Update

Kuperus update from Hawaii:

            We continue to enjoy living on an island with 201,000 other people where the weather is an average of 25 C (77 F).  Our island receives 1.5 million visitors each year to visit the world’s most active volcano and the green, black and white sand beaches.  We were visited by my cousin and his wife, who are from Marathon, New York.  They found our place by coming to the University, driving on campus until he found our van and located our residence by the Canadian and American flags in the window of Alisha’s bedroom. 

           

YWAM updates and some testimonies

            I, John, continue to staff Crossroads Discipleship Training School.  Our quarter is coming to an end and our teams will be going to Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.  I am always amazed at how lives are transformed as students come hungry for God and then go out to make his Name known to the nations.  My work on campus is mostly pastoral, where my responsibility is to equip, disciple, encourage and challenge our students to be missionaries to nations.   

           

            Following are three testimonies of men that I have mentored this quarter.  This is shared with their permission.

Roland is married with two small children from California.  When they arrived, their marriage was falling apart.  Their relationship had deteriorated to the point they were not even talking to each other and divorce papers had been made up.  They had reached out for help to counselors, psychologist and pastors, and their relationship was still a wreck.  They missed their Friday flight because his wife was having second thoughts about coming to YWAM, although they managed to arrive on Sunday.  He confessed sins, broke a vow and went to a couples’ seminar, which began their road to recovery.  By God’s grace, their marriage is restored.

            These are his words:  “Although I made the plane reservation, put all our possessions in storage, rented our house out, put my business on hold, paid the tuition, made sure had money in the bank, bought health insurance, and a list of many other things, what healed my marriage wasn’t me but God working through things and people.  Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing could have redeemed me, or my wife, and my marriage except for the love of God.  John, my small group leader, was one such vessel of God’s love.  He welcomed us with open arms literally because he was in charge of hospitality.  The love of God emanating from this man gave me confidence to stick through even when it was tough in the first few weeks on this blessed campus, when I wanted to leave.  Thank you, John.  Thank you, God.  All glory is his and we are just privileged to be a part of his plan.  This realization is the hope those in John’s life experience whether in ministry, in personal matters or business will know.”  

            Michael is 29 years old and comes from Atlanta, Georgia.  He had made some bad choices in life and was struggling with anger, negative thoughts and addictions.  He experienced major transformation by repenting and confessing sins, forgiving others, rebuking the enemy and acknowledging the lordship of Jesus in his life.  He also experienced a partial back healing. 

            He shares: “Dear John, I want to thank you for all the private sessions we had together.  You R mature in Christ.  I learned a lot from you.  I am glad I broke all those vows I made about not getting married.  I really told you a lot of my secrets that other people don’t know.  Also, thanks for the hospital ride and all the labor you provided for me and the group.  You are truly a dedicated disciple.  I am glad u were my small group leader.”

           

Jay and his wife are here with two of their children from the state of Washington.  He grew up on a farm and was a pastor of two churches.  He is at a crossroads in life and was looking to go deeper with Jesus. 

            He shares, “John, thank you for being a great leader.  Thanks for taking time to listen and to speak into my life.  I enjoyed most our Sunday night chats.  You helped me to think through difficult circumstances in my life and offered good advice.  Thanks also for the outings to coffee plantations, ocean beaches and Japanese garden.  I enjoyed getting off base if only briefly.  Keep pouring yourself into people’s lives.  You do make a difference.  God bless you and your family!  Love, Jay”

YWAM is about sending people to the nations.  Helen and I connected with a couple from Switzerland who are missionaries in Mali, West Africa.  They came here for a nine month sabbatical and now they have returned to Mali.  YWAM Mali is purchasing property from the Christian Reformed World Missions, where they intend on building a base. 

Family Celebrations:

            We celebrated Brianna’s 8^th grade graduation from the International Christian School (ICS) at the King’s Mansion.  She was recognized for her kindness, being responsible and intellectual.  We are so proud of her. 

           

Brianna, Nicole, Alisha and Karissa have come to the end of their softball season.  Our girls stood out from the darker skinned and black haired Hawaiians, so our girls were nicknamed, blondies.  Nicole made it on to the Gold Coast All-Star Little League team and she will be traveling with her team to the island of Oahu for state play offs.  Go Nicole!

Prayer concerns for the family

Joshua and Brianna will be attending Makua Lani Christian High School, which is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the campus.  Nicole, Alisha and Karissa will be changing from the International Christian School (ICS) and joining Anneke at the Learning Center next school year.  We had a good experience at the collective home school, ICS, and being a part of that community, but Helen and I are taking a break from teaching responsibilities so that we can concentrate on our other responsibilities.  Caleb will continue to attend the University of the Nations Preschool.  Next years tuition cost will be about $20,000 and pray that the Lord will release funds for us to pay for the education. 

 

We continue to live on campus, where our housing cost is $1400/month and our food is free.  We are looking to move off campus and have our own home.  This will increase our living cost because to rent a house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms is roughly between $1800-2000 a month plus the other cost.  We would love to own a house and are looking at that option too. 

           

In August, I will be traveling back to visit Ontario and New Jersey where I am looking forward to making some visits and celebrating our company Farmside Supplirs 25^th anniversary and attending my nephew’s wedding. 

I am working on writing the Today Devotion for the month of May 2013.  I have 30 written and I enjoy writing them.  A lot of thought goes into writing one day, so I have a new appreciation for the other writers. 

           

            We are self-employed missionaries.  Our work is possible only through outside support.  We are amazed by God’s provisions and are thankful for your support.  We need to raise additional support, so would you consider supporting us on a monthly basis?  Let us know if you are interested.  Our contact information is pastorjohn@tcc.on.ca or helenkuperus@gmail.com or 808.339.0048.  All to God’s glory and the advancement of his kingdom.   

SUMMER

School's winding down and the magical day of June 8, 2012, (the day summer vacation starts) is drawing nearer every day.

In other words, I'm PUMPED.

Every day that passes is a day closer to summer vacation and freedom. Two more days, and I can walk out of my classroom a free man.

Two. More. Days.

Due to a series of unfortunate events, I had no summer vacation last year. (It was spent cramming. Horrible experience. If you can help it NEVER spent your summer vacation homeschooling.) And the summer vacation before was devoted to moving. Which means: I have not had a proper summer vacation for two years.

Two. Years.

Can you feel my pain?

Yes, I got to have awesome experiences in all kinds of crazy places like India, Hawaii, and two road trips across America. But all that moving and all that flying has some side effects. Like jet lag for instance. Or a good many nights trying to doze off in an upright position.

(Someone told me they could never sleep in an airplane, car, or hotel room. Were he me, I would have circles under my eyes the size of Saturn's rings, my hair would be standing shock upright, and I'd be an incoherent, blathering mess.)

Or way too many fast food meals. (McDonalds. My stomach hates you.) And you know how hard it is to invest in long-term friendships when you don't know where you are going to live in the next month or so? Trauma.

But that's all in the buried past now and that said, I've got a problem. What am I going to do with my few months of freedom? After all, this is the first summer vacation in two years. I better do something good.

I've come up with a few solutions to my problem.

1. Beach. If Hawaii were good for only one thing, sorry all you hula dancers, my vote would be on the beach. With an average temperature of 80 degrees all year round, the beach is the place to go. Since there is no reason for me to retain the paleness of a computer programmer, I plan to visit the beach more often this summer.

2. Weight room. Fortunately for me, I live on a university campus that allows me the option of lifting weights. Of course, it's rather ghettoish for a gym, and I'm pretty unmotivated at getting huge biceps, but since it's free of charge I'll take it. "When life gives you lemons ... be happy you received something."

Of course, I can't be in the weight room all the time (hey, a guy's body can only take so much pain), but it's something to do.

Being on a university base has some definite advantages.  When there are students around, there's usually something exciting going on. There's baskeball on Mondays, hip hop/ break dancing Tuesdays, volleyball Wednesdays, Ohana Court worship sessions Thursday night, and Ultimate Frisbee Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Sundays are church-going days at Solid Rock, and I used to play competitive ping-pong in the afternoon. The table broke a leg, so I haven't played for awhile.

3. Surfing. That's right: surfing. Although the university campus is fantastic, it's nice to get away every now and then. I'm planning to buy a surfboard from a friend for about sixty bucks (it cost him twice that). Since I've only surfed the astounding number of four times, I'd like to spend some time this summer surfing.

(I was looking at the other camera. Just so you know.)

4. Football Preseason. Synonymous with hell, preseason training has got to be the worst thing I've ever involved myself in. (Well, maybe not the worst...) I keep telling my body it's all for its own betterment, but it sure doesn't think so. Star pushups, bear crawling across the field, jumping squats, sprints, crunches, crab walking, backpedaling, running for thirty minutes straight -- all part of the torture program. Pain. Excruciating pain.