I love to watch for signs of Christ’s Second Coming and signals from God for my own life. Mauna Loa was a historically big one! And God used my attention to this to convince me to start this website! Earthquakes and volcanos erupting are an obvious way for God to get our attention. Mauna Loa erupting got my attention, and then God used this sign to speak personally to me. I love how God speaks to us through real life events that capture our interest. The world’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa, erupted for the first time since 1984 (1984 was the year I was born and erupted from my mother’s womb. lol.) I also noticed that the largest volcano eruption of all time was Krakatoa on August 27 (my only son’s birthday) 1883.
On Nov 28 2022 Mauna Loa and I both erupted again together. It was in full eruption (started at 11:30 the night before) on my big surgery day. The surgery was a lot like having a baby. My womb was surgically ruptured then sealed up after having 5 babies of my own. I had a double salpingectomy and curettage surgery for a medical condition. This was a decision made after much prayer and the least invasive option that my Doctors would accept at this time. That was my final eruption! No more babies for me in this life. Although, I did not come home with a baby I gained something else from this surgery. It was a fiery trial that brought me closer to God and I heard his voice clearly: Now, is the time of fire. We need to have the fire of the testimony of Jesus Christ within us. We cannot contain it. Like Mauna Loa we must shout it to the world! I could feel the fire of the spirit bringing so much joy and I know that God wants this for all of us! I elaborate a bit more on this experience in the “About Me” tab at the top. (or click here: https://firepoppy.org/about-me/)
One More Similarity I Share with Mauna Loa:
USA Today says: The Mauna Loa summit has been closed since early October when the summit first began “experiencing heightened unrest.” This volcano and I really do have a lot in common! I’ve been feeling a lot of unrest and urgency to prepare for coming events since this past October. It’s felt a lot like nesting before the birth of a child. I have been preparing my home like crazy since October. I just can’t seem to shake the sense of urgency for what is happening in the world. I hear of natural disasters, escalating events leading up to WW3, deglobalization, big financial changes being made throughout the world, a coming recession, inflation, supply chain issues, the super drought, politics, and a world famine. It does not seem like the right time to be complacent right now. However, its not a fearful panic feeling. As I turn to the Lord I feel a sense of peace and the nudge to:
Prepare in Wisdom for Coming Days. For me, the temporal aspect looks like building home food storage, obtaining emergency preparedness items, creating a 72 hour kit, studying up on all skills that reinforce self reliance, gardening, obtaining extra medical supplies/medicine, reading up on how to prep for various situations, enjoying the easy good life we have now, and spending time with family while we are blessed with allowance for leisure. The spiritual aspect looks like reading the scriptures more, spending time with God in praise and holy communion, focusing on the temple and family history, taking more time and thought for others, magnifying my work as the Young Women’s President, giving more generously to the poor and needy, and offering a broken heart and contrite spirit to the Lord. As I have turned the dial up on these things I have received greater joy, more miracles, revelatory dreams, a greater awareness of God’s presence in my life at all times, and an increased desire to share these delights with the world!
My Surgery Experience:
Once at the hospital, Dave and I reminisced on our many memories walking the halls waiting for each of our 5 babies to be born. Giving birth is my only other real hospital experience as an adult. The process today reminded me so much of giving birth. But it ended up being even harder in some ways. I had anxiety leading up to it due to a traumatic memory of surgery as a child where I had my tonsils removed and cauterized along with sinus cauterization. I woke up during the procedure and later while still on the breathing machine.(terrible feeling like you aren’t getting enough air) I also remember looking in the mirror afterwards at my throat and realizing that SO much of it was gray and ashy from being burned too much. They even accidentally burned off my whole uvula! (That hanging tissue in your throat)
My salpingectomy was a much better experience. I didn’t react very well to the anesthesia, but at least I didn’t wake up mid-incision! I had severe nausea but I am glad the surgery was successful and it is done. The Saturday before surgery we had gone to the temple as a family and I felt as if the angels had followed me home and helped with the difficult experience. The grace of Jesus Christ is stunning.
Isaiah’s words capture the essence of what a fire poppy is.
I know that with his help I can be a Fire Poppy and Bloom Amidst the Doom and Gloom just as he did in his life. As Isaiah 61 so beautifully explains:
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them BEAUTY FOR ASHES, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 ¶ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests (and priestesses) of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles…
7 ¶ everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Isaiah’s words capture the essence of what a fire poppy is. He watched for the signs in the world that God’s hand was on the move. He testified that ALL things on the Earth were under his power and control. He was a man who lived in a time of change, turmoil, and witnessed God’s judgements upon the nations. He was aware of the Doom and Gloom but he always leaned into God’s light that he might still thrive and bloom. He brought to light many beautiful promises and blessings despite the challenges.
So after realizing that Mauna Loa is breaking her silence after almost 40 years…I decided to break my silence as well. She is the inspiration and impetus for my new website: Firepoppy.org
I believe there is even more significance and depth of meaning to the Mauna Loa sign to the world. I will delve deeper into my discoveries in my next post!
