Maui 2017

MAUI BOUND ONCE AGAIN

"257"

Photo Cred: Auntie Shelley Waia'u

Winter has come on strong here in Idaho this year. We've hit record snow levels...and I'm told that it's been 30 years since Idaho has seen this kind of severe winter weather! In fact, winter weather throughout the entire Pacific Northwest and across the US has been intense this year. 

For this traveling sun-bum artist hippie it's been a bit too much. I've been snowed in since before Christmas! I've got cabin fever and am so ready for more artistic adventures! So I'm thankful that I have an upcoming art ministry trip planned for this spring to look forward to. 

Where am I headed to next?...

To once again serve Ke Aha Vineyard through creativity in Kahului, Maui. 

I get the wonderful opportunity to return to the beauty and blessing of island Aloha and Ohana to join with my Ke Aha Tribe once again. 

I've been invited to another Waia'u wedding and I've been asked back to creatively join in on the conversation that God is having with the people of Maui. 

I can't wait!

I'm counting the days! 

Oh, and if you're ever on the Hawaiian island of Maui and looking for a place to love and be loved on, might I recommend...

HE'E NALU: WAVE RIDER

I'm days away from my voyage across the Pacific to the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Thor will be my traveling companion this trip. Though I'm not crossing on a raft as he did, I know this journey will be life changing for me (as each of my art ministry travels have been). There'll be new discoveries I'll encounter along the way (in those I connect with, in what I'll be doing, in how I'll be engaging and interacting and learning as I experience each moment) and it will be all apart of the conversation that we get to listen in on and be a part of. I'm looking forward to what's ahead. Thank you for coming along with me. Let's go explore! Let's go ride some waves together! 

MAUI!!!!!!

Aloha from Maui! 

I was welcomed to the island yesterday with beautiful blue skies and an 80 degree sunny day. 

For the next couple of weeks I get to live amidst the Ohana at 257 and come alongside them as we minister together in creative ways. 

There is Much Aloha here and I've already been able to engage in many really good heart to heart conversations with people...about creativity and collaboration, about God's love for the broken hearted, about pursuing what we've been made for, and many other topics that are warming my heart and preparing me for what's ahead. 

And as the sun set on my first night back on the island I count my blessings that WE get to be a part of the conversations together. Thank you for joining me on this journey. 

A RAINY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day and it rained off and on throughout the day. I thought it was quite fitting, in keeping with the celebrations...ya know, cuz it rains often in Ireland.

With this trip I not only get the wonderful opportunity to come alongside Ke Aha to minister through art during their Sunday evening services, and to help out/serve with wedding preparations for the Pastor's daughter Dawn and her fiance Ian, but I also get the chance to hang out and experience life with the Tribe.

Kaleo Waia'u, the Pastor of Ke Aha, is Hawaiian. The culture of the Ke Aha Vineyard church and also how they do life here at 257 very much reflects local Hawaiian culture as it is lived out here on the island. Having lived on the Hawaiian island of Oahu when I was a kid (and grown up on beaches, attended the public schools, and integrated into the culture) I have a heart connection to Hawaii that is more than just a pretty place to visit. I've appreciated, over the last few years, getting a glimpse of what local life looks like for this particular community. 

Wherever I travel to and whoever I'm coming alongside in ministry with, I enjoy learning about the specific culture and traditions of the place and people I am connecting with. It helps me connect in more and understand how much God loves each person, place, and culture and how I can creatively enter into the conversations He is already having with them. As I learn more about the unique cultural history, language, arts and music, foods, and what things/ways are important to those specific people (this is very much how I work in my art business "revelatorART" when I am commissioned to do a painting for a client, I desire to create something that uniquely fits for them, and I will take a great deal of time learning about and getting know and listening in order to truly see what I'm to create...cuz even though it may be me creating the painting, it is supposed to reflect who they are)...it gives me a little glimpse in of how much He works so uniquely and specifically to converse with human hearts....all around this world. Although these specific experiences are for me to be a part of, they're not about me (or about the art actually)...they're always going to be about God connecting with people.

So as I continue to travel to Maui, I am always open to learning more about Hawaiian culture and tradition from Kaleo and the Waia'u family and I find it an honor to be invited into their Ohana the way that I have been. 

 Shelley Waia'u, the Pastor's wife, is part Irish and Scottish (which if you know me, you will know that I am too and everything Irish or Scottish excites me). So the Waia'u family not only connects in with Hawaiian traditions but it also connects in with Irish traditions. And that is really cool in my book!

I have been blessed to learn that St. Paddy's is celebrated at the Waia'u house (as there is some Irish blood in the family on Shelley's side...just like in mine on my mom's side). So I felt very much at home. 

In the evening those who live at 257 and few others who are a part of the Ohana gathered round the table to hang out and have a good time. Everyone got into it, wearing green, listening to Irish music, doing jigs, cracking each other up with blarney, and sharing in a meal of Shepherd's Pie and Corned Beef and Cabbage, and there may have been a couple a pint or two drank by those who do. 

And then we played a card game together and shared in fun conversations and laughter. It was good clean fun and I was blessed to be a part of it. 

I've only been here a couple of days, and I've been very blessed so far to have lots of wonderful conversations with the Ke Aha tribe already. It's been good to be back and already go deep in conversation about creativity and collaboration, worship and connection with God, and listening to the heartbeat of our callings. And I've enjoyed the laughter and fun too. 

MY KIND OF PEOPLE

The people who reside at 257 and the people who hang out at 257 are my kind of people. Real...Quirky...Deep...Fun...with lots of room for Love. At any given time when you walk through the door...this is the scene (nothing was staged)...slippers strewn about at the door and lots of conversations, laughter, prayers, and energy throughout. 

As I was getting ready to write this post I realized that I don't have a lot of photos of people here that are "serious" and "posed". What I do have are photos that are in the moment (the ones that maybe aren't so flattering, the ones that are a bit blurred, the ones that after several takes ya just give up on getting that "perfect" one...which those silly ones are very much the ones I love so dearly). 

Shelley (referred to as Aunty by Ke Aha) took me to get my first Boba Tea and I think I may become addicted. Something about sucking those little tapioca balls up the straw made it so texturally satisfying! We took the time to sit and share in some laughs together and have been appreciating building friendship with her. 

Erica (with whom I refer to as the one who introduced me and started my love affair with Ke Aha) and I are getting the opportunity to room together during my stay this trip and I've been enjoying our conversations and laughs (this photo was created from me not realizing my flash was on and I startled myself). 

Kylee (you may recall that I went surfing with her on my first trip to Maui and she got married during my second trip to Maui) is soon to become a mama. We got a wonderful chance last night to hang out and catch up. We went for a night walk at her favorite local beach where she normally surfs. It was a beautiful night and we found ourselves laughing hysterically due to me being quite distracted at the fact I was ON A BEACH! 

Here is a video of the sound of the surf...yes...not much to see here because it was nighttime and I couldn't figure out how to film with the light on....which gave more fuel for laughter. But hopefully you can hear it and pretend you see a beach with waves and the city lights in the background. There was a balmy breeze blowing and the sand was wet and the water was warm.

As the my time here goes on I may be able to get the occasional photo here and there that could be considered picturesque and worthy of noting...but actually I doubt it, because when I'm at 257 life is what it is. 

SPIRIT BREAK OUT

 I live in Idaho and there's a 4 hour time difference between Hawaii and Idaho. The church I attend in Idaho live streams their Sunday morning services on-line. I was able to watch it on my Mac here on Maui and feel connected to my Vineyard Boise tribe while in the midst of my Ke Aha tribe. One of the songs that they sang was a song called "Spirit Break Out" by Kim Walker-Smith. It's one of my favorites (the song and the album "I Still Believe" that it's on has been my main go-to to listen to for literally a year, the CD hasn't left my truck in all that time). And just last night when I was walking on beach with my friend Kylee she asked me what my favorite song was right now and I didn't even hesitate in saying "Spirit Break Out". So hearing this morning from Vineyard Boise's worship service surprised me. I texted Kylee to let her know and she was blown away too (cuz we had just been talking about it). 

So then tonight at Ke Aha Vineyard's Sunday evening service the second song they sing is...yep, "Spirit Break Out"! I'm like NO WAY! Now here's there thing...Kylee sings on the worship team. I later find out from her that she had nothing to do with having that song in the set list (her husband Leo was the one who picked it). She was beaming excited when she found out today that it was. And she told Leo not to tell me cuz she wanted it to be a surprise for me too. And oh yes it was! Not only a surprise but a real blessing to experience such a key song for me from both my tribes on the same day! 

As you know with each of my trips I bring a bag full of art supplies ready to be used. Some of the supplies are for my personal use (for example if I'm painting live somewhere) and some of the supplies are for use by those I'm creatively ministering to (projects and collaborations, etc.) This trip I get to come alongside the childrens ministry of Ke Aha and lead art with the kids. 

So tonight after the time of worship I joined the kids and those who were leading for their Sunday School time. I absolutely had a blast coming alongside Tani and Erica to help them with a lesson based out of Ephesians 5. 

I had the kids work on clay mosaics with various bits and shards of broken shells and pebbles. The mosaics were representing the process of what it can look like when we (with all of our brokenness and hurt and pain and the stuff that happens to us and the stuff we do) allow God (who understands brokenness because His heart breaks for us and Jesus was broken for us) to help us work through our darkness to bring us into light...to make something beautiful of it all so that our lives can reflect who He is in us. 

The kids did a wonderful job creating such beautiful pieces of art....and I was really impressed with how well they interacted with each other and how they seemed to really get the depth of the lesson, along with how much fun they had together.

The Ke Aha Kids.

And my favorite part was at the end when we gathered in a circle and prayed for each other. I could really sense His presence in those kids. 

When I started today with "Spirit Break Out"...I had no idea how impactful the day was going to be. 

MY HAPPY PLACE

This is me today...in my happy place. 

Typically on each of my art travels I will plan a day in my schedule that I can set aside to do a bit of exploring on my own. I do this as a way to help balance what I'm doing ministry-wise (to give myself a chance to relax and fill up and also get to experience a bit of the local sights and culture). This kind of day looks different with each trip depending upon where I'm at, who I'm coming alongside, how long my trip is, and what is available for me to do. 

With this trip I was able to schedule today as my exploring day. Tomorrow I will utilize the day to paint. There is a painting I need to create as a gift and I will need to prep a canvas for next Sunday's Worship Service at Ke Aha. And then basically every day through the weekend I will be participating in and helping out with wedding events and continuing to minister through art with the kids. So the schedule gets busy from here on out. 

I took the bus today from Wailuku (where 257 is located) and went to Paia to hang out for the day. Paia is one of my favorite spots on the island (it's a tiny artsy-hippie-surfer town). Every time I travel to Maui I make sure to have a day on my own to soak up the sun and surf at Paia and take in the artistic vibes of the tiny islander town. It's a slightly smaller than the town I live in in Idaho...yet it has way more shops, galleries, eateries, cafes, ...and the beach. 

After walking on the beach I will walk around the town, talk to gallery owners, get coffee, do some journaling and sketching, and a little shopping. Today was no exception. 

It was a beautiful day at the beach. I let the water and sand embrace my feet once again like a warm friendly hug. I've missed it so much. I've practically been obsessed with drawing and painting the beach for several years now. Because I travel so much, I've been blessed to get to experience beaches all over the world. And it's moments like today at the beach near Paia that continue to fill my heart with a love for the ocean.  

May this video bless you with a taste of Maui. Thank you for coming along with me and being a part of this trip by your encouragement, support, and prayers. 

PORTABLE ART STUDIO AND GAMES WITH THE TRIBE

While away on my art ministry trips I have learned to create makeshift art studios in the rooms I stay in. I come with everything I need in my art bag on the plane and then purchase canvas once I arrive at my destination. Oftentimes on these trips there is need for me to prep canvas for painting live and/or create paintings as gifts for my hosts and others I may encounter. This trip is no exception. Today I prepped the background for a painting that I'll have a couple of the Ke Aha kids paint live on during the worship service this coming Sunday night. And I also created a painting as a wedding gift for some friends who are getting married on Saturday evening. It was a fulfilling time working with my paints and brushes. I absolutely love day's like today (art making and blessing others).

The Waia'u Tribe has a tradition when family from the Mainland come to Maui...they eat Mexican food and play the game Mexican Train. I have been blessed both times I've come during a wedding to be witness to these festivities. It's a time of intense strategy amongst the players and it's filled with lots of laughter and joking. The last time I was here I think I just hovered around (as it was all new to me). Tonight I got closer to the action...I actually sat at the table and conversed (though I didn't play...I'm still in the observing/learning phase). But I was told tonight once the game was over that next time they play I will be expected to enter in. 

In the meantime...I had fun laughing at Leo's silly antics and all the banter going on between everyone (they crack me up!) It was quite entertaining for me. 

This night officially opens the week of wedding festivities for Dawn and Ian.

BBQ AT THE BEACH

This evening Dawn and Ian hosted a BBQ at the beach for the Ke Aha Ohana in celebration of their upcoming wedding. 

We met in Kihei, which is on the southwest side of Maui, for the afternoon/evening together. 

Gathering like this reminded me of my childhood on Oahu when we would have BBQ's with friends at the beach. It's a great way to enjoy the ending of a day. 

Tonight was a real treat to experience this kind of gathering with Ke Aha. It was fun to relax and interact...a good time to hang out and (as the locals say) TALK STORY. 

Dawn prepped the meat.

And Ian grilled.  

Everyone enjoyed the warmth of the sand and the water and the view of the sunset together.

And WOW that sunset! It was beautiful!  

CELEBRATING REDEMPTIVE LOVE

While here on Maui, I've had the honor of getting to create a painting as a wedding present for Dawn and Ian. It's based from a photo that Ian took on the island. One of the things they both love to do is go for drives into the mountains and go camping and exploring...so I call this painting "The Journey". Their relationship is a love story that pours out redemption and blessing (not just for themselves, but also for all those who know them). And their wedding has a testimony of grace and mercy and lots of answers to prayers. It truly has been a beautiful thing to be a witness of. 

I was able to be a part of Dawn's Bridal Shower night with all the amazing women who love her. 

And I helped set up and decorations for the wedding rehearsal dinner (which was held at the building that Ke Aha has their services). And I was also able to help with making the corsages for the bridal party. 

Kaleo (Dawn's dad, on guitar) and Sonny (Dawn's son, on the cahone) led worship at the wedding rehearsal dinner. 

This was a beautiful Hawaiian song that Kaleo sang. I have to say...the Waiau family are all very talented singers and musicians...and when they gather to worship it really points to love of God for us all. 

The wedding was held at a friends property in Wailuku (which is on the west side of the island on the way to Iao). The view of Haleakala across the island was spectacular! 

Dawn and Ian got married under a Chuppa (pronounced hoopa) with children all around them. Sonny (Dawn's son) gave her away and Kaleo (her dad) officiated. At one point in the ceremony Kaleo called Sonny and also Adah (Dawn's daughter) into the Chuppa to allow them to be a part of the vows. This was a wedding where not many eyes were dry. Dawn and Ian both really desired that people know how much this wedding was God's pouring out of love (not just on them but on all of us). 

We sang a worship song together before the ceremony ended. 

And then came the dinner and dance party! 

Oh and I don't want to forget...Dawn's sisters, Jenny and Beau did hula to a song as part of the entertainment. Here's a short video I took. 

I have to say this was one of the most beautiful weddings I've been able to witness...and it wasn't just the setting of Maui...it truly was the LOVE of the Ohana. 

IT'S ABOUT 'WE' NOT 'I'

Tonight I had the wonderful honor of facilitating art during worship at Ke Aha Vineyard. Before I left Idaho I spent a lot of time in prayer about what imagery/message I was to paint for them. Normally when I have come along side Ke Aha I will paint live during a worship service (I'm usually set up on the stage with the band). This trip I really felt led (instead of me painting solo) I was to invite the children to paint and create. 

What I do on these travels...it's never really about me...and it's never really about the art. It's always going to be about God's heart for people. I listen in on the conversation that God is having with people and then when He prompts me I enter into that conversation through creativity and love on people and give Him glory. It's always going to be about His heart for us. 

I arrived early with the band so I could set things up. I chose to place everything off the stage so that it was easier access for the kids and it would all be a part of the corporate worship of the congregation.

I prepped the canvas station that myself and the kids would paint at...writing the words of Psalm 40:2 "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground as I walked along." on the canvas beforehand. 

I also set up a huge mural I had prepared for the kids to color. It was the same image as on the canvas....along with a colorful painted pearl (representing us when we allow God to work in us to create something beautiful out of our darkness, out of pain, our hurt, our sin, our shame, our grief, our messy lives). 

The band (Leo on lead and singing, Kylee singing, Joey on bass, Sonny on drums) led us into worship.

I invited the kids to come up and color and paint.

And WOW they gave it their all! 

The mural began to come to life. 

And one by one I invited children to add color to the canvas. 

Each picking the colors they wanted to use.

Each letting their creative voices be heard.

Each adding to the song of worship.

Each giving from their hearts to Him.

At the same time the congregation sang and danced together. And in that moment...we were ONE voice. 

The mural isn't completed...but the kids will continue to color on it. 

Once the kids were finished painting, I added the finishing touches to the canvas...gluing on the pearl and adding some splatter. 

I call this painting, 

"REDEMPTIVE BEAUTY"

He makes beauty from brokenness. 

Then Uncle Kaleo pulled up a chair and spoke to us about what it really means to be FAMILY, to be COMMUNITY, to be TRIBE, to be "WE" focused....and not "I" focused. He encouraged us to be real with each other, to pray for each other, to hang out together and talk and share with each other...and that's what we spent the rest of the time doing. 

Tonight was really amazing. It was spent as WE. 

It really was Ke Aha (The Gathering). 

HANGING OUT WITH 257

Today was my last full day of this trip and it was an incredible one.

It started with some of the tribe going to for an early morning donut run. I got to try a POI donut (the purple frosted ones). Poi is a traditional Hawaiian food made from tarot root (the texture is much like a paste and it has a very distinctive bland sort of taste). The taste of poi has actually grown on me since I've been here. 

Then a bunch of us climbed into vehicles with towels and boogie boards and headed to a local beach for a morning swim together. It was SO fun! What a great way to start the day! We even did a bit of yoga in the water together. 

Here is a short video of the water from this morning...

Selfie time after our swim.

Once back at 257 a few of us indulged in a rousing game of Bananagrams. (This photo was taken from a previous day but I forgot to actually take a photo today). 

But here is a short video from today's game time...

Then some of us took off for Stir It Up to get some Boba Tea and hang out and talk story together. 

Later I had Erica take me to get some Ahi Poke (one of my favorites!)...and I put it on my pizza tonight for dinner (it was SO GOOD!) 

And then we played Mexican Train once again. 

Yes...this time I actually played! 

I can't believe my trip is almost over. I'll be heading back to Idaho soon. It's been an amazing time getting to listen in on the conversations that God is having with the Ke Aha tribe here on Maui. I've enjoyed the chance to once again hang out, talk story, take part in wedding festivities, come alongside in ministry through creativity, and be a part of life at 257 for a moment. My heart is already longing for the next time. 

Thank you all for coming along with me on this journey. I couldn't do this without your prayers, your encouragement, your support, and your active involvement in these traveling art ministry trips. It is never about me, and it's never really about the art. It's always going to be about God's love for others. 

Thank you for joining the conversation with me. 

I look forward to the next time.

May you be blessed with Much Aloha! 

Mahalo!