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Aotearoa in our Communities!
Wairarapa Balloon Festival 2022 Article by Haydee Muir
This Easter saw the freedom to have events without the limits of Covid. Finally the hot air balloon festival was returning after a three year hiatus. It’s absence had left a huge void in our community. I was looking forward to seeing the hot air balloons take flight. The balloons are so majestic as they float through the crisp morning air, as if being held up in the sky by the finger of God. As much as I was looking forward to seeing the hot air balloons, it was not my focus. My eyes were set on the hearts of children. In the heart of almost every child lies a fascination for balloons. What better way to reach a child than with a balloon? I had party balloons with polka dots and others with big smiley faces.
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rose, it soon became a steady pace. The hot air balloons were a kaleidoscope of colour, slowly inflating and rising from the earth. It was if they were ‘standing upright’, their baskets still tethered to the ground. As the hot air balloons slowly drifted off into the skies; we were overwhelmed by a long queue of eager children. Each child greeted us with a beaming smile, delighted not only to get a balloon on a stick, but a Tamariki A Ihowā book as well. By the time we had served the very last child, our feet and hands were frozen cold. More than two hours had ticked by. Our stomachs were empty, but our hearts were full knowing we had placed a book of hope into each precious hand.
On Easter Monday, we went to Solway Show Grounds, to repeat what we had done two days before. One day is never quite like another, despite the best laid plans. This day began in the half dark. We lost 45 The Lord says “A gift opens the way for the minutes waiting for the event to open very giver” Proverbs 18:6. That was what I was late to the public. It started fairly well, then about to do. Give the gift of life. Nothing a bit later it went quiet. worth happening, happens of it’s own In that lull, two of my favourite little people accord. It takes effort. ran out to greet me - Jennifer and Annika. My friend and I rose early on Easter Friday We chatted for a little, then Jennifer said morning, while it was still dark and cold. “I’m frozen”, so I placed my woolly hat on We arrived in Carterton at 5:45am. The her head. Just minutes later she was still sky was still black. We set up and starting very cold so I offered her my balloon pump pumping our balloons, with gospel tracts and told her “You better pump balloons at the ready. The MPA Easter Tamariki A to stay warm.” So she did! Before long, Ihowā were our favourite. The children Annika wanted to help, so I charged her with giving out the gospel tracts. She and trickled in at first. Jennifer had helped me before, so giving It was still very black and extremely cold. out tracts was nothing new. We could barely be seen but as the sun Before long, we had a queue I could see no