Nelson’s journal 2/23/22

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Margaret

As Nelson journals, he often gains new insights by working things out through the keyboard on his laptop. Today he’s pondering the difference between physical blindness and spiritual blindness. And in thinking about seeing, he’s also learning something special about hearing.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

February 23, 2022

We had a leader named Christiphe speak at the KC (Kokua Crew)meeting last night. Pretty charismatic guy, catered to the youth, said he was a pastor for 7 years. Stayed within the time frame, which is rare. Most go way over what I tell them. We’re halfway through the week with Sharon and their gang (from their home church in Tennessee). It’s super busy, starts early and finishes late.

Been reading John and now in chapter 9 about the man receiving sight. Site to the blind. Jesus did that a fair amount. One of the ailments of humanity, blindness. It’s a fear people have, it’s a pretty severe handicap if you have it.

Papa (Nelson’s dad) was always worried about eyes and taking care of them. The guy in John 9 was born blind. Sometimes it doesn’t tell how it happened. Of course the story is about spiritual blindness and the kangaroo trial the Pharisees had, to try and find out who healed the man and how it happened.

They hated Jesus. He was giving the people sight, causing them to see and giving them power be making them healthy. Some leaders wanted the people sick and run down so it was easier to oppress them. Why? Just the power it gave them. What an evil thing.

They suffered from blindness too, blinded by intoxication with power. Is blindness a sin? Seems more like a symptom, amounting to a lack of vision. It’s obvious that a blind person doesn’t have vision. John 9:38:

“Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him. Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, ‘What? Are we blind too?’ Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains’.”

Seems vision is something we are accountable for. If we don’t see and do the wrong thing, it’s not wrong, but if we do, or even claim to see and do wrong, we are guilty.

Lord, I pray for vision. So many things can affect our vision. What am I guided by? What am I getting security from?

The love of money is one thing that can blind people and cause them to make wrong choices. Bob told me he heard the pastor at Living Stones say that life is like Monopoly. At the end of the game, all the money is put back in the box and the box goes back on the shelf. Why would we be greedy with what we’ve been given then? Spiritual blindness maybe?

Lord, take spiritual blindness away from us. Amen.

Took the guys in small group to the prayer room after the flags tonight to hear God’s voice together. The usual stuff, but I’m shocked how much God wants to speak to us if we give him the time. We would all be so much better off if we just spent that time with God.

Just making the time is 99% of the battle. But the “desire for other things” usually wins out. It’s been better for me though, lately. I’m thankful for the life we have, for Annso mainly, for the BBC team we are hosting this week, for Sharon and the connection we have with each other, for good connections with people here, so that we have each other.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

”The listening ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.” (Proverbs 20:12)“

Nelson’s journal 2/22/22

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Margaret

Ann Sophie and Nelson continue running the Kokua Crew ministry in Kona, Hawaii, staying busy around the clock with Youth With a Mission. The idea of becoming an electrician still has appeal, but the ministry still tugs firmly. Nelson is realizing that a traditional 40-hour job that is calm and predictable might not be the way to go.

The one thing he knows for sure is that as God guides, he’ll follow.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

February 22, 2022

The more I lead the Kokua Crew, the more I realize that these are my people. The BBC people came for their Mission Journey and the difference between the two groups is clear. I’m way more of a worker than a diplomat or office person. I’d rather be up in a tree than at a meeting… Anyway, we are glad to be doing what we’re doing.

Being an electrician doesn’t seem like a compatible life to this. Or it seems like a complete abandon of this life and all it has and demands. The demands and perks are different from those of a “normal” job.

Like Peter said, “We trusted God and look how it worked out for us.”

Lord, when I was working at his (Tim’s) house, I thought about that and have seen you do that for me so many times. Every time I’ve “Made a Plan,” it’s turned out to be second-best. You have always done more than I can ask or imagine. Maybe we should just stick with that.

Also, the two we asked to step in as house parents declined. So we’re left with a space open for next quarter. I hold it all loosely and want the best for our family, even though having a baby still seems like a dream. But the due date is anytime.

I pray, Lord, that I would never fear man or the churches that send us, the leadership here, any disease, any deportment or exclusion. I pray that you would always be the boss and the one I look to for orders, value, and self-worth. I pray for wisdom about spending Saturday with this team or sticking with the new Sabbath transition we are trying to start.

Even last week, there were commitments that tried to get in there and did. Lunches with people and other work-oriented things. We are happy to work, Lord, but even happier to spend the Sabbath together without work.

I pray for the courage to defend Annso and our baby boy above everything and everyone else, and not to let business or work come in the way, or fear of man, or fear of not having enough money or whatever, to stand in the way. I’m grateful for today, for the work we have, for the meeting tonight, for new starts and for fresh appreciation of what we do and why we do it.

Thank you Lord for the team from BBC that’s here and for their kindness to us bringing the dresser and coming all this way to bless us for such a short time.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

“Think about the Lord in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

Nelson’s Journal, 1/31/22

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Margaret

About two years after the start of the pandemic, Hawaii is still dominated by Covid rules, actually establishing more and more of them. Since Nelson and Ann Sophie live in Kona, on the big island of Hawaii, they are subject to all of them.

In Nelson’s way of thinking, after being compliant with a long list of pandemic regulations blanketing the entire ministry and scores of young people needing to be quarantined as they arrived on the island (a logistical nightmare), he seemed to reach his limit. Mandatory weekly Covid tests for the whole gang had become debilitating, with government vans invading the campus, checking on compliancy. To Nelson it seemed like they were in a foreign land, not the United States of America.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

January 31, 2022

“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” is a book I’m reading that Annso gave me for my birthday. It’s almost prophetic that she gave it to me. She is that for me, in a way, and much more, with a baby on the way.

It’s the last day of January 2022. The date sounds fictional. We are making decisions based on vaccine mandates and dodging this and that new rule.

I got fined $250 for bringing a group up Mauna Loa (Long Mountain volcano) on the wrong date, because I supposedly put everyone’s life in danger having that many people in a cabin who could have been wiped out by the ruthless killer, the Omicron variant of the sinister Corona virus (with a 99.9% survival rate). It’s, “Don’t think. Just obey.”

The book is like medicine to me in a way, giving me an excuse or authorizing a break from the high speed pace of the campus and Kokua Crew. Been working to imagine a 7-3 job training as an electrician. I don’t know where it will end up, and it’s hard to imagine working any job for 3 years—especially for another person.

The book says that slowing down can look a lot like failure. Interesting. There sure is a lot of ego wrapped up in moving fast and doing a lot and letting people see you do a lot.

Lord, thank you for leading us. I pray for the courage to carry it out and the wisdom to avoid costly failures that don’t cost only me, but my family, too. Thank you for the encouragement to overcome at least some of the ego that keeps us running so hard for so long. Thank you for your grace and mercy to see me through, despite myself.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of toil.“ (Psalm 127:2)