Photo IMPACTing #5

IMPACT Fear Factor/Messy Games Night.
[Click on any picture for a bigger view]


Left: KUC represented by Oko, being introduced.
Right: I believe this is one of the Hubbard Brothers [church].


Left: James DeBlur [FCF] signaling maestro. Notice the sponge on the chair.
Right: View of sponge obstructed by player.


Left: The Arm pointing to the winner in white.
Right: Locky describing the different games.


Left: Getting ready for Ultimate Octopus. [Like Ultimate Frisbee, only with a squid]
Right: Squid-tossing demonstration by KUC crew.


Left: Christs Church Aiea team [I think].
Right: Their challengers.


Left: Look, up in the sky! It's...it's...not a bird.
Right: It's...not a plane either.


Onlookers saying, "We're gonna do what?!!"


Left: Raisin Hunt. Raisins are hiding at the bottom of the pudding. Players had to find them by holding a toothpick in their mouth. Joining in on the left was one of the leaders, Arthur.
Right: Matthew [Pali View] in white saying, "We have a winner!"


Starting to get dark in Kalihi.


Left: Iced Marble Hunt. Players had to pick them up with their toes.
Right: "Man, that's cold!"


Counting up the marbles.


Left: Ready, set...
Right: Go! Look at that, TWO feet in!


Left: KUC kids looking for those raisins.
Right: Puff Blow. They're not picking their noses. They're trying to blow a puff into those buckets, using snot-power.


Spam Toss.
Right: Going air-born for spam.


This guy got all the way to the fence!


CrossCurrent Worship Team.


KUC kids.


Arjay Gruspe with the night's message.


Baby Zeke.

Squid on the Roof: A Very Messy IMPACT

[I apologize for the delay in posting this week. Apparently I wrote it out and didn’t actually post.]

Mahalo to God above for blessing KUC with a campus that can take a lot of IMPACT. Last week, it was just that! Last Thursday was Fear Factor/ Messy Games night.

I didn’t really wanna work that night. Tony and Shayna guys were there to lead worship, so I finally got to have Baby Zeke time! I was torn! I figured for Baby Zeke’s future, and the students’ present, I’d do my part to help IMPACT continue. For you Baby Zeke, I stayed my position at the registration table!

Many many many students asked me what the games were. Many many many students wouldn’t believe me when I answered that I didn’t know what the games were. I’m just a grunt; I have no rank!
___________________________
It’s never a good sign to see a tarp laid out on the gym floor. We started off with the Choose Your Chamion game. After quick introductions of the representatives of each church, the reps were blindfolded before given instructions; another sketchy sign. The game: Wet Pants Musical Chairs. As the reps circled the chairs with the music playing, GM James placed a soaking wet sponge on one of the chairs. You get the picture.

On to the messy games. Mr. Locky [HBA] explained the games but I think the pictures say enough. The students rotated between Ultimate Octopus, Spam Toss, Puff Blow, Iced Marbles, and Raisin Hunt. I don’t know if that’s what they were actually called. I remember hearing something about giant pixie sticks and I saw the kids with them, but I must’ve missed what that was about.

We’ll get to the pictures shortly but I’ll just say that the air smelled like fresh squid and we could’ve fed a lot of hungry people. I won’t be eating lunch at any church for a while. Good thing KUC lunch crew’s on summer break!

And when I stepped outside for a drink of water after the games, I saw James directing Jared on a ladder. James looked at me and said, "Squid on the roof." 'Nough said.
___________________________
Worship was led by the CrossCurrent worship team. The students were really getting into it. After that, the message was given by Arjay Gruspe. He talked about what he was like before becoming a Christian and what he was like after. There is a distinct difference in the way one lives and views life, our actions, our thoughts, when we come to know the Lord. For the Bible tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” [2 Cor 5:17]. Arjay explained that the Greek word for “new creation” described something that had never existed before, ever.
___________________________
This week [tomorrow] is VOLLEYBALL! We will be at Moanalua Community Park, located behind Moanalua Middle School. Come join us for some fun and a message from Pastor Allen Cardines Jr. of Hope Chapel Nanakuli. We will also have the pleasure of good music from Canefield Hero!

I’m just gonna move right on to the pictures now. Mahalo to Henry for letting me use the Canon! I’m still tryna get used to the settings and stuff. Enjoy!

Mahalo!

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Day!

In the past, I haven’t been very inclined to go see the 4th of July fireworks celebration at Magic Island. I can recall going once back in ’98 or so? I think it was an okay time. So when Jules sent me the invitation to go this year…I, uh…well, I’ll just say that I’ll pretty much do anything for Jules. She coordinated it with Donna.

It was potluck and I never know what to bring. I started thinking about it early. People usually buy something to bring and I didn’t wanna do that. They were gonna be there all day so I wanted to bring something solid [read: not dessert].

I settled on my healthy version of fried chicken. If you nevah come, too bad! You missed out!


___________________________

After IMPACT the night before, I got home, showered, decompressed a lot, then got set up for cooking. I had just finished with packing up the chicken when my ride called. It was about 2:30 AM. I had not slept at all. Mom was concerned that I’d be cranky; why would she think that?

Henry and Dwayne picked me up and we were off! The gates opened at 4. We got there about quarter-to, so we relaxed a bit. When we got into the parking lot, we got a good spot and then had to find out where the ladies were. Donna had parked one row away from us. We unloaded a bunch of stuff; Henry brought a hand-truck, so that was easy. Jules and Cheryl were already holding a spot for us near a tree, so they were easy to find.

It was dark while we were setting up the tent, but Donna KNEW how to put it together! She laid out the poles and we got started. It took us about 15 minutes. Donna even taught us the advanced course on bungy cords.

Later on in the day, I watched some guys next door put up their tent. It took them at least a half-hour, probably more, in the sunlit sky. Their tent was one of those where the poles are all connected by a bungy cord so it’s easy, just snap in place stuff. The people next door had a tent like ours, but several of their bungy cords snapped off and their tarps were flapping in the breeze. Ours stayed put all day long! Go Donna!

We had several tables, mats, and chairs. After a short deliberation, we set up the tent with a “livingroom” and a “diningroom.” Good thinking, ‘cuz it was the perfect set up the whole day. [Jules, gotta remember that for next time].

The 4 a.m. crew: Henry, Dwayne, Donna, Jules, Cheryl, and Bonnie. Good job everyone!
___________________________

Throughout the day, we had plen’y activity to keep everyone entertained. We had card games, portagee horseshoes, balloon animals and hats [Bonnie], volleyball, water time for the kids, water balloon games, etc. We played a Q&A game where we get to ask the person next to us a question, but we all took an oath never to reveal the answers to outsiders. Nah! It’s only gonna cost ya’ $50 per answer.

Henry’s letting me try out his DSLR so we took some shots with it. Okay, confession, I was a little cranky. I had a small 15-min nap somewhere in the day. So I didn’t take too many pictures. Hopefully I can snag some from Jules. You gotta see the hats! But if not, too bad, you missed out if you weren’t there!

And the food! Steak, salmon steak, chicken, chili, pumpkin pie, lychee, crackers & cheese, oysters, fruits of all kinds, veggies of all kinds, hot dogs, Jello…. O-NO. I scarfed down all the cherries, couldn’t get enough of ‘um.

Others trickled in: Donna’s aunt, cousin Tricia, her husband Jay, their sons Jayden [5] and Bryce [3], Jayson, Steve and Alex, Tony, Harold [?], Krystal and her dogs Vinnie & Rosie, Yuri, Prakay, Scott and friends.

bvvvv [<--- Mega jumped in my lap and wanted to say something]
___________________________

The show got started and it was fantastic! We had the perfect spot for it. Well worth the entire day! Steve had a lens for the night shots. I liked the fireworks that kinda looked like orchids. Some of the shots look like they're of a galaxy or something.

After the show, everyone was good about helping to clean up and haul stuff to the cars. We had a great group of friends with us that day! I don’t know if it could’ve gone any better!

Well, if they do it again, hopefully I can grab some sleep next time. By the end of the night, I even forgot that I had to get home somehow! Donna and Henry hadn’t had much more sleep either and I dunno how they had so much energy! I must be getting old, no can handle the all-nighters anymore. I’m not in studio-condition. ; )

Enjoy the pictures! MAHALO to JULES and DONNA!






Chino with Jayden and Bryce. Henry showing me how to take action shots.


Rosie, the mommy. She's snarling at the dog next door.


Vinnie, Rosie's son. He's chill like that.


Both of them in Jules' lap. Think she needs some help.


Reinforcement arrives! Alex with Vinnie. Alex pointed out to me that he's missing teeth. :D


Donna finally getting in some siesta time.


Cheryl's having a good time!


A shot from the livingroom.


Bonnie and Yuri grillin' it up! Mmmm!




I liked these also 'cuz they looked like moving stars.




The RED WHITE and BLUE finale!

A Rich Inner [Fluff] Life

Just in case anyone has missed the fact that I’m a little loopy in the head, this entry’s for you!

On FB, one of my favorite apps is the [fluff] friends, through which I’ve adopted a virtual Megamouth. Megamouth is a female tyger [fluff spelling].

Anyways, I’ve had [fluff] Mega for about a month. By now, she’s got things all set up with a habitat, some decorations, and mini friends. [F]F also has effects for the habitats like rain, snow, instant night, etc. One can buy foods to feed the fluff, pet the fluff, and race other fluffs for munny. Feeding the fluff raises its speed in fph [flufflongs per hour]. The more a fluff gets pet, the better mood it’s in.

[F]Mega loves eating choco-mango delight, cheesecake, aromatic socks, old boots, corn, and cotton candy. She washes all that down with pomegranate juice or sparkling grape juice. Coffee, eggnog latte and strawberry milk are delicious also. I just find it amusing because the real Mega won't eat anything but Whiskas. She won't eat any treats, which is probably how she keeps that girlish figure. If I leave my plate near her for a second, she tries to "bury" my food. I haven't figured out what she's tryna say with that.

I’m having more fun with [f] Mega than a grown woman should but I don’t care. With all the decorations and stuff Mega’s won or bought, this was Mega's scene:



That was for the 4th of July. I've recently changed it to this:



Each mini has a name also. They are [in no particular order]:

Hero Turtle [female]
Mozart Mouseu [f]
Professor Toadal Froggu [male]
Chunky Froggu [f]
Emmaus Road Snow Leopyrd [m]
Maximus Decimus Meridius “MDM” Roostee [m]
J.L.F. “Scout” Panda [f]
Moanalua Daulphin [m]
Hot Rocks Happy Crab [m]

Mainly I wanted to be more creative with the names. [F]F helps ‘cuz ain’t no way all those animals would fit in my house in real space! Unless they were fish, which I wanna have again but hafta rig something so the fish will be safe from the cats.

Anyways, one of the days, as other friends and their fluffs were added, I guess I was a little tired of seeing cutesy or unimaginative names. Among Mega’s friends are two giraffes, one named Raffie, the other is Kilape [I’m guessing it’s Hawaiian for “giraffe” which isn’t so bad]. Then there’s another tyger named Popoki which is Hawaiian for “cat.” Well, I had thought of doing the Hawaiian thing too. Then there are names like Cupcake, Munkapoo [a monkee], and Freckles for a poley bear that has freckles. One person used their middle name for their fluff- eh- so’kay.

Among the more interesting names are Mabo [tofu], Mooshoo [cow], and Pandamonium [panda]. My favorite is Genghis Turthis [turtle]! Genghis is owned by my friend’s wife, Teigen.

Sorry if I ragged on your fluff’s name. I realize they’re not real pets, but I’m guessing this is how people would really go about naming their pets.
___________________________

I haven’t thought as far as what my fluffs’ professions are, except for Prof. Toadal. He’s a chemical engineer who also majored in Psychology with a focus on “adolescent angst,” as he puts it. On the side, he plays the drums in his nephew’s rock band and is an amazing juggler for children’s birthday parties. Chunky’s a housewife who keeps the Pad organized for all of Toadal’s activities.

Mega’s a renaissance cat. She sings, plays the clarinet, drums, and harmonica, paints [watercolor is her favorite medium], loves to discuss philosophy, cooks, etc. She designed MDM’s barn and built it with Hot Rocks and Scout’s help.

I said LOOPY.

I already wrote about how the real Mega got her name. If you’re looking for something to pass the time at work or something, how about figuring out where the minis’ names came from? MDM and Mozart should be the easy ones. Big RESPECT points with me if you can tell me why Hero is a female and where that comes from, or what J.L.F. stands for! And do you know why a dolphin named Moanalua is a little off?

Sorry, no cash prizes, just my friendship. That’s all I can offer at the moment.

Mahalo for reading in!


The real Mega
[Jules asked for a pic of Mega, here she is!]

Photo IMPACTing #4

The semi-finals for Wii. That's Ata in the stripes, representing KUC!



Native Roots

John Sherrard and the message

V.G. Night of IMPACT

Video Games Challenge at IMPACT was held last Thursday at the KUC gym. I don’t have much to say about the night other than that it went very well, as far as I know. I wasn’t sure how they were gonna get enough equipment and game sets to pull this off but they did. I’m very impressed!

Registration went well on my end; I was handling the repeat offenders--- er, the repeat students who’ve been at a previous IMPACT night. We had a live band playing during the registration period, so I had a difficult time hearing the students give me their names, but other than that it was smooth. I’m even starting to recognize names with faces, but there’s only three more IMPACTs to go.

I also had Chenu helping me write out nametags which was such a BIG help! I need to get that out. The students had a choice of playing for the tournament or for fun and of playing Halo 3 on X-Box or MarioKart on Wii. Chenu wrote their names in blue for one game, red for the other game, and black if they’re just playing for fun.
___________________________

So, I don’t have much to say because I don’t play video games that often. The last time I played MarioKart was on the regular system; I think that was back in ’96, so….

The guys had everything set up pretty much on time for the tournaments to begin. There were about 5 or 6 stations set up for either game and a rotation system to get everyone play time. That’s all I’m gonna say about the games part. PLEASE add stuff in the comments ‘cuz I really don’t know video games and how the leaders had things running!

[Tournament winners posted on the IMPACT websites]
___________________________

We had the pleasure of listening to Native Roots and then to the message given by John Sherrard, former Ministry Director for Hawai‘i Youth for Christ. The delivery was very dramatic; the gym lights were turned off and a single torchiere lamp was turned on.

The message was about hiding behind a mask. When it comes to a faith in Christ, do we hide it? Or do we share with others the Good News? Are we one way with our “church friends” and another with others? When it came time, Christ sacrificed himself for each and every one of us. He died because he loves us where we are, in the darkness, in the tough times, behind the mask. When He died on the cross, Christ freed us from all the things that hold us back from having life abundantly. He gave us the freedom to come out from behind the mask.
___________________________

This Thursday is…Fear Factor Messy Games! I don’t know who’s organizing the games this time so I couldn’t tell you what to expect; use your own imagination. The guest speaker will be Arjay Gruspe and music led by repeat offender---er, repeat performer The Fuller Worship Band [CrossCurrent].
___________________________

Acknowledgements, please add those missing:

Set up: James, Kendal, Lisa, JoAnna, and KUC leaders.

Registration: Chenu, Kristie [LCC], Anne [FCF], and Robyn.

Scorekeepers: Zach, Jared, Kaleo [KUC]; Arlen and Melissa [Christ Church Kapolei]; Craig and Mr. Yasutomi [Christ Church Aiea], Jenn [FCF].

Clean up: KUC leaders; The Kwongs [KUC/FCF]; Byron and Tad [CrossCurrent].

Security: Henry [LCC].

Mahalo!

Is Your Heart On Your Sleeve?

Out of curiosity, I’ve been watching The Bachelorette. Last night, the first hour showed DeAnna’s dates in the Bahamas with the last three guys, Jesse, Jeremy, and Jason. “J” names are the best, by the way. I was thinking that of the three, Jeremy should go home. And he did. Ask Mom; she was watching with me and she could tell you that’s exactly what I said before it happened. I was so expecting DeAnna to keep Jeremy. Just goes to show that she’s a very intelligent woman, like me! Nah!

They had a second hour of show where they bring back the guys who were rejected, what they call a “Guys Tell All” show. Jeremy was there also. I won’t bore you with the minute details and all, but I’ll get the entry going by saying this: I am just like Graham. If you saw the show, you’ll know what I’m saying. I can see Jules nodding her head as she reads this; “Yup, Jenn ain’t lyin’. That’s exactly how she is.”

Just to explain, Graham was the guy who had a difficult time opening up to DeAnna, with words at least. He showed how much he cared in other ways. He was reserved and sort of the mysterious one. And it was driving DeAnna crazy. After she rejected him and was trying to explain to him why, he pulled out an envelope, saying that he knew there were things he just couldn’t say to her out loud.

That is exactly how I am.

I’m not the kind of woman that wants to “talk.” I don’t offer my feelings in words easily at all. I rarely make the first move towards a hug. I’ve only had two very short romantic relationships; in one of them, the guy was the first to say “I love you.” In the other relationship, it never got that far. They were both the ones who would try to get me to talk. I can come off real cool, but underneath I just might be swelling over with how much I care for someone, and they often miss it.

And I often write my feelings out, in letters, in cards, and I suppose this journal counts towards that as well. Some things are difficult for me to say out loud. I don’t know that it’s from fear at all. I’ve never been a talker. I think some of it is wanting the recipient to have a physical record of how much I care. It’s my way of saying that this is truly how I feel and I want them to remember it.

It isn’t specific to romantic interests either; I’m like this with practically everyone, friends, family. This is why Jules understands exactly what I’m saying. It’s caused us to have it rough at times because Jules is very up front about how much she cares and I have a hard time letting even her in. But Jules is a very patient and forgiving friend; I cannot express in enough words how grateful I am for her.
___________________________

Jules has read “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman. The five the author lists are: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. I think I wrote about this before, but it fits here. Well, from what I’ve said many times before and repeated here, Words can be ruled out. Touch is out the window as well. Jules thinks that the way that I show love is by Acts, maybe even Gifts. I think Jules is right; I would do anything for the people I care about. If someone needs something, I’ll be there. If I don’t know what to do, you can bet I’m trying to figure out something to do.

With Gifts, I definitely try to be very thoughtful in the gifts that I give. I try to give things that reflect the recipient, what they like, an activity that they enjoy very much, etc. Other times, I give things that say something about what I like because I want to share with them something about me. In both cases, I’m saying that I was thinking of them. It’s embarrassing to say, but I do miss birthdays sometimes, but I also give non-occasion gifts because…I just like to. I’m not trying to “buy” someone’s affection; I will make a gift as many times as I’ll buy one. It’s more important to me that a gift be meaningful because it’s one of the ways with which I’m comfortable expressing myself.
___________________________

So if I shudder when you lay a hand on my shoulder or come off as uninterested in a conversation, please don’t be too harsh on me. Remember it doesn’t necessarily mean what you think. I may be speaking another language or maybe I’m not so used to your language. I am very aware of how frustrating it is. I don’t “wear my heart on my sleeve” so take a notice of the other caring things I do. Do the same for others you know whom might be like me in this regards.

I don’t know that this is something that I could ever change, or even that I want to, but I do try to show in other ways that I care. I am trying to work on the Words of Affirmation part, especially with the youth at church, encouraging them to continue coming and all. I’m also trying to spend quality time with them so that they’ll come to know and trust me. We’ll see if my efforts work.

As to the languages I respond well to, that’s a little different. According to the quiz on FB, I respond to Quality Time. Hmmm…maybe….

What do you think? What is your love language?

Mahalo for reading in!