Eden By The Sea

Guest Comments


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,

Rev. Bob, Sandy & Brad Aumann
Slidell, Louisiana
April 2008

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,

Rev. Rick and Sara Anderegg
St. Roberts, Missouri
April 2008

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.

Jeffrey and Amy Meinz (DCE)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
March 2008

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.

Rev. Tim & Connie Booth
Hudson, Wisconsin
February 2008

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!

Rev. Rocky & Donna Mease
Derby, Kansas
February 2008
PS. I named the house gecko “George”. He has quite a singing voice. And we even to see him once. But he was in a great hurry!

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,

Rev. Bill & Carolyn Rusnak
St. Louis, Missouri
January 2008

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,

Larry & Kitty Oetting
Lincoln, Nebraska
January 2008

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.

Rev. Brad & Sherri Zerkel
Independence, Missouri
December 2007

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!

Rev. Keith and Joan Loesch
Lake Ridge, Virginia
November 2007

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,

Rev. Fred & Liz Klein
Burke Virginia.
September 2007

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…”

In Christ’s love,
Melissa Duncan
Blessings, Jeff and Lynda,
God has blessed all his children with special gifts to serve others. You have been given the talent of hospitality. I look around the carefully planned and manicured gardens of our ‘backyard paradise’ and can see and feel the love of God coming through all that I see and experience. What a blessed week of rest, relaxation and renewal with my lovely helpmeet, Melissa. She knows how hard it is for me to relax and take life slowly. Here, in your gift of hospitality, God has worked His miraculous wonders of refreshing joy! You said that we used the yard and garden more than anyone you can remember. It’s for good reason! Here, the sun warmed us and the moon captivated our attention, especially during the total lunar eclipse. Here the birds quietly sang to us of God’s providence. Here the palms and tropical plants whispered softly that God was caring for them as He was for us. The islands sing of His love and the joy our Father has in His creation. We are blessed to be His crown an d now renewed, we go forth to proclaim his glory! Mahalo!
In Christ’s love and peace, Jeff Duncan

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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