Date: July 2, 2022

The quarter is over. Greg has received his certificate of completion for the School of Sustainable Development. Ellis is done with school for the summer. Caroline starts her part-time campus job soon and Greg will be joining staff at the Farm early July. Kaylee will be joining us for the summer in less than 5 days, and so starts a whole new season.

Meanwhile, our family is diving deep into studying the issues here in Kailua-Kona and Hawaii as a whole. Below the surface of the local communities is a deep rooted injustice. In fact, just the other day we had a confrontation at a red light with a local yelling at us the all too familiar "haole!"

With our extended time here on the Island, it's time to roll up our sleeves, and reach out to the locals. While Hawaii is part of the United States, there are many here fighting for sovereignty and demand justice for past wrongs. To understand the Hawaiian point of view, take a look at either of these two videos:

The Dark History of the Overthrow of Hawaii (5:46)

How the US Stole Hawaii (10:38)

In today's edition:

Video Update (9:54)
What's the Problem
Saying Goodbye
Prayer Needs
Fresh Finds

-- MINISTRY: Whats the Problem

For a poor person everything is terrible -- illness, humiliation, shame. We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone. No one needs us. We are like garbage that everyone wants to get rid of.

As we mentioned in our last newsletter, the issue of poverty is complex. In order to mount effective strategies for poverty alleviation and long-lasting missions work, it's important to know what the problem actually is...

What's the Problem?

BECOME A SUPPORTER

Pursuing the Great Commission is an amazing journey and we are wholly dedicated to it. We've left our jobs, sold our home and sold pretty much everything we own in response to Jesus' command to "Go."

Make no mistake, we love the nitty-gritty work of going to the nations, but it has it's costs. We need faithful partners for prayer and financial support. Please consider becoming a one time or a monthly supporter of our missionary work. All donations are tax deductible, and every dollar is truly life changing.

Support Us

-- PERSONAL: Saying Goodbye

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

It's an exciting time here on campus. Teams are being launched to the natiions and we're excited to see what God is going to do. At the same time, it means we are saying goodbye to a lot of our neighbors and many of our friends. It's bitter sweet. Please keep the teams in your prayers as they spend the next three months in different nations all over the globe.

Meanwhile, we are ramping up our Hawaiian studies. It's time for the Sheplers to engage more strategically with our local communities. As a missionary, social worker, or anyone looking to engage in a culture not your own, doing your due diligence goes a long way. Being a Viable Missionary means learning to "back in" to a culture rather than going in "head first." Assuming the roles of learner, trader, and story teller are high on our priority list during this season.

And finally, Greg is getting invitations to travel with a team that has rapidly formed. In addition to the Panama Project, opportunities to go to Costa Rica, Brazil, Samoa and the Solomon Islands have all surfaced. We covet your prayers as we consider which trips to be a part of.

-- PRAYER NEEDS

A new landing page for our praise and prayer needs.

Our praise and prayer points are migrating to our website. We're added a Praise and Prayer page where you can view our praise and prayer reports, as well as type out a prayer that will be sent to us.

We truly believe in the power of prayer and are always encouraged when we receive notes of encouragement from you guys. So check it out, and leave us a prayer. Mahalo!

Praise and Prayer

-- FRESH FINDS

Turning glass back into sand.

Finding creative uses for waste streams is really important. Recycling facilities for glass aren't in every city so this couple took it upon themselves to turn unwanted glass bottles into something important to their community: Sand.

Glass into Sand

-- PICTURES

Our whole family at the Farm harvesting lettuce from the aquaponics system.

Graduation Night for Greg. Around Greg's neck is a "Prayer Lei" - while the lei was being made, the staff prayed the whole time for the student receiving it.

Ellis helping to place new plants into the aquaponics system. What a great helper.

Greg's class designed and built this aquaponics system for a client in the community. The goal is to help serve their neighbors with home grown produce and fish.

We love snail mail. Feel free to send us a letter and we will do our best to respond!

Greg and Caroline Shepler

75-5851 Kuakini Hwy. #608

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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