Cross-Bearing in Kapa'au

Aloha in the Name of our Risen Lord,

We both got a small taste of what our Lord Jesus endured on that day we call Good Friday. For Him the cross was the apex of sleeplessness, betrayals, blood-draining prayer, gross injustice, and merciless beatings, and unfathomable sufferings.

 

We woke up to a beautiful Hawaii morning and drove to the parking lot of the Episcopal church, prayed with brothers and sisters from our little town, and joined them dragging a cross on wheels a couple miles, to a picnic lunch with even more friendly Christians!

 

Some passing cars honked - smiles and “shaka” waves – some scowled and turned their heads. Along the way we sang, read Scripture, prayed, cried, and reflected. Trudging those rough-hewn beams gave us a fresh appreciation of His mercy and grace. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

We recently had a great visit with ourson, Aaron, and  Kara…from Eugene, Oregon the Lord painted 

the sky for us to enjoy!

 

IDEAS' 26th Birthday! 🎉

In the last 26 years IDEAS has impacted more than 62,708 women, men, and children in 18 countries through agriculture, education, community development, business, and health & wellness programs. 21,710 adults and children in Asia with little or no access to healthcare were treated through local clinics. 7,500 bags of food were distributed to refugees in West Asia. 24,000 residents of 7 remote communities in China received clean, reliable water. 1,698 disadvantaged adults and youth in North Africa and the Middle East participated in vocation and life skills training. 5,300 in Bangladesh received nutrition education. 1,500+ farmers and their communities in Central Asia have been impacted by agricultural training, increasing income and quality of life. We are thankful the Lord has allowed us to serve with IDEAS for over one year now.

Sharing IDEAS at the Hawaiian Islands Ministries 40^th Anniversary Conference

We recently represented IDEAS at the Hawaiian Islands Ministries conference at the Honolulu Convention Center. It was the 40^th anniversary of the HIM conference. We enjoyed being with many

brothers and sisters from throughout our State. We shared with a number of people about the unique ways that IDEAS workers bring transforming hope to people all around the world. We hope to get the word about the great things God is doing through IDEAS more widely in our state as Hawaii Church Ambassadors.  

 WOMAN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

 Dayna has been appointed the representative from our island, Hawaii, on the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands. They were founded in 1871 to send women teachers to Micronesia. They have been ministering to missionaries in the field and neighbors at home ever since - including supporting our family for many years. So, Dayna is pleased for this opportunity to give back, and encourage missions vision in our islands and beyond.

 

Kahu at Kalahikiola

As we were leaving Beijing in 2021, we asked the Lord for our next assignment. God answered in two ways we never expected! We have been part of IDEAS since February 2022. We rejoice in getting to know our new colleagues around the world. Then we got invited to serve Kalahikiola Church, friends who prayed for and supported us for many years in mission. In January they voted for Mark to be their “Kahu” – pastor. We enjoy our new community here.

 

Maylee, our 19 year-old granddaughter, was with us in January! She is in her first year of university, back home in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It was so great to have her, along with Nathan and Heather and their sons, Kekoa and Makana. (We had a joint birthday party for our three grandkids – we don’t get them all together very often!) Maylee’s dad, Josiah, is doing great in Istanbul – thanks for praying for his life and work there.

 

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”           Psalm 16.5,6 NIV

We are so thankful for God’s faithfulness, great friends, and the opportunity to walk with Jesus. Mahalalo a nui loa – really big thanks!

  

Gratefully in Him who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, Mark and Dayna Blair

 

IDEAS, 7852 South Elati Street, Suite 202, Littleton, Colorado 80120  www.ideasworld.org

 

https://ideasworld.org/associate/blair-mark-and-dayna-support-0471

 

Phones Mark 808-218-4872 / Dayna 808-218-3698

 

Emails blairstan2@gmail.com / mark.blair@ideasworld.org / dayna.blair@ideasworld.org

 

Blog http://blairstan.blogspot.com

 

Web Site https://pastormarkblair.org/

 

 

One recent Sunday we had the privilege of hosting The Kaʻahumanu Society of Kohala, a civic club formed by Princess Victoria Kamāmalu in 1864 for the relief of the elderly and the ill. The club celebrates the life of Queen Kaʻahumanu and the preservation of Hawaiian culture.