It happened.

The “decades birthday-family reunion” celebration, postponed for a full year, is now in the books, but even more deeply, in our hearts.

It was uncertain until an hour before the six flying from Oakland were to depart due to two lost Covid tests, but mercifully, new tests were done at 6 am, the results of which were registered less than 60 minutes prior to boarding.

The trip was on.

From May 12 through the 20th, our family spent eight magical days together on Kauai, fulfilling a long-held dream that we would all experience the wonders of this place which has become so important to us since we began partnering with Global Algae Innovations and the Kalaheo Missionary Church in January of 2015. We’ve fallen deeply in love with this place and even more with these people, spawning in us a deep desire to share this with our family.

Beginning to end, the trip was touched by grace and showered with gifts. From lodging and cars, to weather, sunsets, and rainbows, with great coffee and a wonderful photo shoot in between, we were overwhelmed by God’s generosity both through His creation and His people.

I guess you could say we experienced a foretaste of heaven on earth.

*We were so thankful to Phil Booye for spending an early evening with us, capturing family photos.*

*Auntie Lili is everyone’s favorite and brings so much life and laughter wherever she is.*

Besides doing a couple of family friendly hikes in Waimea Canyon and on the Lithified Cliffs, most of our time was spent either beachside or poolside. Swimming. Snorkeling. Turtle watching. Shell and sea glass hunting. Eating shave ice. Watching the sun set. Relaxing.

*Standing on Shipwreck Rock at the beginning of hiking the Lithified Cliffs all the way to the tortoise farm. Great group to hike with!!*

*Waimea Canyon, in all its glory, provided a great hike for the fam.*

*Shave Ice . . . reward for hiking in the canyon.*

*The three older grandchildren learned to snorkel with Papa, who was ecstatic to share one of his greatest passions with them.*

*Hours were spent in the 78 degree, very inviting waters at Poipu Beach.*

*Tidepooling was a favorite activity enjoyed by all.*

All twelve of us were more than ready for a self-imposed “off the grid” space for renewal, rest, and reconnection. The challenges of the past almost 18 months have exacted a toll on all of us. Kari and Gabe and children moved to Oakland, CA, last May 1 to begin tilling the soil to church plant and have had their children home on “Zoom School” all year. Derek and Julie had just relocated to northern Virginia at the start of the pandemic for Derek’s new job with the International Justice Mission, and had been juggling Julie’s work as a part-time physical therapist, Derek’s remote work with IJM, and Nathan’s “zoom school turned home school” from home all year. And Lisa had been hybrid teaching for Cal Baptist, having some classes on-line and some in person, along with doing the second year of her PhD. This “retreat” came at just the right time to refuel and renew us.

Our “mini-family camp” included most of the elements of the most beloved focus of our ministry years. “The Butterfly Song” and “Rat-a-tat-tat” were sung daily, insuring that the third generation would carry on this musical tradition. Each of the families took different nights for leading family devotions, and Papa conducted some of his favorite children’s object lessons. We memorized two verses from scripture during the week, Ephesians 4:32 and Ephesians 4:29, and had plenty of opportunities to practically apply them to daily life. Randomly we would overhear one grandchild say to another, “That is not being kind and compassionate!”

*On this night of evening devotions, we were joined by one of the Garcias' best friends from Oakland (who happened to be vacationing in Kauai that week, too!!)*

Rachel recites Ephesians 4:32

We even had the iconic “Family Game Night”: six males against six females. Though sans costumes, raucous laughter and competitive spirits marked the evening—and even without the “judge” manipulating the scores, the women won handily.

*Early the next morning after Game Night, we found Nathan out practicing stacking the cups poolside, ostensibly preparing for a rematch.*

Our “official” reunion ended the 20th with the departure of the Garcias, but the Johnsons stayed on for several more days to enjoy an early 10th anniversary celebration on Kauai, taking advantage of having “childcare” for their two provided by Auntie Lisa, Papa, and Gigi.

We stayed not primarily to babysit, but to speak at the Kalaheo Missionary Church (KMC). On Saturday, May 22, we did a morning parenting seminar, and then we taught at both services on Sunday morning. As always, we consider it such a great privilege to partner with KMC, and specifically with Kahu John and Paula Zimmerman, who are in their tenth year of faithfully serving that fellowship. We love their commitment to gospel-centric teaching as well as practical Christian living.

Our annual conference at the Kalaheo Missionary Church is sponsored by Global Algae Innovations (GAI), whose founder and CEO is Dave Hazlebeck, a longtime family camper. Part of the missions statement of GAI is “building in to the community on Kauai” and they’ve chosen hosting a marriage or parenting conference annually to help make that happen. GAI is a family business, with three of the four Hazlebeck children holding positions in the company (and the fourth will as soon as he finishes his master’s degree). The oldest Hazlebeck son, David, and his wife, Emily, and newborn, David the 4th, live in Kauai, serving at the GAI plant/base of operations. They also assume responsibility for facilitating the conference and we’re so grateful to them for making it happen. We were also thrilled to meet their new baby, David the IV.

One of the highlights of being together at the KMC was all attending church together and having our kids meet the people they’ve been hearing about for years. When David Hazlebeck was “talking story” with KMC’ers and our family, he reminded Julie that he had decided to follow Jesus when he was 6 years old, with her as his family camp class teacher. This is what it’s all about.

In addition to the parenting conference and teaching at the Sunday services, Paul spent a morning with the “kupuna” (aka “elderly”), teaching at their weekly Bible study, and he also spent an evening before a live audience of men presenting his talk for the month-long “Iron Sharpens Iron” virtual conference.

*David, Emily, and Baby David at the Kalaheo Missionary Church. We’ve known David since he was 6!!*

*Kahu John and Paula (far right) and Brian and Tiffany, with baby Taika and their foster daughter, have become so very dear to us.*

*Kahu John and Paula are truly “salt of the earth” people. We posed for this photo after we taught at both morning services on May 23rd.*

It would be impossible to capture with words what this very special trip meant to all of us, but suffice it to say we all left with hearts full of gratitude, precious memories that will be revisited often in the months and years ahead, and an overwhelming sense of the deep, deep love of our Heavenly Father. As imperfect as life is, and as challenging as are some of the twists, turns, and “not chosen” moments, we were reminded that relationships are where life of any significance happens and the only part of life on earth that is connected to eternity. We’re all more aware than ever, as we emerge from this period of time that has been unlike any other in our lifetime, that many circumstances are beyond our control—but how we navigate relationships in the midst of “what is” will make all the difference.

We will forever be grateful for these days on Kauai where we all experienced “heaven on earth."

Our life verse has been “I have no greater joy than knowing that my children are walking in the truth.” (III John 4).

This is continues to be our greatest joy.

All praise is His.