Ka Huaka'i

I know this is long but please read the whole thing. Thanks.

It is late Sunday morning and I pull up to a small rundown building at a little park about 30 minutes from my house. There are about 30 people sitting around two long tables on folding chairs listening to a soft spoken but passionate man as we walk in. There are also two seperate tables with a total of 10 kids altogether doing the same thing that the adults were doing but on a different scale. An hour or so goes by and everybody gets up, moves the folding chairs and finds a seat. A small stage with a projector screen and a few decorations, 3 microphones, and a music stand are all that is in front of me. Three people go to the microphones and start praise and worship time. No organ, no quitar, no piano, no choir...just 3 microphones and 3 beautiful children of God singing to an instrumental version of the song we are singing. A few songs go by, a prayer, and up walks a man in khakis and a hawaiian shirt. No robes, no priest attire, just regular everyday hawaiian attire. With the sound of basketballs bouncing in the backround, a sermon about processes we go through from a man who God has called to become a pastor. With attentiveness that I have not seen in a very long time from children or adults we listen, for an hour, to one of the most meaningful sermons that I have heard in a long time. A prayer, another song or two, and we pick up the chairs, the tables, the audio video equipment, and then fellowship. Laughing and smiling everybody heads outside to go home. For the first time in a long time I look forward to next Sunday, where 40 of God's children, 50 or so folding chairs (a few extra for visitors), 3 microphones, a projector, and a music stand await me. Now that's what I call Church. Ka Huaka'i...The Journey.

I got invited to church last week by the lady that owns Pepper, the dog who Buddie has play dates with. She told me about the church and it sounded interesting to me so I decided to go. I was greeted last week by 39 of the most genuine people I have met in a long time. They weren't there out of an obligation to family, friends, or feelings of guilt. They were there out of a love for God that many people who go to church have forgotten over the years. I got introduced and was presented with a lei (only in Hawaii). I know people say that when you visit a church they are overly friendly because they want you to come back for their numbers or they want to convert you. I have been to churches where it definitely felt that I was only a number to them, this is definitely not one of those times. I was approached with genuine hearts and asked where I came from, what I did, what brought me to Hawaii, and so many other questions not about my religious backround but about me and my journey. Today before I left the pastor gave me a hug, which most of you know, hugs are very important in my life. If you have ever heard somebody say, they spoke to my heart, this is what pastor did. He spoke to my heart from his heart and with a look of pure joy told me that he was so happy that I had come back and that I had come to church today. I thank God that through Buddie I met Darcie and that she, in a world where talking about God is taboo, she invited me to church.

The church is a mission church that is sponsored by First Missionary Baptist Church in Fresno, CA. Ka Huaka'i, The Journey MBC is the name of the church that I am going to. I cannot think of a better name for a church than The Journey. All of us are on a journey and who better to be with us on that journey but God.

Click here to go to the church website