Stories of Hope

  Nervous as a freshman, I got off the bus and found the classroom where the Motorcycle Safety course is taught. Then I met Bob, 60, a Hawaiian man of Japanese descent. He told me that he used to be in the army. I said that I was a pastor on sabbatical.

  Our studio apartment is only 360 square feet. It has not been upgraded since the Inn On The Park was built in 1977. It has a tiny bathroom with tub and shower, and a narrow kitchenette with a two burner stove, small sink and microwave.

  We spent an afternoon reading our books on Magic Island, a man-made peninsula and peaceful beach in Honolulu that is favoured by the locals. The masts in the Ala Wai Harbour, the skyline of Waikiki, and the steep slopes of Diamond Head made it difficult to focus on the words.

BLESS, BELIEVE, BELONG.   Three words we hear a lot of at Hope Fellowship. When we as a church, or we as individuals, have a balance of these three aspects of life, there is a healthy balance to life. I was thinking about these three words as I thought about the people I work with. I work at Glen Hill Strathaven and Glen Hill Marnwood, two Long Term Care facilities in Bowmanville.

  The streets of Waikiki always thrum with life as the wealthy, the homeless, the tourists and the locals vie for space on the crowded sidewalks. Especially at night, street performers play, sing, dance or pose motionless, busking for tips.

  It's easy to feel overwhelmed by New Hope Christian Fellowship Church in Oahu.