Aloha!

We had a Hawaiian adventure like no other when we said yes as a family to serve with You With A Mission (YWAM) Kona on the big island of Hawaii. Our friends, Chip and KJ, serve as full-time missionaries with YWAM/Circuit Riders and were leading Infusion (a 10 day Christian leadership camp experience for middle and high schoolers) for the very first time. Plus, dear friends who have mentored and walked alongside us in our marriage/parenting/ministry life were going, too, as their son had led Infusion for the last 10 years, so they were well-trained veterans. It was a win-win all around before we even set foot in the oasis of lava rock and palm trees. To top it all off, we were able to take Leila's very favorite friend, Emma, with us. 

We have never had such incredible encounters with Jesus the way we did during camp. Wow. God and His power is incredible, and we saw His great love for us through so many healings, so many words given to students about their future, so many set free from beliefs and lies that have haunted them. God was and is still moving. We were so honored to be a part of it, to witness it and to experience it firsthand. It was a life-changing and faith-building trip. 

Our days started early with breakfast beginning at 6:30am. I was "camp nurse" to almost 190 students and 50 staff, and one of my duties was to administer prescription medications to about 25 of the students each morning and evening. In between the morning and evening meds, there were rolled ankles, sore throats, headaches, cuts, stings, bites, etc. that needed tending. Though we all had to get tested for COVID in order to enter the island, there were some local students who joined us who weren't required to get tested. So, we had several visits to the local urgent care to get COVID tests when symptoms arose. Thankfully, it wasn't until the very last day that we received a positive test, so we all felt very thankful. 

Geoff was amazing in helping Mrs. Juda with our younger children since I was much busier than we anticipated. He also helped lead the sports portion of the camp and brought his usual energy and fun, which made him a favorite quickly. When I couldn't be present in one place to doctor a cut or put on aloe, he was there to do it, there to cut fresh aloe and there to pick up those who hurt an ankle or foot. We were a great team.

Here's more of our adventure in pictures. 

Early morning arrival to the airport. Geoff is determined to get each Lawrence living out of one carry-on size bag, so we packed light with one large checked back containing our sheets, pillow and other items we needed for camp.

While Leila and Emma were camp participants and residing in a nearby dorm, we stayed in housing for families. 

Our place was simple, cooled by the Hawaiian breezes and even came with green geckoes adorning the walls. They only made me squeal about a dozen times. 

This was the room Geoff and I shared - two twins pushed together. 

An early morning trip to a nearby coffee shop on the coast. 

The campus we stayed on was a short walk away from Coconut Grove, an outdoor mall with restaurants, shops and activities. 

This was our incredible view during worship. Seeing God's creation and beauty surrounding us was powerful. 

Beach Day! Four school buses loaded up the staff and students for our 1 day at the beach. When we weren't swimming, we were on sunscreen duty to help prevent sunburn on all those students. 

We didn't catch everyone with sunscreen...Geoff administering aloe. 

Getting ready for the Banzai Blitz. We loved how the staff embraced our younger children, invited them to engage in worship from the front and be a part of skits, examples and teaching moments. 

J.C. was an amazing staffer who loved on the students in his cabin so well, and he also had a sweet spot for Benaiah. 

Sports time! From running to cross fit to team games, the sports time was high energy. 

We couldn't get enough of the evening sunsets. Wow!

Mary-Michael took this beautiful picture. 

This was the cafeteria we ate most of our meals in. Because all of our events were outdoors or under a covered outdoor space, we did not have to wear masks. This was so nice!

My beautiful beach babe!

Part of the sports time was "Dash for the Splash." The students ran 1.3 miles down to the local dock and jumped in to the ocean. Then they ran/walked back and teamed up to carry each other up a very long flight of steps. 

Another incredible time with Jesus in worship. 

This was Leila and Emma's cabin. Their incredible leader, Maisey, is in the middle, and she loved these girls fiercely. We so enjoyed getting to know her, and she is British, so everything she said sounded lovely. We even found out her dad is the writer and singer of a song we often sing in church (10,000 Reasons, Matt Redman). So neat!

Told you, we just couldn't get enough of the sunsets. 

This is part of the YWAM campus with the ocean in the background. 

The wonderful Juda and Banzai who loved on us and our children so well the entire time. They knew all the special spots, had so many memories to share from the past and just know how to serve and love students and youth. We are so thankful for the memories we've created with them from this trip. 

Mrs. Juda has known me since I first started in ministry on the women's ministry team more than a decade ago, and she was a vital part of MUMS when I led that as one of my mentor moms. She is a one-of-a-kind woman who is one of the most joy-filled people I know. I often think in tough parenting moments, "What would Juda do?"

The Virginia squad in Kona!

Here we are with Chip and KJ - incredible leaders and lovers of Jesus and people.