Encouraged on every side....

So much has happened since I decided to make Kauai my home.

There have been a great many good and wonderful things but there have also been those few things that have served to knock me flat on my back and question everything.

On Monday evening, as I sat on my bed, talking to Lisa, my heart was incredibly discouraged. I wanted to run and hide and curl up in a cold, dark place where no one could find me. The heart, mind, and emotions are truly powerful things. I will never figure them out.

After I got off the phone with Lisa, I watched X-Men: First Class, and felt empowered to do whatever I had to do to survive and thrive here in Kauai. It was a great, motivating movie!

The next morning, I called Lisa, again, to fill her in on how I was doing, as I rode the bus into town to go to work. I have found work to be a blessed distraction and a help to make it through particularly trying days. I asked Lisa to pray for me and she promised that she would.

I had some time to spare once I got into town and I decided it was definitely a Starbuck's kind of day. My heart leapt when I saw they had a Pumpkin Spice Latte on the menu. I love ANYTHING pumpkin!

With my latte in hand, in a mug because face it, it just tastes better that way, I found a table and cracked open my Bible and began to read Jeremiah 29:11. The words were sweet and washed again and again over my heart and mind. I needed that reminder that God had not walked away from me even though I have ALWAYS known He's been right by my side.

I gathered up my things and walked over to Papaya's where I began the opening routine with Dave, my manager. I told him I was having a difficult day and he began to encourage me and share some of his own, personal story with me. What a great guy! I thanked him for his kindness and words.

I love the early morning hours for so many reasons. There's just a totally different feel. I love the people that come in in the mornings because we share a common bond. There is much sharing of stories and an ability to connect on a deeper level because the busyness of the day hasn't set in yet.

I talked to Mike, who goes out when it is still dark to paddle board. He tells me stories of his favorite, little sea turtle that he has named Little One, who plays with him in the water every morning. He has seen many creatures in the water, small and large alike, and has never had a negative experience with one of them. I like his stories a lot. He is a gentle man with a good heart.

Around 11, in walked Keith. He asked me to weigh some dragon melon for him and when he asked me if I had ever tried dragon melon, I told him that I had not.

"You have to try it", he insisted, "Please just take a fork and take a piece of mine."

Because I knew he would not take no for an answer, I took a piece and thanked him.

Keith came back a second time and this time said, "I just ordered a smoothie and I know I won't be able to finish my dragon melon. Would you like to have it?"

His kindness was not lost on me and I told him I would love to eat the rest of it.

One last time, Keith came over to me and was carrying a cup with what looked like water in it.

"I have some coconut water left over from when they made my smoothie. Would you like to have it?"

I looked at him and said, "Keith, did something tip you off that I've been having a difficult day because you have totally been blessing my socks off by your generosity!"

He then began to tell me that there is no such thing as a bad day, and went on to quote Scripture.

I stood there with my mouth open and said, "Where do you go to church because I want to be around more people like you!"

He told me that a small group just happening to meet at his house that night.

"Do you want to come?"

"Yes! Yes I do!"

He gave me his phone number and I told him I would call him to get directions to his house.

Dustin came out to Kapaa and we looked at snorkel gear which is pretty much a must to own when you live in Kauai. No purchases were made but we came away from the experience knowing more than when we had started out.

I think it's going to take a little bit more time for me to want to go out in the water but once I work through my fears, doggonnit, I'm buying some snorkel gear!

Dustin drove us back to Kilauea and he started rigging up his cool, new stereo system. It was fun to see how excited he was about it and then we got to "experience" X-Men: First Class in surround sound later on in the night! So much fun!

I gave Keith a call and he started giving me directions to his house and my heart sank. I only had access to the bus and his house was quite off the beaten path. I told him that and he asked, "Well then, do you need a ride?"

"Yes, I guess I do", I said.

"Hold on a minute, then. I'll give you a call back."

When my phone rang a couple of minutes later, I said, "Hi, Keith!"

A female voice began to talk and I immediately began to be confused and apologized for thinking she was someone else.

She immediately put me at ease and told me her name was Jennifer and that Keith had asked her if she would be willing to give me a ride to small group. She said she lived only a short distance away and would be more than happy to come and pick me up.

I was overjoyed!

I met her at the gas station in Kilauea and once I got into her truck, we immediately began talking and sharing stories about our lives. She mentioned something about the fact that she had a studio apartment that was empty and I looked at her and said, "Jennifer! I'm trying to find a place to live!" She seemed pretty tickled and told me she would talk to the landlord and see if I could move in for a couple of months until Abe got to Kauai and I found a new place for us to live.

She decided to take me by her house and the studio in Anahola and as she was driving down the road, she asked, "Do you know YWAM?"

I started giggling uncontrollably. "I've been trying to get a hold of them for months now but they didn't have a phone number or any other way to contact them besides email and no one had responded to my emails."

"Well, they live right down the road from me!" she laughed.

I was seriously in shock.

"Oh yeah, and if you look to your left, the ocean is right there and you'll be able to hear it from your studio apartment."

NO WORDS....only a smile from ear to ear.

The studio apartment is small but cozy. It already has a futon bunk bed in it so there will be a place for any guests to spend the night if they would like :D We'll just have to arm wrestle for who gets the top bunk :)

There's a small toilet and sink, a little fridge, an outside shower with hot water, and an outside kitchen. What what!!!!! :)

Jennifer and I started talking prices for rent and I told her 400 would be doable but I found out later she had asked the landlord only to charge me 350!

We hopped in Jennifer's truck and headed to small group.

As soon as I set foot into the house, I was greeted by many faces I had already seen at Papaya's! It was so cool!

We had a time of worship and then dug into the Bible study they had just started the week before.

I got a chance to share a bit about my journey and told them I had been feeling incredibly discouraged and was wondering if Kauai was where I was supposed to be, before Keith came into the picture and blessed my socks off.

We ended in prayer and one of the guys there, whose name is Matt, is known to move strongly in the prophetic. He got several words for people and actually looked right at me and said, "You have many giftings but the word for you is boldness, right now, because you've got to start stepping out in them and when you do, you will impact many."

I thanked him. The small group was over, we began giving each other hugs and I was made to promise that I would come back.

Keith came over to me and said, "I have something I need to give to you. Don't leave before I do, okay?"

I told him I wouldn't.

As I was standing there, Matt looked at me again and asked, "Are you a singer?" I almost squealed as I was jumping up and down! "Yes! I am! But I don't play an instrument very well."

"I didn't see you playing an instrument. Are you interested in leading worship?"

More jumping up and down, "Yes!"

He went on to tell me that he and several other people were working on getting something going and he was just waiting on God to give him the go ahead. He told me I could be a part of it if I wanted to be.

My heart was about ready to explode with joy!

Then, Keith walked up to me, put his hand in my hand and said, "When you were talking about being discouraged and not knowing whether or not you were supposed to stay in Kauai, I felt led to give this to you. Did I hear God right? Is it partly due to money?

"Partly", I said. I looked down and there in my hand, he had placed a roll of $500!

"Please take it", he said.

I was literally speechless!

Jennifer gave me a ride home because she told me there was NO WAY she wanted me taking the bus that late at night. I had to laugh. She's such a Momma.

I didn't hear from Jennifer for a day so I called her on my way into work, yesterday, and was trying to be okay with the fact that the studio apartment may not work out.

She called me back and left me a message saying everything was a go, that the landlord only wanted $350, and that I could move in on Sunday! I just about fell out of my chair!

I think I'm supposed to be in Kauai. What do you think? ;)