End of March 2026 Update

When a Kona Low storm (a type of seasonal cyclone in the Hawaiian Islands) threatened O’ahu a couple of weeks ago, I naively thought, “Ok, so torrential rains, right? Something like monsoon season in Thailand and Cambodia, right? No biggie.” Well, actually... “V-E-R-Y biggie!!!

The first Kona Low winds tore up everything in sight, whipped the surf into a frenzy that eroded beaches, hailed and/or snowed at upper elevations, uprooted trees, knocked out power for 130,000, ripped off roofs, and flooded homes, streets, and canals. Thankfully, this passed, but after 5 days of exhaustive clean-up…a second Kona Low storm hit with winds coming from a different direction! This time, the 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam in the North of the island came within two feet of being breached, and 5,500 people were evacuated. 45 inches of rain fell where we are, and some areas had more! I am duly chastised; even the relentless Southeast Asia monsoons don’t compete with this deluge. Other islands fared worse, with hospitals evacuated and “tourist refugees” everywhere. Thank you, LORD, for Your protection through it all as not a single fatality

Post-storm, my sweet Peter, ever a champion of the underdog (or, in this case, the under-bird), is re-enacting My Bodyguard (1980) in our backyard. The tiny Red-Crested Cardinals ( who are really not cardinals at all) and Red-Whiskered Bulbuls are welcome to come dine on any leftover rice he puts out, but any bullying birds that insist on horning in and chasing everybody else off…are not. My sister, who knew of his vigil, thoughtfully brought a water pistol with her from Canada, so now Peter can target the undesirables with precision…a highly satisfying occupation. The little birds are all quite tame and will perch on the handle of the rebounder, cocking their crested heads and peeking in the window as if to say, “When’s dinner, Dad?”

And, once again, a door we prayed for opened. Many, MANY years ago, when we were young youth pastors in Flint, Michigan, we were involved in a prison ministry; since that time, I’ve looked for opportunities to serve again, but nothing emerged…until we came to Hawaii. The church we attend, New Hope Windward, has a program staffed by amazing people who have allowed us to volunteer and assist in their program. The process to get vetted and trained was lengthy, but we are at last legit, and have been teaching for the last month. I know you’ll understand that, for security reasons, there is little I can say publicly, other than I am impressed beyond words with the quality and Godliness of the staff, the comprehensiveness of the rehabilitative curriculum, and the opportunity these inmates have to find freedom in the LORD, resolve childhood trauma, and get a second chance. It is truly a joy to be involved.

Of course, most of our time and energy is devoted to the Pastoral Training Program for young Cambodian pastors and ministerial leaders, who are desperate for training and Bible knowledge. Weekly, it requires:

a) hours of research on the topics and then the development of the teaching track,

b) preparing session and theme notes in advance for our interpreter,

c) hosting and recording the actual Zoom sessions, which are two hours each,

d) editing the recorded programs and uploading them to our YouTube channel,

e) producing Khmer and English summaries post-recording for absent participants,

f) charting the participation of each member,

g) tracking individual participant ministry goals.

When we return to Cambodia, God willing, we’ll be visiting each individual ministry so we can adapt the training more specifically to observed needs and assess progress. At that time, we’ll be meeting face-to-face (in addition to Zoom), and will take them to a central location for training. This will require additional funding for transportation and food. Please prayerfully consider whether you can partner with us, underwriting some of the costs of this second phase.

Our Kingdom Mission partner, Noumann Prince, recently returned to Pakistan, holding Next-Gen and Evangelism conferences in Lahore in conjunction with an international group of missionaries. The results have been overwhelming: young leaders trained and activated, many new believers baptized, and plans underway for education bridges. He then went to the Kalesh Valley, back to the same unreached group he contacted on his last visit, for follow-up of new believers. For those unaware, Pakistan is blatantly anti-Christian, and believers and missionaries take their lives in their hands spreading the Good News. We count it an honor to support this young and bold disciple maker.

Partners in Cambodia (AMG Cambodia, Glory Church, Mercy Village) continue their dormitory ministries (safely housing and supervising underfunded rural students so they can live in the city while they are studying ), planting churches, conducting children’s outreaches in unreached provinces, teaching ministries, and mentoring new believers.

And Judah? Unbelievably, he’s over 17 pounds now, almost constantly in motion, clearly teething, starting solid foods, “practically perfect” as pronounced by the pediatrician (were there ever sweeter words?), determined to train us all to instantly meet his demands, and more adorable every day. Just picture us after our work is done for the day, rocking him on the lanai in the Hawaiian breeze!

As we head into our second quarter of training, we are deeply grateful for your prayers, your emails, your encouragement, and your support… and thrilled at how God has blessed the training so far. Some of our pastors are ALREADY taking their training, applying it to their groups, and teaching other young ministers who were not able to join because of our 50-person limit. Your help is the only way we can supply participants with download data so they can receive the Zoom pastoral training. Remember that most of these young people have stepped out into the ministry with little or no formal training and are desperate for help. Imagine leading a group of brand-new believers who have nothing but questions and are looking to you for answers! Thank you for helping us meet this critical need.