So this is our blog. The blog of Cory Goyer (me) and Katie Goyer (the most amazing woman in the world).
When we started telling people that we were moving to Hawaii one thing that a lot of people asked for was a blog. So. Here ya go.
I thought of a couple ways to start off the blog. Telling our horrific experience of the last few days before moving to Hawaii and the amazing awesomeness of God pulling us through those trials and proving, yet again, that He is in control and always watching out for us.
I thought of starting with a get-to-know-me post letting people know who this crazy Cory Goyer guy is.
I thought of just starting with a post telling people of how awesome Hawaii is and trying to make them jealous. (Which I will do eventually)
Instead, I have decided to start by telling people why I have moved my family half way across the world to the most remote land mass on earth.
Ever since I was young I loved the ocean. I loved warm weather. I loved the sun. And I absolutely loved the idea of Hawaii. Sunshine, ocean, surfing, hiking on old volcanoes. Every time I talked to someone who had been to Hawaii or watched a documentary or read something online I wanted more and more to move to the Aloha State.
I almost moved to Hawaii when I was 18 and decided against it to go to college. I thank God for that since it was in college that I met my bride to be. But that is a different story for a different time.
Eventually I did get married and yet even then I did not give up on my dreams of finally moving to Hawaii some day. Katie would even tell you she remembers me talking about moving to Hawaii even before we said our vows. About every six months or so I would bring up the idea of moving to Hawaii. Katie would entertain the idea and say she would like to one day. We would dream of beaches and sunshine and then that was the end of it.
After moving to Arkansas from Montana then back to Montana then back to Arkansas (we were crazy!) my family finally got "settled". We bought a house, found a great church, lived near family and friends. Katie found an amazing job at Arkansas Blue Cross and the kids went a phenomenal preschool, Challenger Plus Preschool. We were doing good. I was very happy. But I was also unfulfilled.
After living in Arkansas for about a year I started to feel the desire to do something to further God's kingdom. I just had no idea what that would be. I always had a passion for children and children's ministry yet I was finding it difficult to get motivated and assist my church with their program. I was stuck in a spiritual limbo. Knowing I was supposed to do something but not knowing what that was.
I was in a small group with an amazing bunch of guys and for about ten months my prayed request each week was that God would show me what I could do and where. Now, when I asked for this, I never thought that moving to Hawaii was part of the plan. But God knew.
In our small group we went through a really good book called The Man in the Mirror. It was a good devotional book that helped me become a better husband, father and man of God. But it was the next two books that really caught my attention.
The first one was called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I highly recommend this book. If you are looking for something that will really challenge you in your faith then this is the book for you. It pushed me to think outside the box and consider that my calling might be something I never thought of or somewhere I've never been. It opened my eyes to the crazy love of God and made me want to love Him like crazy.
It was actually the last chapter in Crazy Love that changed my life. Well, started the change at least. On the first page of the last chapter it says this:
"Should you put your house on the market today and downsize? Maybe. Should you quit your job? Maybe. Or perhaps God wants you to work harder at your job and be His witness there. Does He want you to move to another city or another country? Maybe. Perhaps he wants you to stay put and open your eyes to the needs of your neighbors."
Wow. That just stuck out to me so much. I didn't know what it meant at the time but it just really jumped out to me. Maybe God wants me to move to another city or country? My sister did that when she moved to the Czech Republic following God's command. Maybe God wants me to sell my home and downsize? My mom and dad did that when they moved from Montana to Arkansas following God's command. My life was already filled with examples of people who had done crazy things because they loved God and wanted to further His kingdom.
I had that paragraph run through my mind many times in the next few days before my Saturday morning small group. I just had no idea what it would actually mean. That breakfast was the same as most the other times before it. We talked about the chapter. I mentioned the paragraph and I thought it had some significance for me. We prayed that God would show me what I am supposed to do in my life. Only this time while we were praying I felt something... different. I felt like God was saying something to me. It was a whisper that I couldn't quite make out. But I knew He was trying to tell me something.
The rest of the day was like a typical Saturday. We hung out with my family. Goofed off. I did a little yard work. I actually built a swing to put in our front yard! It was normal, yet not. I couldn't explain it but I knew something was different.
That night, April 4th 2015, the night before Easter Sunday, my life changed.
I was talking with Katie at about 11:00 at night. Once again I was talking about Hawaii. It was one of those same times that we were just dreaming about ocean waves and coconuts. I mentioned a little bit about the paragraph from Crazy Love and how maybe God wants us to move to Hawaii. Katie and I laughed it off and kept talking. Then she said something.
"Who knows honey, maybe we can move to Hawaii and you can start a children's ministry with a church and teach a bunch of wonderful Hawaiian kids about God's word."
And that is when I was struck by God lightning. I call it God lightning because it was more powerful than anything I've EVER felt in my life. It was a white-hot fire that burned within me. It hurt! Every sense I had seemed to be on fire and I know it was the Holy Spirit filling me up and telling me:
"You know what your wife just said? Go. Do that."
It was simple yet powerful. I was just called to go to Hawaii and work in children's ministry.
We spent the next four hours talking about it. Katie was in full agreement and believed I was being called to do this. We talked about logistics, we talked about how amazing God was, we talked and talked until she had to go to bed at 3 AM. I was basically up all night though praying and thanking God for my calling.
A lot happened in between but just about two months later we landed in Maui, Hawaii.
God got us here and I have faith He will continue to take us the distance. I'm more excited than I have ever been to see what He is going to do in my life and the life of my family. I am so excited to do His work and further His kingdom.
I have much more to tell and will continue to update as things happen here in the Aloha State. If anyone reading this wants to help support us, the biggest and best thing is prayer. Pray that we will have our needs met and that most of all God will use us, not for our glory but His.
If you want to support us financially, that would also be greatly appreciated. In total and complete honesty, all donations for the time being will be used to get us settled here in Maui. We still have to find a place to stay and jobs to work at to support ourselves. It is scary to be here for the first few days we have been and not yet have these things lined up (we are staying with family friends.) A donation button has been added to our blog. Anything is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for even reading this because it means the someone is interested in this crazy story God is taking us on.
And one last thing, Aloha Y'all!
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