Hawaii First Day

Day one Hawaii was rather short lived as I arrived to get a standby flight only to find 10 other staff all bumped off. Would have got on if they didn't wait for late Perth flight. This has only ever happenned 4 times in 7 years of flying. Not standby but 'faithby' I call it.

Day two Hawaii. A new Jetstar standby ticket and I'm straight over. The buzz is maybe 20' waves and the Eddie contest might run. This event  commemorates the loss of life of Eddie Aikau who paddled off in the middle of the night to get help for his friends. We have used the same story in the 'Surfers Bible' to illustrate Jesus laying down of his life. However we weren't friends but enemies so makes his sacrifice all the more amazing.

'Eddie would go' is the catch phrase and as I contemplate seeing the biggest waves of my life I'm happy to say 'Brett will stay' ashore - my 12-year-old also made me promise the same.


I'm picked up at 8am by ministry staff guy Tripp who, upon driving over the hill at Haliewa, casually announces that I should surf those 15-20' waves at Outside Himalayas. Giant swells are pounding the North Shore. It's sunny, offshore and, suprise, there's hardly anyone
out...except Waimea Bay. 'The Bay', every surfer visiting Hawaii knows which 'bay' that means.

Staying at Eric Arakawas house means there are no shortage of boards and already Eric has given me directions to an old yellow 9'6" board of the late Ronnie Burns lying under the house. After a quick check with my travelling buddy Scotty Warren, I figure it won't get any easier. 'Easier' is a relative term, as is 'small Waimea' as you see Waimea doesn't really break till it is 20'. So with 'small Waimea' before us at 15-20' sets and the Eddie crew warming up I suggest we paddle out for a look.

I know I promised India I wouldn't go out on big waves and also told Scotty's mum I'd look after him, but remembering 'small Waimea' I figured I wasn't violating any promises. So with a yellow 'airplane wing' under my arm and a 24-year-old North Shore rookie by my side we had a go. Waiting for the horrendous shorebreak we then run and paddle your heart out. Then there's the can't duckdive 'airplane wing' negotiating some wash, and suddenly we were out there. Sunny, blue, offshore mountains of water with a perfect channel and 3 jetskis for safety. I told Scotty all we would do was watch from the channel and I'd sit by his side. I lied.

Come on, first time out at age 50 you have to have a go. So after drifting onto the edge of the 60 strong pack of the who's who of big wave surfing I caught a couple of tiny 10'' shoulders. Figuring I had enough time to get out if the way I ended up way inside hoping for a smaller one. When the whole pack started shifting for the channel I had my chance to grab the first smaller wave of the set and flew, semi-weightless down the face on my wing...and a prayer...hoping I would not be caught by the following waves. I turned around to see Shane Dorian drop into a 20' wave, easily the biggest thing I had ever seen from the water. It was like watching someone surf a building! Scotty suggested it was time to paddle in, good idea.

We negotiated the infamous shorebreak and safely on shore. We meet up with wonder woman Micki Bridgeman then headed west to check some campsites. Spoke at the new Surfers Church that night and caught up with some old contacts. Sharing my testimony about being an ordinary surfer that has trusted Christ and what He has done. I'm passionate about the verse where John the Baptist responds to concerns from his disciples that "everyone is going over to Him/Jesus," and says so confidently, "He must increase and I must decrease."

Oh that there would be more of him in my life, my family, my church, CSI. It's not about building our own kingdoms but His - there just isn't room for the both of us. What a first day, welcome to Hawaii.

Back to the Office

Well after nearly a month of traveling about it has been good and challenging to be back in the office. Having Aaron there makes it much more bearable...how did I do this alone for 20 years??? Plenty to follow up on from the leadership meetings, our first Partners Dinner, local CS activity.

Today I had lunch with the father of one of our local groms who attends our meetings. He has come along to a number of men's events in our church now and shown much interest. He said over a chicken foccacia, "I have watched your life and the guys at CS and have been impressed how you have conducted yourselves. I have never met Christians like you guys before. I have been reading my Surfers Bible and am investigating all of this...yeah, I would love to do the Christianity Explained course next week!"

This makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it? Be praying for my mate. And for yours all over the world just the same. That's my friend standing on the rocks ready to jump!

Raglan Boy's Trip

What has 20 feet, 18 surfboards, a jetski, 2 rental cars, and a whole lot of testosterone? BD and his merry men. 50 seems to be the birthday that just keeps on giving. My birthday gift, apart from a fun party Gill organised, was to go away with some mates for 6 days.

We surfed, ate, talked, prayed, laughed, traveled and basically got to escape a whole lot of life's responsibilities for a few days. I am so thankful for people who remind me that I am not alone in what I do or who I am. From painters to bankers we all got along fine and a great reminder that Jesus holds us all together.

So often men come together and the bar is lowered. This time the bar was lifted as we urged one another to be better men for our families and friends.

Bermagui Family Fun

After being away from the kids, we were keen to have a few days together during school holidays, so off to Bermagui, South NSW at Gill's parent's place. Taylor brought a couple of friends and I became photographer for their upcoming 'Balance' clothing line. Be prepared!

I am amazed at their energy and creativity. Hard juggling work and play but was able to keep on top of emails each morning. What a beautiful country we live in and this is my second home having come down here now for 26 years. So quiet. Calvin the wonder dog comes alive here!

Florida Meetings

The magnificent 7 of our International Leadership Team plus 4 Board members were hosted by CSUS at their national base in St Augustine, Florida. We talked, debated, prayed, laughed, challenged about our core strategies and what we felt was God's leading for our future. There was also surfing (well the Canadian visitors loved it), eating, cruising St Augustine streets and the odd BB gun abuse (Jon Mak and Steve Bailey stand condemned!).

I am so encouraged by both the quality of our leadership as well as the openness of conversation. It was great to have CSUS director Dean Plumlee sit on on all the meetings and give some US perspectives.

We had 3 days of strategic planning followed up by 3 days of leadership training by our Pacific RC Alan Vink.

All agreed that Alan's input was really good and we had special guests from Snowboarders and Skiiers for Christ, Bruce Nelson and Josh Stock, the National Leaders of Canada and USA. God is doing much all over the world but such a long way to go in reaching the world surfing community!

Stuck in LAX!

The staff tavel deal is really good...until there aren't any seats! Gill reluctantly left me at the check-in as I was told it was unlikely I would get on. I have heard that before, and waited expectantly...only to be told 'no way'. After traveling together for 10 days she had to go home alone.

I returned 24 hours later to be told the same! No seats. I looked around at 62 other stranded staff, it was not looking good. At least I wasn't a family holidaying at Disneyland with 3 kids in tow, complete with Mickey Mouse ears, being dragged into the airport at midnight hoping to get on...and waiting 3 days!

Thanks Wagner from CS South Bay for picking me up, taking me to church and then to the airport for day 3 and I got on! So glad to come home.

New York, New York

Well if one is going to Florida for a conference you might as well take in New york as well right? Gill and I took 4 days out before our leadership meetings to do the things we couldn't do with kids when we were there 10 years ago.

It was our belated wedding anniversary treat, and what a treat it was with art galleries, street wandering, Central Park, cheap clothing purchases, bagels, coffee...cawfeeeee and a chance to catch up with former CS staff Joe and Laura Matera. Personal highlight - me trying on women's yellow skinny jeans for taylor (this is a true story) in a womens section...coming out of the change room... Gill....... Gill..... where are you Gill? ......to the many glaring eyes of the other women. I swear I will never do that again.