Dave's bio

Hey everyone. Sorry it took me so long to post. It's no excuse, but I'm one of those folks who used to check his email only 1-2x/wk till this past year.

I'm Amy's husband Dave. I was born in Korea, but grew up in Sacramento, CA. I spent most of my life in Northern California (college at Berkeley, med school at Davis) before moving to LA for my residency. Currently I'm finishing my ER residency this year and looking forward to working in the real world.

I spend a lot of my time outside of work and church looking forward to my next snowboarding trip. Lucky for me, Amy likes to board too and I have to admit she's faster than I am (I better just post it hear 'cause it's going to come out sooner or later). Since these trips happen only a few times a season, I spend the rest of my time reading in cafe's and hanging out w/ the wifey playing Wii, watching movies and playing cards w/ church friends.

I've been on missions to China, Thailand and various parts of Mexico in the past, but never been on a medical mission. When Tim first told me about this trip, I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn and see how God can use part of what I do at work. Hopefully this will be the start of more medical missions to come. I also didn't know much about Nepal (or the lice), but look forward to all that God has in store for all of us as we go out there.

Can't wait to meet all of you. I wish Amy and I could be there for all the meetings and missions training, but I guess we'll use this blog till we all meet up in Bangkok. God bless.

Amy's Bio

Hello Nepal team!

I'm new at this blog/xanga thing, but I guess there's a first for everything! :)

First I want to apologize for writing so late - I got the e-mail and thought "what a great idea!" and then have been so busy at work, I haven't had a break to sit down and type away. I really do think this a wonderful idea, and I'm very excited to meet all of you!

To start, that's a picture of Dave and I at our wedding - we just got married on November 25, 2006 and are very happy! I must say I really enjoy married life and it's wonderful coming home to see and send time with your best friend EVERY DAY! Dave is really the best husband ever, and I feel so blessed to have met a person that complements me so well - we have so much fun together. Maybe cuz it's still early, but some times I feel like we're just playing being married because I've heard it's suppose to be much harder. haha No complaints from me (yet...). :)

I'm not even sure where to begin...and I don't want to bore you details, so I'll try to keep this short. I grew up in Fresno, CA (which is in the middle of CA between SF and LA). I have a twin sister and an older brother and we all went to UC Berkeley for undergrad. Although we're going on "medical" missions - I am not in the medical field at all, so Lynette I'm right there with you! I studied Business Administration in college and started work at Deloitte & Touche (a public accounting firm - we do have an office in Hawaii!) after college, got my CPA and moved down to LA after working in SF for a few years because I wanted a change and wanted to be closer to my brother and sister who also live in LA. Obviously God had greater plans for me and I met Dave at our church in LA. I just finished the worst of my busy season (and although I'm a CPA, I don't know anything about taxes...I can explain another time) which consisted of working 15 hour days (additional hours on the weekends) on top of a 2-3 hour commute for the past few weeks. It hasn't been easy, and I've been very tired so I slept 12 hours today to finally catch up! So although I know it's no excuse - everything in my life has kind of been on hold through yesterday.

HOWEVER, now that the worst of my hectic work schedule is over, I finally have time to get back in shape in all aspects of my life and am very excited about Nepal! To be honest, I actually don't know much about Nepal nor what to expect from this trip, so I'm starting to read up more on the people, culture, etc. Any information you guys can pass me (from those you've been before I'd really appreciate!). I went to New Mexico on a short-term mission trip when I was in college to work with Native Americans and went to China two summers ago (with Dave and other members of our church) to lead an English camp. They have both been very different yet very amazing experiences, so I'm am very excited to see the work God is doing in Nepal. Dave and I have committed to taking a short term mission trip at least once a year if possible, so hopefully this is just the beginning. :)

For fun, Dave and I also enjoy watching movies - but now with our friend TIVO and our new buddy "Wii" (which we just bought ourselves for our birthday), we enjoy staying home and relaxing. Dave and I actually met through "poker nights" which was something I did probably at least once a week before we got married. haha As for outdoor sports, I love snowboarding and playing golf (which was something I only did before I married Dave b/c he's not big on golf but hopefully we'll pick it up again this summer). I really look forward to spending time with you guys and will be praying for you! Please also pray for Dave and I as we do our best to train ourselves spiritually, physically and mentally. I wish we could have met you all in person beforehand - look forward to hearing more from you guys!

Selina's Bio

Hi A-team! It's Selina, here =) * pic- taken at San Fran (funny, one of few pics I found at work)

I'm stoked about going to Nepal! It'll be my first time. It has been soooo.. long since my last 'medical' mission. That was at Yunan, China- at the border of Tibet, last century- hahaha- 1999, that is! So, I'm sure it's not just by coincident that I'll be returning to the other side of the Himalayas! I’ve been praying about going to medical missions ever since the first, but God had gently said ‘no’ to all the prior trips or stirred me to other mission trips. So, when Tim told me about this May trip, I simply answered that I

would pray about it, prepared if God said ‘no’ again. So, imagine my excitement when all the doors opened up. The best is when I opened up the May schedule and found out that I was not scheduled to work a single day in May at all of my jobs!

About me: Born in Singapore, Grew up in the Midwest- Missouri (not the state of misery!), Hopped to Chicago, Southern California, & Washington DC prior to coming to Hawaii.

Currently: I’m a Med-Peds hospitalist. I get to take care and play with little keikis and BIG children. I balance shift work at two hospitals and take up some extra out-patient locums at community health clinics, along with my faculty position. Though it may sound busy, I love my job as I only work about 12-14 days a month which allows me to move my schedule around for missions! Yipeee! We serve an Awesome God!

These are a few of my favorite things: I love movies, too!!! (Let’s have movie nite!) I admit that I have a huge DVD collection- ranging from Disney movies to action to foreign dramas! (Some of our team members have ridiculed me about my collection and also kept my collection for their own previewing! =) hahaha) I do love to read- I’m a Henri Nouwen junkie at the momemt! I enjoy scrap booking! When I have time to get out- I enjoy hikes (the amateur level) and traveling! So, Nepal here we come!

To check out my blog of thoughts: www.xanga.com/seekye_first

Lynnette

HiyEe Amy and Dave!!! :) I'm Lynnette Kim, aka Dj's girlfriend, who is also on the Nepal team... Here on the left is a picture of Dj and I.

About me:
I was born and raised on the beautiful Island of Oahu. (Lived here all my life)...I currently work for my friend, who's a financial adviser, as his personal assistant. It's a blessing to be working for a friend because he allows me to go on missions trip any time of the year with out any limitations. :)

What I enjoy doing: Well, I love to dance!!! I'm also trying to GAIN weight so I'm trying to eat every minute of the day espeically since I'm training for the 8hr hike. :) I enjoy meeting new people and helping people out wherever needed. ... hmm, Oh of course... I ABSOLUTELY love hanging out with my boyfriend DJ GARCES!!!! We like to paint, sketch at the park, go surfing- I recently learned how to surf (Tara is my role model for that!!)... :) That's pretty much it for now...

Nepal: I am very excited about Nepal! I look forward to the awesome things that God is going to do there! I'm so blessed to be a part of a MEDICAL MISSION'S TEAM...even though I have no medical training what so ever. I believe it'll be a wonderful, memorable and a learning experience. I'm especially excited for the 8hour hike. I can't wait to be one with nature and actually live with the Nepalis.

Excited to meet y'all!

Tara's Bio

Hey guys!! I'm Tara Hiura as all of you know. I also already know Dave and Amy, but I'll try to fill you all in on things you may not know. :) Here's a picture of Tim and I...yes, I went to Kona too, though you can't tell from Tim's picture. :) But that really was Tim's only picture...nice wave babe!

As most of you know, I'm currently finishing up my pre-reqs for Nursing School. Hopefully I'll get in to the program and start in the fall. I'm just waiting to hear back from KCC (Kapiolani Community College) in mid-May. So, that's what I do for a living. I go to school, study and live off of my wonderful husband. I also try to be a good wife by cooking and cleaning too. :)

For fun, I really enjoy surfing, of course. Like Tim said, it's a great way to get exercise and spend time with people. It's all about the fellowship...right DJ?? :) I also enjoy having people over and watching movies. I'm sort of a movie buff. I can watch the same movies over and over again and not get tired of them. I would prefer watching a movie at someones house rather than going to the theater. I guess I'd rather save money and be able to talk about the movie with friends. I'll go to the theater if there is a really good movie I want to see, if it's date night, or if a bunch of friends are going together. Tim and I went to see Nacho Libre with Dave and Amy in LA and that was a stretch for me...though it was great to hang out with you guys. :)

This trip in May will be my third trip to Nepal. I'm super excited about returning to see the people we've built relationships with in the past. You all will grow to love these people. I'm also stoked about taking the trek to the outer villages. We get to bring medical assistance to a place that has never seen a doctor before. It will definitely be a physical, emotional and spiritual challenge, but I know we'll rely on God more than ever.

I guess that's it for me. Please don't forget to be praying for us on our trip to Cameroon. We're going to be gone from March 17-April 2. Thanks!

Blessings to you all!

Tim's bio

Aloha everyone!
Sorry, that's the only picture I have on my computer...hahahaha

I'm Tim Hiura. Well I actually have met Dave and Amy before. Dave was one of my good buddies from medical school at UC Davis. He was actually my lab partner and roomate! He was actually one of a few people who help plant seeds which eventually lead me to Christ! Amy, I met over a year ago as Daves new girlfriend (now wife) at our wedding in Hawaii(10/22/06). I can say that you two are great together and I can see an even brighter spirit in Dave since he found you!

About me: I was born and raised in Los angeles, CA. Went to undergrad at UCSD and medschool at UCDavis. Moved to Hawaii in spring of 2003 to do residency at UH Family medicine. I just finished residency in June '06 and have been working at Haleiwa family health center on the North shore of Oahu.

As you all know I enjoy surfing during my freetime as it is the best way to keep in shape and enjoy the blessing of the ocean/sun/waves that God has given to us! Hahahaha, like the picture(that was in kona) My wife, Tara and I try to get in the water at least 1-2 x per week to surf together. We also enjoy serving on medical mission trips 1-2x per year to various places.

Nepal: this will be my second time to Nepal on a medical mission trip. My first trip was last year and it was an awesome experience! The relationships and people there are so precious. I had Nepal withdrawls for a while after coming back to Hawaii. Although many do not know Christ, they are hungry for more! That's why we will go and be Jesus' hand and feet and share the Good News with those who do not know him yet and inspire/energize those that already know Him!

I look forward to serving side by side with everyone!

tim

DJ Garces

Hi Dave and Amy, I'm DJ. That's me on the left with my girlfriend Lynnette, who is also on this missions team. She'll probably make me change this picture because she's picky about pictures of herself being displayed, but it's the only one I got so there is really nothing I can do!

Anyway, I used to Pastor a small church here in Hawaii called The Journey - we recently closed the doors on the church, because I felt God was calling me more into marketplace ministry and into missions. So, I joined up with 2 of my friends whom I used to work with, to do web development again - with the hope of being a light and blessing to the community we interact with in business. This company also gives me incredible flexibility to do short - medium term missions trips of which I look forward to doing.

When I'm not working, I enjoy exercising with Lynnette (as we train for the crazy 8hr hike that awaits us in Nepal) and surfing every Tuesday morning on the North shore with Tim.

Why am I interested in going to Nepal? This will be my third time, and I really like the relationships that have already been established there with the church we work with. I also just have a heart to serve and bless those who are in need in whatever way I can, hoping in some way to show them what Jesus is like.

That's me (sort of) in a nutshell. I like forward to meeting you guys face to face!

Okay everyone else, go ahead and introduce yourself! Don't forget to include the following:
1. Share what you do for a living
2. Share what you enjoy doing
3. Share why you are interested in going to Nepal
4. A picture of yourself