A Message from Our Kahu
“Under Construction”
When it comes to our roads, it seems like the entire south shore is under construction. At least, it sure seems like that on some days! It reminds me of my time in Utah when I moved there just about four years before the 2002 Winter Olympics. In preparation for the games, transportation crews were already widening roads, improving virtually every freeway onramp and offramp between the airport and all of the Olympic venues, and making many other improvements, so that traffic would flow smoothly during the Olympics and Paralymics.
A few things stand out in my mind during that time. First, what an inconvenience! For months, the main offramp from the freeway to the airport was closed and we had to take side streets to get there. Simple errands in the city sometimes took twice as long, depending on detours. I lived in Park City at the time, a little over 20 minutes from SLC, and on the other side of the city from the airport. For part of that time, I commuted weekly by airplane just about every week. So, yes, it was an inconvenience.
Second, what a difference all of the construction made once it was all done in terms of traffic flow, safety and convenience! I don’t remember being stuck in traffic even once during the two weeks of the Olympic Games while over a million and a half people attended (and that number doesn’t include the athletes, volunteers, television crews, military, additional police, and other support personnel). I remember thinking that the four years which I lived with the road and infrastructure construction was all worth it for the convenience and safety that it brought to the region.
Our church is experiencing a lot of necessary construction these days as well. We are not only getting a new entryway into our parking lot and sidewalk in front of the church. We are about to install new roofs and gutter systems in order to deal with leaks. We will also turn the old unisex restroom (the room directly across from the main kitchen door) into a functional storage area. We will have new landscaping on the berm along the sidewalk, including new irrigation, plants and lighting. After an extensive professional survey over at the parsonage, we have cleaned up and improved about a third of an acre to the east of the carport and will soon be installing a fence along the east and northeast property lines; this improvement will allow additional parking for parsonage activities and also overflow parking for the church when attendance is high.
Just like any construction, there will be inconveniences, but these improvements will lead to greater access, safety and convenience in the long run. All of this is worth it in order to provide a place where we continue to create a community where all are welcome to experience God’s love and invited to consider how life can be more abundant for us and for all people!
In the meantime, thank you for your patience and support of our ministry.
Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu
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