Me at work in the office.
Ho okipa, one of the most famous surf destinations in the world!  My front door :D

Paia chapel, built in 1926.  Its quite cozy with the cockroaches and geckos.  In spite its ruff nature it really is cozy.  I can see everyday that God has his hand on this place.  Its location could not be better.  The chapel is located next to the two biggest bars in Paia, and often chosen as a resting spot for the travelers and homeless.  It most definitely keeps me active in sharing the love of Christ.

A small example of the fruits of the land, in which the Lord commanded us to eat. :D

This is my friends house.  Asbjorn the Norwegian skier (pumped for peeps with similar passions). Renoylds the southern states surfer, and Fritz.  The Missionary to China who is stuck in Maui....surfing.  Great guys, all with a heart for God.

Fritz says Hi everybody>  from his job at Sailboards Maui.

TONY THE TIGER SHARK

Hey Everybody:

Sorry for the delay in the update.  Life has been super busy here in Maui, then again my life is always busy anyway.

I am finally slowly adjusting to the heat, or at least I can put up with it.  Life in Paia is without a dull moment.  I have built some relationships with some people there which is great.  There are a few former YWAM people that live in Paia.  They are great fellowship.  Apparently YWAM used to be  based in Paia and could have taken the town by force, however, they moved their base to Hikou.  I am getting to know some of the local surfers.  They have a different mentality and approach to life.  Most of them are really great people to meet and talk to, that is, most of them.  There are a few Hookipa locals (a world famous surf bay) that have really adopted the California mentality.  California brought the whole gang attitude to the surf culture in the 70's.  I do surf Hookipa but I have to pray abundantly and really be careful that I don't get in people's way, cause if I ever did the would be looking for a fight.  

Satan really has strong holds on that place.  The locals sit under pavilions all day, smoke weed, and drink beer.  I am told some of them had potential to be world champs, instead they invested all their talent and dreams into partying at Hookipa... all day....every day!  Sometimes when I surf Hookipa I see people totally start manifesting in anger and aggression.  They go off like a dog with rabies.  I wonder why they even surf when they couldn't possibly experience joy of any measure.  I thank God for His favor and grace, that I can surf their and be a blessing to those around me.

Other then that I am spending most my time in the office in Kihei.  Pascal and I are getting ready for county fair at the beginning of October.  We have a ton of merchandise to print.  I am also working on the ER Bible.  It is a NLT, New Testament Bible that we are putting together with testimonies from the top Christian athletes in riding sports.  We want to use the Bible as a tool for evangelism.  It is very exciting to be apart of.  

O some fun news.  There was a 10ft Tiger shark sited less than 30 yrds from me when I was surfing.  A couple other guys saw it swim right under them.  Super scary...  However, I didn't even panic.  I caught the next wave and surfed in all relaxed.  When I loaded my board I saw everybody b-lining it for the beach.  I figured he must have done a lap past everybody, cause when we told people they never took it seriously.  It's probably better I never saw it or it might have put a huge mental block in my surfing.

Well a List of prayer request:  

Pray for friday night chapel in Paia.  God is beginning to move, we are seeing more and more people come and are getting saved.  Praise God.  Pascal and I are doing all we can to get them plugged in (which seems to be the hard part).  Pray God will use us mightily there.  

Pray God will open doors and opportunities for me in Paia to bring light to people.  People randomly come to me for prayer and encouragement right on the street corners.  Pray God will use me beyond my expectations or that I may have greater faith and expectations.  Pray for the county fair, that the ER team would reflect Christ with great power and anointing to everybody who comes through our tent.  I am buying my ticket to Tahiti and Rwanda next week, pray that God would provide the way.

I want to see lives changed.  People delivered from their sin and given real hope in God.

I miss Canada like crazy... can't wait to be in fellowship with you all again.

God bless

Dallas

I love Mangoes

Well life is consistently active for me.  We finished everything in the chapel except the carpet.  We are having problems getting a carpet installer.  

A week ago sunday Pascal and I went to Lanai Island.  Its a small island next to Maui.  It used to be owned by "dole" pineapple company, then some rich guy bought the whole island.  Crazy.  There is only approximately 3000 people on the island.  

Pascal and I took a boat there because He had to preach.  We never thought to bring our surf boards because there was no expected surf.  Key word 'expected'.  As we passed the east side of the island we saw a wind swell totally peeling (translation: the waves were awesome).  The church service was great.  Small town church that I felt at home in and the Lord really spoke to people. 

Right after church Wendell (a local) grabbed boards for us and we loaded in the truck.  We drove a hour down a washed 4x4 road, then we walked a mile down a cliff/rocky shore, until we arrived at a little surf oasis called Stoneshack.  It was amazing. Perfect waves and nobody there.  It was a full local experience.  I was really blessed.

I am living in Paia know, and getting to know people rather quickly.  I find myself excited to be there and be with the people.  I was able to preach on friday night at surfer church.  I think it went well.  Everyday I am hanging out with homeless people, who seem hopeless.  I say that only because they seem to have an attitude that is content with where they are.  Hard people to reach.  However I serve a bigger God.  The surfers are really friendly unless your dropping in on their wave.  

Pascal and I are getting ready to go to Tahiti in September.  Eternal Riders has a church plant there.  We will be going to do some discipleship and evangelism.  From what I hear it is an island that is in great need of Christ.  Please pray that God will provide the way and prepare our hearts to manifest the Living Christ.  I truly believe that if people encounter Jesus, they will be effected.  I want to know Christ more intimately so I can reflect him in a greater way.

I miss Canada, but mostly, you guys my friends and family.  Every adventure I encounter I find my self wishing you guys were here to share it with me.

May God ruin your lives and give you the life He has for you.

Aloha

Dallas 

My first wave!

I went surfing on thursday and caught my first wave, and 3 more.  It was epic.  I can easily see how people can come to Hawaii and never leave.  I am just thankful my passion for snow is strong enough to bring me home this winter.

Life among the locals is very sareal.  You know if somebody grew up here because they talk like the turtles on "Finding Nemo."  Know body gives a "farmer" handshake here.  Its always the "whats up bra" followed by the surfer handshake.  Even the elders greet you that way.  For me the culture shock is seeing an entire society that lives the "hang loose" mentality that all extreme sports are influenced by.  

This may be the only place I know with a predictable forecast.  For real.  Its 87-88 in the day and 75 at night.  I think it works out to 22C at night and 30 at day.

One thing you notice is that even though the islands make there economy off the tourist, it really disrupts the Hawaiian way of life.  People are really community orientated and laid back.  Tourist are the people with big flashy vehicles that have their windows down and tunes cranked.  Big image and big advertising doesn't fly here.

As for my internship. Pascal and I are renovating the chapel in Paia where I will be living in a week.  The town is extremely transient and New Age.  There is a lot of homeless people there.  We get the occasional homeless person who takes up residence underneath the chapel.  Like literally under the foundation of the chapel.  We couldn't be in a better place.  Right where there is an extreme need for Christ.  Saturday Pascal and I had the privilege of baptizing a guy named John in the ocean.  He professed he believed in Christ and was desperate to be baptized.  It was cool. He lives near Paia and we are getting him plugged in.

Pray for me friends.  That I will be spiritually strong for the task ahead.

Miss ya all.

Aloha

Dallas