ChristianVoiceMonthly.com
Volume 25 | Issue 08
Page 17
FAITH & FOOTPRINTS
Wai`oli Hui`ia Church And Mission House – Hawaii By Kelly Wise Valdes
With more tourist destinations opening up and welcoming back visitors, Hawaii is definitely on the list of many people’s travel plans. If you are planning a trip to Kauai, you may consider a visit to Wai`oli Hui`ia Church and Mission House. The church building represents American Gothic architecture with its wooden exterior and steep roof, forest-green walls and a belfry reflecting the shape of the mountains behind it. It is one of the oldest surviving church buildings on Kauai. Built on 17 acres of former plantation land, the church and house offer a glimpse back in time. Hidden by a grove of trees behind the church building is the 2-story Mission House, erected in 1837 by the area’s first missionaries, who traveled more than 289 miles from the Big Island of Hawaii via outrigger canoe. Missionaries and teachers Abner and Lucy Wilcox and their four sons moved to this 2-story home. While there, four more sons were born in the master bedroom of the Mission House. With eight sons, the family had their hands full, but they continued to teach the native students in English and the newly translated Hawaiian language. The Mission House is now a museum where you
can see the missionaries’ original Bibles, braided rugs and a spinning wheel, among other artifacts from the day. The home is also complemented by other Hawaiian elements such as ohia wood floors, a lava rock chimney and koa furniture. The wall clock was installed in 1866 and still keeps perfect time. ‘Wai`oli Hui`ia’ means ‘Joyful River’ in Hawaiian—a reference to the joyful songs that echoed across the plantation’s church walls. It has become one of Kauai’s most popular wedding destinations. Restored in 1921, the church had to be restored again in 1992 after Hurricane Iniki. The structures survived two previous hurricanes, Hurricane Dot and Hurricane Iwa. Both the church and house are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wai`oli Hui`ia Church has had a continuous record of service since 1834, first as a Congregational church, and, since 1956, as a United Church of Christ. The church holds worship services on Sunday mornings and at special services throughout the year. The property is open for drop-in, first-come, first-served guided tours three days a week. For more information, visit www.waiolihuiiachurch.org.
Live Like You Mean It ...
To See God In Life Is Not Chance, But Invitation Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” - Genesis 3. Early Saturday morning, I made my way to our church campus to meet with some of my friends in the men’s Bible study. We were there for a conversation about prayer. I noticed the way the soft light caught the front of the building. So, I paused, caught up in a moment of serenity, and framed a
photograph on my camera. Then, walking around the corner of the rose garden, I once again felt the ineffable presence of peace, so again I took a moment to preserve the image. The garden, resting in the cool of the morning, spoke a blessing of harmony and barely contained joy, filling my soul. I opened the room where we were scheduled to meet, took out a pencil and paper and wrote down a list of the ways I pray—other than speaking. Photography was first, then I added writing, songwriting, singing, walking, preparing food for my family, garden-
Expiration 09/01/2021
ing, playing with my grandchildren and taking care of my dad. The list grew, but with everything, the description started with “inviting God into” whatever it was that I was doing. I began to think of the limitless scope of a prayer life that simply asks for God to be present, acknowledges a humble desire to learn from God and remains intentional in terms of communion with God in the experience. I understand why some people say, “I find God in nature,” but it is only true so far as God is directly invited, acknowledged and received. Take a moment to think about where and
Expiration 09/01/2021
By Derek Maul
when you encounter real serenity, then ask God to speak peace and love directly into those experiences. Because to see God in daily life is not by chance, but by invitation-- DEREK Derek Maul has written for many news outlets, including the Tampa Tribune, The United Methodist News Service, All Pro Dad, FOCUS Magazine, Newsweek, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Presbyterians Today, Guideposts, Chicken Soup for the Soul and many other publications. Read Derek Maul’s daily blog posts at www.derekmaul.wordpress.com
Expiration 09/01/2021
