As We Close out 2011
Dear Unified … family,
Happy New Year’s Eve! As we draw to the close of 2011, I think we would all agree so much has happened in a year. I remember when I first heard of the fireworks ban which is now in effect. I went to Costco, and bought a ton of fireworks to gorge one last time, knowing that my childhood enjoyment would soon be a thing of the past.
This morning I woke up feeling this New Year’s eve is somehow really different this year.
I can’t blame my feelings on the fireworks ban. Neither can I attribute it to the March 11th disaster in Japan. It’s not the hiring of our new UH football coach, Norm Chow. Neither is it the places I visited which I had never been to before like Malaysia, Singapore, and Mongolia. Nor do I think it was walking the grounds of my ancestors in Miyagi and Fukushima, Japan.
So why does this New Year’s eve feel so different? One word, Mom! Oh, how our family miss her. I don’t think you can ever be prepared enough for the lost of a loved one. But having gone through the experience, I am grateful that I can now share this testimony, “Jesus holds tomorrow in His hands.”
Because of Jesus, we don’t have to fear the unexpected but we can fully embrace the new year and all it has to offer!
As we close 2011 and enter 2012, Kerry and I wish you and your family a Happy New Year’s eve and a blessed and prosperous 2012! We are grateful to the Lord for each of you. Thank you for your support and for walking this journey with us.
As a reminder, we will not be having our morning prayer time tomorrow, but we will be having an extended refreshment time from 9 am. Our Celebration New Year’s Day Sunday will start at 10 am. We will be taking a special first of the year offering. Please pray as to what the Lord would have you to seed into this coming new year.
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!
All our love,
Pastors Dean and Kerry