Aloha ohana, hello family. Have you met Joel? He is my neighbor. He may be your pastor, as his job title proclaims, he is a father to two handsome boys and husband to a beautiful artist Mandy Martyn, but that is not all Joel is. If you belong to his family, his congregation or his neighborhood, some things become immediately obvious. Joel understands grace. He also practices gratitude. He has great compassion and these abilities helped shape the career he chose, in serving others but it has not ever stopped with his job. It is part of who he is.

Joel has an operable, cancerous tumor on his kidney. Doctors think that he’s had it for quite some time but it was only recently discovered. Thankfully, the mass is completely contained, though it has consumed one of his kidneys. It can be removed but it is so large (the size of a volleyball in volume) that the procedure must be performed manually, which for Joel, results in a much larger incision, much more involved surgery, and much longer recovery. Joel has had various symptoms that resulted in his discovery of this tumor that have left him unable to work. High fevers, significant pain, loss of appetite, low energy. Most would agree with a tumor and illness of this type, Joel needs to focus on recovery. 

Will you help me, help him? Will you be the hands and feet of Christlike love so that Joel may return to that which he does best, love and shepherd others. This request is for direct assistance in covering the costs of his medical expenses, both those incurred before the discovery of the tumor and those following. This assistance will also be used to cover the co-pays, travel expenses (as the surgery must be performed on Oahu) and lost income for Joel’s recovery period (3 months – and yes, temporary disability has been applied for). Soon I will add links to an online charity auction, where you may bid for donated items that support these goals, including original artwork by Joel’s talented partner and local artist Mandy Martyn.

All proceeds above and beyond what Joel requires for past present and future medical expenses will be passed along to other families in need of medical financial assistance. This site has been set up in Joel's name, so that all funds go directly to Joel, no pass throughs. Mahalo!