watching the fire nervously, saying how worried they were that the fire was coming too close.
But 'Osi told them not to worry, he already prayed about it, it will stop. Most of us kind of laughed at him (sadly) he has such child like faith and confidence in his prayers. But by the time that fire reached the coconut tree, the rain started falling. God quenched the fire and answered 'Osi's prayers. We all have daily opportunities to excercise our faith, are you praying specific prayers in confidence that God will answer?

Harvesting peanuts!

The mission we are serving with in Tonga claims to be the only self-funded YWAM base in the Pacific. We have 50 acres of land that we lease from the Tu'ipelehake, and we use much of it for farming. Everyone living at the mission takes time to serve on the farm. This week we had fun harvesting peanuts! We will sell these peanuts, using the profits to help pay for various ministry expenses.