There is Work to be Done in Hawaii

Mine and Tim's first day of work began on Tuesday with a meeting at 8:30 on the lanai (porch) of Plantation Hale.  Jimmy, the PKCC director, explained how this volunteer thing works.  He went over the schedule, the special projects list for the month, and general expectations.  The meeting itself didn't last long, and then he directed Art to take Tim and Dexter around for a campus tour, while Denise showed me the ropes.  She went over with me the things I would need to know, showed me where supplies are stored, explained the laundry and food service processes, and took me around to all the buildings.  Another couple, Fred and Joyce, are also working here this month.  They have been here NINE times, and they didn't need a tour!


After our tour, the men headed out to begin the HUGE job of mowing and weed-eating.  When Denise and Art were here last April, it didn't rain one single day in Waianae the entire month.  This year, it has rained every day we've been here, and had been raining for awhile before we arrived because of the storms brewing in the Pacific.  The rain, along with broken lawn mowers (Tim felt at home right off the bat!) made for a LOT of yard work catching up.

Denise and I headed up to the top lanai of the plantation house to clean off the flat surfaces.  Everything gets dusty really quickly, and in addition there are a LOT of geckos.  (They aren't housebroken.)  It's a big beautiful porch, wrapping around the entire length of the front, the side and the back of the plantation hale.  The view is amazing, and it was a great place for me to begin.



The work is on-going.  In a nut-shell, we prepare the campus for groups before they arrive, we provide food service while they are here (we set up and clean up--we don't prepare food), we clean their rooms/bathrooms/dining room/etc. when they leave, and then we complete special projects and monthly maintenance if there is any downtime.  This month's special projects/maintenance list include things such as...

• Repair sprinkler system
• Repair/replace carpet
• Paint porches, floors, steps, ramps, etc.
• Organize and clean storage sheds
• Change air conditioner filters
• Maintain golf carts and vehicles
• Spray for bugs
• Trim trees and bushes
• Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures

The benches and other outdoor surfaces quickly become covered with leaves, dirt, and bird/gecko droppings.  It's just like housework--nobody notices unless you DON'T do it!

Is this work?  I learned to drive the Genie (sort of) and picked the papayas!

This was definitely work!  There are coconut, papaya, and mango trees on the Pu'u Kahea property.






There is ALWAYS work to do.  Our purpose for being here is to to make sure that this campus is ready when groups come in for conferences, retreats, renewal weekends, youth camps, etc.  It's a Christian campus where families, youth groups, ministers and church workers can relax and renew.   I'm happy to be here, and I hope that we will be able to help wherever we're needed.