God is good. All the time. And all the time. God is good.

As I lay here listening to bullfrogs croaking like little blow horns, I’m searching for the right words to sum up these past few weeks—while eagerly looking ahead to the last one.

It’s hard to believe my time here is almost over. In just 10 days, I’ll leave Kaua’i for LAX, and after one more week in California, I’ll be home for good.

Sad, bittersweet, exciting—so many emotions swirl around this goodbye. But more than anything, I feel peace.

As this season comes to a close, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude—for the incredible people I’ve met, the core memories I’ve made, the wisdom I’ve soaked in, and the undeniable presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding, teaching, and equipping me every step of the way.

Alright, enough of the sappy stuff—let’s talk about the last two weeks!

With time slipping away, we’ve all been making the most of every moment—sunrise surfs, new beaches and trails, pool parties, and so much more.

A couple of weeks ago, I committed to surfing as much as possible before leaving, and I’ve stuck to it! Many mornings, I’ve been up before the sun, paddling out before the crowds and before the day’s work begins. Every single time, it’s been worth it—starting my day with a workout, peace on the water, and a front-row seat to God’s creation. Honestly, it might be my favorite way to start the day here.

Oh, and last Saturday? Annie and I went on a run that easily takes the top spot as my favorite of this trip. We explored trails behind our house and found ourselves in the most stunning, enchanted forest—lush greenery, a tree canopy overhead, and light rain misting around us. The trail led us all the way to the Kilauea farmers market, a perfect 6-mile round trip.

And this past week? Just packed with fun and sweet people.

Sunday started strong with church, followed by Paco’s Tacos (which never misses). Back home, I caught up with a friend on the phone—so refreshing—before we took a quick walk to the nearby dam. It was beautiful, but recent rain had turned the water kind of nasty, so we didn’t stay long. I went home, showered, and took a fatttt nap.

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday kicked off with sunrise surfs. After Monday’s session, we ventured to Kealia Beach in Kapa’a—most of us hadn’t been before—and capped off the night with Moana. Tuesday after surf and teaching, we spent the afternoon weed whacking at the farm, then hung out with the kids, who convinced us to take a few turns on the slip ’n slide.

Wednesday might’ve been one of my favorite stick cliques yet! After the usual chores and meetings, we set up at K-Bake with old, crusty paintbrushes and a limited color selection to attempt painting portraits of each other. The results? Questionable. But hilarious.

Then came Thursday—a sweet, sweet day. Calvin and I worked together all day, starting with citrus picking before heading to the kids’ house for slip ’n slide, 9-square, and Gaga ball. In between, we had a chance to chat with one of the women leading the group and “talk story” of how the Lord has been moving in our lives. It was such an encouraging conversation.

And then Friday. After another sunrise surf, we came home to the best breakfast sandwiches—sourdough, perfectly spiced eggs, crispy hash browns… chef’s kiss. Later, we kicked off our cookout and pool party under a strong UV 9. We even tried our hand at making haku leis—tricky at first, but I was so happy with how mine turned out. Of course, a sunset photoshoot followed. And to top off an already perfect day, we wrapped it up with karaoke at Tahiti Nui, singing and dancing the night away.

And finally, Saturday—the cherry on top of an already amazing week. We kicked off the morning at the farmers market (the very last one we will have together), then I crashed for another fatttt nap (because, priorities). Later, we packed up and headed to the kids’ house for a little weekend retreat. The day was filled with swinging, tree climbing, trash bagging in the rain, and a delicious tortilla soup dinner.

And that brings me to now.

Teachings:

Ah, what a good, good Father the Lord is. He has provided some incredible teachers these past two weeks.

Last week, Anna and Andrew from Genesis Church in California spoke on Care and Compassion, covering community, the table, generosity, and caring for the vulnerable.

One thing that really stuck with me was the idea of the table—how it’s a key place for hospitality and inclusion, just as Jesus showed by sitting with the lost, rejected, and overlooked.

I also loved a new perspective on generosity: it’s not about how much we should give back, but how much we need to keep. Everything belongs to God, and we’re meant to be pipes through which His resources flow—not buckets where they just sit and collect.

Our last day on Caring for the Vulnerable brought up some tough but necessary conversations. We talked about living like God, defending the oppressed, and serving in a way that sets us apart from the world. But one question, in particular, really challenged me:

"Are there ways I struggle to see God as the embodiment of justice and righteousness?"

Wow. What a loaded question. At first, I thought, No, of course, I know He’s just and good. But the more I sat with it, the more I wrestled with the reality of evil in the world—especially when it comes to children. It’s heartbreaking enough when bad things happen to anyone, but when it’s a child? When they don’t even get a fair shot at life? When they suffer because of someone else’s sin? That’s where I struggle. That’s where it’s hard to see justice.

I shared this with the group, and they asked, Do you feel like fostering has influenced that perspective? And have you seen God working through it?

A wave of emotion hit me as I thought about my experiences in Mexico at the orphanage, my little brothers, and God’s faithfulness woven through it all. I got teary-eyed as I shared how, yes, fostering has absolutely shaped my perspective—but ultimately, for the better. I’ve seen God bring healing and restoration in real time. I’ve seen joy break through heartbreak, shame, and sin. I’ve seen His love ripple through lives, all from simple acts of obedience to His calling.

So, do I struggle to see His justice in a world that’s so cruel and unfair? Sometimes, yes. But do I know—beyond a shadow of a doubt—that my God is just and righteous and that nothing goes unseen? Absolutely.

Romans tells us to leave room for God’s wrath, for vengeance is His, and He will repay. Justice will come.

That was last week, but for now, I think that’s enough deep talk for one post. Haha.

Love you all!