The Ministry of Randy, Gay and Andrew Hongo

June 2018

OnDecember23,2017, justoneweekafterRandywenthome to be with the Lord, we held a celebration of lifememorialserviceatKalihiUnionChurch.Weestimatebetween1,200and1,400peopleattended--atestamentnotjusttotheloving,generouspersonRandywas,buttoyouall,ourfriendsandfamily,wholovedRandysomuch.

Our vision for the servicewas clear: wewanted to givegloryandhonortoJesusChristineverywaypossible,knowingthat’sexactlywhatRandywouldhavewanted.WealsowantedtheservicetobeareflectionofwhoRandywas--nottoosadandsomber,but rather, fullof joyandhope.That’swhywedidn’tcallitafuneral;instead,wecalleditacelebrationoflife.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. ~Psalm 28.7

Andrew’s then-fiancee (now wife), Meaghan, and Randy’s sister, Ruth Binyan, joined Andrew and Gay for a beautiful celebration of life service.

Itreallywasamiraclethatsuchahugeproductioncame together in such a short time, and it certainlywouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthehelpofKalihiUnionChurchundertheleadershipofPastorJonathanSteeper.Andrew,Randy’ssisterRuthie,Andrew’sthen-fiancee(nowwife)Meaghan,andIgreetedpeopleforthree hours before the service and two hours after--andeventhen,thereceivinglinewassolongmanypeoplecouldnotstayandhadto leavebeforeseeingus. Dozens of Hawai’i’s finest musicians and dancersparticipated, and people came fromneighbor islandsand themainland to pay their respects.Wewant tothankallofyouwhocametohonorRandy,evenifweweren’t able to greet you personally. Your presencemeantsomuchtous.Thankyoualsoforyourdonations,cards,notes,andgiftsthatyouhavebeensendingme.IregretthatIamnotabletowritepersonalresponsestoeachone,butpleaseknowtheyaremuchappreciatedandhavebroughtmemuchjoyandcomfort.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR RANDY HONGO

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Followingtheservice,someonetoldus,“ThatwasthemostjoyousfuneralIeverwentto!”Peoplesaidtheylaughedandcriedsomuchthattheywereemotionallyexhaustedafterward.ForRandyandme,therewassomuchhumorandjoyinourrelationshipandinourwalkwiththeLord,thatitjustspilledoverintotheservice.IknowRandywouldnothavewantedasomber,depressingservice.Hewouldhavewantedahugeparty.(Helovedparties.)Sotheserviceincludedsinging,dancing,funnyhomevideosAndrewhadmade,andtestimoniesabouthowRandyhadreflectedtheloveofJesussobeautifully.

Pastor Jonathan gave the message. Beforehand he had askedAndrewandme,“DoyouthinkitwouldbeappropriateformetogiveaGospelmessage?”Andrewand I replied thatRandynevermissedanopportunity topreach the life-changingmessageof JesusChrist,andcertainlyathisfuneralhewouldwantpeopletoheartheGospel.PastorJonathan’smessagewasclear,simple,andfullofChrist’slove.

Oneofmyfriendscametotheserviceandbroughtherhusband,whowasnotyetabeliever;shehadbeenprayingforhissalvationforyears,andinfactRandyhadthismanonhisprayerlistandprayedforhimeverymorning.ShelatertoldmethatherhusbandhadmadeadecisionfortheLordatRandy’sservice.Hallelujah!

I’mjustsogratefultoeveryonewhohelpedusputtogethersuchabeautifulcelebrationoflife.Icouldnothaveimaginedamorefittingpartyformybelovedhusband,tobidhim“ahuihou”--untilwemeetagain.

From Andrew:Itwasverydifficultformenotjustlosingmyfather,but losinghimjusttwoweeksbeforemywedding.TheweekbeforeDad’s celebration of life, I was jumping from phone calls arrangingDad’sservicetophonecallsarranging last-minuteweddingdetails. Iconfess severaltimes Imistakenly called the funeral “thewedding,”andworseyet,thewedding“myfuneral.”

Ihad,ofcourse,lovedMeaghanbeforethat,butwhatshedidformethatweekaftermydadpassedforeversealedmyundyingloyaltytoher.Underallthestressofweddingplanning,whilealsoinaverydemanding medical residency, Meaghan moved heaven and earthtofly toHawaii andbewithme.Sheworkeda24-hour shiftat thehospital,jumpedonaflightfromAlabamatoHawaii,andarrivedlatethenightbeforetheservice.ShestoodwithmeasIgavethegreetingtoDad’scelebrationoflife,andwhenIintroducedher,theaudienceletoutahugecheer!Herpresencereallywassomethingtocelebrate;mydadhadprayedformeforsomanyyearstofindabeautiful,godlywife,andhereshewas.Meaghan’sparents,LloydandNinaKeller,flewinfromCaliforniatobewithusaswell,andweweresogratefultohaveournewfamilysupportingus.

MomandIclosedtheservicebysinging“NeverFarfromHome,”afamilytriomydadwrotewhenIwasalittleboy.Butnowitwasaduet,withoutDad.Hehadwritten it thinkingof theday Iwouldgo

CELEBRATION OF LIFE (CONTINUED)

But very soon, we will be going separate waysTo serve the Lord in new and different waysBut now and alwaysWe will love as familyAnd with our loveWe’re never far from home

Dad,weloveyouandmissyousomuch.WethankGodeverysingledayforyou,becauseeverysinglemomentwehadtogetherwasapreciousgift.WepraiseHimthatbecauseoftheloveofJesus,weareneverfarfromeachother,andneverfarfromhome.Seeyousoon.

If you would like to watch the celebration of life, please go to www.rghongo.com and view the entire funeral. If you would like a copy of the DVD, please write to us at PO Box 31124. A donation of any amount would be appreciated to cover shipping.

Left to right: Geri Young, Evelyn Lee, Alma Ro, and Dorothy Tong

offtocollegeandleaveHawaii.Butwithoutevenknowingit,hehadwritten the lyrics thatwould allowMomandme to expresswhatwasinourheartsaswegrievedhavingtosaygoodbyefornow,butalsoworshiped theGodwhomadetheway foraglorious reunionsomeday.

LUNCHEON WITH PRAYER TEAM

Thisprayerteamhasprayedforourministryformorethan30years.TheywerehappythatoneoftheirprayersforAndrewtofindawifehasfinallybeenanswered.Theyarenowprayingforme,that,withoutRandy,IwilldependmoreontheLord,andhaveacloserwalkwithHim.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.~ Nehemiah 8:10

This past February, a long-time vision of Randy’scame to fruition as Kalihi Union Church presented themusicaldramaGlory inHisSoul, the lifestoryofHenryOpukaha’ia,thefirstHawaiiantocometofaithinChrist.AlthoughRandypassedintothepresenceoftheLordjusttwomonthsbeforetheshowopened,membersofKUCralliedtogether,knowing“theshowmustgoon.”Itwasabeautifulproductionfeaturingacastandcrewofnearly100volunteers,presentedoverfivenights,drawingtotalcrowdsof1,500people.

Randy’sgreatestdesireforGlory inHisSoulwasthatit honor the Lord Jesus Christ and allow audiences tohear the Gospelmessage.Wewere privileged to haveevangelistDannyYamashirogiveananointedmessageat

The cast and crew of Glory in His Soul.

Left to right: Avery Matsumoto, Kainoa “Kaikai” Kaneshiro (Gay’s grand-nephew), and Kristie Kawazoe Quevido as the Opukaha’ia family.

theconclusionofeachshow.Overtherunoftheshow,60 people responded to Pastor Danny’s message tocommitor re-dedicate their lives to theLord,and60peoplereceivedprayerfromtheministryteam.

Randyhad longbeendrawn to the storyofHenryOpukaha’ia,whosedramaticconversiontoChristianityinspiredthemissionarymovementtoHawai’i.In1992,hewrote thefirst versionofGlory inHis Soul,whichwas stagedat KalihiUnionChurch, First PresbyterianChurch, and Haili Congregational Church in Hilo,Hawai’i. Henry’s casket was present at Haili ChurchduringtheperformanceinAugust1993.InApril2016,KalihiUnionpresentedtheplayagainwithadditionalsongs composed by Randy; soon after, he composedeven more songs, got four co-directors (Jody Chun,Corinne Uehara, Aileen Chinen, and Jon Leong), andbeganrehearsingforthe2018show,tocommemoratethe200thanniversaryofHenry’spassing.Randysaid,“If anythinghappens tome,don’t cancel the show. Ihave four capable co-directorswho cando the showwithoutme.”

WeknowthatonDecember16,2017,whenRandypassed intoglory,hegottomeethisfellowHawaiianandbrotherinChristwhohadinspiredhimsodeeply.Wemiss Randy dearly but are grateful for themanyvolunteerswhocarriedonthiswork.Onlythroughthegraceandpowerof theHolySpiritwasall thismadepossible,andwegiveGodalltheglory!

3GLORY IN HIS SOUL

AlthoughGodgiftedmeasasinger,Hedidnotgiftmeasatheaterdirector. After Randypassed,IknewIneededsomeone to take overas creative directorof the show. Godanswered my prayersby bringing us CheySanders, an incrediblytalented director with30 years professionalexperience directing,coaching,andteachingactors.WeknowCheybecause she is the sister-in-lawofmyniece,CherylToma-Sanders.CheytookwhatRandyhadcreatedandtook ittoawholenewlevelwithherexpertise.Cherylwasalsoabletostepinasmusicaldirector,notjustplayingpianoandkeyboardinrehearsalsandperformances,butalsohelping theactors learn theirparts and overseeing all the music for the performance.Chey and Cheryl are collaborating on another musical,Seussical,whichwillbepresentedatWaialaeBaptistChurchJune28thand29that6:30pmandJune30that2pmand6:30pm.

I’m also grateful for God providing me a wonderfultechnical director in Chris Ali’ipule. Chris oversaw alltechnical aspects of the show as well as production oftheDVD. Chris alwayswent above andbeyondwhatwasrequired,alwaysmotivatedbyadesiretohonortheLord.If you would like to order the DVD of Glory in His Soul, please go to www.rghongo.com to order online. Or, you can mail a check to Christian Vision, PO Box 31124, Honolulu, HI 96820. DVDs are $15 each, plus a shipping fee of $5 (you can avoid the shipping fee if you pick up the DVD from Kalihi Union Church).

LILLIE KNAULS

Left to right: Cindy Fujiwara, Nelson Kanemoto, Milton Yoshida, and Gay Hongo sing to Jon Leong as Josiah.

Left to right: Rian Lau as Thomas Hopu, Pastor Jonathan Steeper as Captain Brintnall, and Chester Centino as Henry Opuakaha’ia.

Gospel singer Lillie Knauls ministered at Kalihi UnionChurchonSunday,May27th.Sheis80yearsoldandstillministeringfulltime!

Isaidtoher,“Youaresuchan inspirationtome. Mostpeoplewouldretireatyourage.”Shesaidtome,“Ifyouain’tdead,youain’tdone!”

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Gospel Singer Lillie Knauls with Gay Hongo

THOUGHTS FROM ANDREW

ThispastNewYears’Eve,thatwhichsomanyofyouhadprayed forfinally came topass: I gotmarried toabeautiful,funny,caringwomanwholovestheLordwithallherheart.Ihadprayedforawifewhohadaheartformissions,whowouldbestronginareaswhereIamweak,whowouldchallengemetoloveJesusmore.TheLorddidexceedinglyaboveallIcouldhaveeveraskedorimaginedandbroughtmeMeaghanKingsley-Teem…who is nowMeaghanHongo!

We had a small wedding in Northern California,andafterwardonlyhadtime for abrief honeymoon inBigSur,onthecoast. Icouldn’thaveaskedforabetterhoneymoon;wespenttimehiking,walkingonthebeach,watchingthestars.Ihavetoadmit--oneofmyfearsofthehoneymoon(andofmarriage)wasthatwe’drunoutofthingstotalkabout.IguessI’vediscoveredthatoneofthegreatthingsofmarriageisthatyoucansittogetherin silence, and still enjoy each other. Itwas absolutelyperfect.

Right after that, we returned to our new home inMobile,AL.Meaghanhadbeenlivingthereforaboutsixmonthsalready;shemovedthereinJuneof2017tostartamedicalresidencyinpediatrics.IhadlandedapositionteachingbroadcastjournalismattheUniversityofSouthAlabama, and hadmy first class just a week after thewedding.I’vereallyenjoyedthisfirstsemester--basicallyI’mteachingmystudentsexactlywhatIdidprofessionallyforthepastfiveyearsatNBCNews,soit’sbeenalotoffun.

I’malsoadjustingtolifeintheSouth,whichhasbeengreat. We’re only a few minutes from Mobile Bay, abeautiful bodyofwater, andMobile itself is filledwithbeautiful, historic homes. Thepeople here are friendly(thatoldSouthernhospitality),thecityissmallenoughtobemanageablebutlargeenoughtohavegoodshopsandrestaurants,andthecostoflivingisveryaffordable.We’vealso foundawonderful church,CovenantPresbyterian,whereI’mpartoftheworshipteam.

But,of course, themostwonderfulpartofbeing inMobileisthatIgettobewithMeaghan,theloveofmylife.I’velongedtobemarriedforsomanyyears,andIhavetotellyou,it’sevenbetterthanIthoughtitwouldbe.IthinkwhenIwassingle,Icouldhide(oratleastattempttohide)thelessattractivepartsofmyself:myfears,myflaws,myanxieties,my regrets. Inmarriage, there’snohiding! Butwhat has been so healing is thatMeaghanseesallofme,andyetstilllovesme,stillchoosesme,stillgivesherselftome.Whatbetterpicture isthereoftheunconditional,sacrificialloveofChristforus,Hischurch?

Meaghanhas also been a great comfort tome as Igrievemydad’spassing.Idoubtanyyoungbrideimaginesshe’ll spend part of her honeymoon holding her newhusbandashesobsintoapillow,butthatisexactlywhatMeaghandidforme.Evennow,monthslater,Imissmydadsomuchitsometimesfeelslikethere’saholeinmyheart.ButIamsogratefulforeverymomentIhadwithhim.Hewassuchalovingfather--onewhosobeautifullyincarnatedtheloveofourHeavenlyFather.NeverbeforehaveIbeensogratefulforthetruthofScripture:

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” I Thessalonians 4:13-14

IamsogratefulthatbecauseweknowtheLordJesus,we have a joyful reunionwith Dad to look forward tosomeday.

Andrew and Meaghan honeymooned in Big Sur, California.

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6NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SinceIwasonthemainlandvisitingAndrewandMeaghanforMother’sDay, I thought itwouldbeagood ideatoswingbyCaliforniaonmywaybacktoHawai’itovisittwochurchesthathavesupportedandprayedforourministryformorethanthirtyyears:SanLorenzoJapaneseChristianChurchandSantaClara Valley Japanese Christian Church. Randy and I used tovisitthesechurchesalmosteveryyear,andsoIwantedtogoandseethesedearfriends.

Thiswasmyfirsttimedoinga concert tour (orat leastamini-tour)withoutRandy.Andrew’sagoodpianist,butbyhisownadmissionmorelimitedthanRandy,soweputtogetherashorter,simplerprogram.WesharedbrieflyinthreemorningservicesatSantaClara,andweresoblessedbyPastorLesterYamashitaandPastorYoshinosukeNakaoprayingfortheLordtostrengthenandblessus.Wealsowentouttoadeliciouslunchwith themissionscommitteeandsome longtime friendsandhad awonderful time talking story and rememberingRandy.WewerealsoblessedthatourlongtimefriendandsupporterPastorJimSakuraiwasabletocometotheserviceaswell.

Andrewdrove us to San Lorenzo for an evening service hostedby Pastor Sunao Shimada and his Japanese congregation. Randyand ImetShimadaSenseiyearsago inChiba, JapanthroughPastorYuuichiroNakano.NowShimadaSenseiisinCalifornia,anditwasjustGod’sperfecttimingthattheSundaywewerethere,hismotherandniecewerevisitingfromOkinawa.IamalwayssoblessedwhenIhearShimadaSensei leadingworship;notonlydoeshehaveabeautifulvoice,buthehasananointingthatjustradiatestheloveofJesus.IalsolovedministeringwithafellowOkinawan!

Since we had time to do a longer program at San Lorenzo, weaskedAldenSanderstocomeplayukuleleandsing“KanakaWaiwai”sothatAndrewcoulddancehula.AldenisthebrotherofPastorMattSanders,whoismarriedtomyniece,CherylToma-Sanders.EverybodyenjoyedAlden’sukuleleplayingandalsoAndrew’spianoplaying.Theysaid,“Oh,Andrewsoundsandplaysjustlikehisdad.”Itwasn’teasytodoaconcertwithoutRandy,becausehe’stheonewhousuallyholdseverythingtogether,doingtheplaying,talking,singingandjoking,butweaskedtheLordtohelpus,andHedid.Andpeoplewereblessed.

Oneofour friendsbroughther friendwho’snotyetaChristian,anditwasawonderfulencouragementtometokeepondoingthisministry,evenwithoutRandy.

We were so happy to see Pastor Jim Sakurai, a long-time friend and supporter of our ministry.

Andrew and Gay with Pastor Sunao Shimada and his family at San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church.

Andrew and Gay had lunch with the missions committee and friends from Santa Clara Valley Japanese Christian Church after sharing at three morning services.

7MOTHER’S DAY IN ALABAMA

I gave myself a special present this Mother’s Day: I flew toAlabamatovisitAndrewandhisbeautifulnewwife,Meaghan!It’salongflight,butitwasworthittoseethem.Istayedintheircozylittleapartment inMobile, andeven thoughMeaghanhasa verybusyworkschedule,shehadsomedaysoffwhileIwasthereandmadewonderfulhome-cookedmealsforus.AndrewandMeaghanalsotookmeshoppingatsomeofmyfavoritestores,whichisoneofthewaysIhavelearnedtofindjoyeveninthemidstofgrief:retailtherapy!

OnMother’s Day,Meaghanmade a special brunch for us athome--themostdeliciousFrenchtoast.Thenwewenttochurchas a family at Covenant Presbyterian Church. I’m glad AndrewandMeaghanhave foundawonderful churchhomewith a goodpastor.Afterchurch,AndrewtookmetoeatVietnamesefood.HesaidtheVietnamesefoodinMobileisreallygoodbecausethere’salargeVietnamesepopulation--andhe’stheexpert,havinglivedinVietnamfortwoyears.

IalsohadanopportunitytoattendAndrew’sGriefShareclass.GriefShare is a Christian program that ministers to people whohavelostalovedone.IhadbeenattendingGriefShareinHawaii,at Leeward Community Church, so itwas nice to be able to visitanotherGriefSharegroupwithAndrew.HetoldmethatthegrouphasreallyhelpedhimtotrustintheLordmoredeeplyashegrievesRandy’spassing.

At the end of the group, Andrew and I sang a couple songs:InHisTimeandGreatisThyFaithfulness.Thereweremanytears,andwe sensed the Lord’s comfort in ourmidst.Afterward, somememberssharedthatparticularhymnhadbeensungattheirlovedone’sfuneral.ItreallywasaGodmoment.

I’msohappythatmyonlysonhasfoundsomeonetolovehimand take careof him. I can see that he’s a goodhusband -- veryloving, attentive, andaffectionate,which I knowhe learned fromhisfather.Andrewalsowashesdisheswithoutbeingasked,whichissomethingRandywasnotsogoodat.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

People have been asking me now that Randy is gone, whatthefutureofChristianVisionwillbe.I’mstilladjustingtomy“newnormal,” lifewithout Randy, so itmay take sometime forme tofigureoutwhatexactlythefuturewilllooklike.ButIamcommittedto carrying on theministry,with God’s help. Christian Vision stillreliesonyoursupport,andifyouwouldliketogive,youcanusetheenclosedenvelopeorgiveonourwebsiteatwww.rghongo.com.

IamalsocontinuingtoworkontheHongoMusicCenter,whichhasbeenavisionofoursformanyyears.Wearestillraisingfundsforthecenter,and ifyou’d liketogivespecificallytothatproject,please mark it accordingly on the enclosed envelope or on ourwebsite,www.rghongo.com.We’realsodoingatilecampaign.Foragiftof$1,000ormore,youcanpurchaseatileinscribedhoweveryouchoose;thetileswillformamuralintheshapeofagrandpianooncethecenteriscompleted.

We’vealsobeenblessedtohaveKalihiUnionChurchcomeonasourpartnerintheHongoMusicCenter.They’vedesignatedsomelandonthechurchcampustobeusedforthemusiccenter,whichwillbepartofalargerbuildingprojectthey’redoing.

Andrewisonlyabletojoinmeoccasionallyforconcerts,likehedidinNorthernCalifornia.ButI’mabletosingonmyownaswell:IledworshipanddidspecialmusicforMaundyThursdayandEasterSundayatKalihiUnionChurch;andIleadworshipforourtraditionalserviceonceamonth.IwasblessedtobeabletosingatthefuneralofourdearfriendandsupporterRichardKanno.

IalsoparticipatedinthefuneralforSadakoNakahara,amemberof Kalihi Union Church’s Japanese Fellowship and Joy Fellowship(theministry tosenioradults).Sadakousedtomake leis forbothgroups,andherlovingservicewasmuchappreciated.ThemembersofJoyFellowshipwantedtosingacoupleofsongsinhermemory,inJapaneseandEnglish,andtheyaskedmetodirectthechoir.Iwasgladtobeabletodothat,andalsotosingaspecialsolo.

I am encouraged that the Lord has provided me so manyopportunitiestoministertoothersthroughmytestimony--ofhowtheLordwasfaithfultousthroughRandy’scanceranddialysis,andevennowhowHesustainsmeafterRandy’spassing.PraiseGodthatwecancomfortotherswiththecomfortweourselveshavereceived(2Corinthians1:4).

Meaghan, Andrew, Pastor Alec Flynt, and Gay on Mother’s Day at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama.

Andrew and Gay taught Pearly Shells to some of Andrew’snew friends in Mobile.

Christian VisionP.O. Box 31124Honolulu, HI 96820-1124

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Uncle Masanori Hongo, 97 years old & Aunty Florence, 89 years old, Andrew and I visited them in San Mateo, California.

A special reunion with Pastor Stan Johnson, who just celebrated his 90th birthday! We visited him in Los Gatos, California.