I am from… ?

Where are you from?  This is one of the hardest questions for me to answer.  I usually say, “Well, I spent my 18 years of childhood growing up in Hong Kong and Taiwan, lived in California for 10 years while attending college and starting my work, and now I live in Hawaii… does that answer … More I am from… ?

Japanese Rest

Tonight my heart is full after a wonderful Wednesday night church service led by 5 visiting pastors from Japan.  These young pastors in their 30’s are passionate in worship, rooted in the love of their Father God, and unashamed to declare their faith.  One of their churches has a 24 hour prayer house where they … More Japanese Rest

Remembering Garissa

Guns are drawn and bullets fly Students awake only to sleep in death A place of learning transformed in a day To a land of sorrows Where friends lost classmates Mothers grieve for sons and daughters Brothers and sisters bury siblings in tears A bleak landscape where no light shines But a new day dawns … More Remembering Garissa

The 100 Day Project

Today I’m starting the 100 day project.  For me this will be “100 days of blogging”.  The project is an online community of creatives wanting accountability to explore a passion by doing just a little bit every day and sharing it on social media.  So I’ve chosen to write on this blog, every day for … More The 100 Day Project

I can only imagine…

The atmosphere was electric as the three men danced vigorously in front of the regal couple, sweat dripping down their bare backs and their grass skirts mimicking every rapid movement.  With weapons in hand, red-leaf arm bands, and face-paint, they looked like fierce warriors in post-battle reverie.  The hundreds of observers clapped to the rhythm … More I can only imagine…

Bananas grow slowly

I think that’s the same cluster of bananas that emerged from it’s flower’s protective covering three months ago.  The baby bananas have grown in that time but their slow process makes growth almost imperceptible.  In contrast, a single guava tree branch seems to yield two small harvests a week of luscious strawberry guavas. In John … More Bananas grow slowly

Water

Some people think they don’t have a culture.  They are deceived.  The simplest way to discover one’s own culture is to come in contact with another culture.  It’s been said that a fish doesn’t know that water exists until it’s a “fish out of water”.  Water, like culture, is so pervasive and so normative that … More Water

My Sand Collection

When I was about 12 I started my international sand collection.  A friend was traveling to Hawaii and wanted to bring me a souvenir.  A bottle of sand seemed to be the perfect gift—afterall, no sand is like any other!  I treasured that vile of tiny granules because they connected me to a place that … More My Sand Collection

Ke Kai Wa’a

During a quiet day-retreat in May 2013, I felt God speaking to me through the metaphor of a boat on the ocean about His desire to direct my life as I yield to him.  The poem seemed to flow straight from the heart of God into my journal; He the writer, and I the scribe. … More Ke Kai Wa’a