This July 15, 2017 marks exactly ten years my husband and then, five year old daughter, Julia Jael, left our families, careers, and possessions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and moved to Maui, Hawaii. Earlier that year in March, we were praying and looking for the next steps in our lives. That is when our beloved pastors and spiritual parents Silas and Selma Esteves, along with Gary and Marilyn Hargrave had asked us to pray about moving here to pastor and oversee Hale O Nā Kāula Church. We were ready for a change and to grow in the Lord, but we weren’t expecting what God had in store for us! We embraced the vision to create a family in Maui that was centered on God, and we have pursued that every day since we moved here.
Looking back at these ten years I can see the growth in our personal lives and in this church family. We were blessed with our daughter Leilani, who was born in 2008, and since then we have developed amazing relationships here on Maui. At first, we came because there was a need and we were asked to be here, but then Maui truly has become our home and when we chose to apply for our US citizenship, we did it because we felt it was time to be done with the transition and put our roots down.
The number 10 represents completion and as I was reading Hebrews 10 this morning, I believe something has been completed in our spirits and we are ready for what God will reveal to us next. This has been a big year, we have become American Citizens, Daniel has completed His Master of Divinity degree with Shiloh University and we are ready for the Holy Spirit to work His will in our lives with no reservation. Wow! God is good!
I will end with the scripture I was reading from Hebrews 10. God bless us all as we trust Him and completely commit our lives to Him.
“So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. We’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.” Hebrews 10:32-39