I Stand Amazed.

So it is my second day in Hawaii Kai and already I have so much to report! Yesterday began at 5:00 am with a walk down to the ocean. Amy and I spent about two hours just marveling at the beauty we were getting to experience. At the end of a small path leading from the backyard of our host's home, we found ourselves standing in a small, rocky inlet with the ocean stretched out before us. I have never seen water so blue.
After grabbing some coffee and a delicious acai granola cup from common grounds, Dani Beth took us to see some dolphins at a resort we ventured into from the beach. We stood at the edge of a pond looking thing for about an hour and a half expecting a spectacular show, when in reality we simply watched the trainers run up to the dolphins and throw a fish in their mouth. Still, it was pretty cool.
Later we met up with some of the girls from the Hawaii Kai Church youth group and went to have tea. The tea shop was lovely, and the girls I got to meet and hope to get to know much better this summer are absolutely precious. There is so much diversity between them, but God is working in each one! The rest if our night was spent at DB's house playing silent football and telephone pictionary (so funny!).
This morning I woke up a bit too early again, but not as bad as yesterday. Amy and I met with Dani Beth and her small group. All I can sayis what an amazing group of women! There were new believers who are so beautifully hungry to know as much as they can. I was overwhelmed by the peace and joy of the spirit just to sit and hear what God has been teaching each of them. Being with these ladies this morning showed me that God is here, working and moving on this island! It was such an encouraging time for me.
The day we got here, Amy and I noticed a tall trail going up the side of one of the mountains. We cane to fund out that it is called Koko Crater. It's about a mile and a half to the top and the whole trail is a giant staircase! Being the incredibly (self-proclaimed) athletic women that we are. Amy and I decided to do the Koko crater trail right after bible study.I haven't the words to describe how hard that hike/climb was. At one point we were pretty much parallel to the mountain. Amy's calves were hurting, and I was having a panic attack as I envisions falling backwards to my death, but we made it to the top! Along the way we even had the chance to meet a couple from Texas, a mother with her daughter, and three girls who were best friends. No one knew each other on the trail, but everyone was so kind and curtious towards each other, but that's pretty much how the whole island is. Everyone greets with a hug, and I have yet to meet someone who forgets my name give seconds later (or at all for that matter. There is a social etiquette here that I'm falling in love with. It's a culture of being personable and intentionable...something I think a lot of places I know don't do well.