Having a blast in beautiful Hawaii with the Stercho family! It has been wonderful to experience some of their life in Hawaii, and of course reminisce about the old days in Bear Creek. Rich and Margie were like our second parents when we were little, and Andrew and Suzanna like our brother and sister (in fact, Suz introduces me to her friends as "her mom delivered me at birth and my mom delivered her"). So after them living here for ten years I'm so glad to finally be here and experience beautiful Oahu. Yesterday Rich and Margie took me to see Pearl Harbor. I like visiting historical sights and this one was particularly cool to see in real life.
Later, in the hot sun, we hiked up the side of a crater called Diamond Head. It was a pretty steep climb but from the top it was a beautful veiw of the ocean and Waikiki beach- a famous Hawaiin place.
Two days ago Suz took me cave diving with some of her friends. It's unlike anything I've ever done before- seriously epic! I do get a little claustophobic and some of the small, dark caves were a littler nerve racking (and being underwater didn't help) but they made me be brave and once I did it and knew how to navagte it, it was the best and most beautiful adventure. We saw tons of beautiful fish (and a scary eel that the boys were harassing and we thought was going to bite us), but the best part was swimming with the sea turtles! I was so happy that they came around... Oh the things you do when you live here! The rocks did give me some angry scrapes, but it's great. Good battle wounds...all part of the adventure, right?!
Later we went to Waimea Bay which has a huge rock in the water that makes for great cliff jumping. While we were there I got to experiece something that I love about Hawaii- it can be hot and sunny while it's raining! It was perfectly sunny but there was a small raincloud somewhere to shower us in the sun.
Today Suzanna, Andrew, and some friends (Ryan, Sean, John, Danielle, Tehani, & Leslie) went to a place called Maunawili where we hiked through beautiful Jurrassic Park type land (reminds me of the beautiful rain forests of Costa Rica). We came to a waterfall with a deep pool and a good 40 feet or so cliff over it. It was a slippery climb up to the top of it and some of us were a little nervous staninding at its edge, but the boys assured us it was safe and fun and I can honestly say that that jump was the most exhilarating thing I've ever done. I wish I could jump from heights like that all the time! We continued our hiking and swimming through the jungley forest, sliding down waterfalls, climbing slippery hills and crossing old bridges. We climed up a huge banyan tree on the way back, and man the roots that hang from those trees make for great climbing. While climbing, we realized that our one friend John who we nicknamed Disney Prince actually more accurately looks like Tarzan. He with his long dread locks navated all the way up this massive tree and out to the end of its limbs. He was the only person in our little group besides me who isn't from Hawaii, so I appreciated having someone who's excitement and thrill in doing all of this was as great as mine. This was a day of true adventures in Oahu's mountains!
I will be sure to post some pictures of these great times in Hawaii and also stories from amazing China will come when I get back to PA!
OH!! And I have to say how excited I am that my sister Sarah and her husband Dan are in Ethiopia RIGHT NOW getting their baby girl Olivia! Abby went with them as well to be a helper and photographer... What an exciting time for them! I so wanted to go but we can't be everywhere at once...only where God has called us to be at the moment. I good line I've been reminding myself lately: wherever you are, be all there!
AND- my brother Andrew and his wife Jen found out that they are expecting twins, VERY hard to believe- but praising the Lord for it! I will soon be the aunt of six!
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