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So how did Kona become involved in Ronnie John’s Sunset Grille, she asked me as we sat listening to the band playing reggae at the Monday Aloha Open Mic this evening. God introduced us…..
You see, God simply loves to use technology to his advantage, or should I say to allow us to use technology to his advantage and ultimately ours. myDarlin’Robert Kenui Pope and I decided that going out for dinner every evening was about the same price as staying in and preparing dinner ourselves and found this to be mostly true. So as we were out and about deciding on a local restaurant to have dinner at, I told him about a new app that one of my coworkers had told me about that had great discount codes for restaurants. And so I clicked the ‘nearby’ button on Scout Mob and lo and behold, there it was! Ronnie John’s Beach Café – channeling the spirit of a Pacific beach shack with a Southern flair. Really? Hawaiian BBQ burritos and Chicken Katsu with mac salad….a restaurant with Hawaiian cuisine right here in Marietta?!
It took us a couple of tries to actually get down there during their lunch time business hours, and when we did – we were so delighted! It just so happened that both Ronnie and John were there and myDarlin’ struck up a conversation with them. It was one of those surreal moments when one knows that God brought us there for more than a 50% off coupon. Magical conversation danced like a surf board on the waves as they talked of the food industry (Robert & John – both chefs), music – all three active musicians, surfing/beach life – all three lived it in their younger days and church. Great food, great people and musicians in the church band – I think that we like these folks – they are Ohana.
And so we go to the Marietta Vineyard, where Ronnie and John are both in the band. The music stopped and Pastor Ron began teaching, as I watched Robert’s eyes glow with an intense spark as he followed along with Bible Gateway on his iPad. And at the end of the service, Pastor Ron asked us to pray out loud for each other…. God, please show us if this is to be our home, we prayed out loud.
Ronnie John’s began to open Friday and Saturday evenings, and we delighted in making it our Friday Date Night. Time passed, myDarlin’ had a heart attack - surviving by the grace of God, he was asked to join the house band at church and our friendship with Ronnie, John and their Ohana grew. One year ago, Kona played for their second anniversary and we had a wonderful time.
And they talked of opening another location, and myDarlin’ was so excited for them, jumping in to help whenever and wherever he could – and playing the part of booking music for the restaurant. He was working on his retirement plan you see, wanting to play small solo gigs at lunch or weekday dinners, and with Kona on the weekends and this was part of him immersing himself in that. And so, he did realize his dream, with Kona playing the opening weekend and him hosting his Monday Open Mics.
And on that Sunday, everyone that God brought together with that little app Scout Mob was there with myDarlin’ as God called him home. Ronnie, John, Pastor Ron, Ohana and a host of angels gathered round as he joined the best band ever, God’s House Band. And that my sweet friend is the history of Kona and Ronnie John’s Sunset Grille.
Today I am filled with gratitude that God uses everything in his power, even an app, to orchestrate our lives when we open our hearts and spirits to him. Pastor Ron said that coincidence is God being anonymous, and one may see that in this story. When I look back over the events of the past couple of years, I can tell you that God is outright bold in what he did in our lives, and there’s no being anonymous about this one – he’s got his signature all over myDarlin’s soul!
#KeepLookingUp #PraiseGod
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