TheREPORT

Jesus has meant grace, love, and hope to me in this season. Earlier this year, I was bitten by a shark, an accident that almost took my life. In the following days, weeks, and even months, it felt like it would take a lifetime for me to heal. I felt so hopeless and depressed most days and remember asking God, “why did you let me live?” God answered in ways I never would have imagined, and it started with one person who has become one of my most dear friends. She reached out to me multiple times a week to make sure I was doing alright in my recovery and would also check in on me on Sunday mornings, encouraging me to make it to church. She was instrumental in helping me show up, and once I did, God knew exactly what I needed to hear and spoke to me through Pastor John’s sermons. I would sit in church on Sundays with tears in my eyes, feeling God’s love surround me, my bottled-up emotions being released, and my mind set free. As I continued to heal and follow God’s lead, I joined an Ohana Room on Thursday nights that changed everything for me. He surrounded me with a community that met me where I was, walked with me through it, and loved me every step of the way. THE and the communities I’m blessed to be a part of have helped me not only heal but also grow stronger and more rooted in my faith in Jesus.

When we were dating, my husband told me he wanted 10 kids.. I laughed and said I wanted 4. Nevertheless, 2 births, 4 adoptions, and 8 foster children later, the math gets complicated, but a calculator indicates 14, and clearly, I shouldn’t have assumed he was joking! We serve a generous God who cumulatively gave us each the number we “wanted.” Jesus has authored our family’s story in such a way that requires our dependence on Him. This inevitably keeps the glory in the rightful position- on the shoulders of our King. We literally could not parent all these incredible kids we’ve been entrusted with in our own strength, and we’re reminded of this truth just about hourly.

Jesus has meant EVERYTHING to us in this very full season of life, and the miracles He’s made us privy to seem too much to behold at times (certainly more than I can fit into this story post). Though we know Jesus, we also felt lacking in community until God led us to THE. Through the growing of our faith, THE has created a space for us to open our hands broader, reach further, and follow our kids with our love into a mystery. It’s a blessing to distinctively feel almost sad when Pastor JT’s message wraps up. My spirit would rather linger longer than wait another week to get back into The House again. The sound of Ho’onani may spur the “awe, man, it’s over…” feeling, but it simultaneously readies us to step out of Sunday and into Monday with fortified faith and a fresh message of Jesus to face it all. Mahalo THE! Thank you seems so insufficient but thank you nonetheless! The ever-growing, ever-changing Scott Ohana is grateful to be in The House Established!

Aloha, THE Ohana, my name is Justin San Nicolas (aka Po) I love you, and I love my church community! Wow!! What a wild ride this past season has been. From family loss to identity struggle to finding a new church, this past season, Jesus has been my cornerstone by keeping me grounded through it all. When I lost my dad, He kept me strong for my family but also opened up my heart to mourning. When I struggled with understanding who I am, he reminded me I’m one of His children, and I don’t need to look further than Him! When I was lost with where to serve Him, He showed me where to go! Jesus is my firm foundation!

A huge portion of how I live out my faith has been THE!!!! I’ve never felt more loved, more planted, and more impacted than by serving here at THE! In so many years, I’ve never felt the push to use the gifts God has already given me more than here. I’ve prayed for many years and asked God to show me how to use my gifts wholeheartedly, and He answered my prayers through friends who know my gifts and knew where they were needed! My best friend growing up, is now serving side by side with me just like both of our fathers did, and we get to continue that legacy! Jesus showed me a community of loving people who I get to call family, brothers, and sisters in Christ through Ohana Rooms, Life Rooms, and in different serving teams at church!!

I thank God for this community and for helping me answer the call. I LOVE YOU, THE HOUSE ESTABLISHED