Day 2 Sunday. Off to North Shore Christian Fellowship church and spoke in both services about CSI mission and the way this church has partnered with us. They stood by us for our first two International Conferences back in 1993 and 1995 and with Pastor Mike as the Triple Crown Chaplain, Eric Arakawa joining Board of Directors and Butch and John on the CS Mexico board - they continue to do so. Liselle Wilsnagh, the women's chaplain joined us, then out to lunch with Mexico surf missionary legend Rocky Rynn (I know he would never call himself that). Saw many old friends...and some renewed ones as Chris Richardson comes over to meet up, having met him in J-Bay in 2003.
I meet further with some of the missions board and line up more meetings. Another couple of hours at the Foodland Starbucks with Liselle, debriefing how women's chaplaincy has gone in our first year. It's been tough for Liselle on many fronts but she is an amazing and Godly woman who is persevering and seeing breakthroughs.
This the best part of my job, meeting and hopefully encouraging so many inspiring people and helping them in that calling. Scotty has been waiting all arvo as I arrive home on dusk so we sprint round to Waimea Bay to surf into the dark as it's barely breaking. The Eddie scaffolding is up and we eavesdrop organisers briefing the staff that the greatest surf event in the world is about to go down. As we look down over the relatively flat bay it's hard to imagine.
Day 3 Monday. Next morning up at first light one can sense the excitement. People have camped out overnight to secure good positions. Traffic is already bumper to bumper as I go to collect Liselle to take her to the airport for her next event at Maui. A quick look at the Bay and it is an untidy messy 25', not the 'biggest swell since 69' hysteria the rumor mills have been churning out.
We meet Abe and Lize at the airport, along with Mike Stangel, Triple Crown chaplain and debrief chalaincy together. It is unimaginable to think that somehow CS has been trusted to help mobilize chaplaincy to the elite of the sport. Slow going, but going forward.
Jesus had provided such wonderful chaplains, support, finances, favor and ever so slowly the trust of the Surfers. The kingdom of God is advancing. Back at the church office I meet up with two more on the missions board to discuss their involvement with Mike Albutt in CS Mexico. How good it is to partner with a keen local church.
It takes a good hour to crawl along the Kam Highway home instead of 10 minutes. Sand had been thrown across the road at Lani's. Crowds of people have come out to see the huge waves but they hold off the contest till tomorrow. Scotty and I check out the late session and on dusk see 3 close out sets that send the pack paddling for the horizon. 25, 30, 35, 40' it is huge. I get to take Abe and Lize out for dinner and debrief some more.
Tomorrow the Eddie will run for the first time in 4 years. I'm so thankful, God's extra little blessing to be here for these 4 days.
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