I had the extreme good fortune to be able to spend two weeks vacationing in Hawaii. It is more beautiful than the pictures, and I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to tour Oahu and Kauai in a Mustang convertible, with a dear college friend, experiencing the exquisite weather, breathtaking views, delicious restaurants, and local artist markets those islands have to offer! But the highlight of our trip resulted from an unexpected series of God-incidents that miraculously allowed us to be sponsored for a rare visit to Molokai – the island famous for its leprosy settlement and for cultivating Damien de Veuster and Marianne Cope into saints.

Before I visited Molokai, I had already been thinking about the formation of the Hawaiian Islands from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. To that remote and barren lava rock, God sent the wind and water, birds, and sea life to transform the islands into the lush and fertile lands they are today. Once habitable, people arrived to develop them further. What was once desolate and unfit for life is now prime real estate for residents and vacationers from around the globe. Evidence that God can transform the least in his kingdom into the greatest.

We know from the Bible and world history that in human society, nothing was much worse than being diagnosed with leprosy. Until the mid-1900s when treatments and ultimately a cure was discovered for what is now known as Hansen’s Disease, it was a long and lonely death sentence. So, approaching Kalaupapa, Molokai, in a 9-seat propeller plane, I was expecting to see the remains of a colony reminiscent of Ben Hur. Instead, I saw what is left of a lush and loving community transformed by the generosity, selflessness, and service of people like Sts. Damien, Marianne, and Servant of God Joseph Dutton. Just as God sent the birds and the seas to transform volcanic rock, he sent special people to convert the hearts and lifestyles of the lowest in society. That service transformed normal men and women into saints, proving again that with God no situation is too dire that it cannot be transformed into paradise; no person is so lost that they cannot be sanctified.

Scripture: Read Mark 1:40-42. What stands out?

Call to Action: Servant of God Joseph Dutton is being considered for canonization and needs two miracles to advance his cause. Google him to learn more, and pray to him for your intentions. If you experience a miracle due to those prayers, you may help Molokai claim its third saint!