Guest Comments

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
Thank you for allowing us to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary in Hawaii! Sorry we blew the lights out all over the island! We enjoyed the rest and the scenic trips as well as being enriched by our worship together. Thanks also for the special help with the wheel chair for Joyce. May God bless and keep you as you together serve Him!

Rev. Lloyd and Joyce Strelow
Hemet, Ca
December,2008

Dear Jeff and Lynda
What a blessing it’s been to us to spend three restful and delightful days at Eden by the Sea. We wish we could stay longer, but our family call us on to Kona. This apartment is so attractively decorated and finished with everything a person needs. Thank you for this loving and caring ministry.

To our special family!
What a blessing to able to come here and see our 3 beautiful great grandsons. 4 generations of Mueller’s - WOW! Sorry we didn’t get to the beach but the rain and wind were very interesting. I must say you took great care of me and Opa! A very special week which we will always remember with great fondness and love! In our Savior’s name

Aloha Jeff and Lynda,
Thank you so much for everything….the beautiful cottage (tastefully decorated), the goodies in the fridge, the use of the beach gear…all made our stay a blessing.
We loved the romantic dinner and the hot tub too!

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
What a tremendous ministry you have to your brothers and sisters in Christ. This place is a refreshing paradise! Thank you, Mahalo, for letting us stay here and be recipients of your graciousness. We can see from all the journaling of others that you have richly blessed so many here in this place of peace. “May the Lord, from whom all peace comes, Himself give you His peace at all times and in all ways.” Amen. I Thess. 3:16 We pray God’s blessings continually be on you and your ministry.

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
We would like to thank you. “Mahalo”, for the restful, relaxing two weeks we spent here. Eden by the Sea provides an excellent place to unwind. We especially enjoyed our “romantic dinner” provided (prepared) by Chef Lynda. It was the best meal we had while on vacation. We will definitely share our experience with others so they may also enjoy God’s beautiful Hawaii.

Dearest Jeff and Lynda,
Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo! What an awesome place, filled with the beauty and peace of God’s creation. God is using you in an amazing way to touch and reach so many through your gifts of hospitality and love. We leave here refreshed and ready to return to our God-given tasks with delightful memories and an appreciation for his incredible state. Blessings on your ministry.

Dear Jeff and Lynda
Thank you for allowing us to share your beautiful place. May God continue to bless your ministry here. The cottage is beautiful and our stay here was even better than we expected. Of all the beaches we visited, Kailua Beach was the best. Our two best and favorite restaurants were Pinky’s and Assagio’s. We intend to share your beautiful “Eden” with other church workers, so they too can experience a fun and relaxing vacation. In His Service,

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
God is using both of you in such a powerful way through your church, school and mission ministries and your ministry families in Oahu and foreign lands! Your personal ministry of Eden by the Sea touches people with unconditional love all over the mainland as well. By helping couples be refreshed and renewed in this beautiful place, they are encouraged to serve those whose lives they touch. It has such a rippling effect! Words can’t adequately express how much we were blessed. You think of every big and little detail to make this a perfect experience-from maps, restaurant and activity suggestions. Books about this lovely place, romantic music. Lovely gardens, the lit torch to welcome us home each night and then that wonderful dinner! It’s truly overwhelming to be served like this! We pray that you also will experience this kind of love from others. You made it possible for us to see and experience this beautiful park of God’s creation. In the midst of your very busy church and family responsibilities, you still make time to share this kind of love to “strangers” and through that we feel like “family” Mahalo! We hope our paths may cross again. God has demonstrated His love to us through you and for that we are most grateful!

Dear Lynda and Jeff,
Our time here in beautiful Hawaii is coming to an end. We want to thank you both from the bottom of our hearts for your hospitality, for allowing us to stay at the beautiful, peaceful Eden by the Sea. It is most comfortable and a wonderful place. Spending time with your and our children and grandchildren has been the most fulfilling. I am so grateful to God for placing our son in such a warm and loving family. I know that he truly loves you both and respects your opinions and your advice. Yes, we are truly blessed also to have a wonderful daughter we have gained in Nikki. She is a wonderful wife and mother. God is good!

Pastor Jeff and Lynda
Many, many mahalos for inviting us to stay at your peaceful cottage! What could be a better way to spend our 2nd anniversary than a little R&R on the windward side of the island. Just 2 years since you guys came all the way out to Maryland to marry us! What wonderful memories!
Thank you so much for the warm hospitality and generosity!

Dear Jeff and Lynda
We thank you so much for sharing this lovely cottage with us. We especially enjoyed the beautiful yard. The maps and directions were so helpful. You certainly have the gift of hospitality-and we thank God for you.

Dear Jeff and Lynda
Mahalo! The time and many blessings we have experienced during our time at Eden by the Sea have been certainly a gift from God. We have considered it to be a truly moving experience to worship with the members of Good Shepherd. We pray that God will continue to richly bless your ministry through Eden by the Sea and to the people of Hawaii.

Our MAHALO’s
Many thanks for sharing your gift of hospitality with us. Aloha-hello, goodbye, and now a special place in our hearts for you and your ministry. Hosting a wonderful evening for two-romantic music, exquisite food, delightful service. Acknowledging God who gifts us with such beauty, people, and abundant grace. Living discipleship and service to the Lord who so loves all His children is so evident in your lives. O give thanks to the Lord for His mercy endures and his loves is everlasting!

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
We came here a few days ago with a burden on our minds. My young church needs to grow and you both have taught me the Lord’s way of Church growth. The necessary gift is hospitality. Two nights ago I woke with the sound of running water. I noticed it was raining a warm rain. So I went out and sat under the canopy and in joy and peace I prayed, thanking God for all His gifts and my home church. He then said do me, “I gave you food and clothing and security but you did not know me. I gave you home and health but you did not know me. So I come to you by water and the word and you know me.” It is God who reached out to us in hospitality even when we do not know Him and then by Grace comes to us in our baptism and adopts us into His family. I sat in the rain under this beautiful canopy in the Garden of Eden and all was clear to me. Your beautiful home was a type for our heavenly home. God’s servants provided for us all that we needed for our peace, joy, and even security in this house. In our Father’s house are many mansions and we had ours in your home. The house represented the church universal and as you provided for us the most wonderful meal, it reminded me of the most beautiful meal the church can give. Prepared the His servants we partake of His body and blood at each banquet, where Christ is at the center of the menu. Thank you for being our friends giving us the peace, joy, and direction of hospitality.

Dear Jeff & Lynda,
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news!” Thank you for the ways you have shared God’s grace in all its forms with us this week. This was a wonderful place for us to begin our married life together-so relaxed, pampered, refreshed….so much time together. We have been able to explore the island, enjoyed worship with your family. May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ bless you as you “turn many to righteousness and so shine life the stars in the heavens”.

Jeff and Lynda
Susan and I are going with a sense of humility. It is always humbling to be served and honored by a man and woman of God. You have a good work here and our prayers will be that God stretches the foundation of your ministry and increases the anointing of your effectiveness by the Spirit. Thank you for serving the Body of Christ so well. We love you and look forward to seeing you again soon. Thank you! (Gary)
What a blessing it has been to stay in your lovely Eden by the Sea and to get to know both of you-The Lord certainly has called you to this very special ministry and given you both the gifts of a servant’s heart and of love for God’s people and His Kingdom. Your place and the Spirit of God that is so evident here have truly ministered to us in precious and eternal ways. The candlelight dinner was wonderful and the food delicious and the service impeccable. Thank you booth for all the love and heart you pour into your ministry here and at Good Shepherd. We were indeed blessed to worship with you all this morning and with our dear brother “Bubba”. We felt the Spirit of the Lord present in your church this morning and we love the sincerity and transparent heart and genuineness that radiates from you, Jeff, as you share the Words of God. We truly are grateful for the opportunity to stay at Eden by the Sea and our hearts will miss it and you all-we look forward to seeing you again and will keep you and your family, Good Shepherd, and your ministry in our prayers.

Dear Lynda & Jeff,
Our bags are packed and off we go, refreshed. “Be still and know that I am God” has special meaning after such a delightful, peaceful respite. Our memories are also packed…the beauty of Oahu, the majesty of the mountains, the clear water and air. But Eden by the Sea will always be our first memory of Oahu. We too enjoyed the paradise garden, your spiritual library, the décor so carefully planned, and Jeff’s meticulous gardens. However, the best memory is being here with God’s servants, enjoying your casual gift of hospitality, getting to hear about your ministry and church planting, and family, and your memories of the Whited family during seminary days. We so appreciated the energetic mission minded emphasis of your worship service. It was so timely for us both-Jim at the Eastern District Office and Sue with a move to coordinated worship at First Trinity.

Dear Lynda & Jeff,
Thank you for your ministry! The cottage is beautiful and the patio area, a paradise. What a wonderful way to spend our twentieth Wedding Anniversary! Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, the “Gourmet Dinner” and of course our excellent waiter. May God Bless you in the future as you continue “Eden by the Sea”. We had a great vacation, much needed and well spent. We look forward to our “25th” Anniversary, or hey…maybe sooner.

What a wonderful ministry you have. Our 8 days here were so special. Your hospitality was much appreciated as well as your warmth and friendliness. The dinner was great and the waiter superb! Thanks for sharing your home with us. We’ll pray for you on your mission trip.

Mahalo Jeff and Lynda,
The Aumann's are very grateful for your love, kindness and hospitality. We are excited about your ministry and love your church. God has sent the right team in both of you. Keep in touch. In Christ,

Jeff and Lynda
Thank you so much for all your wonderful hospitality. The guest house felt like a home away from home, with a few extra fantastic fringe benefits. Nothing beats the rest and relaxation we found here.
God’s blessings,

Mahalo Jeff and Lynda!
Our discussion on our last day at the beach was-“when are we coming back!?” God’s provision through you in Eden by the Sea has been an awesome blessing, and a one-of-a-kind getaway we have come to love. In our 10 years of marriage, this for obvious reasons has been our favorite vacation. And has left us ready to tackle the next 10 years. Though we pray we’ll be back before that! Gavin 7, Jenna 5, Julia 2 and Jadyn 11 months will reap the long lasting benefits of our time here to renew as individuals and as a couple. We will be praying for you both as you carry out God’s vision for your church and all the ministries stemming from there! Please know that if you are ever in Colorado-our “Eden by the Mountains” you will be treated as family-just as we have been treated.

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
Peter writes: “Show hospitality without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied graces…by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Chris. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:9-11)
We give glory and praise to God today for your hospitality, for the gift of Eden by the Sea, and for your ministry to us this week in this wonderful place. We have had a wonderful time and God bless us through you. Thank you so much! May God bless you and your family as you continue to serve Him! Christ is in our midst-He is and ever shall be.

Aloha Jeff & Lynda!
We want to thank you for the wonderful and marvelous week we spent in your and God’s care. What we are taking back to Kansas with us is a sense of rest and renewal. What we liked the best in Oahu: the guest house (especially the wonderful bed! Sooo…relaxing); our time spent with you; the beautiful views of these Hawaiian island; the people from here-they are so kind and courteous; the Paradise Cove Luau; a refreshing church service (I never knew contemporary worship could be so good!); the gourmet meal cooked by Lynda and served so graciously by Jeff; and to include the meals we had from various island restaurants. Being disabled, I was really worried about our trip to Hawaii. I prayed fervently that God would take care of me. And, my prayers were answered. I have had much less pain and fatigue here. It was a blessing for both of us! Please tell your church members how welcomed we felt at church on Super Sunday. They are special people.
Take care, God Bless, and Mahalo-once again!

Dearest Lynda & Jeff,
What a marvelous place of God’s Creation! We have been renewed physically and spiritually. We enjoyed worshipping with you, seeing the sights, watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the delicious “words cannot describe” dinner you made for us, and becoming to each other and to our Lord. Thanks for your ministry and all of your prayers.
Aloha in Jesus,

Dear Lynda & Jeff,
Eden by the Sea called with a lure that led to great anticipation. Our experience here as we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary, more than matched our hope & dreams. What a marvelous time. Worship together, friendship exchanged and a marvelously prepared and served anniversary meal elevated the experience to a height that we thank you for and praise the Lord for your ministry & love. Thank you and God bless,

Lynda and Jeff,
What a wonderful retreat and vacation we have had here at “Eden by the Sea” this week. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful view of His handiwork. Hawaii is so gorgeous-what a glimpse of Heaven! Thank you for your hospitality, the delicious dinner in the garden and the fellowship afterward. We both needed an opportunity to recharge and reconnect and this was the best place to do that. I keep hearing “BE STILL AND KNOW…” in my head and heart. As we head to the beach for our day of relaxation, we say Mahalo to you and to our Father for giving us this time and place.

Dear Lynda & Jeff,
For several months we excitedly anticipated our visit to Oahu & Eden by the Sea, a retirement present from Grace Lutheran Church in Woodbridge Virginia and an anniversary present from our sons, Jonathan and Jeremy. Forty years of God’s grace both in ministry and marriage! Our stay was a wonderful combination of sight seeing and relaxing on this lovely island. Foster Botanical garden was my favorite and Keith’s favorite was the morning hike to the top of Diamond Heat Crater. Morning, afternoon and evening trips to the many beaches, great restaurants and new food experiences, shopping at Waikiki and the Aloha Stadium swap meet were fun too. Best of all was our time together for rest, recreation, refreshment and renewal. Thank you Jeff & Lynda for the delicious candlelight dinner. (I wish my molten lava cake would turn out as nice as yours Lynda!) We especially thank you for opening your guest house to us so that these two lovely weeks could happen. For us it was truly paradise at Eden by the Sea.
And God said: Behold, it was very good! Mahalo- and God bless you!

Dear Jeff & Lynda,
Our sweet hoalohas, I can’t believe how fast this week has gone. It has been an amazing time for me in many ways. From the first day until now, I’ve had quite a lesson in humility. I’ve truly been humbled by your gracious love, sacrificial giving and your servant hearts. I’ve also been in awe at God’s amazing creation (talk about an artistic masterpiece). His imagination is simply endless and full of surprises. The place you have created here at Eden By The Sea is an amazing service to so many. It is welcoming and homey. So I’d like to join all the others who’ve come before me and say “Thank you for heeding His call.” Before I close, I have a word for you from our great God. Taken from 3John vs. 5: “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.”
Keep up the good work and may God bless you abundantly.
We love you hoalohas,

Tami-Kyleah-Kaitlin Burke
October 2007

Dear Jeff and Lynda
You are truly blessed to be a blessing. What a wonderful nine days we had. You are such gracious people. Our every needs were met. God has given both of you the gift of hospitality. We came here seeking rest and renewal with the Lord, each other and nature. We leave renewed and re-dedicated to serving the Lord in this beautiful world. The dinner was the best and waiter was quite charming. Thank you for this opportunity and a friendship we now share in Christ.
In Christian Love,

Thank you, Jeff and Lynda so very much. We had a wonderful time and appreciate the two of you very much. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Aloha!

Brian & Tina Marantette
Residence?
July 2007

Jeff and Lynda,
Oh, no! Time to go back home! Eden by the Sea has been a lovely “time out of time”, with no responsibility, no schedule, no worries. We’ve been “foot loose and fancy free” – la-la la-la la….God has blessed you with the inspiration, the setting, the amenities (even a French waiter!) for this unique ministry. Thank you for your hospitality and attention to every detail. Our rating for Eden by the Sea: * * * *
Blessings,

Rev. Richard & Michelle Schmidt
Residence?
July 2007

Jeff and Lynda,
Thank you very much for your Hawaiian hospitality. We have enjoyed our week here very much. We pray that God will continue to bless your outreach efforts in this area. Thank you for providing such a wonderful place to rest and relax. We have enjoyed seeing many sights and shared numerous unique experiences this week. It has been especially nice to have so much time for each other. Continue to share God’s love and the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Bob & Aimee Moeller
Hartford, SD
July 2007

Jeff & Lynda,
Al and I can’t thank you enough for all that you provided for us here at Eden by the Sea. You are both such delightful people, and we could not stop raving about the quaint cottage, beautiful patio, and delicious romantic dinner. We loved exploring Oahu together, being adventurous on trails, and the rest and relaxation of just taking it easy on the beach. Without your generosity, our honeymoon stay here in Hawaii would not have been possible. Praise God for all his beautiful creation here in Hawaii and for giving you such missional hearts and minds. Mahalo and God bless you both in your ministry!

Kayla & Alessandro Preto (DCE)
Hayward, CA
August 2007

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
What a deeply relaxing, refreshing and rejuvenating time! We met our Creator and Redeemer at very turn – in you as our hosts, in your congregation as they (we) worshipped and praised God, from the desolation of volcanoes to the majesty of lush waterfalls. If God can take a place of desolation like a lava flow from a volcano and turn it into a place like Hawaii, which feels like paradise, can you imagine the wonder and glory of the new heaven and new earth? I think he has given us a glimpse…and it is that glimpse of Him that will sustain us as we return into His service. Thank you for heeding His call to provide Eden by the Sea and for your service to His Kingdom, for the opportunity to “be still and know…”

Rev. Jeff & Melissa Duncan
Wichita, Kansas
August 2007

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
Mahalo! We were so excited when we first heard about “Eden by the Sea”! We knew we couldn’t miss out on such a wonderful opportunity to come and explore Hawaii. It is the first time in 16 years that it is just the two of us. We had a glorious time doing whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted to. Thank you for everything you provided. I can’t tell you how many hours we spent sitting in the beach chairs enjoying the beauty of everything. Snorkeling was also one of our favorite activities. It’s just something you can’t do in Ohio . The room and garden area are beautiful. I’m sitting outside right now enjoying our last few hours in the garden. Thank you again for everything. You couldn’t have been more wonderful hosts. We truly hope to return again sometime. God’s blessings,

Kevin & Jeanette Jud
Hamilton, Ohio
June 2007

Dear Jeff and Lynda
We are so grateful for you and the ministry God has called you to here in Hawaii (maybe He'll call us here after this fantastic week!) Thanks for providing us with a great place for our honeymoon. It is a trip we will never forget. The meal was wonderful, the room was peaceful and we can say with certainty that we are relaxed and refreshed. May the Lord continue to bless you in ministry and life together.
Aloha in Jesus (for when we meet again!),

Micah and Amanda Steiner
Centennial, Colorado
April 2007

May the Lord continue to bless each of you in your ministry to church workers. Eden by the Sea provided a very relaxing spot to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. God's love and grace was made real through your hospitality-We will look forward to a return visit in the future.
In His service,

Rev. David-Paul and Gloria Zimmerman
Seattle Washington
March 2007

Dear Jeff and Lynda
On my first morning here in the cottage I had my devotion and felt the Spirit's presence through that sense of peace He's known for. Then I recalled that you had been praying for my safe arrival and time of rest and reflecting. Your prayers have been answered! This time has been a homecoming for me-a time to renew friendships, get my focus, and recount where God has led me in the past as He's held me up as a military chaplain. Thank you for providing this comfortable place of refuge. May the Lord continue to use you and this unique ministry to bless others.
In His love, much aloha,

LCMS Chaplain Dave Schilling
Nova Scotia, Canada
March 2007

Dear Jeff and Lynda,
We have looked forward to coming to Hawaii for a very long time. It is as beautiful and enchanting as we have ever dreamed. But it is Eden by the Sea that has turned our trip into a vacation. Our memories of Hawaii will all center around our memories of this beautiful cottage and you. God has given you the gift of hospitality and you have glorified Hs name in it. Thank you so much for delivering showers of blessings.
Two more love birds,

Teresa and Bill Sheffield
February 2007

Dear wonderful friends in Christ,
Thank you for making it possible for us to come to this amazingly beautiful place.
We feel so blessed to just "soak up" all the beauty. You have provided a special ministry here and the Lord has blessed all who come, and you must feel blessed too, to be able to have such a spiritual uplift to the others who also minister in His name. We felt privileged to have met your son and daughter and cute little grandson. We also enjoyed the church services. You are so joyful, it is contagious. We love you and hope to come again.
God's blessings,

Rev. David and Jean Chamberlain
February 2007

Jeff and Lynda,
We waited a long time to enjoy "Eden by the Sea". Good things come to those who wait. What a place to rest, relax and refocus on the important things in life. We really enjoyed the Good Shepherd Ohana. Everyone was extremely friendly! They made us feel warm and welcome at Sunday's Worship. I think the highlight of the vacation was our special candlelight "romantic" dinner under the tiki lights. "Joh-frey" was an excellent server and kudos to the chef! The meal was excellent! We than you for allowing us use your special place here in God's paradise. The two of you are wonderful servants of God. Your love for God is evident as you demonstrate that love be serving others. My God continue to bless each of you, your ministry at Good Shepherd, and your ministry of providing a place for church workers to rest, relax and refocus.
In Christ,

Rev. Todd and Gina Schroeder
Richland, Washington
January 2007

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