Hawaiian mission group visits Colfax

From left to right: (back row) Hau'oli Kalama, Buddy Gudmunson, Dylan Taasan, Pastor Mark Gudmunson, Lori Gudmunson and Timmy Rodrigues; (front row) Baby “Queen” Kalei Kaneali'i, Pua Kaneali'i, Jaelyne Navaro, Mele Kaneali'i, Micah Yoshida, Mady Alvarez and Emma Gudmunson. Not pictured are Raynar Kalama and Elima Kalama.

Colfax might not be the typical destination for a church mission group, but a youth group of 14 from Hawaii has spent the last two weeks at the Church of the Nazarene in Colfax on a mission trip.

The group, the Puka Naz Youth, traveled from Maui and arrived in Colfax June 24. They stayed at the Church of the Nazarene, and the group departed to return home Wednesday, July 6.

“We stayed in the church, and people in the community have opened their homes so we've been able to shower and some people have given us meals,” said Pastor Mark Gudmunson, who grew up in Colfax and graduated with the Colfax High class of 1985. “The community's really welcomed us.”

Pastor Gudmunson and his wife Lori, who graduated with the Colfax High class of 1982, now serve at the Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene. He is the senior pastor, and they have been there for about four-and-a-half years.

“It means ’opening in the heavens,’” Pastor Gudmunson said of the church name.

The Puka Naz Youth helped to host Vacation Bible School at the church since their arrival, and they conducted part of a Polynesian worship service June 26 and then the entirety of the worship service at the church on July 2.

“We felt like God wanted us to come bless the Church of the Nazarene here,” Pastor Gudmunson said. “We're trying to instill an attitude, a lifestyle of service for these guys to spread the gospel.”

Hau'oli Kalama, youth pastor at the Pukalani Community Church, said the area here is “beautiful.”

“The Palouse region is beautiful just like Maui,” he said. “Maui is beautiful, too, but it still captures me, the beauty over here, wow!”

“God's creations are beautiful,” Pastor Gudmunson added.

Some of the Vacation Bible School highlights were a puppet show, singing, dancing and Hawaiian games.

“The Hawaiian games worked nicely because it was a surf and beach theme,” said Pua Kaneali'i, one of the group leaders. “It went hand-in-hand.”

The group was able to tour around the area at places such as Steptoe Butte and Wallowa Lake. They also enjoyed the fireworks show at Hamilton Park in Colfax on the Fourth of July.

Pastor Gudmunson said the youth enjoyed how much daylight they had here.

“One of the things they thought was cool was how late it stays light here,” he said.

Kaneali'i said the people in Colfax were amazing.

“The people here they have so much love in their heart,” she said. “We thought we were bringing aloha, but Colfax already had it.”

Pastor Gudmunson said the group only had one negative interaction the entire time they were here. He added that the group will come back at some point.

“We hope to get out in the community more next time,” he said. “We will come back to Colfax.”

The destination for next year's mission trip has not yet been set. The group last year went to Navajo Nation in Sun Valley, Ariz. Pastor Gudmunson said they will begin discussing and praying about next year's destination when they return, and they will begin fundraising shortly after as well.

Some of the favorites amongst the group were the fireworks show Monday night and the opportunity to host Vacation Bible School. A group consensus on a favorite, though, was the stop at Eddy's Chinese restaurant.

“Best Chinese I've ever had,” Kaneali'i said.

“Loved it,” Lori Gudmunson said.

“We came so we could go to Eddy's,” Pastor Gudmunson said. “The big motivating factor.”

Pastor Gudmunson added that the entire group is thankful for the community's support the last two weeks.

“We want to give a big mahalo, which means thank you, to the community of Colfax for their hospitality.”