1992 Ministry Review

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

(Hawaiian for "Happy New Year")

Mark, Dayna, Nathan, Josiah, and Aaron Blair

211 Haili Street - Hilo, Hawaii  96720

January 1993

"What Christmas Means to Me" by Josiah Keola Blair

Jesus came to earth and was born in Bethlehem. The shepherds and the wisemen followed the star to see Him. The wisemen brought gifts. Jesus as a gift to me. He gave me a family. His greatest gift was salvation. He gave me life. I want to give my life to Jesus!

Aloha from Hawaii!

     "Emmanuel" - God with us! Isn't it great that Jesus did not just come to "visit" at Christmas. Instead He remains, that "one who is closer than a brother," all through the year, all through our lives, "unto the end of the age." We hope you experienced the joy of His presence in a special way this Christmas. And we pray that His gracious companionship will strengthen you through 1993. We look back with gratitude on 1992. The Lord blessed us with health and much happiness.

     Our sons have only stopped running, shouting, laughing, fighting, crying, playing, or eating long enough to sleep. Aaron, now 5 1/2 and midway through Kindergarten, is slowed very little

by a cast on his arm, a break sustained when he tripped while running over Mark's foot (surely a big enough target to avoid!). Then his first words when driving home from Hilo Hospital's emergency room were, "I can still run can't I?" A most exciting day in their lives, and ours, was December 1. Josiah, now 7 and in 2nd grade, prayed with his teacher to receive Christ as Savior

and Lord. We thank God that He used his teacher to be a part of doing what we've prayed for since before he was born. Josiah came home that day joyfully telling everyone he saw, "I asked Jesus into my heart." The same day Aaron's soccer coach had given him a trophy for his play that season. The two met eachother. Josiah told Aaron his news. Aaron responded, "So what, I got a trophy!" Nathan, now 8 1/2 is very tall (remember back in 1984 when we asked many of you to pray for our 3 lb. 12 oz. 16 inch son!?!). He loves playing soccer and singing in the choir (both at school and church). We are very grateful to God for each of them.

                          

     Dayna is the one who keeps all four of us together. She is busy caring for the boys; soccer and choir practices, school parties and outings, on and on. She does alot for the church too, especially in the areas of missions and Christian education. She really enjoys teaching the high school/college age Sunday school. She is involved in several island-wide ministries. She is directing T.E.A.C.H. '93, an inter-denominational training workshop for church workers and teachers. Also, she is Chairperson for the Committee on Lay-Training for the congregational churches on our island.

     Our pastoral ministry at the Haili Congregational Church continues to bring much fulfillment and joy. The privilege of preaching week by week is a great burden and blessing (preachers will know what I mean). Half of the year I preached through the Gospel of Luke, I also did a series on "The Family" and "The Christian Citizen" around the elections this Fall. I plan to begin the new year going through the book of 1 John. Our church is growing and there is a good spirit of love and support. One exciting development is a relationship between an extension of a Japanese College located just around the corner from our church. Students come from Japan to learn English and "culture." Young people from our church are making friendships with them and finding many opportunities to share Jesus. Also, Mark has been elected as President of the East Hawaii Ministerial Association. This inter-denominational group of pastors, representing about 30 churches, meets monthly for fellowship and learning. We're praying that we can work closer together to reach our area for Christ; less than 10% of our community attend any church! Another opportunity for ministry is being on a rotation of area pastors as a part-time Chaplain at our hospital.

            

     Hilo is a small town of about 35,000.  Our life is very centralized, we live right across the street from the church and the boy's school. In 1992 we put less than 4,000 miles on our van. Yet we are very busy, though it is a good kind of busy. The world searches in vain for "happiness," "fulfillment," or "meaning." Jesus says give your life to me, and through our "loss" gives more happiness, fulfillment, and meaning than the world could ever obtain! But life is not all work and no play. This letter is being written on a poolside table, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, as I sit in swimsuit and tank top. We are having a four-day get-away at the year's end as the boys are out of school, recouping from Christmas!

     We have a guest room available. (If you can stand sharing one toilet with three boys who don't always lift the seat.) This year we were honored that 5 Korean missionary women came to see us, 3 all the way from Uganda. We also had a great visit with Mark's mom and sister Judy and her husband Larry. Let us know if you plan to come! We do hope to come to California in June and hope to see some of you.

                        

     This letter is sent with prayers for God's blessings upon you, and your family, throughout this new year. In my sermon last week I said that Jesus may return in 1993. (I haven't heard directly!) Whenever He comes may He find us faithful and fruitful in His service!