delirious

This is how I am experiencing Motherhood:
For the first time in my life I am willing to sacrifice all sleep, work, vanity, and sanity for this little guy who spends 80% of his time eating and the other 20% pooping.
We have had brief moments of sleep sprinkled over the past 3 weeks, but I fear I am still losing my mind. Last night I told him "ok we're going to pray now for our family, dear God please bless 'Osi and myself and....the baby.
what's your name again?"



Isaac Halalilo, I adore you.

Announcing

Our beautiful baby, Isaac Gray Halalilo was born on December 5th,2009 at 12:58 p.m.
He was 7 pounds 7 ounces; 21 inches long; and absolutely perfect.

Thank God for family!
One of the greatest blessings of our lives is family. Praise God we have both been able to stay close with our own nuclear family, and with one another's. 'Osi sometimes says "our family is our first missions field", meaning that we need to work hard for peace and loving relationships with our nuclear family. After that we can start looking outward to loving and reaching the rest of the world.

Getting involved

We absolutely love our church family at Camano Chapel. Everyone is so loving, we are overwhelmed every week we go through the door. Thankfully we have a little free time on our hands while visiting so we have been able to volunteer in several programs. 'Osi's been helping out with EYP (Jr. High youth group) and joined the Sunday night volleyball team. He is also being discipled by Pastor Mich and is so grateful for the new Paul/Timothy relationship they are developing.
Together we have volunteered in the infant nursery, soothing crying babies has been great practice for us. hehe
Then Jen has been helping out in Home-school Co-op and MOPS, thoroughly enjoying the other volunteers as much as the energetic toddlers.
If you are interested in being involved in a loving church family, we recommend Camano Chapel. For 20 years it's been a loving Mother hen to Jen, and 'Osi is so lucky to be adopted into the nest.

Tongan Missions Dinner

We hosted a Tongan missions dinner at Camano Chapel last month. This was a way to say thank you to our missions prayer supporter team, and others who have been praying for Tonga. We are so thankful for all the people who came, including 'Osi's family from Seattle.
'Osi entertained us with Pacific Island dances, (I mean cultural presentations - because we don't 'dance' in church right? =)

Hiding our pumpkins

I've been introducing 'Osi to American culture and he believes nearly everything I tell him. So now we can do all the American traditions, plus some I make up, and the ones that are normally reserved for children!
Going to the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin was a must - only he insisted that I was hiding one under my shirt, so he did the same.
He paid for his now, I'll pay for mine next month. hehe

There's no place like home

Hello friend,
We just wanted to let you know we're back in the U.S. again and have been so overwhelmed by the love of friends and family who have been welcoming us home...we especially want to thank our Camano Chapel family for their excitement. You always treat us like celebrity's even though we're only simple, young kids trying to follow Jesus.
Thank you all.
So we will be home for the next 3.5 months, for the next 3.5 reasons =)

1.) We're having our first baby, and would love to give birth in an environment that is safe, healthy, and familiar for Jen. At least this first time, she needs her Mom =)

2.) This is a great opportunity for 'Osi to meet our family and friends in the U.S., and experience American culture.

3.) Jen's Mom is having major surgery next month. We want to be here to care for her, and drive our little sister Mary to school and soccer practice everyday =)

Also....Jen is meeting with the YWAM Publisher in Seattle, with a book on Missions that she has been putting together.

Please feel free to call or write anytime! We would love to spend time with you if it is convenient, or at least catch up over the phone.
360-652-7430
God bless you with great joy!
-'Osi and Jen

Bula from Fiji!

It’s 8:45p.m. and the youth are starting to gather at the outdoor crusade. They told us it started at 6, but Fiji time is a fluid concept.
I (Jen) was beginning to get bored so I fished super glue out of my purse and began fixing my broken sandal. A few minutes later the pastor called “‘Osi, our guest from Tonga, please come up and share the word of God with us!” I am so proud of him—this is his first time preaching in English to a giant crowd of people.
The message went smoothly, we all laughed at his jokes and shouted “amen!” at the appropriate times. But then he throws a curveball and calls me up to sing a song with him! I have a dangerously squeaky singing voice, and in the excitement of the sermon I had somehow managed to superglue my fingers together, which were glued to my dress, and also glued to my leg. So I awkwardly hobble up to the front, smiling, smiling, extremely nervous.

Thankfully it was a short song, and the Pastor didn't ask me to sing again. (?) But I have all new respect for my husband, having the courage to take any opportunity to share the gospel with one person or a hundred. It reminds me of our Father who invites us to represent Him and serve Him even when we’re awkward, can’t sing well, and glue our fingers together. hehe

Hallelujah!
We're really enjoying our time in Fiji, while waiting for 'Osi's visa interview on September 15th. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement.....we really praise God for opening many doors for us to serve the Missionaries and different villages in Fiji too.

Everyday we have been able to do door-to-door evangelism, youth crusades, prison ministry, helping tons of young Missionaries write their first newsletters.....God is so good, keeping us busy, using our talents. Never a dull moment!
Here's a picture of us with a local youth group we were helping with.