Kiesling Ohana Rebuild

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This week, we were incredibly blessed to have the help of Samaritan's Purse. They helped us on Tuesday with sifting and on Wednesday they helped us with breaking down the logs that were in our front yard, a bit more sifting and digging up some banana and plantain trees. 

What an incredible group of people. They just blessed our socks off! The love of the Lord shone through each of them and we were able to find things that we never thought we’d find or things we forgot we had 🤪😂🤣 

Tonight, we were blessed to join them at their camp for dinner. It was such an amazing night! Before leaving the house, Makana was complaining about going because he wanted to play with his friends. However, at the end of the night, he said “okay, bye! I’m going to sleep here” 🤣😂 first thing Kahiau said when we got there was “which tent are we sleeping in?” 🥰🥰 these people welcomed us into their camp and allowed us to break bread with them. They embraced and loved on our keiki so much that it was hard to leave. 

My favorite part of the evening was when Kawika was playing Majesty and I was dancing. Everyone stood up and just praised Jesus! Talk about a chicken skin moment! 

What a truly blessed, blessed evening!!! We have definitely made some lifelong friends 🥰🥰🥰

If you are going back to your property, I would encourage, I would implore you to reach out to Samaritan’s Purse for assistance. They are kind, respectful and ask you for direction and let you lead. They also have chaplains from the Billy Graham Ministries there to be there if you need them. 

Such an amazing organization!!

"This morning, Kahiau said “Mommy, can we go to our house? Maybe God fixed it.”

Oh, my precious child, how I wish this was just a bad bad dream!! However, God will rebuild our home in HIS time! He IS good!! Blessed be the name of the Lord!!"

Aloha Lahaina Ohana 

If you're going onto your property to search for things, reach out to Samaritans Purse. Today they helped us find things I thought were destroyed. They are kind, careful and hard working volunteers that sacrifice their time to come kokua fire 🔥 victims searching their properties. 

Today we started with Prayer 🙏🏽.  The team leaders walked in with us to identify areas to search. Together we found knives, tools, jewelry and many other things I thought were gone.

Big Mahalo Nui to all the Volunteers from Samaritans Purse. 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

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Here is a post from Kawika:

““A friend loves at all times”

Proverbs 17:17

Losing our home, shop, possessions, neighborhood and town was and still is difficult 

Today we loose a member of our Ohana

Momona was my first dogs litter and I’ve had her from birth. She isn’t the smartest dog or best hunter (her mom was) but she is Loving, Faithful, Protective and a member of our Ohana.

Today we take her to be euthanized and cremated and my heart hurts 

Everyone says dogs go to heaven, I don’t see that in the Word but this I know…

My Heavenly Father is her creator, He make her in the womb, gave her life, and sustained her all these 13 years. He entrusted her to me, to be part of our family. For this I am honored and thankful 

I trust My Father with her Spirit and Know He loves her more than I ever could…!!!

The Lord has given; The Lord has taken; Blessed be the name of the Lord!!!!”

Please be in prayer for the Kiesling Ohana today as they say goodbye to Momona. 💔🙏🏼

From Keri:

Today, we are saying goodbye to Momona. Prayers for our ohana today, and in the coming days, would be greatly appreciated!! Makana and Pū`ali are especially feeling the loss. 

Love you all! Mahalo nui loa for your continued love and support!!!

Soaking up all the time I can get with this precious girl! Love her so very much!!! We are going to miss her sssooo much!!!

Love you my Momona girl!!

Update from Keri.  Please be praying for the Kiesling Ohana.  

"Sometimes life throws you so many lemons, you can’t make lemonade fast enough. That’s what today felt like. Today, I found it hard to be joyful and today I verbally said “life just sucks sometimes.” I haven’t said those words in a really long time. 

The grief is thick. Adding salt onto the wound was finding out that our precious Momona has stage 4 cancer. Talk about a sucker punch to the gut after losing our home, fish, chickens, children’s school, community and sense of normalcy. 

Today, all I wanted to do was cry. Then I looked into our precious Momona’s eyes and was reminded that God is STILL good!! He IS God!! He DOES love us!!!

Life is a rollercoaster ride! Sometimes I just wish there would be a long period of the track being flat. I’m tired and weary, but God is the strength of my heart. WITH Him, I can carry on. 

Please pray for our ohana as we have difficult decisions to make. Our keiki, especially Makana and Pū`ali, are really struggling with this. They have never known life without her. 

Thank you!!! We love you all!!"

Good Morning!

Next week Monday, September 18, 2023, Pu'ali will turn 7 years old!  If you feel led, can you please send her a birthday card?  I know that it would mean a lot to her!  

If you need a mailing address, please send me an email (erinakpotter@gmail.com). 

Thank you so much!

Erin :)

Good Morning!  Here is an update that Keri shared:

"Today, I am grateful for local businesses and friends and family who have been so very gracious with helping to fill our closets and drawers with clothes! We were so very blessed that we were able to help others as well! 

Mahalo nui loa!!

Volcom

Neuflora

Nichole

Joy

Sharaya & Blaine

Kings Cathedral & Chapels

Aunty Esther

Keala

I’m sorry if I missed you! I know there have been more!

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭100‬:‭5‬ ‭"

Good Morning!!  Hope you are all having a blessed September!!

Here is an update that Keri posted this morning:

"It’s been four weeks since the fire. Four weeks since our lives were turned upside down. However, it’s also been four weeks of blessings!!!

There has been so much loss and destruction, but so many blessings! I choose to focus on the blessings and be thankful!

Today, I am thankful for the outpouring of love. Yesterday, we received these pictures from Jess and we’re super blessed! Mahalo nui loa for all of your folks love and encouragement!!"

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Here is an update that Keri posted. Since I can only post one photo per update, the next several updates will be the pictures that Keri posted.

Three weeks ago, Kawika and I lay in the back of our truck under the stars in Kapalua. The kids were in the truck and Momona was sleeping under the truck. You could see a faint glow of the fire in Lahaina. It was a beautiful night in Kapalua, but a sleepless night. We really had no idea the gravity of all that was happening since about 4pm that fateful Tuesday. All communications were cut off and it was such an eerie feeling to be so disconnected. 

As I reflect back on that night, I feel so grateful that we were able to get out safely. I feel grateful for the safe place that we were able to somewhat rest at that night. I feel grateful for the open bathroom in the morning. I feel grateful for the clear sky and stars (thankfully it only drizzled for a bit before stopping). I feel grateful for my husband, keiki and dog. I feel grateful for my parents who have embraced us and welcomed us into their home.

Some have asked how they can support us. Right now we have most of our immediate needs met and are looking to the future to rebuild our home and our community. Your prayers are also greatly appreciated! 

Below are some ways that you can help financially, if you feel led to. We also created an Amazon Wishlist at the prodding of others 🥰

Mahalo nunui loa again for all of your love, support and prayers!! We are super blessed!!!

https://www.givesendgo.com/KieslingOhanaRebuild

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3DU1WG23WAM9S?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR26D4ks9yFKXNZwzZV2r_v7iJOqKt_b6eGsU0NQurrQO3D0WRxsr_-OGSE

https://venmo.com/u/Keri-Kiesling

https://www.paypal.me/kerikiesling

Hi everyone!  Erin here!  I know that several of you have contacted me about a wish list for the Ohana.  Here is an Amazon Wishlist that Keri has put together.  Thank you SO much for everyone's generosity!  The Kiesling Ohana are truly grateful, and so blessed by everyone's generosity!! From Keri, "God has been so amazing and has walked with us through it all! May HE be glorified and magnified!!"

Kiesling Ohana Amazon Wishlist

I have been blessed to work with GEM over the last couple of weeks. Mahalo for your support of our island GEM!

https://youtu.be/PXDcbYEm1dA?si=X8LGcT9jgZnjWgrT

Last night my heart was feeling heavy and I was sad. Reading the names of those who were confirmed as passing, was so very heartbreaking! Losing our home and everything in and around it is hard, but the loss of life is even harder. 

I was wishing I had my guitar to help comfort my soul. Although, I’m not that great at playing, singing praises to Jesus has always brought me comfort. In place of my guitar, I turned on Pandora and the Lord played songs that comforted me and made me remember that HE IS in control and that He IS good and that He IS God! 

Music is medicine to my soul 🥰

Here is one of the songs that blessed me last night.

https://youtu.be/9sE5kEnitqE?si=8fUhz9yAK0edlxff

We received another blessing today! I’ve been ordering from Young Living Essential Oils for years. Due to the fire, they sent this amazing care package for my family and I! 🥰🥰🥰 So, so very blessed!!! Mahalo nunui loa e Young Living!!

On Monday, I received this email from David, the founder of Huppy. Today, we received the care package and I am just blown away by their generosity. I was not expecting a box filled with all of these amazing products!!

I have loved using their toothpaste tabs and now have the opportunity to try their other products. Mahalo nunui loa e David and Huppy!!! Mahalo for your generosity, care and support!!!

If you haven’t tried Huppy yet, give them a go! My mouth feels cleaner and healthier after using their products 🥰🥰

Hi everyone!  Erin here!  I am so sorry for the lack of updates this week.  It was a busy week at work for me!  I'll be posting the updates that Keri has shared, with the date that she posted them.  Thanks for all the love, support and prayers!!  

3rd picture: although they fight a lot, our kids really do love each other. Pū`ali loves to take care of her little brother 🥰🥰

Though these times can be hard, we are sssooo blessed!!! Mahalo nunui loa for all of your folks love, support and prayers through this time! The Lord IS SSSOO good!!

2nd picture: my parents went on a much needed date night (happy belated anniversary!!). The kids did not want Gramps to go! What a blessing to have the opportunity for our keiki to be loved on by our ohana and to have this kind of relationship with their Gramps and Grammy. 

Good Morning!  Here is a post that Keri shared yesterday.  :)

"1st picture: Kahiau said “look! I’m Uncle Jeremy!” as he turns his hat backwards. He then turns it forward and says “I not Uncle Jeremy” and turns it backwards again and says “I Uncle Jeremy!” 🥰"

God Provides!

Yesterday, an anonymous donor provided for an immediate need that my family had.  With my parents home now being a multi-family household, the need for extra refrigerator space was quickly becoming evident, especially with the kids starting school, and having to pack lunches for them.

My husband was able to fix our old refrigerator that had broken down.  But it turned out to not be a permanent fix.  This very generous anonymous donor provided for this need, and a new refrigerator was delivered to my parent's house yesterday.  God is so good!  We are SO BLESSED with how He continually provides for us!

In His Saving Grace,

Erin (Keri's sister)

Good Evening!

Here is something that Keri shared on her Facebook page yesterday.  :)

"One of the perks of living in Central Maui! Enjoying Waikapu on 30!

Focusing on the positives and all that the Lord is doing!! We are so very blessed!!"

I did a quick check in at the Kaneshiro/Kiesling Hale tonight.

Today was Kahiau's first day of preschool at Kahului Union Preschool.  At first, he was upset when he realized he wasn't going to his old preschool.  💔  But, he ended up having a good day at school.  What a praise!!

Makana and Pū'ali both had another good day at school.  Thank you for all your prayers as the kids are getting adjusted to new schools, a new community, and a new home.  

Picture 4 from Keri's post.

Picture 3 from Keri's post.

Picture 2 from Keri's post.

An update from Keri:

"It’s been a week since we first saw our precious Lahaina and the remains of our home. It’s been a hard thing to process. One of the hardest things is not being with our community and my keiki not being able to go to their schools. They were so excited to go back to King Kamehaha III to be with their friends and teachers and Kahiau at his preschool. 

In the midst of the rubble, there is still life! The aloe plant and the front part of our yard was still green with life! One of the four chickens we had made it and adopted our neighbors.  

Change is difficult. Loss is difficult. But, one thing remains, the Lord IS SSSSOOOO good!! He is FOREVER good!!! The love, support and prays that have overflowed from this tragedy is a reminder that my God saves and He is our provider!!

We grieve with our community but rejoice in all that the Lord is doing!!!!

Mahalo nunui loa for all of your folks love, support and prayers! We love all of you!!"

We have been so blessed the last couple of days, with my brother Jeremy and his family visiting from Oahu.  They go back home today, and will be dearly missed.  Please pray for their Ohana, as they continue to reach out to their community in Pearl City, to share the Gospel (Jeremy is the pastor at Palisades Baptist Church).

Makana and Pū'ali are now going to Pu'u Kukui Elementary School.  They both have enjoyed the last 2 days of school (Wednesday & Thursday; Friday was a State Holiday), which is a HUGE answer to prayer!  Please continue to pray for them as they get adjusted to attending a different school, where they need to make new friends.

Kahiau will be starting preschool on Monday, which will be a huge blessing!

Thank you for all that have been reaching out.  May God richly bless each and every one of you!!  

In His Saving Grace,

Erin  (Keri's sister)

Aloha Everyone!

Here is a clickable link, to make it easier to view the update that Kawika did from their property.

RKC Update from Kiesling Property, Sunday, August 13, 2023

What a blessing it is to have the whole family together again!!

Last night, my brother and his family flew in from Oahu, so that we could spend a little bit of time together.  It'll be a very quick visit, but we are so blessed to have this precious time together!  The cousins are so over joyed to be together again!!

Thank you for everyone that has been praying for our Ohana.  We love you all so much!!

In His Saving Grace,

Erin (Keri's Sister)

When Kawika and Keri visited their property on Sunday, August 13, Kawika filmed and posted an update to RKC's Instagram Page.  You can find the video at the below link.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cv_u--Ns1g6/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Aloha all!  Here is an update that Keri posted on Wednesday morning:

"Could you all pray for Pū`ali? Today was the first day of school and she was having a hard time once we got to the school. Please pray that she will be able to make friends! 

Everyone at the school seems so very supportive! They all wore red and white in support of the Lahaina ‘ohana and we saw Aunty Sandy, Jessica and Carrie Beth. Seeing people we know and love was a blessing!"

Good Morning Everyone! 

In case you are not following Kawika on Facebook, here is his update yesterday.  He is referencing this fundraiser, which we are all so blown away by everyone's sacrificial, and generous giving!!  We are truly BLESSED to have so many family and friends that are supporting the Kiesling Ohana through this tragedy.  May the Kiesling Ohana be used to bring Glory and Honor unto HIM!

Kawika:

"Aloha

My sister in law set up this link to support us as we rebuild our home and lives. Mahalo in advance for all your prayer, support and Love ❤️ 

We have been blessed to have a place to stay and our basic needs for our Ohana. Today we enrolled our Keiki at Pu’u Kukui Elementary. 

We plan to go in to Lahaina weekly to support others in need and suffering

Mahalo nui loa for any kokua!!!"

Good morning Everyone!

Kawika & Keri are finally in Lahaina today.  The last text we got from Keri at about 06:30 this morning, said that they were heading in.  Please be in prayer for them, as we know that it'll be a hard day.

Kawika's brother (Kamu), and his family, were able to stop by Kawika & Keri's property yesterday while they were in Lahaina.  They were able to borrow tires from a neighbor, and bring back Kawika's trailer, along with a few other items that survived.

Thank you SO much for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers!!  Our God is Sovereign, and our trust is in Him, that everything will work for HIS good, through this tragedy.

In His Saving Grace,

Erin 

Unfortunately, Kawika and Keri didn't make it in to Lahaina yesterday.  Please be praying that they'll be able to make it in soon.

While waiting in line, some friends sang Happy Birthday to Kawika!  

Here is Kawika's post, and I'll include the link to their friends video.  :)

"We were trying to go Lahaina with Ice , Gas and supplies for friends and Ohana. These awesome peeps sang happy b day song!! Sweet moment 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽"

Link: https://www.facebook.com/1482850936/videos/127057743797121/

Can you all please be praying for Kawika and Keri as they head out to Lahaina this afternoon?  They will be heading out once they are able to get ice to fill coolers (estimated time the ice will be ready is 3 pm).  Knowing them, I know that they will take every opportunity given to them, to minister to those in need, and to share the Gospel with them.  I know that it will be an emotionally draining day, as they also plan to see their property, to figure out what can be salvaged.

Thank you everyone for your out pouring of love, support, prayers, and your financial generosity.  We are all so very grateful.  

In His Saving Grace,

Erin (Keri's Sister)

Keri posted this, this morning:

Today, we were supposed to go camping and celebrate you! Although, this birthday is very different from the others, I am so incredibly blessed to have you as my husband! 11 birthdays with you!! You are truly amazing! Everyday, God reminds me of how blessed we are to have you!! 

I love you Kawika Kiesling!! HAU`OLI LĀ HĀNAU!!!

“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Job 1:21

Please pray for Maui 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Many lives lost

Many homes lost

Many businesses lost

Lahaina has experienced the most loss, pray for those who are mourning pray for those hurting…

Homes we can rebuild

Possessions we can replace

Businesses can be rebuilt

Pray for those who have lost loved ones… please 🙏🏽

This is in reference to Kawika's post, with the picture of their burned down house:

Our friend sent us this picture of our home and our neighbors. My first thoughts were, yeah! The “kennel and some of the logs from the Ritz are still there!”

Then I let it sink in for a little while. This is what Lahaina looks like. This is the reality of thousands of people. 

People ask how we are doing and to be honest, we…I have our moments of deep sadness and great joy. It’s a rollercoaster ride, but God is so very good!!!

I just want to see all of my Lahaina friends and family and give them great big hugs and cry together and reminisce of the things past. I am incredibly grateful for the community that I have been blessed to be a part of for the last 10 and a half years!! God IS INDEED good!!!