Live Updates
Follow Along
The Class of 2024 appreciates your support in their endeavors as they embark on this journey to help those around them. Below you will find updates written by students each day of their mission.
Day 1 - Travel
After waking up at 3 am to catch a 6 am flight we got to sit in the MCI Airport for 3 hours waiting to have the plane inspected for hail damage! All was good and we made it to our connecting flight in LA. After 15 hours of travel we safely landed in Honolulu!
Day 2 - Work
We worked on digging out the area beside the cafeteria to build a sidewalk. After hours of shoveling rocks, leveling dirt, digging holes, and sweating we cleaned up and headed to vespers. We were honored to be invited to join 3 churches as they did their quarterly vespers in the park. We lead out in the music for the program and enjoyed fellowshipping at the potluck afterwards. It was the best way to introduce the sabbath!
Day 3 - Sabbath
We shared breakfast with the Adventurer clubs that were at the camp and then headed to Aeia SDA Church. We were blessed to be there the day the Men's Samoan Choir was doing the service. We were welcomed to join them for potluck and fellowship after church. We spent the rest of the day immersed in God's Second book - Nature. While wave jumping in the ocean at sunset we praised God for his creation and the opportunity to witness it.
Day 4 - Waikiki
After eating breakfast and helping clean up with the adventurer group we embarked on an adventure to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. We got a chance to purchase locally made souvenirs for ourselves and our family members to remember our time here. We even ran into Pastor Nick Snell! We then went on a walk and ate lunch at some local food trucks. We ended our trek at the beach where they saw fish and coral while snorkeling! We ended the day with a night swim and class worship. - Lydia
Day 5 - Construction
Today we got the opportunity to tackle multiple camp projects. Some of us weeded and fixed the stone steps in the amphitheater. One group installed poles to build a protective fence around the camp. The other group deep cleaned the cabins in preparation for summer camp. On our main project, the boys drilled holes for the rebar supports. We concluded the evening with some laundry, yummy dinner and group worship.
- Gabby
Day 6 - Work and Turtles
We've almost spent a whole week at Camp Wai'anae in the beautiful state of Hawaii, and today we worked on sprucing the camp up! After a wonderful breakfast (that I almost missed) groups of our class worked on various tasks such as painting trailers, digging holes by cabins, and weed whacking the local greenery. In the afternoon, done with our work, we set off to Kahe Point Beach Park, better known as Electric Beach. Some of our class, myself included, brought snorkeling gear and had a awe-inspiring experience watching, and swimming, with marine life. The best part, for me, was watching sea turtles from up close, leaving an unforgettable memory. For the last part of our day, our group went shopping for groceries and had a delicious dinner made by some of our senior girls. Aside from our neighbors, namely the insects, Hawaii has been a blast!
- Kevin
Day 7 - CAMPFIRE!
Today we Continued to dig holes to put in poles. We then surrounded the poles with cement. This is all for the addition of a fence that will be coming soon. Another group, at this time, was priming the rooves of the staff housing so it can later be painted over. Another project worked on during this was the clearing of the field by the amphitheater, by use of weedwhacker. It was a long day, but it was ended by a campfire, some smores, and karaoke (and a little bit of rain). - Josue
Day 8 - Underwater Caves
Today we had new experiences and adventures. After a nice breakfast we headed to Mermaid Caves in
Wai'anae. We climbed through rocks and saw the beauties of Gods creation. We then headed to Honolulu and had lunch at a food truck park that had many different options and cuisines. After lunch we went to Ala Moana beach to paddle board and enjoy
the nice weather we spent a couple hours there before heading to a local mall then eventually heading back to the camp.
-Chelsea
Day 9 - Pearl Harbor
Today we started off doing mission work around the camp. This included: painting, weed-whacking, and building a fence. After that we went to the Pearl Harbor base to see the USS Missouri Battleship. It was a very intriguing and educating experience. Next we went to a restaurant near by to grab dinner before the Sabbath came in. To end the night we went to Ala Moana beach and watched a fireworks show as we brought in the Sabbath. It was definitely a beautiful site. - Jordan
Day 10 - Soaked
Happy Sabbath! Today was a wonderful Saturday, and we went to Central Honolulu Church and listened to a wonderful sermon. Afterwards, we had a delicious potluck with some mighty fine spring rolls. Around this time, I had realized I had lost my binoculars and was feeling a bit down, but a trip to Manoa Falls fixed that! We all packed into a car/van and headed to Manoa Falls Park, but what we didn't have in mind was the very, very rainy weather. By the time we arrived and parked at the entrance of the park, it was raining heavily. However we still trekked to the falls. By the time we got there (It was around 0.8 miles) we were all soaking wet! But the hike was so fun, and we all were awed at the sight of the beautiful falls and it's beautiful surroundings. After we took many pictures, we drove to the mall, which was so huge and, thanks to Hawaii's weather, roofless and open to the sky. Still wet, with nearly none of us having any dry clothes to change into (I had my hoodie), we wandered the mall and shopped to our heart's content. I myself got some very delicious ice cream. Finally, we all returned to the camp after a full day of activity and fun, and boy were we ready to sleep. - Kevin
Day 11 - Side Walk!
Today, we poured cement to form our sidewalk. It was hard work but we all were able to help get the job done and it looks great. Josue held the cement shoot and guided the concrete mix in while Natalia and Kevin smoothed it out. After we finished the sidewalk, we went to the Ala Moana mall and finished up our shopping.- Nevaeh
Day 12 - Patio Foundation
Monday was a very fun day at work for me because I learned to drive a Tractor Skid Steer to carry gravel and sand. It felt really cool being able to learn how to drive it. I remember when we started working Friday I wanted to learn how to drive it and I actually got to do it!. After work I had the best last day at the beach as you can see in the bottom right corner picture. I got to see a beautiful sundown and see how every Sunset and sundown is a painting that God gives us everyday. - Natalia
Day 13 - Last Day
I feel bitter sweet as I write this last post. Today was the last day we will spend here on Hawai'i. We all worked super hard to finish up the projects each group had started. The new staff housing eves are primed and the fence at the entrance is finished. The patio foundation and first layer of blocks have been laid, the grounds have been weed wacked, watered and weeded. We finished the day by hiking the mountain at the camp. The view of the ocean and surrounding mountains will never be forgotten. Students with a fear of heights chose to overcome that fear and experience Gods handiwork with a whole new perspective. We enjoyed fresh local fruit with our dinner, cleaned the camp, and finished packing. We leave at 5am to fly back to Kansas. It has been an incredible and unforgettable experience for myself and the seniors. They have shown hard work, and perseverance as they overcame so many fears by choosing to try countless new things. I am proud of the way they chose to view each new challenge. Their morning and evening worships showed how much they have learned and taken in. This trip may be at an end, but their future is just starting. Thank-you for the memories... You will be missed! - Mrs. Allen