SPRINGS VISION

SPRINGS

an oasis for women seeking HOPE

OUR VISION: A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES A CREATIVE SPRINGBOARD TO REBUILD WOMEN’S LIVES AND PROVIDE DESTINY FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

OUR BELIEF: CREATIVITY IS G-D-GIVEN AND WITHIN THE FABRIC OF A WOMANS SOUL.

OUR MISSION: CREATIVE IDEAS USED for EDUCATION and ENPOWERMENT TO END THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL LOSS OF DIGNITY AND INABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

OUR METHOD: WORKSHOPS CONNECTING WOMEN WITH WOMEN. UNSUNG HEROINES USING ART AND DESIGN TO STIMULATE INJUSTICE AWARENESS AND ENGAGE IN BECOMING COMMUNITIES OF HOPE.

OUR MOTIVATION: “HAVING A LIFE WHERE THE HARD KNOCKS ALMOST KEPT ME UNDER AND ARISING TO BE A WOMAN WHO COULD FIX ANYTHING”. *

THE HISTORY BEHIND SPRINGS:

A single woman with 2 small babies, left penniless and a husband in prison and nowhere to turn- what can she do? That was me 28 years ago. The RESOUCES of HEAVEN opened and the greatest TREASURY of CREATIVE IDEAS erupted. As I waited, a WELL SPRING of HOPE surfaced! Further inspiration and help from other women encouraged me that I could live out my dream. I literally painted my way out of a black corner. A successful Interior Design company was launched after years of creative discovery and job opportunities of serving others. The focus and desire of SPRINGS is to be a resource and “water spring for dry women, withered and bent under life situations, and to offer an atmosphere where solutions to life’s hard problems, the cracks in the walls of hearts are fixed”.* My utmost desire is to be able to generate creative ideas with a traveling art exhibit that will create injustice awareness and new jobs.

*excerpts from the Bible Is.58:11-12

internation women's day!

So excited as I launch SPRINGS, a non profit for women. ( follow upcoming blogs to learn more) Yesterday, I got the unction to start. Who would know it was International Day for Women, love those nudges!! I know my CREATIVE efforts will be a bridge to enable women to get to the other side. As a designer I can SEE the BIG PICTURE. This will take lots of connecting and resources from women on the FRONTLINE. I just attended a conference with women from the nations becoming a voice for the voiceless. This shouted loud, "now is the time. " It is of utmost importance to clearly announce freedom. HOPE for a better future comes when we point the way. I may go to London this summer. Share the excitement in this announcement. (See related article below)

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/100th-Womens-Day-Marked-Globally-117592703.html

My son in law is from Germany, thrilled that this nation took the lead 1oo years ago. (read the following article) Susie Childers from YWAM, by the way is a German started an organization called VOICE TO THE VOICELESS. She vividly captures the heart of hurting women in the world thru a camera lens. I hope to connect you to her treasures. They are rare finds. The Springs project is a little different than most of my design career. I always was in search for the right piece to awaken the room. Now my quest is to find the particular women's organizations and help them thru a creative endeavor be remembered . My client's always remarked how I made a room come to life. Usually an overlooked treasure in a shopping expedition would win my heart and give life back to an ordinary room. True love for a designer. My heart's desire is to find True Love and make her recognized. The procurement will be costly, one life at a time. I intend to fill hearts, not homes with love that lasts. Love does not get stale or fade. Style depicts a trend. Love is a trend that adds style. We can set Trends. Wait and see how using mixed media and good design in a women's creative workshop will become a TREND SETTER. We will partner with women philanthropists and professional artists. As the art projects grow it will be our greatest pleasure to have an exhibit and auction of the designs and art projects.

International Women's Day: What's it all about?

I will be most excited to share my daughter's pictures she took in Egypt. She was a young woman on a mission, we will be in search of more photography to tell the story. Pictures speak volumes. We will proclaim the GOOD NEWS. Springs will be an oasis for women seeking HOPE. The Mid East will awaken to love. We will see how women who stand and fight for freedom will have creative expression. Get a taste of women in the below article caught in terrible bondage who will come out to the other side. We will exhibit their crossing. Believe with us.

In Egypt's Tahrir Square, women attacked at rally on International Women's Day

FRESH BREAD

Every Thursday The Historical Society of Kona sells 'fresh' Bread at the Greenwell Coffee Farm.

Across the road on any given Thursday from Kings Mansion you can smell the aroma of fresh baked bread. It is made by members of the Historical society and tempts many a visitor. We were tempted. We stopped. Savoring the taste of the fresh bread, old Hawaii came alive in us. We realized we had been caught in the whirlwind of renovation. We needed SELAH TIME. In between bites we began to muse about the many unfinished rooms.

Come inside one of the rooms at KINGS. There is a chair marked GRACE, one "not now”, over there a pillow, like ideas tossed to the floor and picked up later with "new intention”. Here is an unfinished area. Try to imagine walking through. You will get there if you keep your eyes focused on where you are headed. Please do not open that door - that is "unfinished business”.

You must keep on this home tour with me. Do not enter the "taped off" areas. The tape is keeping people from the yet- to- be- imagined kitchen. Can you fantasize with me the smell of a roast cooking for arriving dignitaries? Permits were in place to complete the kitchen. Yet when we arrived in Kona we reacquainted ourselves with God's timing and resources.

We all can understand rooms marked ”delay”. Our visions must not get stale. We must savor the aroma of hot bread. Our time with Jesus tells us to “taste and see how good He is” even when we have no remembrance of hot bread. Our satisfaction must come from the belief that what he whispered to us before we bought the ingredients to make the bread will remain fresh. He never gives us too much at one time so we will not over eat. I love the way He tells us just what we need for the day. Manna. My mind is always racing to a new project and I forget I have unbaked bread. We need to complete what He has set before us. Is your bread in the heavenly oven? As psalm 37 says"keep delighting yourself in HIM and HE will give you the DESIRES of your heart".

Explore. Dream. Discover

HISTORY always has a way of repeating itself. When you look at the Kings Mansion history prior to the purchase by YWAM in 1977 you can almost see a parallel. Mr Henry Greenwell left his English shores in 1867 with a big dream. He was in search of a cure for the "orange blight"; instead he found his bride. His dream lead to his destiny - in 1870 he put Kona coffee on the map. One historian said "his knowledge of the world gave him the confidence to expand beyond Hawaii". He was a cattle baron and a Kona coffee plantation owner. The Greenwell motto was VIRESCO - "I grow greener, I flourish".

When Henry came to Hawaii in 1866 there were only 39 foreigners. Mark Twain lived in Kona then and was surprised at the lack of Protestant missionaries.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Look at the rebirth of MISSIONS now in Hawaii.

The Hawaiian Islands were destined for GOD's GREATNESS. Loren Cunningham founded YWAM on the premise "TO KNOW GOD AND MAKE HIM KNOWN". He spent a life of integrity pursing this dream.

Missionaries came to Kona

I find it interesting to compare both the Greenwells founder to Ywam's founder. In the Greenwell historical notes it read: "He respected all peoples regardless of their ethnicity. He was morally and financially upright. He was hospitable. The land was important to him. The Christian Principles were the foundation of his integrity. He nurtured strong women in his family."

Loren Cunningham shares many of the same values and similarities. They are both pioneers. He planted a university not coffee. Loren was a trailblazer in missions like the Greenwells were in settling Hawaii. Think about when Elizabeth Greenwell arrived. There were only 4 other white people. She had to make the most of her creativity, not unlike Darlene Cunningham who always made the most of new situations thru her ingenuity. Warm hospitality graced both these wives. The character of their spirits remained in their homes.

Cattle,Coffee and Farming

Loren and Darlene have been in places where they felt as though they were the only ones who shared their love for JESUS. They were constantly looking for ways to expand their lands, not cattle but sending young people into new territories. He started YWAM with a dream . He saw his dreams take root as the organization flourished after its founding in 1960. He started with a dream seeing waves of young people covering the earth…with over 1300 locations for YWAM at present this dream has become reality.

We all get an opportunity to set sail for a new land. Our undiscovered field may be waiting. So many great men and women are writing books on their dreams. Let this little journal launch you into believing and seeing your rooms come alive and imagine holding meetings for great men. We can purposefully live out or aimlessly throw darts at our dreams. Where are you aiming? As we define our dreams, ideas…. we can invite our guests to sit in our rooms filled with people shaping history. Loren and Dr Bill Bright both shared the seven spheres from such a "listening moment" which has invaded our day. Christian teachers share about the need to take the 7 mountains of society worldwide. The mindset of the KINGDOM of God has expanded beyond Church walls.

What walls are restricting your creative flow? Movements change communities. Hearts are changed. Come inside and see what you will find. Use Loren's vision keys to fill your rooms. Explore new rooms, dream new colors that will lead to brilliant discovery.

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.