by Robert Miller

A team of 15 volunteers from Mississippi traveled to O’ahu on March 9 to work on our Hawai’i Pacific Baptist Convention Ke’eaumoku house for two weeks. Skilled men and women from various Mississippi Baptist churches made the journey together to renovate and paint the aging Makiki house. The team was composed of professional carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, and other volunteers. Although half of the team was over 60, they didn’t let that slow them down from achieving their goal.

Kirk Blaine, who led previous mission teams to Alaska, also led this O’ahu group. Mike Procter, Interim Pastor of First Baptist Church of Haleiwa, and former Executive Director of the Alaska Baptist Convention, recommended this construction team after seeing their work firsthand in Alaska for many years. For most of the Mississippi team, this was their first trip to Hawai’i. After two weeks of hard labor, many are eager to return for other projects.

During their two-week stay on O’ahu, they completed adding a kitchen and a shower to the house, divided a large room, moved a laundry room, replaced rotted steps and siding, and painted exterior walls. They were able to complete the exterior painting when the heavy rains from the Kona low stopped. Between projects, the team found time to sightsee. They enjoyed visiting the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, and Hanauma Bay.

John Williams, HPBC Disaster Relief Director and Operations Manager, led this project and kept operations running smoothly. The Ke’eaumoku house is used for neighboring island’s executive board members, visiting guest speakers, and our new partnership with Gateway Seminary. With the team’s recent changes, the house can now accommodate two groups, one upstairs and another downstairs, at the same time.

Mississippi Baptist volunteers served a two week mission trip to Oʻahu to renovate the aging Makiki house.