from kit and shelly

From Kit:

Today was the most awesome day of my life...Shelly and I headed home to Maui from Honolulu. Buddy had brought Shelly's car over on the Ferry...so we went back on the ferry...not only did the Lord give me strength all day for the trip, but just as we headed into the channel between Molokai and Lanai towards Maui, God again set His beautiful rainbow across the channel...as if to say...remember my promises! When we got to Maui we drove our car off the Ferry and received a call from our dear friends Marla and Dickie McManus, they wanted us to just drive by the church to wave hello to a few people. As we approached the corner of Piilani Highway and Welakahao Road, (the road the church is on) literally hundreds of people were lined up down Welakahao Road, with signs saying "we love you" and "welcome home" and we are "still praying for a miracle." As we turned down the road to cheers and blown kisses and welcome homes and we love you(s) the tears began to flow from Shelly and my eyes. I took off my sock hat to expose my bald chemo head and waved it in the air, like it was some kind of battle cry, all the while honking the horn! It was a home coming like I have never experienced! One face right after another of people I love and care about deeply, there was family and all our wonderful friends...it seemed like the whole church family showed up. Through the tears, I told Shelly that no man deserves this much love! Then I realized, it wasn't just Shelly and I they were loving and cheering for, it was the LORD working in us, in them, in our church...His faithfulness to bring us home, His faithfulness to keep me alive for today...His faithfulness and goodness and love and mercy and grace that sustains each of us that believe and trust in Him. We believe and trust in the promises of our God, our God that died a horrible painful death for us to give us eternal life...our God that makes us fearless in the face of death because He gives us life everlasting even if we die (John 11)...our God that meets us in our darkest moments, that covers us with His peace and strength and comfort and hope...God almighty, the creator of the universe in whom we live and move and have our being...HE was being cheered today, He was being lifted up, He was being honored. I said to myself, "I have either died and gone to heaven right now or God has healed me right now." The power of Christ's love exhibited through the Body of Christ lined up down Welakahao Road, I believe, could have healed anyone of anything right then and there and perhaps that love has healed me physically today:)...I know it has healed my soul... Shelly and I were overwhelmed by the whole thing. No one has ever loved us like this...we simply didn't know how to respond...we turned around in the Church's parking lot and drove by the line of loving faces and beautiful hearts once again, trying desperately to take each person in as deeply as we could. Again, all we could do was cry! But, I know that very moment, God stood up in heaven and told the angels to look at this!...look at my children...look how they love one another even in the face of this fallen and evil world ...even when the enemy hurls his fiery darts at them...even in this face of their own horrific suffering...look how they love each other, look how they love me, their God and look how their faith has grown! I think the angels and all the heavenly host just stood in awe...not being able to even speak or comprehend it. But, I know one thing...God was unbelievably glorified in this event on Welakahao Road...I also know that I will forever stand in awe of this event ( just like the angels, unable to fully comprehend it). I couldn't be any more humbled by such an awesome act of love. When Shelly and I got home, there was more crying!!! It seems whole teams of people had completed all my "wish I could do projects" around our little cottage we moved into in order to rent out our main house for income... we walked into new beautiful dream trellises and planters planted with beautiful flowers, and finished gates and new gutters (copper!!!) and unpainted parts painted and doors hung and trim finished and a beautiful new ceiling of bamboo matting and trim with gorgeous fans in our deck covering...inside loving hands and hearts cleaned, hung painting and pictures, place flowers, organized drawers and even left a photo album documenting the gifts of love...it was all too much to take in for one day...the Body of Christ is an amazing thing...the love of Christ poured out upon a part that is hurting...a healing touch, the gift of love that overcomes the world...a light that can not be hidden that brings glory to the Father of lights from whom all good thing flow. Let it flow beautiful ones...let it flow...so the world will know that we belong to HIM!

With great love and appreciation beyond words, we love you...
Kit & Shelly


From: Shelly

After saying good-bye to our special friend Larry, whose condo I stayed in these past few months , while Kit was in the hospital…..we drove my car on the Super Ferry ….We really enjoyed the ride on the ferry…and Alex, Annushka and Mikaela were coming back from Oahu too and that was a great surprise to see them . I was told by Marla and Ben that we should drive by Welakahao Street on the way home and that some people were going to be waving to us… But NEVER did I imagine the amount of people that were there. It was OVER WHELMING!! The signs..the happy faces.. waving arms.. cheering… the families… the kids..running… yelling… everyone cheering… it was like we were some very important people…the president and his wife or some VIP..… I kept worrying that we would hit Dawn as she was running down the street taking photos…
(Ray .. you would have been proud of your wife…) I went from hysterically crying.. to hysterically laughing… and back again… I wish that I could have been invisible.. and walked along the street.. .very slowly…. really seeing all of you there and all your sweet faces… but it all happened so fast… I really could not handle my emotions.. I just want to thank all of you who came out …making the signs.. waving … making that effort to show us that you love us… and we REALLY felt the LOVE!!!!!
Then.. we came to our house.. ANOTHER BIG SURPRISE!!!! All these wonderful friends and relatives (Lauer power) made our house and patio look FANTASTIC!!! Pictures were hung on the walls… and the office was organized and beautiful...there were lovely flowers in the house and the planter box was full of colorful plants.. the ceiling on the patio.. the outside fans.. the trellis ..new gutters…. new doors…it was all… just TOO MUCH!!! We felt so loved by all of you who came and cleaned…. and worked…. and organized…. and created…. to make our coming home so wonderful!!!! I love all of you and I really appreciate your friendship!!!
It is so good to be home. I am so thankful for the family and friends that I have. Thank you for loving Kit the way that you do… He was so touched by all of your efforts!!! The Lord is really being glorified by your love and support… I know that HE is so proud of all of you … I am proud to know you and be loved by you. Love,shelly