Aloha `Ohana,
Just wanted to give you an update on what
happened at the World Indigenous
Peoples'
Conference on Education (WIPCE).
As you know, there was some concern about
it because an email circulated
saying that the purpose of this conference
was to restore worship to Pele
and ancient gods.
The main sponsor of the conference was the
Edith Kanakaole Foundation.
Yes, many of the leaders of this foundation
worship Pele. However, it seems
that the tendancy of Christians is to see
those who do not worship Christ
as the enemy instead of potential Christians.
We expect them to come to our
functions, but we shun, and even pray for
the failure of theirs. Many of
these people, like Paul, are misguided and
misinformed. They just really
need to know who our Lord is. Other
sponsors of the conference were the: U
of H at Hilo, Hawaii Community College,
Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estates,
OHA, etc. Again, it was a conference on
education. Some of the main
workshops were titled: Philosopy of Education;
Language Movement; Teaching
Practice and Indigenous Curriculum; Educational
Policy and Leadership;
Health Education and Healing; Justice Politics
and Education; Science and
Technology Education; Arts and Education;
etc. Out of 100+ workshops to
choose from, ONE was about the history of
Pele. None were titled restoring
worship to Pele or ancient gods.
What a rich harvest field it was.
People from all over the world coming to
Hilo! I believe, because many Christians
were called to be involved, Jesus
was lifted up in a way that the native peoples
of the world could really
see Him. No, we did not "notch our belts"
with any trophies. But I know we
planted and watered much good seed. We did
not "preach," not with words
anyway. As I mentioned before, most of these
people are tired of hearing
preaching about the love of God and no show
of love for them and who they are.
Mark Buntan, an AOG missionary to
India, had a hospital and ministry of
humble service compared to that of Mother
Teresa. In fact, when Mother
Teresa received her humanitarian award,
she went to Mark and said, "YOU
really deserve this." After he died, Indians
testified, "HE NEVER PREACHED
TO US, HE JUST WAS WHAT HIS GOSPEL WAS ALL
ABOUT." This kind of witness
takes more time, but more of the fruit survive.
I did not get to serve much
for this conference. However, on the last
Sat. of the conference, I
received a call from Georgia Santos that
they were in desperate need of
people to help prepare for the luau banquet
that night. I went down, as did
several other Christians, and helped mix
and put poi in bowls for the luau.
When I left, one of the organizers told
me, "Mahalo, thank you so much, YOU
MUST BE AN ANGEL SENT BY GOD." Isn't it
interesting that, to this woman, an
angel sent by God is not one who preaches
but one who mixes poi?
Some of the highlights of the conference:
Because I was away in England, Yolanda and
Mariko worked all day building
the Kauhale (Hawaiian houses) that workshops
would be held in. They also
cooked and brought food daily for the workers.
The organizers were
desperate because they were so behind schedule.
Their work and aloha was so
appreciated that when they were "found out"
to be Christians, there was no
suspicion or animosity. One man, who considers
Christians to be the worst
enemy of the Hawaiian culture, even felt
comfortable enough to stay at our
home. They made many good friends (great
people, so giving and so much
aloha) and will continue in relationship
with them. Others who came to help
were Leon and "Tutu" Siu, the Murphs and
the halau from Glad Tidings church.
Kamuela and Lei Kahalehili also came
and worked daily. Once the people
there found out Kamuela's last name, there
was no hiding who they were.
Kamuela's dad is the best known pastor in
East Hawaii. However, because of
their humble service, there was no animosity
there also. One day while he
drove a truck to get building material,
a young Hawaiian man who was riding
in the front with him, could no longer contain
himself. He blurted out, "So
what, you think what the missionaries did
was right or what? Would you do
things differently?" HE asked, so Kamuela
told them (the young man and
woman in the front seat with him). He said
no, he did not think they did
things right and yes, he would do things
differently. He told them about
`Io, the redeemable things in Hawaiian culture,
about Pa`ao, that Pele was
a late Tahitian immigrant to Hawaii, etc.
The two young people were
spellbound, positive and excited. They had
never heard of these things
before or from that perspective.
Later, when the hales were dedicated,
the people honored Kamuela by
asking him to cut the piko of a hale (open
the hale by cutting a tea leaf
lei). This was a great breakthrough of trust
and respect because they knew
who he was and who he stood for. He prayed
to Jesus for the blessing of the
hale. At the ceremony, the young man Kamuela
had talked with while in the
truck told him, "After talking with you
that day, all night, that's all I
could think about, the things that you told
me."
Pastor John Truesdell and the Living Waters
Church served free Shaved Ice
to people as they registered for the conference.
Their banner simply said,
"You are Loved." The only non-agressive
witness they had were T shirts that
said, "Thirsty?, Come to the Living Waters."
I have heard from several
different sources how people were touched
by this simple service on a very
hot day.
The opening day protocol was such an annointed
time that Yolanda and other
Christians I knew said they could not stop
weeping. God's presence was so
strong there. Thousands of Hawaiians on
shore welcomed indigenous leaders
in the Makali`i (meaning "Eye of the Chief"
or "The Coming Chief") canoe
from all over the world to join in unity
with them under the one Creator of
all. Many Christians were there and many
Christian educators attended the
conference.
The opening general session's featured speaker
was Dr. Chun, the principle
of Kamehameha Schools. He told thousands
of indigenous people from around
the world about the Christian legacy of
Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. He
also told them that if they did not dedicate
everything they do to God,
they would not succeed.
Moses Crabb ran a workshop on chant and hula.
He taught the people a chant
that came directly from scripture and a
hula based on scripture. Other
Christians ran workshops.
Other Christians hosted conference attendees
in their homes. We had a
great time fellowshipping with friends of
friends from New Zealand and new
Native American friends.
Public performances were held at night in
the Edith Kanakaole Stadium
(Site of the Merrie Monarch Festival). One
night, the Maori were the last
performers. After doing traditional hakas
and waiatas, they ended the night
by singing "How Great Thou Art" in Maori.
People who were there told me
that they could hear people all over the
Stadium singing in their native
languages.
Yolanda and I attended the closing luau banquet.
The Kupuna who was asked
BY THE ORGANIZERS to bless the people and
the food ended her prayer in the
name of Iesu Kristo, Jesus Christ.
I believe that the conference was a wonderful
fruitful time for Christ. We
will see much long lasting fruit if the
seeds and sprouts that were planted
continue to be watered and cared for.
Highlights
from England:
There were 30 students and staff at this
PRCS (Principles of Redeeming
Cultures School, a YWAM school run
by Island Breeze) from Korea, Hindustan,
Thailand, England, Brazil, Angola, New Zealand
and West Africa. There were
pastors from Korea, a YWAM base leader from
Brazil, a Dean from a College
in West Africa and many other experienced
missionaries. Yet it was such a
fruitful time of teaching because the majority
of students knew little of
the things that were taught. It was great
to see their excitement at
finding effective new tools and insights
to reach native peoples for the
gospel. I personally enjoy watching their
brains twist as their theologies
are turned upside down! Although I do not
like to travel much, I cannot
pass up these schools and how fruitful they
are. In one week of teaching, I
just passed on the gifts that the Lord has
given to Aloha Ke Akua to 30
missionaries who will spread the gospel
with new effectiveness in eight
countries. Thank God Island Breeze and YWAM
have started these schools! I
feel every cross-cultural missionary needs
what is being taught there.
In Nov. I will be teaching at PRCS missionary
schools in New Zealand and
South Africa. While I do not look forward
to the travel, I am excited about
the difference that can be made for our
Lord.
Mahalo Plenty for your prayers and support.
Without them, there would be
no ministry.
Aloha Pumehana,
Daniel and Yolanda Kikawa
| A
across
Pacific Magazine
C Chr'n Ministries & Churches R Referrals & Reconciliation O Outreach Opportunities S Service Opportunities S Schools & Sponsorships |
to Home Page. |