The Fire & The Fragrance Begins

         Well, hello there. I wrote out a whole timeline from the day I left, and arriving and everything. It was full of heart, wit, some tears, and I hit save.. then publish, and my computer decided to do none of these things. Insert composed sigh of frustration here. I'm not saying I almost punched my macbook in the screen upon discovering that it deleted that ENTIRE DAY OF WRITING.. but I'm not prepared to say I didn't either. But since I know my mother is reading this, we'll go with I didn't. So, I guess I'll just have to fill you all in on everything. Ready, Go.
          Flying was about as fun and sleep deprived as we all know it to be. Arriving was a chaotic blur of hugs, paperwork, more hugs, meeting new faces, and more hugs. I forgot how much I missed Kona, and how fragrant the air is. For those of you who have never been.. tape a Plumeria to your face, and that's what the air smells like here. After falling into a brief coma (because I was too exhausted for just regular sleep) our day started at 6:30 am the next morning.  Our days here are pretty full to begin with, and our Curriculum is going to be consuming, but I'm stoked about it. Click on these Curriculum and Schedule links to see what our next 11 weeks are going to look like.
           We had Orientation on Friday, and it was amazing. I know, Orientation and Amazing in the same sentence? One of our incredible school leaders, Andy Byrd, is so on fire for God it's absolutely contagious. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I had really heard God's voice clearly. That's when it hit me.. All this time I thought this homecoming was about coming home to Kona, but I was wrong. The joyful homecoming wasn't found in the place, but rather the Man. I missed being able to just sit and hear God's voice, to feel his heart. I missed the fire that ignites under my skin when we worship and pray and the community that becomes family. But most of all, I missed how whether you were in the middle of a crowd that's worshipping with reckless abandon, or sitting in a hammock by yourself under a banyan tree, God's presence is constant. Sitting in orientation that morning, God told me He's going to grow me in this season, and I cannot wait. A season of just my Savior and myself in one of the most beautiful places on Earth? A place He has called me to, that I now call my home? Does it get much better than that? No, I don't believe it does.
            Even though I am THRILLED I get to spend this next season with Him and Him alone, I do get to share it with some pretty incredible people. I have the most wonderful roommates, unbelievable staff, and I'm pretty much in love with my Fire & Fragrance Family. Last night, our Staff put on a Circus for our school! Complete with face painting, prayer tents, ring toss, Photo booth, cotton candy & burgers, a pie eating contest and soo much more. There's pictures posted in an album on Facebook, you should check 'em out. It was a BLAST! I cannot wait to see what else God has in store for our school this quarter.
{Circus Sneak Peek:}