The day Robert and Rebecca became Christians in 2007 their relationship radically improved. Their hatred for one another disappeared in minutes, a new love for one another developed, as they talked together until 5am in the morning.  Robert and Rebecca had a new found love for God and each other.  They were on a high for weeks after making this decision and the souls grew an incredible hunger for God and His Word.


At this time Rebecca’s grandma was moving into a rest home and she was a woman of faith with many Christian books.  They took all her Christian books, it was God’s timing.  Rebecca’s Grandma was very excited for them and had prayed that Rebecca would one day be baptised.  Robert and Rebecca felt a conviction to cleanse their home of everything that was not honoring to the Lord.

Robert and Rebecca joined a local church in Blenheim where they were baptized, at this time people noted a significant change in their children. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.   Proverbs 3:5

 Work in the building trade was in decline, Robert decided to look at training – another career to supplement his building work.  Rebecca suggested studying theology, so in 2011 Robert started distance learning a Bachelor of Applied Theology.  Over the three years Robert and Rebbecca studied together and grew a deep knowledge of God’s Word.  Studying full time and working in the building trade during the holidays.  Times were lean but the Ifopo family saw God’s provision, they never went without.  An anonymous person dropped money in their mailbox fortnightly, and neighbours shared fruit and vegetables with them.


The Ifopo family have embraced Christian mission raising goats on their farm in Blenheim to make milk, yoghurt, cheese and soap for donations. They save the money and split it evenly between their four favourite missions; Rebecca gave her portion to Tear Fund, Robert supported Habitat for Humanity, Peia supported MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and Selau chose Mercy Ships.

At the beginning of 2014 Robert completed the Bachelor of Applied Theology by distance learning.  Robert and Rebecca prayed and discerned to move to Auckland in February to study at Carey Baptist College.  It was hard for the Ifopo family to give up their lifestyle - it was an ideal place to raise their family - but felt peace about it and put their faith into action. Robert and Rebecca chose living for God over living for their lifestyle.  All the doors opened for their move to Auckland.

Robert still has 2 years of study to complete his Masters of Applied Theology and Pastoral Leadership.  He met David Auty during his studies and felt prompted to ask if he could come to Hawera in a mentoring relationship – but he never asked.  Then David put Roberts name forward to come to Hawera for student placement over summer.  This was confirmation for Robert.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.   Isaiah 33:6

2014 has been a journey of faith for the Ifopo Family.

When Joan was young and lived at home with her parents she attended a stiff traditional church where there wasn’t a lot of joy.  Joan went to church as the ‘family representative’.  Morning prayer, communion, youth Bible study, a lot about the Old Testament but not much talk about Jesus.  Joan felt like something was missing and went looking around the different churches for something more alive and spiritual.

Being touched by the Holy Spirit is a very personal thing.  A friend said to me “one day it’s going to happen to you.”  But I said, “there was no way I’m going to go out with the Holy Spirit” (laying on the floor, slain by the Holy Spirit).


Then one day at church Pastor Sirus was asking the following questions, do you know the Holy Spirit?  Have you ever been touched by the Holy Spirit?  If you come up the front you can be filled with the Holy Spirit.  “I was glad for other people to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but I was not so sure about it for myself.”  Joan hesitantly decided to go forward and Pastor Sirus asked for her hands, “Can you feel anything Joan?”  Next thing Joan remembers is waking up on the floor of the church two and a half hours later, Pastor Sirus was quoting scriptures, and most people had left church.  “I felt so good, I had had the best sleep ever, and I didn’t need my walking stick any more.  I was on a real high.”

“My philosophy is, it’s not what we are on the outside – it’s what we are on the inside that counts.  I battle with depression and back when my children were at school, I wasn’t handling things too well and the doctor prescribed me with valium and it felt wonderful to begin with.  But after a couple of months I started to feel like I was walking on balls of cotton wool.  It didn’t feel right, I started to feel like a zombie, and decided to flush the tablets away.  At one point I thought about having an overdose.  But an audible voice said don’t do it, you can fight it.  Back at the doctors he wanted to prescribe me with more valium, he said I wouldn’t cope without them.  But I said no.”

“To this day I still get depressed from time to time, but I talk to God and ask Him to help me cope.  I can’t do this in my own strength but God gives me strength.  It doesn’t go away but He helps me cope.  I use scriptures all the time - they help a lot.”

You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep there purpose firm and put their trust in You.  Trust in the Lord forever and He will always protect You.
Isaiah 26:3


God is always with us, deep within is He,
You can always talk to Him, He’s there for you and me,
Waiting to be recognised as the almighty power,
Available for one and all, No matter what the hour.
Author unknown


In 2012, Joan had a heart turn and was taken by ambulance to Hawera Hospital for assessment and then rushed up to Base hospital in New Plymouth.  Having a special nurse in the ambulance to keep her awake as she went in and out of consciousness.  Her heart could not be stabilised and she was placed in ICU and connected to a machine.

Joan went unconscious and found herself having an out of body experience. 
“I could look down at my own body on the bed.  Then I saw a big round dark tunnel and I was frightened.  A voice said, “don’t be afraid, I will be with you all the way.”  I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel - it was so bright.  But there were hands trying to grab me on either side in the darkness, I couldn’t see faces just hands.    I wasn’t frightened anymore and the voice said to stay in the middle and follow the light and I continued to float toward it.

When I reached the bright light, I could see Jesus and specific family members behind him such as Grandma, Grandad, my Mother and Uncle.  Jesus wore a white robe with shoulder length fair hair and piercing blue eyes that could see right into my soul.”

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13

“I felt an awe, and Jesus said, “I’m sorry Joan you have to go back, your time is not up yet.   There are things that I want you to do.”  But I said, “I don’t want to go back, I want to stay.”  Jesus said, “I’ll light your way, all the way back through the tunnel.”  

Then Joan woke up in ICU and the doctors said that Joan’s heart had stopped momentarily.

Jesus said to Joan there are still things I want you to do while you are alive on earth, and Jesus has called all of us:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
Matthew 28:18-20

I was born into a Christian family in Papua New Guinea.  My parents were missionaries at the time but we had to come home to New Zealand because my mum and I had malaria.  At the age of four I went to church in Kaeo and listened to a man in Sunday School who read 1 John 1:9 which says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I also heard how Christ died for the things that we had done wrong.  Because it made sense I talked to my mum but it went no further until I went to stay with a friend and went to his church and saw the same guy with the same message and at this stage became a Christian.

Isaiah 43:1-2 has also been given to me by different people at the right time.  “Fear not for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by name and you are mine.  When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you, when you pass through the fire you will not be burned.  The hard trials that come against you will not hurt you – For you are precious to me and I love you.”  God doesn’t say that we won’t go through trials, but he does promise to go through them with us.

The same year I became a Christian my life changed as my parents separated and God became my father, my shield and my comfort.  Up until 10 years of age I had a good childhood, then my retina got detached causing three years of operations and epilepsy kicked into action, which as well as being annoying for the next four years at school caused me to lose every friend I ever made and was the one to be picked on and beaten up.   

During this time I developed overly strong hatred for my Dad, after trying to deal with it myself, begging God to take it away I felt I had to talk to Dad about it.  Although he wouldn’t talk to me about it, I sent a letter begging his forgiveness.  Although he did not reply, God just took the hatred away.  At this time I clung to God my rock and learned that with God there is a purpose in life and that the trials that we go through give us wisdom and bring us closer to God.

It was at the age of 14 that God worked through a fellow Christian to get me to accept myself as I am.  One day I had a fit at youth group, the next day I rang her to explain what happened, said goodbye and hung up.  The next day I received a letter saying God does not make mistakes, you think that because you’re an epileptic that it is something really terrible and that epilepsy makes you less valuable as a person.  But God loves you as you are, because that is how he made you.

For the next 11 years I was one of the youth leaders for our church because I knew what it felt to need a friend, to not have anyone to talk to, and the things that teenagers went through.  I wanted to be there for them and to be the connection between them and Jesus.  I was also in a Christian singing group, which went to churches from Auckland to America to challenge and encourage Christians in their faith.  Through these I found out that God can use us to His glory if we are willing.    

To problems in life I have a small list of answers, which can be condensed to GOD IS FAITHFUL.  I don’t say that lightly or without thought, I say it because I know it’s true and I have discovered it’s true no matter what’s happening in life.

With confidence, I add these words to the end of the worst statements in my life:

• Just as I got married, my Dad was dying of cancer and my Aunt and Uncle died in a car crash: But God is Faithful.
  
• I lost my job and I don’t know how to pay the bills: But God is Faithful.
  
• My child is seriously sick and I don’t know what to do:  But God is Faithful.
  

Sometimes God doesn’t seem to be faithful because our prayers are not answered as we expect.  I have to change my expectations, if the whole purpose of my life is to learn to love God and to show his compassion to the world.  Then what He is doing in me is more important than what He is doing for me.  I have discovered through many tears that if I will bring every jagged edge of my life to Him, He will continue to mould me to become the man I am called to be.  Also there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.  Whatever is happening with you right now as your brother in Christ I urge you to meditate on these words of life.

God Is Faithful!

In March 2014, I went to Oakura and spent 3 nights at Manna Healing Centre.  Prior to being able to commit to time away from my everyday responsibilities we had a cancer scare with my Mum that engulfed each and every day of an entire month with uncertainty and apprehension.  It was a testing time and my biggest challenge yet.

For those of you I do not know very personally, I’d like to share some of my background with you to illustrate how powerfully God has worked in my life as of late:

• My birth mother was an alcoholic and dry addict who suffered from anorexia and mental illness; she died of cancer in 2009, before we could cultivate a significant relationship.
  
• I was adopted by my grandmother at 6 months old (whom I call Mum).
  
• I do not know my biological father who is of Samoan decent.  I have no knowledge of the Samoan part of my cultural identity and as a result of being raised here in Hawera.  I have explored Tikanga Maori in substitution of my Polynesian heritage, but over the years have struggled to find a confident sense of self because of these missing pieces.
  
• I was sexually molested for the first 8 years of my life.
  
• My only brother shared the same mother as me but had a different father. Our biological Grandmother raised us both and her husband died when I was 15.  

Being 7 years my brother’s junior I looked for belonging and acceptance from him and I desperately sought his approval, I was met with names such as nigger, sooty and spear chucker so frequently by him.  I established an inferiority complex and realized my skin colour set me apart from my whole family.

In latter years, society in general reinforced this racial discrimination and I grew a protective resentment that led me into like-minded company.  My adolescent years were chaotic rebellion laced with a lonely sadness so dark and enveloping I could not imagine there was a God.

Yet at 23 I met him in person when I gave birth to a beautifully perfect healthy baby girl and in the instant she was laid in my arms his Holy Spirit saturated me with what was my first understanding of true love.  The next 10 years that followed brought an increasingly focused pursuit of understanding this God who redeems, restores and renews.  Last year most of you know I was baptized here at church.  Within that year the Lord has blessed me with a job, the purchase of my first home (which is a miracle in itself as I was a beneficiary at the time), as well as enriching, uplifting and encouraging friendships. 

Last week He gifted me with the most profound supernatural experiences that have forever changed my life.  I felt prompted to share them in testament of His Almighty, all knowing and awesome character.  It was confirmation of the scripture Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”  I went to Manna on a mission to press into the presence of God.  To be still enough to hear his will for my life in service to him. 

To confront residual behaviorisms that continued to limit my position with Him.  I needed to set apart this time of my life to get into agreement with Him.

Within an hour of arriving at Manna, checking in and giving the manageress a nutshelled version of my entire 33 years condensed into 3 minutes, a peace that surpasses all understanding encompassed me and I prayed that the Lord develop my trust in Him so each moment I head there may have purpose and meaning.

Before I could get my head around the gravity of that prayer the manageress Marie was back and marching me into the chapel to have strategic prayer she had been given prophetic insight for, with me.  She had the most uncomplicated blasé yet maternal nature I instantly felt safe and secure with her.  She proceeded to settle me in to the chapel and explain the parental blessing for each stage of life prayer she was going to cover me with, before she said anything of great significance this feeling began to rise up within me, it was so strong, so magnificently indescribable I had to interrupt her and tell her what was happening to me, and how I begun to experience this after the blessing of my house some months ago, much to my astonishment she replied casually that it was the Holy Spirit working in me and I was an anointed woman of God.  That just about knocked me out cold and I had to restrain myself from looking around the room to see if she was talking to someone else I didn’t see come in.  Then within the moment it took for me to think that thought a sense of knowing spoke into me saying, “Yes, you Miscelle, I will teach you to love yourself the way I have always loved you.  Trust in me with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding, I will show you which path to take.”  That’s when the type of tears started that continued over my whole stay, sporadically joyful tears, tears of cleansing, tears holding hope, happy tears, tears of wonder tears I had never cried before.  The entire time I spent there continued like this, each circumstance confirming the next.

I met a guest there that the Lord laid a love in my heart for, who was experiencing what my mother had been through, but with the loving grace of God was transforming her life and God brought divine healing to both of us through crossing our paths, he revealed his purpose for me in service to Him through her and just continued to pour his favour out over me with every little step I took in faith.

He faithfully flooded me with blessing.  It has followed on since returning home with loving reminders of his presence in songs with lyrics such as: “All of me, loves all of you,” “You and me together, any kind of weather you’ll be fine,” “take these broken wings and learn to fly again, learn to be so free.”

He has spoken to me through programs on shine when Michelle and I had our first Home group the service we turned on was focused on the scripture, Marie had given me to meditate on Isaiah 43:1-3, ‘Do not fear for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the fire you will not be scorched nor will the flame burn you.’  Michelle and I chose a scripture for one another to memorize it’s one Joyce Meyer had given me only the day before.  It just goes on and on to my amazement! 

So in light of this experience as a whole my prayer is for any of you who have become discouraged or disconnected, who are weary or heavy laden.  If any of you feel your faith has become distant or mundane or even non-existent.  If there is just one of you that needed a break away to fill up with the Lord’s love, a refuge after a time of trial or testing.  A change of environment to re-establish, the freedom to be the person of His destiny, then Manna is your answered prayer.

The tangible presence of God dwells so powerfully within the faithful servants at Manna, it is a place where the Holy Spirit burns like fire, and I encourage each and every one who has prayed for relief or rest, even if it be a day, a night, a week or more.  If manageable, to invest your time in renewing your relationship with God.  Manna is where you can slow down enough to receive one days portion at a time.

Amen & Amen

At 43 years of age I had a question that I needed answering. Was Jesus for real or a load of rubbish? So I began to go to church, to look, to listen, to hear, and I was taken with the warmth and acceptance shown to me. The words of Scripture came to be very meaningful. So in 1987 I gave my heart to the Lord and right up to this present day that passion and urgency continues. To reach out to others who are lost, as I was. How important it is to continually look for opportunities to share my faith. Very often we won’t see any fruit but we have a call to sow the seed of our faith. John 16:8, tells us the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and righteousness. 

The Lord has blessed me with a passion for Israel and the Jewish people. This has resulted in me going to Israel on four occasions. First as a tourist with Prayer for Israel, then later as a volunteer for two months in 2002, where I helped shift a ministry to a new location, with a new vision. During this time meeting and mixing with believers from many countries, this little glimpse showed the faithfulness of God in re-gathering his people to Israel, from around the world. 

Perhaps the greatest fulfilment in my life as a believer has been to help fulfil Jeremiah 16:16, where God will send fishermen to regather His people. I was a volunteer under the umbrella of Ebenezer Operation Exodus. Part of our work with Ebenezer was to continue to build and strengthen our relationship with the Jewish agency. 

Here an Israeli government department is working closely with a Christian organization, this on its own is helping to break down the barrier that Jews often have against Christians. The Lord called Ebenezer into being in 2001, to share with the Jewish people in the former Soviet Union, that the time had come for their return to Israel. The return of the Jews to Israel from the nations is in preparation for the return of the Messiah. We weren’t called to share the gospel, but to share the promises that God made to Abraham, that the day would come when He would return them home to Israel. The last twenty odd years has resulted in 1.3 million Jews, returning to Israel from the former Soviet Union. God is faithful! 

In 1986 we purchased the property where we now live. We built a new home on the property in 2009. As the years have progressed I am becoming more certain that we are living in the end times. As such, along with the new home we rely on our own electrical generation and hot water. Our only cost is in purchasing 4-5 9kg bottles of gas per year. With our own garden and fruit trees and firewood, we are close to being self-sufficient. We can only be sufficient up to a point, ultimately we continue to rely on the Lord’s provision. I believe that we can help ourselves to a certain level. In my case He has blessed me with the land, the energy and the will to accomplish these things. 

The day maybe very near when we will be no longer able to buy or sell, we need to prepare for such a time. Or are we to sit on our hands and believe that God will provide manna as He did for the Israelites in the desert? I have received 14 one hour DVD’s that give a perspective of the times that are ahead. This I believe is an opportunity to seriously explore the times that we find ourselves in. Be encouraged to come on this journey with an open mind. 

Vernon was born in 1937 in Cape Town, South Africa and was the youngest of five children. Vernon’s parents came to know the Lord in 1919 at an Apostolic Church in Cape Town and were baptized there a year later. Vernon can remember giving his heart to the Lord at the age of six and was baptized in 1951.

Vernon grew up in Cape Town during the war years, and has memories of food rations, blackout blinds for the night time and gun batteries dotted around the coast in case South Africa was invaded. Vernon was a mischievous boy and little has changed! In fact, he can often be seen hanging around the church entrance way, (especially when he’s on welcoming) with a naughty twinkle in his eye and ready with one of his quick witted jokes! He chuckled as he recounted how as a child, around Guy Fawkes, he and some friends would beg people for money to buy crackers to light and blow up. For greater effect, they used to tie several together, place them under an empty tin on the ground, light them and watch the explosion blow the tin sky high!

Denise was born in the same year as Vernon, 1600km away from Cape Town in a city called Pretoria.  She had 2 siblings.  Her parents divorced when she was very young and when her mum remarried the family began attending church. Denise gave her life to the Lord during her childhood and at the age of 13, moved to Cape Town with her family.

Vernon and Denise met at church in 1957.  He invited her to a Billy Graham movie. He arrived at her house in a beaten up little Morris 8, which had a leaky canvas roof and floorboards, which didn’t stop rainwater from splashing up and wetting peoples’ feet. (Good thing Denise didn’t worry about such things, but saw a man with a good heart!).They were engaged on the 21st May 1958 on Vernon’s 21st birthday, married on the 7 March 1959 and went on to have four children; Stephen, Michael, Lynette and Christopher. Next year, they will celebrate their 55th Wedding anniversary, a testimony of their devotion and commitment to each other. 

Vernon and Denise have experienced many Miracles in their lives and have seen God move in amazing ways and bring good out of bad situations. When they bought their first home they didn’t have a penny to their name. The Lord provided all the necessary finances through a Government pension scheme and an insurance payout after a break in where they lost Denise’s wedding ring to theft, among other items. 

Stephen, their oldest child was born with a condition called Minimal  Brain  Dysfunction  (MBA)  and  found school challenging. The Principle advised Vernon and Denise to send Stephen to a Special Needs School and they chose to send him to a Specialist who did regular exercises with him instead.  Stephen gave his life to the Lord at the age of 12, was baptised and was miraculously healed by God.  He went on to university and became an Electrical Engineer.

After Rocco and Lynette moved to New Zealand in the year 2000, they encouraged Vernon and Denise to emigrate as well. When Vernon and Denise came over on holiday, they submitted their paperwork and asked if they would be able to hear whether or not they would be granted residence before they left in January. A month later, they received a letter in the post from Immigration New Zealand saying that their permanent residence had been granted. 

It has been a tough year for Vernon and Denise with the loss of their beloved son Stephen and their Daughter- in- Law, Jill. Vernon holds on to the promises of God and Psalm 23, to get him through the tough times.  His favourite quote is ‘When God guides, He WILL provide’. Their faith in the Lord and their commitment to Him in spite of all the trials they have faced is an inspiration to us all. 

By Inge Smythe

Matthew and I were born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. I grew up in the Catholic Church in Harare, and when I was sixteen, a friend of mine convinced me to go with her to the local Anglican Church and this is where I met Matthew.

In the thirteen-and-a-half years that we have been together, we got married, had three children, have lived in 3 different countries and have moved eleven times-it will be twelve when we move into our own house next month- so life certainly has not been uneventful! In fact, at times, it feels as though we have been living in a tornado.

Although both Matthew and I knew about God in our own way, from our own individual upbringings, it was only through personal crises that He became real and deeper relationships with Him were born. On Easter Day in England, in 2007, both Matthew and I made our individual decisions to be baptized. Through our sometimes tumultuous lives, we can both testify to the fact that God is faithful, and He will never allow us to go through more than we can handle. There have been times when the shadows of pain have wrapped themselves like heavy cloaks around our hearts, but the Lord has been our Shepherd in the darkness and has also led us to green pastures, and beside still waters. We have been blessed with three beautiful children, a deeper marriage relationship and have finally, in all our wanderings, found a place to call home and a community to fellowship with.

We would like to leave you with a challenge: if you do not know God personally, get to know Him. He’s the most exciting Person you will ever meet!

“The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.
Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.”
Isaiah 60:19-20

When May first came to Hawera Baptist church, she explained that she was from Taranaki, but spent many years away in Auckland.  She spoke with passion about her Maori cultural heritage and her desire to share this knowledge with others.

As May began to settle into our church and into her life back in Hawera, my husband Matthew & I decided to ask her if she would like to become part of the new Home group that we were starting. May was very keen to come along and learn more about what she believed in and to fellowship with other people at the church.

It didn’t take long for May to become a dearly loved member of our home group. She lit up so many lives with her infectious, cheeky chuckle and warm, caring nature. As we came to know each other, May began to share her story with us and told us about some of the painful experiences that she had been through, and how they had influenced many of the life choices she had made. She also shared how, through her daughter’s Youth Group diary, she came to know more about Jesus, and how this led on to her eventually deciding to be baptised as a Christian. May used to wake up early in the morning and spend a long time in prayer. She used to weep because she felt such an overwhelming sense of love from the Lord and felt deeply connected to Him during this time.

May’s life was marked with pain and many sorrows. She struggled to accept her Cultural Identity and at Home Group one day, she shared how as a child, when she felt full of despair, God gave her a special picture. She explained that, in this picture, she saw two cupped hands holding a little Maori baby and she knew that she was the little baby God was holding.  The picture showed her that God loved her just as she was, even though she didn’t love who she was. This gave her comfort and hope when she thought of it years later.

May’s life did a full circle. She came back to her roots and embraced her Maori identity. She discovered who she was in Jesus and she learned how to walk in her new identity as a Maori Christian.

May was a force of nature. She was delightful, fiercely independent and had an uncontainable, bubbly personality. At times, it seemed, she lived life on the edge, walked where angels feared to tread, but this was May, our May who we got to know through home group and church. May was a precious treasure that God gave to us for what we feel was too short a time. But, we thank the Lord for this time and for the lives that she touched. We look forward to the day, when we will once again hear her laughter. Only this time ringing through the corridors of heaven’s halls .


Inge Smythe

One day he decided not to come home for lunch, but never did that again after getting a hiding.  At bath time a gas hot water cylinder fixed above the bath used to heat the water.  Henk being the youngest of four boys, was fourth in line to have his bath and by his turn you couldn’t see the bottom of the bath.

The only way to get pocket money before Henk started his first job was to dig potatoes and pick beans during the school holidays.  He finished school at 14 years and went to work as a baker’s assistant.  At 17 years he started night classes in book keeping.  He was the class clown and got sick of studying at night, so escaped by joining the army for 18 months training.  Here he grew up a bit.  Seeing the other army guys studying at night, he decided to go back to night school, but he had to make a deal with the teacher to settle down and take things seriously.

Once he finished his army training he got a job at a shipping company, Rotterdam Lloyd, as a bookkeeper where he worked for 6 months.  It was like sitting in a school classroom, where you couldn’t talk to anyone.  This work was unsatisfying and had no future for Henk.

After going on his first holiday with YMCA, a boat trip to Germany, he gained an appetite to see more of the world.  He had had enough of the rat race.  The government was offering subsidies for people who wanted to leave Holland as it was overcrowded.  The options Henk considered were South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1959 Henk packed his belongings in two suitcases and moved to NZ.  He received 65 pounds once he landed. He had a brother working on a farm in Taranaki and decided to join him. Henk found a job milking cows in Eltham. Three years later he found an office job in Hawera working for an accountancy firm and then Halliwells.  A few years later Henk and a partner started their own accountancy business.  In 2005 they sold to McCallum & Dallas.

Henk was encouraged to have adult baptism while worshiping at Stratford Baptist with Graham Broden. When he moved to Hawera in 1963 he continued to worship at Hawera Baptist and eventually became the treasurer.  We recently thanked Henk for completing 35 years faithful service as treasurer.  Henk still welcomes people on Sunday mornings and looks after the property.

Henk met Ruth at Rotorua Christian Camp and then followed her up to Auckland on his motorbike; they were married for 28 years.  Henk nursed his first wife Ruth for 11 months of a non-treatable brain tumour until she died in 1993.  Henk married Hanny 18 years ago and between them they have seven children and 17 grandchildren. Hanny worships at the Catholic Church and Henk at the Baptist Church and it works well, they have a wonderful gift in hospitality.  Hanny is a real people person and does a great job in pastoral care. One of her famous sayings is, when you have a problem, pray about it and put it in the Jesus basket.

These days Henk keeps busy as a Property Developer using his handyman skills. He sees God’s hand on his life in all the small things – he gives God the credit for how things work out.  Having a career in finance Henk has some advice for us, a hearse doesn’t come with a towbar - you can’t take anything with you when you die.  Ownership in this life is only a passing phase – store up your treasure in heaven.

Finishing school at 15, Michelle found a full time job at Copsford Florist at Coastland Mall, spending the next twenty-two years as a florist.  Moving to Hawera Michelle worked for the local florists in town before setting up the florist at New World.  Michelle then decided it was time to try something new, she enjoyed caring for people and decided to do a caregivers course and became the  activities officer at Calvary Rest Home now called Trinity.

Today Michelle is a solo mum with four children, Ashley 21, Michael 17, and twins Toni and Grace 7½.  She is co-ordinator for Friend’s Plus, Tuck In and Wake Up service in South Taranaki.  A service caring for the elderly in their  own homes, making sure they take their medication, they are secure and dressed, ready for bed or the day ahead.  Michelle enjoys connecting with people, caring for the elderly and co-ordinating staff.  She feels so blessed to have a job where she can work from home and have flexible hours, a perfect situation for a solo mum.

Michelle has always been a keen cyclist but after having three serious cycling accidents, she has decided to take up walking 8km’s every second day instead.  In her last crash Michelle was biking out to Normanby at 42km/hr and a lady turned right in front of her – colliding, her bike cracked in half and she broke both her legs.  Not knowing this she kept trying to get on her bike but couldn’t, she was embarrassed wondering what was wrong with her.  Next thing she passed out and nearly dying of shock, the ambulance took her to hospital.

Michelle has developed a strong interest in diet and health after feeling like she lacked energy and doctors found a thyroid condition.  So she has decided to go Vegan and started following the book Fit for Life and kicked the thyroid problem in 2½ weeks and lost 11kg in four weeks.

Michelle has always believed in the creator God who lives in heaven and she would often pray and thank Him, but when her Mum died she got angry and yelled at God and said He didn’t exist.  Michelle continued her search with the Mormons and Jehovah Witness’s reading the Bible and asking questions.  Then one day Michelle’s friends invited her along to the Baptist Church.

Michelle was ready for church, it was the right time after being through a rough relationship breakup, the final step was to split the assets and move out.  The church family was supportive in many ways through prayer, encouragement and practical help.  One answer to prayer was when a home new home was made available for Michelle and the girls which was close to school.

All through life Michelle has had an awareness of spiritual things, but not always in a positive way.  The church family has helped Michelle identify and become aware of these spiritual encounters that were scary and didn’t make sense.  What happened was every time Michelle would seek to learn more about God, along came a scary spiritual encounter, which scared the hell out of her and caused her to pull back.  But Michelle was ready to face it head on and when it occurred again, it was the last time, she decided it was time to give her life to the Lord.  Michelle thanked Jesus for dying for her and turned away from sin and asked Jesus to come into her life.  She was baptised and received prayer for these scary spiritual encounters to leave in Jesus name and they have.

Let the heavens be filled with joy.  Let the earth be glad.  Let them say among the nations, “The Lord rules!”  Let the ocean and everything in it roar.  Let the fields and everything in them be glad.  Then the trees in the forest will sing to the Lord.  He will judge the people of the world.   1 Chronicles 16:31-33