The Hawaiian Quilt (41 page)

Smiling, she lifted her camera. “I’m anxious to get some pictures. I need something to take home to remind me of this trip.”

For the first several minutes, Mandy sat with her nose pressed against the window on her side of the airplane. Due to distribution of weight, Ken sat next to the pilot, and the other passengers were in the back, with one middle-aged woman sitting across from Mandy.

Mandy’s stomach flew up as the small plane took off, but she didn’t mind. What an adventure it was to look down and see the layout of the land, with all its peaks and valleys. Everyone on board wore headphones so they could communicate with the pilot, as well as with each other. The plane flew out over the ocean, and the pilot called their attention to some whales. It was different seeing them from this perspective.

Mandy wished she and Ken were the only ones in the plane so she could speak to him freely, without others hearing their conversation.

As they continued on, several waterfalls came into view. One of them was the same falls she and Ken had visited last year, when the nice lady offered to take their picture. Of course, seeing it from above put a different slant on things. All the while, Mandy snapped more pictures.

When the Na Pali Coast came into view, she couldn’t help exclaiming, “How amazing! It looks different than when we saw it by boat, but beautiful, nonetheless. Only God could have created something this spectacular.”

Ken looked over his shoulder and smiled at her. Then he gave a thumbs-up.

I love him
, she thought.
How am I ever going to leave here when it’s time to go? I wish it were possible for me to stay. I’ll miss Ken terribly when I return to my home on the mainland
.

Ken’s heart pounded as he drove Mandy back to the B&B later that afternoon. He needed to tell her how he felt, but was unsure of her reaction.

“Mahalo, Ken, for giving me such a nice day.” Mandy held up her camera. “I took enough pictures to help me remember my time on Kauai this time.” She sighed deeply and leaned back in her seat. “I’m going to miss being in Hawaii, but I’ll miss you most of all.”

Pleased with her declaration, Ken couldn’t wait any longer. He pulled off at a wide spot on the shoulder of the road. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Mandy tipped her head. “What is it?”

He reached for her hand. “It may seem like it’s too short for the declaration I’m about to make, but we spent a lot of time together when you were here before.” He paused, searching for just the right words. “Every minute you were with me was special. Truth is, these last couple of days, we’d no sooner part than I’d began counting the hours till the next time we could be together.”

“I felt the same.”

Gently, he held her fingers. “I’m in love with you, Mandy.”

Her eyes glistened with tears. “Oh, Ken, I love you, too. I began to feel it soon after we were formally introduced, but I feared so many things. With the distance between our homes, I didn’t see how anything could work out.”

“I didn’t believe so for a while, either, but after praying and thinking everything through, I’ve come up with a plan.”

“You have? What is it?”

“I’m going back to Indiana with you.”

“To meet my family?”

“Yes, and also to look for a job so I can be close to you, because if you’ll have me, I want you to become my wife.”

“I would be honored to marry you.” Mandy spoke in a soft, shaky voice. “But you can’t move to Indiana. You have a job right here, helping your parents raise chickens. Life in Middlebury is a lot different than Kauai. There are no sandy beaches, palm trees, tropical flowers, or places to go surfing.”

Mandy’s somber expression concerned him. Was she having second thoughts about being with him?

“If you leave Kauai, you’ll miss the island, as well as your family and friends.”

“I’ll have you, and I’ll make new friends.” Ken shifted in his seat, never taking his eyes off Mandy. “I’ve already talked to Mom and Dad about this, as well as my brother, Dan. He said he’d take over my responsibilities with the business, and Mom and Dad are fine with it, too. They’ll come visit whenever they can. My family wants me to be happy, and my happiness is with you.”

“What about your dream of owning your own organic hydroponic nursery?”

“I’m willing to give it up to be with you. Staying in Hawaii and owning my own business may not be God’s will for me. Truthfully, sometimes the things we think we want are not what is best for us.”

“I believe you’re right. I’ve been rather selfish thinking only of my own needs and longing for Hawaii, when I should have been asking God what is best for me.”

Ken leaned forward and drew Mandy into his arms. Then he kissed her gently on the lips.

When they pulled apart, Mandy stared at him with a dazed expression.

Did I kiss her right? Should I have asked her first? Does she want me to go to Indiana with her?
Many doubts filled Ken’s mind, but one thing he believed without question: the kiss felt right. In fact, it was perfect. And if Mandy’s sigh was any indication, maybe she felt it, too.

For a while they sat together, holding hands but saying nothing. Words weren’t necessary as Ken looked into her beautiful brown eyes. The tiny flecks of green in Mandy’s eyes looked even more vivid as traces of tears remained.

Ken traced her jawline with his fingers, then moved his hand to the back of her head. He didn’t have to pull her close, for she willingly went toward him, and they kissed again. It was so sweet, Ken felt as though he were floating.

Mandy swallowed hard, then cleared her throat. Her cheeks were still flushed, no doubt from what they’d shared seconds ago.

“You’re not thinking of joining the Amish faith, are you?” she asked.

Sorry to see the moment end, Ken breathed deeply. “I will if it’s the only way we can be together.”

“No, Ken. I cannot ask you to make such a sacrifice.” Mandy paused. “It’s a difficult transition that not many English people have been able to make.” She smiled tearfully, gently touching his face. “I’d thought I would join the Amish church this spring, but it would only be to please my parents. I can be happy attending any church as long as it teaches God’s Holy Word.”

“What exactly are you saying?”

“From the time I was a young girl, I was taught it would be my choice to join the Amish church. Mom and Dad often said it wasn’t a matter of what church you belonged to. What counts is what’s in a person’s heart and whether you choose to follow God.” Mandy paused before she continued. “So, even though they may be disappointed because I’m not becoming part of the Amish church, they will be pleased I have found a Christian man. I only wish we could both live near our families. Hawaii’s a long way from Indiana, and you had no plans to leave here until now.”

“True.” Ken took her hand. “But we can live in Indiana to be near your family and take our vacations on Kauai, where my folks live. It only takes a portion of a day to get here by plane, so we can go once or twice a year—maybe more if I should end up opening my own business in Indiana.”

“When I first went to Kauai, I thought it was the island I loved, but I’ve come to realize it wasn’t the island, but rather the people I’d met while living there. I’ve also learned it doesn’t matter what church we attend, as long as we are serving the Lord.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I want to serve Him with you.”

Middlebury, one year later

M
andy’s heart swelled to overflowing as she stood at the altar beside her groom, preparing to recite her wedding vows. A meaningful life’s journey was about to begin for her: not pure Amish, but still living a Christian life, ready to serve God.

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, and then the vows flowed from her heart: “I Mandy, take you, Ken, to be my husband, secure in the knowledge you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special day, I affirm to you in the presence of God and these witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful wife, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through good times and bad. I further promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always to be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”

Tenderly holding her hand, Ken repeated his vows. As he spoke the words, Mandy listened intently while gazing into his vibrant blue eyes, filled with happy tears.

Thank You, Lord, for bringing this special man into my life
.

When their vows concluded, Mandy stood beside her groom, listening to the song “Each for the Other” sung a cappella by three members of the church worship team.

As the trio sang “Each for the other, and both for the Lord,” Mandy stole a look at the people who had come to witness their union this sunny but cold Saturday afternoon.

Mandy’s folks sat on one side of the church, along with her brothers, Milo, Mark, Melvin, and Michael, as well as Michael’s wife, Sarah.

Ken’s parents; his brother, Dan; and Dan’s wife, Sandy, sat on the other side of the church. It pleased Mandy that Ken’s cousin Brock had been able to take over the responsibilities of the Freys’ chicken farm so they could all be here for the wedding.

Mandy’s best friends, Ellen, Sadie, and Barbara, were seated in the pew behind Mandy’s family. Gideon sat beside Barbara, whom he planned to marry in the spring. Mandy was glad they could still be friends. Barbara was the better choice for him, since she shared his dedication to the Amish church.

They were meant to be together
, Mandy thought,
just as Ken is the man God intended for me
.

She looked forward to spending their honeymoon in Kauai, where Luana and Makaio had promised to give them a wedding reception. When Mandy and Ken returned from Hawaii, they would begin making plans for the bed-and-breakfast they wanted to open. It would be an exciting adventure, although a bit frightening. But with God’s help, she felt confident it would succeed. Like Luana and Makaio, she and Ken would minister to many people in the days ahead…. and perhaps entertain a few angels unaware.

Luana’s Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers

1½ pounds ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 egg

¼ cup soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

2 stalks green onion, chopped

1 tablespoon sesame oil

Combine all ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Form into patties. Fry, grill, or broil. For additional taste, serve with a slice of pineapple on top of each burger.

Mandy’s Organic Chicken Chowder

2 tablespoons butter

¼ cup onion, chopped

1½ cups cooked chicken, cubed

1½ cups carrots, diced

1½ cups raw potatoes, diced

2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon pepper

2 cups water

3 tablespoons flour

1½ cups milk

Melt butter in a 3-quart saucepan. Add onions and sauté until tender. Add chicken, carrots, potatoes, bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, and water. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender. Combine flour and ½ cup milk in a jar. Shake until blended. Add to vegetables along with remaining milk. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Yields 1¾ quarts.

The introduction to sewing and quilt making came to Hawaiians from the wives of American missionaries in 1820. Patchwork quilts were made in the missionary boarding schools, where girls were taught to sew. Even though the missionaries are credited with teaching new concepts and techniques in quilt making, the development of the Hawaiian appliquéd quilts lies with the Hawaiian women. Many of the designs and methods they used are found only in Hawaii. Hawaiian quilt making became a form of self-expression during nineteenth-century westernization. Every stitch had a meaning and every part of the design a purpose.

Quilting frames in Hawaii were set close to the ground so quilters could sit on their handwoven
lauhala
mats. A wide variety of fill material for the quilts was used in Hawaii, including soft fibers from tree fern, cotton, wool, and animal hair. As three layers were stitched together. The quilters started at the quilt’s center and worked toward the edges.