“Renewal in Hawaii”

We recently had the opportunity to visit Big Island Hawaii. While there, we witnessed a live volcanic eruption—an awe-inspiring experience. We watched as molten lava burst from the earth and slowly flowed down the mountainside. Lava destroys everything in its path, yet as it cools, it becomes the foundation for something new. In time, life returns. What looks like an ending becomes a beginning. The Hawaiian Islands were formed this way. Seeing the volcano erupt was a powerful reminder that the land is still being shaped—still becoming.

That theme of destruction and renewal followed us throughout the week: sunshine and rain, wind and waves, fire and calm—forces that seem to oppose one another, yet together create balance, beauty, and life. At one point, we wondered whether there might be a Community of Christ congregation on the island. There was. We decided to attend Sunday worship, and we learned something surprising—the church in Hilo Hawaii was built by Elwin and Peggy Vest.

The Vests are connected to an important chapter in my life. They built Rose Vista Home in Woodbine—the first nursing facility in the state of Iowa—and Longview Home in Missouri Valley (with another couple). Our family owned and operated those facilities for 49 years, and I served as an owner and administrator for 30 of those years.

In Iowa, Elwin and Peggy are remembered as pioneers in senior care. In Hawaiʻi, they are remembered as church builders. Same people. Same values. Different settings. Elwin was Iowa’s first licensed nursing home administrator. He served on a governor-appointed team that helped establish licensure rules and later became the first president of the Iowa Health Care Association. Yet, his greatest impact went far beyond titles or achievements. Together, Elwin and Peggy recruited and mentored caregivers, helping people see caregiving not just as a job, but as a calling. They were also appointee ministers in the RLDS Church, now known as Community of Christ. Elwin served as a church district president in Iowa, and he served earlier as a full-time minister in Hawaiʻi. Even in retirement, the couple continued to respond to God’s call—returning to help to build the church in Hilo.

I was only five years old when I “knew” Elwin and Peggy, so much of what I know comes through family stories—shared with deep respect and gratitude. That’s often how legacy works. It moves quietly from one life to another, from place to place, from one generation to the next. Standing in the church they helped build, I found myself reflecting on legacy—on what we leave behind and how our faithfulness continues in ways we may never see. Perhaps someday something I help build will continue to shape lives long after I’m gone.

Volcanic activity reminds us that renewal takes time—heat, pressure, and patience—but when it happens, new ground is formed, and new life emerges. Sitting in the Hilo Community of Christ congregation, I was reminded that God weaves our stories together across generations in ways we rarely expect. That, for me, is renewal—God’s grace and peace made real.

Mahalo!

Noel Sherer, President
Prairie Bluffs Mission Center
Community of Christ