Dear friends and family!!

I have been back in Hawaii for over a month! The start of the second semester has been full of changes and exciting opportunities. Over three weeks ago, we welcomed a group of students from Israel who will be with us for the next three months. While they are a separate group, they will join in many of our classes, activities, and community events. So far, it has been an amazing experience mixing groups and getting to know the wonderful people God has placed in our community. On the Israeli’s first day, Kīlauea Volcano erupted and we made a trip up to the national park to see it! (picture included) The picture does not properly show its size; it was thousands of feet high! That same week, we introduced the new group to the farm with a two day camping trip! The first day started off by casting lots for “tent-mates.” I ended up getting paired with two of the Israeli girls and had such a blast getting to know them! Next, we did a hike up to a HUGE mango tree, had an amazing lunch, enjoyed a teaching on Hawaiian culture, created and performed a makeshift skit in which we had to incorporate 4 random items (a waterbottle, a hair clip, cockroach killer, and baking soda). We made the skit about the different ways you can attempt to kill a cockroach. Then we had an amazing time of worship around the campfire which ended in karaoke! Later, the Israelis shared that this time was very helpful for breaking the ice and feeling the freedom to be goofy and have fun!

Since then, we have been getting reaccustomed to the schedules! Once a week, we have a meeting with our assigned “One-on-one”. Each student has a meeting with a staff member (same person all year) and has a talking date in order to get connected and work through anything that needs to be worked through. These have been a huge highlight for me! It is basically reflecting on the week while getting coffee with a friend!

In the mornings from 8-12, we have classes. On Tuesday and Friday evenings, we do community meals, worship nights, and a variety of other things (movie nights, family groups, etc.). On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, we work on the farm. Since the coffee picking season has come to an end, we are starting the pruning and stumping process of the trees in order to grow the harvest in the coming years. We are digging holes to plant bamboo as a windbreak for the coffee trees, doing maintenance work on the existing trees/fields (this includes rock picking to create healthier soil, and de-vining the trees so they can breathe easier), and stumping the trees that have reached their max capacity. We are doing this to an entire field, next year will be its rest year in which it won’t yield any fruit, but in the following years and with proper care, it will produce more fruit than it ever has. For the trees that we are keeping, we are going to prune. While working on the farm this last month, John 15 has been a recurring theme. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2) As applicable to my life, I see it as a pruning of the things that are not of God in order to create space for that which IS His, to bear as much fruit as possible. Between our daily classes, one-on-one meetings, worship meetings, cooking for the community, and working on the coffee farm, we are kept pretty busy! Weekends are set apart for rest, homework, reading, church, shopping, and exploring the Island!

AMAZING TESTIMONY

Just yesterday, a couple of the leaders and I were praying for physical healing for one of my fellow classmates. That day, she had tweaked her back and couldn’t walk without pain. We prayed: “Thank you Lord that when she stands up, her back will be fully healed and there will be no pain.” At the end of that prayer I felt the Lord say that it is finished; she will be healed. But after we asked her if she was better, she said the pain was still there. But I noticed that she was still sitting, so I asked her to stand up. As soon as she stood, she looked at me and her jaw dropped; we started laugh-crying. She had NO pain!!! Not only had the Lord healed her, but He answered in the particular way we had asked! All for the glory of God!!

IMPORTANT UPDATE

I am excited to announce our Ekballo generation 9 outreach trip! We are going to multiple places in California starting in Big Bear, driving to Arroyo Grande, Santa Barbra, and then ending up in Pasadena. There will be other stops as well, but we are not yet sure where! We are leaving for CA on March 25th, and returning on April 12th. There is a chance we will stop in Honolulu on the way back and do some work with Surfing the Nations. As far as finances are involved, I am looking to raise $500 for the trip. The remaining financial need I have is for my monthly living costs here in Hawaii. If you would like to partner with me, you can give here:

Ways to Give:

• Check made out to: Hana Leonhard (c/o Rod Hall)
  Mail to: P.O. Box 72-1272, Naalehu, HI 96772, United States
• PayPal: @HanaLeonhard
• Cash App: $lionhana
• Venmo: @HanaLeonhard

Please Join Me in Prayer:

• For Wisdom: Clarity regarding upcoming decisions and direction for my next steps.
• For the Outreach Trip to CA: That the Lord would open the doors he wants us to step into and that he would help us posture our hearts to be led in what He is doing around us. Also, for all financial needs to be met for each person in the school.
• For the Middle East: Pray that God would protect His people and help them to listen for His voice in the midst of chaos. That His love would conquer their fear.
• For the Church in Iran: Iran currently has the fastest-growing church in the world! Please pray for the safety, strength, and hope of believers there amidst the turmoil.
• Pray for the protection of the American and Israeli troops that are being deployed.

Thank you for standing with me in the gap!
With love,
Hana