MAHU MONTHLY MARCH 2022
ISN 7
NEWS ABOUT MAHU CHURCH AND MAHU VISION TRUST
WHAT'S NEW New staff and Intern Food parcels Global mission Alpha to start
HIGHLIGHTS Key updates Areas of need
OUR PEOPLE Faces of Mahu Church Notices
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MARCH 2022
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"YOUTH VISUAL CONSULTANT” Kayla Sutton Year 12 Favourite Subjects: Dance and Businesss
Junior Youth Leader Kayla Sutton has agreed to be our new Visual Media Consultant. She is currently completing Year 12, and plans to travel, and to continue tertiary study in Business and Dance. She will be taking photos of both Junior and Senior Youth Group, camps and everything in between. She is also helping with creating slideshows, video montages, Instagram stories, posters, advertising, and anything with social media. “My step-mum has done photography since I was little, she makes photo books, she just takes her camera everywhere, and I just love having those memories.” Kayla says. She got her first camera at age 7, and took a picture of the ground. This was the start of her passion for photography.
Kayla first came to Youth Group when her friend (and fellow awesome youthie) Evie invited her along to an Ice-Cream Party.
“I thought I would find it uncomfortable because everyone had known each other for a long time, but everyone was very welcoming.” She says she started coming about once a month after that. After becoming a Jr Youth Leader, she has attended every week. “Everyone hears about what we are doing at Youth Group but they don’t often get to see it. Maybe these photos and videos of the Youth Group could help get us out there more,” she says.
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MARCH 2022
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"ARONNA” Youth Intern ARONNA TAWAIA IS OUR NEWEST YOUTH INTERN, SHE WILL BE HELPING WITH MAHU TARGET IN TERM 2, THE PASIFIKA AND YOUTH PASTORATES, AND HELPING WITH ACTIVITY PACKS AND JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP.
She was born in Nauru where her father was a pastor for four years. The family moved back to Kiribati when she was three years old. She studied hospitality and reception, and worked in that field back in Kiribati. In 2016, she moved to New Zealand. She worked on a farm here during the day, and studied during the evenings. “I had the privilege of free English and money management courses while I was there,” she says. It was also here where she first met and moved in with Moe. After working at the farm, she spent a couple of years on reception at the Waitakere Resort. She also would provide help and advice to couples when they first migrated from Kiribati to New Zealand. At this time Moe was working in the bank, so Aronna would help the new couples with their English and with finding new homes, and she would refer them to Moe for banking and financial help. Moe was the one who recommended Aronna to start a Christian Leadership Course with our church. Aronna has also already volunteered for Mahu Target with Melissa over the past couple of years. She loves spending time and growing relationships with kids and youth. Her other hobbies include singing and composing songs. “I’m excited to learn how to run a kids programme, and to increase organisation skills and become more confident with the youth as well,” Aronna says. P. 3
MARCH 2022
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“FOOD PARCELS FOR THE ISOLATED” The team working for the Warkworth Christian Foodlink has been busy blessing families in the community, in addition to fulfilling the regular demands. Many have been affected by the self-isolation rules where movement was restricted, and our wonderful team for Foodlink reached out. We broadened our capabilities to cater to the general public as well as for Pacifica families specifically where Arney, Moe, Aronna and Rosanna have helped out in delivering a number of food parcels. Since the week of 24th Feb, the average number of food parcels was 25 boxes for Pacific families, and for the general families, it's been about 3 boxes in addition to our regular demands. Thanks to our local Warkworth New World also as they have made a generous donation of 24 food boxes to us that were delivered to families in need.
While the Omicron peak seems to have passed, the demand for food parcels has been steadily on the rise. If you would like to donate some food items, we have been collecting items in the Warkworth Countdown Food Box (top of the escalators). Alternativly, financial contributions can be made to:
Warkworth Christian Foodlink ANZ 01-0482-0005321-11
*Donations to the Foodbank are now Tax Deductible. If you are in need of a food parcel, or are aware of someone who is, please email the church office.
Apart from the usual fresh veggies and fruit, food parcels to Pacifica families reflected the Pacifica flavour where treasured items such as 4-5kg of rice, 4-5kg of frozen chicken pieces, corned beef, SPAM, canned mackerel and milk powder were included. Arney has commented that these pacific families were so grateful to receive these food parcels in real time of need. Having a sack of rice for many Pacifica families is symbolic in that it provides a sense of security for them.
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MARCH 2022
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GLOBAL MISSION
"STEWARDS OF GOD" As they generously make a cup of coffee with a biscuit and offer the best seat with the stunning sea view, I’m humbled by their constant thoughtful gestures presented by this medical professional couple whose desire is to wholeheartedly serve God. It’s been 10 years since Jono and Destinee have been living away from New Zealand. 7 years have passed since they decided to serve God as missionaries in Tonj after a few years of training and preparing. Jono has been integral in being involved in God’s work in South Sudan under the CHE (Christian Health Evangelism) programme, while Destinee has been helping the maternity care and women in South Sudan. While a lot of the recent highlights and challenges they encountered in South Sudan have been captured in the recent interview with Nick on the Mahu Church YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/XXiDpwwh-Gc), another opportunity came to shed a bit more light onto the key experiences during their stay this time in New Zealand.
In spite of all the trouble, the Macleod family is still full of grace and gratitude to be back in NZ to spend time with family and friends. During their return, they have enjoyed reuniting and spending time with family and friends. Jono and Destinee also managed to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary by themselves in Pyle’s Homestead in One Tree Point going on bush walks, catching some fish and reflecting. Zoey, Ellie and Shiloh have also been enjoying attending Horizon School and be immersed back into the NZ culture as well. Jono also mentions that another highlight has been being able to still work in the background for Kiwis for Sudan and IDAT (In Deed And Truth) to fundraise for the boredrilling project back in South Sudan. In spite of being able to accept sizable amounts of donations for tax purposes, they have managed to raise almost half of the target of $100K in the last 3 months.
Trying to leave during the COVID saga did not give them a smooth start. Despite their arduous effort of trying to book an MIQ spot in NZ 3 months in advance of their scheduled departure in December which was achieved through combined efforts with Jono’s dad David, the Macloed family almost never made it back due to confusion around the COVID rules at the airport in Dubai where they were schedule to transit. After 2 flights from Tonj and 2 nights spent in Dubai, they were set ready to depart for their next destination which was Auckland. However, their understanding of the COVID rules were different from that of the airport securities in Dubai, and it was only by the grace of God that they were permitted to catch the plane to Auckland with 30 minutes left to get on. Their relief didn’t end there as it was on that flight that they were informed of their MIQ spot to be in Christchurch. This meant that another flight and a bus trip to their accommodation in Christchurch was waiting for them after arriving in Auckland. Even during the MIQ stay, there was another scare where the home-school teacher that’s been staying with them was tested positive on the third day where they all may have had to prolong the MIQ stay by another 10 days! Thankfully, they assessed that the infection was not an active one that they ended up having to complete the isolation for 7 days at last, not for 17 days.
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When asked to describe the key differences that stand out about their lives in South Sudan and New Zealand, the cultural contrast of valuing communities vs. individuals is one of the most prominent differences. Compared to the New Zealand culture where values are placed more on individual rights and independence, the importance placed on communities is paramount in South Sudan where almost every decision from financial ones to marital settlements all have to be consented by families and the community. At the same time, people’s commitment to help families even from very young age and care for the elderlies is deeply embedded in their culture. “Girls at the age of 8 or so start looking after babies, cooking and cleaning to help out families.It would be considered shameful if the elderlies are not being looked after by the family. They are so community-minded that many of our staff give out more than 50% of their pay check to their families or communities. On the flip side, having to spread wealth also means that it’s difficult to get out of poverty. Also, women are not given much rights where forced marriages are often arranged by dowries of cows to finalise the marriage.” Now that both Jono and Destinee feel that they can step back a little from their frontline day-to-day work, and their daugthers growing older, they feel that it is time to live back in New Zealand for a while starting next year. Destinee however only sees this as a ‘re-training opportunity’ before possibly going on to serve another mission. She was called for this purpose at age 8, and Jono at age 10. “I don’t think we would ever feel settled living in comforts. We feel more comfortable living in poverty serving God”, she says with a joyful smile. While Jono will plan to work remotely with CHE with managing and strategising, Destinee anticipates going back into medicine in NZ. “There’s great physical poverty in South Sudan, but there is a greater spiritual poverty in NZ. South Sudan is an easy place to be ministering because most people in the villages just don’t know about Jesus and are hungry for God. People in NZ however reject God; it’s a heart posture thing. We need the Holy Spirit to awaken their needs. We need to be spirit-filled where we are pursuing radical power as well as radical love. We have a role to play to live questionable lives. People need JESUS!” It is inspiring to witness people who are radiating with the Holy Spirit, and it behoves us to reconsider what we are called to do with our unique gifts. I'm sure God will continue to unfold wonderous plans for these stewards of God in the coming years.
They truly appreciate all the prayers and help they receive. If you would like to make some financial contributions, they can be made through the Givealittle page to support Kiwis for South Sudan:
https://givealittle.co.nz/org/kfss
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MARCH 2022
ISN 7
ALPHA COURSES ARE STARTING! From the beginning of Term 2, in the week May 2, the 10-week Alpha courses are scheduled to start for our wider community. Alpha leaders have gathered together to set up Alpha groups. While there are some details to be finalised, there will be at least 5 Alpha groups including one online option. Please contact David Mcleod (david@mahu.org.nz) for more information or if you have any questions regarding this. St. Andrews - Tuesdays 6.30pm at St Andrews (Barbara, Bronwyn, Neville) Besoul - Wednesdays 6.30pm, venue TBC (Brent & Kesia + Tony & Cush) Youth Alpha- Fridays 6.30pm at church (Sarah and Lara) Online Alpha - Wednesday 6.30pm (David and Joy) Alpha Heart - Day time 11:30am, exact time and venue TBC, (Martha & Cheryll + Sue & Anna) We will have a registration page for those who express interest, so please start thinking about which neighbour, friends or family members you would like to send invitations to!
P. 7
MARCH 2022
ISN 7
"GOOD FRIDAY EXPERIENCE" Instead of the traditional Good Friday service we are doing something a little different. There will be 7 prayer and reflection stations set up throughout the church and hall. It’s going to take about 40 minutes if you participate at every station. Some stations will just involve listening and watching, but other stations will have a more practical element. The experience will affect all of your senses, taste, smell, touch, sight and sound. For current COVID restrictions, we’ve decided to run these prayer reflection spaces over 12 hours, the youth have booked in for 7-9pm, but any time before that is available to be booked for pastorates. The youth leader team and the internship team will be running the event. If people can BYO wired headphones, that would be really helpful for one of our stations, otherwise there will be some headphones that will be sanitised and available for use. Please contact Sarah for bookings - sarah@mahu.org.nz
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MARCH 2022
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FACES OF MAHU CHURCH
HEATHER PROVAN Heather Provan’s house is covered in pictures of her family and relics from her adventures. She makes me a cup of newlyopened green-tea (“I just got given this, it’s from Japan!”) with some complimentary green-tea biscuits as we sit down to talk. Heather Provan grew up in a Christian family in Tuakau with her parents and her younger sister. They lived there until she was 5, when her Dad was hospitalised with a burst artery in his heart. They moved in with Heather’s grandparents in Howick to be closer to the hospital. They gave her Dad 8 years to live, if he was careful. “Dad lived until I was 24, and he didn’t take things quietly either- he’s like me, he saw a gravel road and he had to go and explore it,” Heather says. Her mother turns 98 this year, “The way she’s going, she’s going to outlive me.” At 16, Heather was part of the Auckland Motor Scooter Club. They rode from Auckland to New Plymouth over Easter to meet the Wellington Motor Scooter Club. It was here where she first met Stuart. She recalls, “I felt the urge to turn around, and there was this guy. He’s got his helmet on, his scarf up to here, and all I can see is his eyes, but I looked at his eyes, and I thought uh oh, I’m going to be writing to Wellington.” It was serious love at first sight on both sides. After talking to him she realised, to her relief, he had actually recently joined Auckland Motor Scooter Club. In fact he lived 2 miles away from Heather’s family. He rang and asked her out, and she said yes. He came into her house beforehand, to be approved by Heather’s parents. As she left the house and got closer to the car, she noticed two figures leering at her from the back seat. Stuart’s parents were coming on the date too!
Stuart was General Manager at Izards, which meant he had to travel a lot. But the company paid for Heather to tag along on some of those trips to keep him company. “He would get carted off for factory tours and the wives would come and take me out. They seemed to think I wanted to go shopping all the time - but I wasn’t interested. I wanted to go exploring the historical sites!” The couple had two children, moved to Warkworth, and Heather began attending Mahurangi Presbyterian in 1983. Just before Heather was 40, she had a cardiac arrest. During a sinus operation she had a severe reaction to the anaesthetic. “They never got to operate. I was quite upset about that, there I’d been, unconscious for all those hours, and they hadn’t done the operation! I was quite miffed when I regained consciousness.” There were some long-lasting symptoms from the event, she had deep-seated bruising from having been revived, and her lungs had filled with liquid when tubes had been inserted to help her breathe. She couldn’t lie flat without feeling like she was drowning. “I felt like an old, old woman. I had to get someone in to do the housework, I was like somebody who’d had a stroke. I’d lost language as well! I could do the action - but it had no name! I knew the word cut, and I knew what I wanted to do, but nothing in my brain would tell me that the word I wanted was ‘scissors’.” But the memory that stuck with her most was her experience during the cardiac arrest: “I remember being somewhere very cold and very dark. It was so black where I was going, and it was cold. And 9 hours later when I regained consciousness, I couldn’t get warm. Right in the core of me. They kept giving me blankets.
“What I’d failed to take on board was that we were going to a family wedding,” Heather says.
Where I was going was black and cold, and it scared me. I thought I was being a good christian. So I went to my minister and I talked to him.
That night, after dropping his parents off first, he proposed! He apologised that he couldn’t get down on one knee because the steering wheel was in the way.
About 6 months after the original surgery I had to go back in to get it done again. They’d already had one go at killing me, and I was terrified that I would die in this second operation.
“He said “If we were older, we could get married in six months, but since we weren’t we would have to wait three years.” I told him I was willing to wait.”
So the elders came and prayed over me. They anointed me with oil in the shape of a cross on my forehead - and what happened was unexplainable! As soon as they anointed me, that bruised heart that was giving me a lot of problems, started to get this warm, moist, wet feeling, and it spread right over my chest. And that was the end of all the heart problems.
Three years later they were married.
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MARCH 2021
ISN 7
It was so physical. It was an amazing healing. How can you doubt that God exists when you have that healing?” Heather says that was the moment she became a committed Christian, that was the moment she realised that God had time for her as an individual, and that she was important to Him, and that she didn’t have to earn his favour. In 2010 Stuart was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Five years later he had to go into full-time care, Heather realised that there was nothing she could do for him. Her sister, Sandra, travelled up to look after their mother, and told Heather to go on a vacation, so she went to Turkey to visit the grave of her mother’s cousin. That year was 100 years since the ANZAC Gallipoli battle. She also visited some of the places that the early disciples had been. In 2017, Heather volunteered with Africa Mercy Ships for six weeks. Mercy Ships is an international non-governmental charity that runs the largest hospital ships in the world. They rely on an entire crew of volunteers, and provide medical aid and training of medical and various trade practices for the locals of each country they dock. “It was reviving. Working with those volunteers was so uplifting, seeing so many people committed to showing Jesus’ love, and seeing those healings,” she says. She enjoyed her experience serving in the dining room so much that she later returned for another three months to volunteer in the laundry. She can no longer go on the ship due to covid restrictions, but she continues to support the ministry by sponsoring one of her fellow volunteers and friends. We have been blessed by Heather’s contributions to Mahurangi Presbyterian with her help with the creche, sunday school, bible readings, data projector, door duty, morning tea, baking for the GIRL programme, and helping organising the special activities for Jan West’s Coffee @ 10 women’s group. Throughout her life, Heather has maintained that “I have been greatly comforted by God’s Master Plan. It brings me peace.”
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MARCH 2022
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BUILDING UPDATE The building’s Sports Complex will be fitted with a competition level sprung floor, with a 2m buffer zone - and will fit with all the regulations required for New Zealand Basketball competitions. Four viewing galleries have been installed, and these will provide a panoramic view of the court. The roof has now been placed on the Sports Complex, the changing-room facilities and the auditorium. The outside walls have been painted. All the building’s exterior walls have been completed. You will start to see regular updates on Mahu Matters written by Alisha McLennan. PHOTOS BY IAN ANDERSON
DONATION If you would like to make a financial contribution, you can donate to: MAHU PRES CAPITAL FUNDRAISING ACCOUNT 12-3105-0003156-02 In the reference, please include your name for a tax deductible receipt.
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MARCH 2022
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COMING UP! Fri, 15 Apr <The Good Friday Experience> 9am-9pm People will be welcome to come into the church and engage with a number of interactive prayer and reflective experiences. While there will be no restrictions at this time, in order to prevent overcrowding we are encouraging people to book in and attend in their pastorate groups. Fri, 15-Mon, 18 Apr <Easter Holiday> Sat, 16 Apr - Sun, 1 May <School Holidays> Week of 2 May <Alpha Courses Start> 10 week Alpha courses are currently being set up for community outreach which are due to start in the week of May 2. Please start praying and start thinking about whom you may be able to invite along!
CELEBRATING LIFE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Mar-05 Mar-05 Mar-05 Mar-09 Mar-12 Mar-15 Mar-15 Mar-16 Mar-16 Mar-19 Mar-22 Mar-23 Mar-23 Mar-28 Mar-30 Mar-31
Sarah Crocombe Bruce Eirena John Millett Wendy Sutherland Jacob Reddell Ioue Lanyon Mary Tittleton Peter Adolph Ezra Armstrong Tarite Teteti Indianna Eirena Valda Kerekes David Page Pat Birnie Albert Bredin Murray Pulman
If we missed your birthday, or you want to announce happy news, make some prayer requests or simply want to give us some feedback on the newsletter, please email Hana (hana@mahu.org.nz). P. 12
MARCH 2022
ISN 7
NOTICES Online Prayer Room Online Prayer Room is for anyone who would like someone to pray with personally and confidentially with them about any matter at all. Contact prayer@mahu.org.nz or ring Barbara at 021 255 0274.
Donation of items to Church As we have slowly started the process of decluttering in preparation of moving to our new building, please contact the church regarding donation goods before bringing items to site
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