A life-long journey of faith and healing Laie Courtyard Marriott housekeeper says despite all her struggles, she has always heard God’s voice BY HAILEY HUHANE After years of hardships and trials, Jamie Kalawai’a Lindsey, a housekeeper at the Laie Courtyard Marriott, turned her life over to God, and her friends said her example of faith has been an inspiration to them. As a housekeeper, Lindsey has many responsibilities. Each day she is required to make beds, refresh towels and deep clean up to 10 rooms. However, Lindsey said her most important responsibility each day is to reflect on her Savior, Jesus Christ, and help those she interacts with see Him through her. Lindsey’s faith and abiding relationship with God has been a life-long journey. In the past, she shared, she struggled with addiction, financial difficulties and other personal struggles. Through it all, Lindsey said God never gave up on her. “I’m not saying life is easy, but every day we get new grace and new mercy from Him, and it’s our choice whether or not we’re going to grab His hand and walk with Him.” Lindsey’s supervisor, Cindy Pasi, expressed gratitude for the relationship she has with Lindsey. Pasi said through the years the two have supported one another through life’s difficulties and even prayed together. Pasi said, “As we have talked about our personal struggles, she always reminds me that Heavenly Father knows my situation, my frustrations, and my pain, and He is in charge.” Lindsey has been a source of constant support, said Pasi, always ready to listen and 18
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Jamie Lindsey works at the Laie Courtyard Marriott hotel but is known as a woman of faith by her friends and co-workers. Photos by Ho Yin Li.
offer a hug. Pasi acknowledged Lindsey’s awareness of those around her and said her care and concerns are genuine. “We are not of the same faith, but our love for our Heavenly Father is the same.” As a junior, Lindsey dropped out of high school and began working in construction on Maui. Lindsey said at the time, she was involved in a troubled relationship where she was introduced to drugs. She explained, “There was a void in my heart. [I always wanted] to feel loved and important and secure. I was looking for that.” Lindsey said through those early years she consistently heard God’s voice. “All throughout my life, I heard God’s still voice. I just wasn’t listening. I always knew God loved me, but I
never felt Him intimately. Still, I would always hear Him. It was the weirdest thing.” As time went on, Lindsey said her drug habit became an addiction. Scared and lost, Lindsey said she decided to pray. In her prayer, she asked God to help her quit her addiction. And, in return, she would never go back to it. “That day I quit cold turkey. I’d never heard of that. No addict quits cold turkey and just never goes back.” Years later, Lindsey met her husband Thomas, and they had four children. At the time, Lindsey said her family was in and out of church, and they were soon faced with marital problems that required her to rely on God. “Our relationship was good, but there were some things throughout the years
