Maui Jan 2018

I will be returning to Kahului, Maui to minister through creativity in January 2018. I've been listening in on the conversations that God is having there and coming alongside those who minister locally there for several years now...and things are getting quite exciting. 

Thank you! 

I am continually grateful for the creative adventures that we get to embark on together...wherever they take us. And I am extremely thankful for your continued prayers and support as I travel and minister side by side through relationship and creativity to people all over this beautiful world. 

"Then I said to myself, "Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" -Psalm 139:11-12

"Look at the ravens...carefree in the care of God. And you count far more!" -Luke 12:24 

May you encounter the God who sees you. 

And may you know that He is fond of you. 

Happy Christmastide to all of you! 

Much Love, 

Lisa

My art bag is packed full of art supplies and ready to fly with me across the Great Blue Pacific to the island of Maui, Hawaii for yet another art ministry trip...coming alongside the small church of Ke Aha Vineyard in Kahului, to minister through creativity.

Not much has been officially scheduled for this trip, other than a wonderful opportunity to continue to creatively join in on the conversations that God is having with the beautiful people of Maui through some every day life experiences. 

My art bag is full, as it and myself are ready (if/when needed) to serve however we can. One thing I've learned about God as I travel the world ministering through creativity...God loves lavishly in more ways than I'll ever know. So regardless whether paint is ever brushed onto canvas, or pencil is ever stroked upon paper, or clay is ever molded within hands...HE is painting on people's lives. 

Though there are books and courses, retreats and conferences, seminars and workshops (that I myself have been involved with in all various ways) discussing the topic of Art Ministry, showing examples of and giving how-to's on Art Ministry, and offering practical opportunities in Art Ministry...Art Ministry is not something that can be easily defined or formulated. It ebbs and flows like water...it moves and dances like Spirit...it sparks and ignites like fire...and it gets messy and real like mud. This is because at it's core it is all about ministry to people...it's about loving people. How it "looks" can be different dependent upon social and cultural influences, people's personalities and experiences, needs that arise, and it's absolutely dependent upon a relational partnership with God and the people we are coming alongside to minister with and to minister to. 

Like a resounding drum and heart beat, there have been and will be some really good conversations taking place on Maui that continue to unite my heart and mind with theirs. And there are some exciting plans in the works for this Traveling Art Minister that will more than likely bring about some big changes. I hope to update you all upon the completion of this trip. 

I welcome your prayers and support. Thank you for being such a faithful part of the creative conversation with me and God as I continue to travel the world and minister through creativity to love people. 

My Feet are on Maui Once Again

It feels good to be back on Maui, back in Kahului, back at 257, back within the Waiau Ohana, back to partner with Ke Aha Vineyard Church to minister in creative ways. 

You know you're on Maui when the house you're staying at has a rack for the residents surfboards. 

DEEP THOUGHTS UPON MY FIRST DAY BACK ON THE ISLAND: 

This...even in rainy windy winter on Maui. I've missed this. Shoes strewn about at the door telling of heartbeats within. Being a part of something that is much bigger than yourself. It's part of Hawaiian culture, part of Pacific Islander culture, part of Asian culture...and part of my culture. 

It's like the slippers at the door are foreshadowing my time here on Maui for this trip. If I lean in to look harder....I can see that it's going to be about joining the conversation, integrating into the ebb and flow of life, being organic and intentional, and taking a pause to listen...

It's like I can hear music...like with a dance...the importance of both partners in sync together...as they are both moved by the music. That's what it's like to come along side people through creativity, to minister in creative ways, to join the conversation. 

It's about people...joining with God to love people in creative ways.

I've been traveling to connect through art here on Maui since 2014.  Over the years on the island I've listened in on the conversations that God was having with people here and I've been asked numerous times to join in on the conversations with my unique voice through creativity. I've painted live, facilitated art projects, led collaborative creative worship, spoken about what creativity looks like in each of us, and had numerous conversations  nourished by creativity. And at the same time, the people here have opened their homes and their hearts, talked story with me, shared meals and shared dreams. They've spoken their heritage and they've listened to mine. And yet...there is so much more to offer and so much more to embrace. It takes time to build relationship, to build trust, to go deep, to learn about each other, to minister to one another...to grow with one another. It's like sets of waves moving towards the shore...there is a rhythm to it all...an ebb and flow...like breathing. This is what this trip is about.

What is art ministry? 

This. is. 

We are the art. 

The Conversations Have Begun

The conversations have begun.

I enjoy those opportunities of connection through discussion that appear spontaneous but somehow I get the notion were planned by a creative God who is beyond time and space. Today was filled with those kinds of moments for me. Those times when it feels as if time has stopped and I'm totally full on in the moment with people. Those moments when I find myself lingering to ask a question that starts a connection that opens up into something inspiring, those moments when I say yes to a invitation to join in a discussion that will launch some intentional creativity, and those opportunities when I find myself organically entering into a group discussion that fosters growth in all who participate. 

Like neurons firing in the brain.

Conversations about recognizing God's love through the stories we enter into when we watch certain movies, conversations about the role of song writing and the voice of cultures and generations when we worship God, conversations about the restoration of a people to a loving relationship with their Creator and the unchanging Sovereignty of God when we read the Bible. 

It's days like today that I look back on and my mind reels from all the amazing conversations and discussions I was privileged to be a part of. I love this kind of collaboration...when hearts and minds come together and share ideas and thoughts and learn from each other...regardless of if the moments were planned or entered into spontaneously, regardless of if the moments are structured or free flowing. 

This took place today between myself and numerous people all within the house I'm staying in here on Maui. Island culture and living in community seems to naturally allow for this kind of connecting. It's a beautiful thing...this ebb and flow. 

A Day In Paia

Every time I come to Maui I have to spend at least one day getting to hang out in the tiny town of Paia. It's a favorite of mine due to it sitting right at the beach and also it has a very artsy-hippy-surfer esthetic to it. 

I love to go to the beach first and soak up the sun and the waves and the sand. It helps to clear my head and gives me that opportunity to pause and breathe. 

Then I like to walk around the town and pop in and out of the shops and galleries and stay open for those opportunities to talk to people and enter into conversations. 

Today I had a great conversation with the owner of a surf shop I like to go into each time. She actually recognized me from my previous trips and that made it fun to stand and chat about art and business with her. I also had a great conversation with the owner of a gallery I like to go into each time. She didn't recognize me right away but once we got talking she remembered. I'm working on building relationship with her gallery as I'd like to try and submit my work to their themed shows at some point. I showed her some JPEGs of a couple of my paintings and she seemed quite interested...so ya never know. I let her know that I really want to try and connect in with the local art community on Maui, but I know it takes time to build relationship and connections. I also had a great conversation with a couple who came into the gallery and joined us. I later ran into them again and they wanted to continue to talk to me. The guy is a gallery owner in Vancouver BC and he and his wife like to come to Boise a lot. He was interested in reconnecting on-line...so ya never know. 

So the creative conversations continue...

The Winds of Change are Blowing...

Today has been full of some amazing conversations here on Maui about creativity that have been encouraging, inspiring, and even confirming with numerous people at the house I'm staying at and also at a local cafe that I went to. 

These were conversations that are once again confirming for me that God loves us so much that He will take person A from place A and prompt them at a specific moment to go to place C for purpose A. Then He'll take person B from place B and prompt them at a specific moment to go to place C for purpose B. And person A and person B will "coincidently" meet and it's made clear that at that specific moment there is a purpose C that was meant all along for both person A and person B to be at place C at that specific moment....together. 

It can be encouraging, influencing, confirming, uplifting, and inspiring. And it's such a witness to how much He loves people. This is the listening, this is the partnering with Him, this is the joining in the conversation, this is the coming alongside, this is the "it's not about the art, it's about the heart". 

When I say the winds of change are blowing what I'm referring to is that when we are open to the conversations we are open to the cross pollination of ideas and thoughts, the sharing of stories and dreams, the sparks of creativity that can become fires of passion and flames of hope. and this can bring change. Change in the way we see things, change in the way we do things, change in how we connect with others, change in our plans, change in all numerous kinds of stuff and things. And with change can come new beginnings. 

E Komo Mai: You Are Welcome Here, Come On In

E KOMO MAI

c. 2018 Lisa Marten

24x30 mixed media on canvas

painting live during worship at 

Ke Aha Vineyard church, Maui

Tonight I had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate through creativity at Ke Aha Vineyard church on Maui. 

I joined the worship team and created a painting during the music part of the worship service. 

The painting I created is based on the passages of Luke 14 and John 14 in the Bible. My paraphrasing and combining of them basically says: God loves you so much he will go and find you and bring you into his house. There is room for more! He wants his house full! The painting is connecting into Hawaiian culture of leaving your slippers and shoes at the door as you enter a house. So with the imagery I'm representing that all are welcome into the Ohana (the extended family). And there is room for more. 

The red that you see connects in with the Passover of the Old Testament when Moses was to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. The blood on the doors meant that all within were protected from harm. It also is connecting into the story of them entering into the Promised Land of Canaan (specifically the city of Jericho) when Rahab places a red cord out her window to mean that all that were within the house were protected from harm. There is hope. The meaning behind the painting is all about community and family...and that God really does mean it when He says GO LOVE PEOPLE. 

Pastor Kaleo Waia'u spoke tonight about what it means to be Kingdom people....people who follow the King. He referenced the passage of Mark 1:14-20 where Jesus calls the disciples who are fishermen to come and follow him. He tells them that he will make them fishers of men. This is important to note...being fishermen they would know how it is to fish (it's really hard work, it's stinky and messy and oftentimes without much reward). So he wasn't calling them to something easy...he was calling them to follow him into something hard and messy and oftentimes without much reward. But none the less he wanted them....to GO for him. 

Which takes me to this...even though I'm in the middle of the Pacific and 3 hours behind my home state and city, I was able to watch on-line the live stream of the Sunday service from Vineyard Boise church (my home church) today. And Pastor Trevor Estes was speaking about the trust and faith to GO into unchartered territories (like the Israelites going into the Promised Land) where God is calling us. It's not going to be easy (they had a lot of obstacles to overcome and some hard battles) but there would be welcoming homes (like Rahab) that would open their doors to them. And there would be hope. 

I thought it was really cool how the themes of today both in Boise and here in Kahului were about God loving us so much he will come find us and call us to go with him, to enter into new places and new things with Him, and we will be welcome. It might be hard at times, and messy, and full of challenges...but there will be hope and there will be room...for more. 

Local Art

No matter where in the world I travel to do my own art, I am always interested in getting to see the art that represents the place and culture created by local artists. That can be in the form of Street Art, Murals, Art in Art Galleries, Performances at venues or events, or meeting face to face with local artists in their studios. Each trip brings me something different. Sometimes I get to experience one of those, sometimes I get to experience them all. 

With this trip to Maui so far I've been able to experience some art in Paia, Wailuku, and Kula. On past trips to Maui I've seen some art in Makawao, Haiku, Wailea, and Kihei. I've not made it to Lahaina yet to see the galleries...but it's on my to do list. 

some may question me that i think this is art, but i really do enjoy the crazy creativity of the random stickering and graffiti of street signs, telephone polls, alley ways and other things.

i love when local artists are allowed to paint colorful murals on buildings or create sculptures, mosaics, or other public art, showing their unique style, creating a story to the place, and sharing the local atmosphere with those who pass by. 

one of my favorite galleries to visit when on Maui is Art Project Paia in Paia. the owner is very friendly and the art featured in their themed exhibits are always thought provoking for me (in creative subject matter, medium, and creative process). 

this trip i was able to visit the oldest and longest running art gallery on Maui (at Kula Lodge) featuring local artist Curtis Wilson Cost and his beautiful paintings of Maui. His paintings are striking and this one in particular really spoke to me. 

Lots of fun getting to see what art is out there and to have conversations with people about what connects and doesn't connect. Every place and culture is different and that to me is part of the fun. We all add our unique voice to the conversation. 

Creative Collaboration in Small Ways

While being here on Maui I've been able to join several small groups from Ke Aha Vineyard that have met this week. You may ask...where's the creativity? where's the art? It's everywhere. Remember...creativity may be the language we try our hand at listening through and speaking...but we are the art. Together. 

It's been a real treat for me to get to experience the different facilitator/leadership styles and group dynamics of each of the groups I've been able to be a part of this week, which speaks of the diverse creativity that is in each of them. It's been enriching for me to get to experience the various discussions around the Bible passages and topics that each has been studying. Each person bringing their unique voice to add to the conversation...whether that be through discussion, reading-writing, sketches, music and singing, stories, references to movies and images, prayers, laughter-tears,...it's all creativity as it becomes a response in the conversation. It's all about who we are and what we bring to each other that becomes creative collaboration. 

Thinking about this makes me ask...on a daily basis, wherever we are, whoever we're with...are we looking for the creativity in each other? It's in there. In each of us.

I hear the voice of Raffiki from The Lion King as he says to Simba as he's looking into the pool of water...

"Look haaaaarrrrrrderrrrr" 

Monday night: Leadership Prayer Meeting

Tuesday night: Shelley's small group at the mall

Wednesday night: Kaleo's small group at Leo & Kylee's 

Thursday night: Dawn's small group at the house

An Intimate Night of Worship

Tonight I was invited to paint live during a special night of worship hosted and led by worship leaders from Ke Aha Vineyard. We met in their home and settled in for a couple of hours to worship God together in intimate community. 

I have been able to paint in all kinds of settings throughout my travels. I particularly enjoy getting to paint in people's homes...as I find this to be a beautiful way of experiencing people's lives surrounded by the ordinary and every day. It gives me an insight that helps me connect into the community and culture in a way that I wouldn't normally get.  And this I try to add into what I paint. 

Tonight my painting was inspired by a combination of many conversations that I've had with various people within Ke Aha over the span of 5 years, a dream I had 3 years ago with a very specific image, and numerous Scripture references, along with some songs that spoke some imagery that fit, some research I did to learn some facts about Maui, and some smaller sketches and watercolor paintings I've done in my journals.

A cool thing that I experience when painting live is that regardless of if I've got a plan or not...I always leave room for the conversation that takes place during the actual painting time. The conversation between me and God, me and the paints, me and those I'm collaborating with (the worship leaders or speakers, etc.), me and the music, me and the Word, etc. So I never really know how the painting will turn out (even if I've planned it ahead of time) because I'm open to it changing and developing as it's created. 

my painting set up in the corner of the dining room

Leo, Sonny, and Kylee leading us in worship

"The Mountain: Haleakala-Halemahina-Kahalawai: House of the Sun-Moon-Water"

24x30 mixed media on canvas

c. Lisa Marten 2018

painted live for Ke Aha Vineyard, Maui

The Sun/Moon represents God the Father and God the Son. The Water represents God's Spirit. The Mountain is what we are called to. To ascend towards intimacy with Him. 

There are Scriptures and song references written into the background of the painting...

"Can I ascend the hill of the LORD, can I stand in that Holy place?"

"You are the salt of the earth, You are the light of the world"

"If we walk in the light, and He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another"

"In you there is no darkness"

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? ...The darkness isn't dark to you." 

I learned that there are 2 mountains here on Maui. One is called Haleakala which means House of the Sun. One is called Halemahina which means House of the Moon (and also called Kahalawai which means House of Water). I learned that Mt. Sinai in the Bible where Moses meet with God means the Sun and it's also called Mt. Horeb which means Moon. 

I learned about the tiny parrot bill bird (an endangered bird here on Maui that resides only in the forests of Haleakala that conservationists are trying to preserve) and I was reminded of the Scripture....

"Consider the ravens (birds) they do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn, yet God fees them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds." 

The dream I had was about a mountain and there was a bus filled with people ascending really fast up the mountain...I knew that it was about ascending towards a deeper more intimate relationship with God while experiencing community (being the Body of Christ together through LOVE). 

All of these things together gave me the imagery for this painting. 

It was such a moving experience to finally get to paint this...and to see how it developed through the night of worship and to learn afterwards how and what it spoke to those who were there in the circle. 

Mahalo Maui! Aloha Oe A Hui Hou. 

 Thank you Maui! Goodbye until we meet again. 

Thank you to Erica for snapping this photo as I was leaving Maui and posting on IG!

I'm back in Idaho and maneuvering through re-entry with a little bit of jet lag and a lot of love in my heart. I'm thankful for the last 2 weeks that I've had creatively ministering and relationally connecting on Maui. 

Thank you to everyone at 257 and Ke Aha for all the great memories we made together. They will help to keep me warm in these colder winter temps here in Idaho. 

And Thank you to everyone all over this world who have been praying for this trip, for me, and for those I've connected with. You are a very important part of this creative collaboration and I am so thankful for you. 

I'm gonna take a few days to adjust back, but I will soon post to update you all and let you know what new travels are on the horizon for this Traveling Art Minister. 

Much Aloha to you all!