MEMORY LANE

Cornelia and Theo Eggenberg are a wonderful Swiss family we met while visiting the dolphins at Kealakekua Bay. As it turns out they were the last class to do their DTS at KINGS MANSION. We invited them to take a "look" at the project. They shared their story of how their lives were transformed while in the school and are still connected with building the KINGDOM while they are living in Redding, California.

As we walk down memory lane it was so rewarding to hear how many lives were impacted thru the schools at KINGS. Dave Gustaveson had tremendous vision as he taught nearly 80 schools and trained nearly 140 leaders. The worldwide schools producing leaders leave a valuable legacy for KINGS and the unfinished visions still to be seen. Many leaders will still gather here to pray, formulate ideas and change nations.

Many weddings and wonderful events took place on the grounds. Imagine how many more memories will be made. Libby Goehner shared one "fairy tale" wedding of Debbie Musick nearly 30 years ago where the very long wedding cake started to melt. The bride kept smiling and the festivities continued to melt hearts together. She also said that she had worked on various other gatherings that involved the community. They hosted an art gallery on the second floor in 2000. So many dreams were made and will continue to have happy endings!

The undergirding message in all the stories was how much love and family time was shared on the large lanai. The Greenwell's would have been right at home creating fun family times and making memories . The sunsets were unparalled; the rain never dampened a gathering.

At the GLC meetings after the Fiftieth celebration the barbeque went on as the food was still served on the covered lanai. The rain continued, but the guests were amply served and enjoyed the change. Hospitality continued in spite of a shift in barometric atmospheric conditions. The hearts and stomachs were satisfied. One of the greatest attributes this home carries within its bones is the gracious way it welcomes home her guests!

I find it heart warming to have discovered that Darlene Cunningham in 1972 answered the "call" to YWAM HOSIPTALITY. The home was not purchased until 1977 but learning to serve with "graciousness" has never left. Like Darlene, hospitality was a common thread in the former owner Elizabeth Greenwell. It was woven throughout both their lives and into the lives of Darlene's children, many YWAMer's! Here is another story recently from Debbie Rettier who was trained in Switzerland to work side by side Darlene in hospitality and still serves ." It is a priviledge to host at KINGS MANSION! Loren loves meetings at KINGS! I was given the challenge durning the remodeling to host meals for our advisory board and the President's gathering. Realizing there was no water I had to use a new basket I brought along. We used hand wipes, t.p., cloths and coolers of ice, etc...to make it a special time. In the midst of lumr, construction tools, we had delightful meals with incredible rich fellowship. God showed up. Can't wait until KINGS will be completely restored physically and spiritually."

As you see memories can be made when our rooms are not quite adequate. There will always be room for improvement. We will always have an unfinished place. The important thing to remember is to never stop dreaming and believing. We must realize potential in others. We must make room to invite guests to share with our yet to be completed dreams and visions. We can pray together, break bread together and continue to grow and GO from these unfinished spaces!

P.U.S.H.

I love to have dreams come true. As a woman who prays I have seen many answers to my dreams. That is why I love to journal. We can recount the heartfelt answers. We can encourage one another as we record our mile markers.

We must still believe even when logic and medical opinion contradicts. One such dream happened yesterday as our son Jeremy and his wife gave birth to Cole Thomas. There is nothing too difficult when prayer and faith in a wonderful G-d collide. ONLY one word and all creation was formed. Let your prayers create rooms where faith, hope and love reside.

We need to pray until something happens. Our church is starting this new prayer initiative called P.U.S.H. Never get too tired that you quit. What in your room needs a PUSH? I always get help to move furniture I just ask. Do you need to rearrange your room? Is your view blocked and the color dim? Your room can take on new life.

A new YEAR, a new grandson I am determined to complete what is set before me, I will pray and jot down the ideas while in "listening prayer", wait until I "see" the dream unfold. Loren Cunningham founder of YWAM expanded on this in a wonderful teaching. He lives his dreams. Vision continues to occupy his space. Will you try and journal using this simple process? First pray, then jot down ideas record your dreams and turn these into movements that will impact communities and individuals. You will create your own rooms of vision.

King of Kings

Joy and I were driving out from Kona to visit King's mansion. The car was filled with anticipation as we looked outside the window we saw the unopened crate of furniture from our warehouse in Phoenix. I began to mentally unpack and place the furniture in the rooms.

It was so fun to see the rooms of the "mansion" come to life like toy soldiers appearing to announce Christmas. As a child I loved the sugar plum fairy. The moment the rhythm of the first note I was dancing on tip toes. I was peering in the windows of my mind to see what gift would surely arrive, just like my crate of unopened furniture. Our delight was opening the crate and reminiscing what had crossed the ocean.

We arrived ahead of our crate. That was a good thing as we were fast at work cleaning and preparing the rooms. We were thankful all arrived in time for Thanksgiving. This was a season to GIVE THANKS. We at YWAM were recounting and adding memorial stones to all that the Lord had given us these past 50 years. Somehow the disappointment of unfinished floors faded as we polished the plywood. Our dreams and expectations saw the soon to be beautiful hard wood.

We went about town securing other pieces and even gathering up items from the Cunningham's. We especially loved the old Victrola. This seemed to set the "stage". I could almost hear the reverberating notes of music in the early 1900's.

We had to get the home ready for the guests to arrive. We took the liberty to decorate for Christmas. This was a great disguise for unfinished corners and bathrooms. The splendor of the rooms seemed to strike a note of sugar plums dancing in the air with each added light. The wonder of Christmas is the joy that we bring by allowing our light to shine.

One area of delight was when we had rummaged thru the shed to find old boxes of tarnished silver and an old oak dresser. This would flank the hall. The silver began to gleam with each wipe. We now began to allow the fragrance of Christmas to fill the air. We were preparing to serve even without floors, kitchen or running water. We were like children waiting to get our hands on the cookies. We would serve tea and cookies. Hospitality danced from inside the rooms like our hearts. We had discovered what was buried and unused. We would pour what we had -- LOVE.

As the guests began to come, they shared memories of former days when Youth With a Mission purchased the home in March of 1977 from the Greenwell's. This made it the first outright owned property by YWAM anywhere in the Pacific and Asia. This home would see many students and brides leave the front lanai. Guests talked about the schools they were in remembering the nearly 80 back to back training schools(DTS). It was hard to believe that at one time an estimated 4000 young Christians were trained for missions. We were all a little gray around the edges. Many of the remaining leaders in YWAM toured and traced their roots to a transformational encounter with Jesus in these rooms. We will share a few of the delightful stories in the upcoming posts and tell of all the global ministries that were birthed.

You should have heard the gasps as they turned each corner to see the beautiful finish work. The baseboards were whitely polished showcasing the love and care of the craftsman. Their gleaming eyes told it all. The mansion never looked so good. She was beginning to shine like former days. The Greenwells were considered leaders in the development of West Hawaii. Their hospitality was known throughout. Parties and family gatherings for the coffee plantation owners were the custom. The rooms must have bustled with all the love and excitement that family gatherings bring, not to mention Christmas. We were inside the heart of the home.

We now were grasping how this 1903 Hawaiian plantation-style structure perched on six acres got her name "KINGS MANSION". She truly was gracefully displaying the title in honor of the KING OF KINGS! This was a home of HONOR. It would continue to be a legend.

Plan B

Have you ever been so excited that all your plans were successfully underway and you are positioned for the next task? This Saturday I was enjoying my morning cup of coffee and realizing I better do a load of wash. Plans were underway to get myself packed and organized. The morning is a peaceful place to plan for the day. I was going to spend some time celebrating the goodness of the LORD as I washed the first load.

I headed to the sunlit patio, bible in hand expectant to see and hear more clearly what else was necessary for the KINGS project. I so wanted to spend time waiting to hear if I had missed anything. Anxious thoughts vanish when GRACE comes in. That is why it is so important to know who is the giver of ALL GRACE. I love to start my day ASKing HIM big. He never fails to give us just enough GRACE for the task at hand.

Shock went thru me, not grace or peace, as I stepped from the kitchen into the family room. There was water running into the room. My emotions were in a flood and so was my floor. So much for the serene quite time. It was the mad dash for the mop and dial to stop the machine. There is more to this machine; it is washing me clean. Patience is still working herself out and JOY is spilling over. It is begining to FLOOD.

I reached for my phone to try and call the gentleman I recently purchased the machine from on Craig's list. I was sure I could get him on an early Saturday morning. Problemo number two, I could not find his number in my new phone. MY PLANS WERE NOT WORKING. I forgot, I purchased a new phone yesterday. This phone I am told will make my life "more efficient". I could not get the new SMART PHONE to find his number. Moments seemed like hours as I scrambled to find a land line and the ad with his number. Was I ever learning how man plans his day but it is only thru the GRACE of GOD that we realize how to let go of our controls. Later I learned that it was an imperfect control dial that fizzeled out. All sensors can go haywire when left untended, it had been unused for 6 months. We really can learn from this and see where are lines are plugged up. This throws the timing and sensors all off. He delivered a better machine to me with more cycles and sensors to go wrong. Blessings do come with unexpected surprises. GRACE had washed frustration and anxiety away.

Next on my "list" was a scheduled pickup at a client's estate. Saturday continued, in spite of 'my timing' being off. I managed to call him before my new phone episode. He assured me not to worry, he would handle it and told me to enjoy my grandson. Then came the unfamiliar ring. Who could be calling? "Mary Ann , this is Eric we are at the gate. Is it the very large home with the lake inside"? "Yes", I respond what is the problem? He goes on to say that the gentleman is not answering his call. I immediately wonder if he got a new smart phone and cannot answer it? Should I dare try voicemail? Not sure how to text... The efficient plans I had scheduled this day were drawing to an end. Like the phone I did not know how to make them work!

Alas my bundle of joy arrived. Max was here. My plans would now be just as expected. WONDERFUL INDEED. I opened my computer before reaching for Max. Oops! No this could not be so. The crate had NOT departed safely and was NOT securely inroute sailing the ocean blue. They changed the PLAN. This news was unexpected. It did not suit my plan. The plan was efficiently executed on my end. Was God speaking louder? It was begining to FLOOD. Grace got reintroduced. She came at just the right time. Suddenly Plan B came into my space suggesting that perhaps Gods' timing will work it all to our good.

So many times as a designer I had thrown myself at the mercies of the Heavenly Father and He always worked His PLAN to my good. The projects usually turned out better. He came thru. This reminded me how in the midst of this KINGS project, anxious thoughts flew in. I love the way He teaches me His truths. A bird flew in the same patio that I never got to sit with Him this Saturday morning. "You are better than a bird" just like the Bible says in Matt6:20 became music to my ears!

I am now setting sail to rely on His Plan and will B at PEACE! Mahalo!

wrapped up

DO YOU FEEL LIKE LIFE IS UPSIDE DOWN? Do you seem to be jammed and wrapped so tightly that you wonder how will you get out? All life's problems and major decisions can be adjusted making room for one more thing: remembering all the wonderful days that life has packaged.

Looking at this crate, I remember purchasing the nailhead sofa for an estate high on a hill, reminicent of TUSCANY. The chairs flanked the massive carved stone fireplace. Embers burn, reflecting a time to recount history. Blessings are to be recounted rekindling pleasant memories. Now the joy of unpacking- they will grace the KINGS MANSION. Will future generations enjoy the view? Will the leaders that sit in these chairs dream of future generations bursting with dreams for a brighter future.

One of my favorite verses in Psalms is to DELIGHT yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Sometime it takes the tight corners we get ourselves into to make us stop and remember that He always gets us out of the TIGHT SPOTS. We can recount the times when we wondered how everything would work out or even FIT in our PLAN. He always found enough ROOM to rearrange us and make everything work out for our good. The beauty of a matter is we often do not see the JOY in it until it arrives safely and is perfectly placed.

This crate will sail the "ocean blue" to HAWAII. All the unanswered design decisions will wait. The memories will unpack as the forklift drops the crate at the designated location and the items come to life in another ROOM. These will be rooms of NEW VISON. People sitting on the furniture will see and remember the TIGHT SPOTS they have traveled to get where they are now. So often in life we never sit long enough to enjoy the view. We are always in such a hurry to move to the next location.

My heart is that the rugs and furniture, as small as it may be, will create memories that will last a life time. The floors may not be in or the pillows completed, but somewhere in the sea that separates us from pressing decisions and the listening ear to hear the gentle voice saying "you can make it". Joy will dance inside as we know we have done all we can do and it is now left to the LORDs design. ALOHA!

ROOMS of Vision

Everything starts with a dream. You perish if you do not have a vision for your dream. On January 25, 2010, I awoke from a dream: “a large Victorian home with several stories. I was getting the bride ready in her dress. Preparation was key to the event.”

Two years prior my husband Rich had a dream that we were preparing a large white house in Hawaii for visiting dignitaries, sort of as caretakers of the property.

In April 2010 I got a call from Darlene Cunningham, co-founder with her husband and founder Loren, of Youth With A Mission. She wanted me, an interior designer, to help furnish “King’s Mansion”. This is a property owned by YWAM near Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. I enthusiastically began visualizing the project. Working on something BIGGER than you presents challenges that only an INFINTE GOD can COMPLETE. I went to Kona in July, 2010 to review the scope of the project. When Rich saw King’s Mansion he knew immediately that this was the house in his dream. We had both been to Kona many times since our Crossroad DTS in 1985. This latest visit strengthened our vision.

During that visit Loren was giving a tour of the Mansion to a group of leaders from around the world. He turned to Cindy & Tom, who are currently on the property and key to the renovation. He asked Cindy to share the dream she had while a SOE student at YWAM on another Hawaiian Island in 1973. “This is the house I saw in the small group as we were praying for direction for YWAM in the Hawaiian islands”.

Let her words continue to give VISION. “Jill Dawson (now Jill Bills) saw a large white house on a hill with a veranda and green shutters. As she spoke this out, I had, as it were, a vivid picture of this house--even where it was located on the island. Of course none of us had ever been in Kona before.

Several years went by and Tom and I were in Kona for the first time. Loren picked us up from the airport and took us to the new property that YWAM had gotten not too long before. It was King's Mansion we saw that day in prayer. Exactly!” she exclaimed.

This property was purchased in 1977 from the old Greenwell Estate a home steeped in history dating to 1903. Shortly thereafter John Dawson, Jill’s brother and now President of YWAM, started sharing about the Mansion being a place of prayer as well as a gathering place for leaders. Confirming how key leaders with a heart for prayer that bring forth VISON would be coming together, he had recently met with Lou Engle and Mike Bickle on the property. This will be a special place, a place to CATCH DREAMS.

Loren Cunningham along with Bill Bright founder of Campus Crusade for Christ both got the vision for the 7 spheres of society in 1975. In this they knew YWAM was to be an “influencer” to every arena in life. Loren’s vision and insight has caused the YWAM organization to be a leader in missions with over 1300 world wide locations. The Manison will be such a place where leaders can mingle from all the spheres of society. (read vision following)

He shared with us a progressive principle that “ prayer leads to ideas, ideas to vision, vision to events, events to communities and individual impartation.” The vision of his life has come from this progression. See the following vision for KINGS MANSION and look at their web site for more information of the history for past 50 years.

I now know why there was so much preparation in my dream. I want to make this the most beautiful place to get the “BRIDE READY”. I remember preparing and serving lots of food to the guests. Will you be ready to come to the wedding? Your place is set. Dreams do come true. We will complete and furnish all the rooms that really matter in life. DREAM BIG.

KING’S MANSION

YWAM Kealakekua, Hawaii

The vision for King’s Mansion is to serve as a gathering place for global leaders to relate and network around kingdom purposes in an environment of scriptural enrichment and spiritual renewal.

These leaders will be convened at King’s Mansion in Kealakekua, Hawaii according to categories that influence society, such as church and mission, government, business (including science & technology), education, media, etc. King’s may host an event focused on one sphere at a time, or bring together a mixture of spheres for catalytic networking and multi-generational purposes. Though Youth With A Mission will serve as the host for these gatherings, the events will be multi-organizational, drawing individuals from a broad cross-section of Christendom and society.

King’s will also be a place committed to fast-track young leaders, providing a context where the young mix, mingle and discuss together with experienced, mature leaders in the various spheres of society, allowing for impartation and multiplication.

Kings will serve as a gathering place for senior YWAM leadership teams as well—a place to fellowship, pray and strategize around future initiatives.

The Heritage Center at King’s Mansion will house displays, photographs and artifacts of key significance to YWAM’s history, values and vision—the DNA of this missions movement. Resident and visiting researchers and writers will use King’s to connect the past with the future.

All of the gatherings and events outlined above will provide the opportunity to offer internships for those called to roles in hospitality, operations and administration. These six-month and one-year internships will equip people to multiply these practical ministries. The internships will be overlapped to provide in-house continuity for the running of King’s Mansion.

YOUTH WITH A MISSION / UNIVERSITY OF THE NATIONS

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an ever-expanding global "family of ministries" born in 1960 which has reached into every nation. The work of YWAM encompasses evangelism, training and mercy ministries and is manned by nearly 20,000 full-time staff from more than 200 nationalities and a wide variety of denominations who serve at more than 1,300 ministry sites in 177 nations. More than four million students, short-term volunteers, part-time and full-time staff have served with YWAM since its inception.

The University of the Nations (UofN), is YWAM's global university. Since its inception in 1978, the UofN has grown

to offer more than 800 different kinds of courses and seminars (some of which are offered in 95 languages), held at more than 520 locations in more than 140 countries. Hundreds of thousands of students are registered within the global UofN system who have taken at least a Discipleship Training School (DTS), the entry course and pre-requisite for all other UofN courses and/or for becoming YWAM staff.

Anyone who has completed a DTS is qualified for "continued education" in UofN courses

anywhere they are offered worldwide, for the rest of his/her life. With appropriate course

credits he/she will receive UofN degrees through Masters level, when qualified. But more

importantly, he/she will be better equipped to serve the Lord in the role He has given

him/her to glorify Jesus and transform nations. For more information and course registration,

contact us at www.uofnkona.edu

Loren Cunningham

Founder, Youth With A Mission / President, University of the Nations

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STEP INTO YOUR DREAMS

STEP INTO YOUR DREAMS

There is JOY when we know our life takes on new meaning. We have just gone thru the celebration of GREAT JOY, Sukokot in the HEBREW calendar. In Israel it is a time to share meals and vision with family members in the Sukkah. ( related posts 0ct 3-6-09) To me it is such a special time to make ROOM for my KING. I love to hear what is on HIS heart.

I have always invited my LORD into my dreams for interior design projects. Working on a NEW design often causes sleep deprivation. Furniture becomes my “sheep” as I struggle for sleep. New ideas swirl. VISION dances before my eyes. Surely vibrant color will capture the eye!

This year the Sukot celebration reminded me of RENEWED VISION and purpose. As the closed warehouse chapter in my life came to a conclusion, I turn the pages in my dream journal. They are coming into FULL VIEW.

May I open my dreams to you.

I am SO GLAD my REDEEMER LIVES. He never lets me MISS OUT! All the years of designing MANSIONS for others has finally brought me into the room with HIS VIEW. If I can say one thing to you “HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAM. IF IT IS DELAYED, WAIT, IT WILL COME INTO FULL VIEW”.