You might not know that I lived many years in the Hawaiian islands. What a joy it was to be an island girl and in my heart Hawaii, its beauty reflected majestically in the ocean, the volcanoes, the flowers and fruit will forever in this world be part of my fabric. Wherever traveling I always carry something physically that is uniquely Hawaiian.
More precious than the tangible is the Spirit of Aloha! Aloha, a word, a concept , a feeling that says welcome, hello, goodbye, see you soon, even love you, as it expresses something distinctly from the islands.
In my mission career, I have left many places, many times and this most recent leaving from the USA to Guatemala is different. God has His plans and how important it is to walk them out. January 2013, He set before me a three year plan. I’d never had the future laid out that much in advance. Now not every detail but a timetable to return to life in Central America after six solid years not really calling it home, but being there each year and maintaining the ministry.
Having a base in the states as I have gone to South American, Asia and Africa has been a blessing , in many ways a luxury, not that I have lived luxuriously according to US standards. No matter what, I am at poverty level for an American and that is okay. When I first applied for Social Security I had a worker bluntly ask me if I had taken a vow of poverty. I laughed, it was a little shocking, but of course, he had the dollar signs of my life before him. I said, yes. Never do I think in terms of what we call a poverty mentality.
Many people save for a lifetime and dream to go to places where I have lived, when they leave they are not coming back. With me packing up and putting in storage memories, mementos, papers, books, clothes in one location to go to another is just a way of life. I am thankful for the years in and out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, another location quite unlike any other. The mountains stand so faithfully above the high desert floor, the people are hardy, multicultural, transplants and natives, to them I say, Aloha!!!
