Michelle spent most of her growing years down in Paraparaumu where her Dad was employed as a Postmaster.  She has fond memories of childhood, growing up in a beautiful spot, where she would spend her days with her neighbourhood friends, fishing for eels and building forts, as long as they were home for tea by 5pm.  One of her friends went to church and from time to time Michelle was invited to go along, she enjoyed the family atmosphere and thought it was a nice thing to do.  Her Dad was against religion but mum believed, she had a Bible and often pointed out scripture.  Michelle grew up to be compassionate and a determined young women. 

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...

David was born and raised in Eltham on a dairy farm. He grew up in a close-knit family, one of four children, with a strong Scottish and Christian heritage. In 1948 he witnessed his younger brother’s death. This was very traumatic and played on in his mind for a long time. Then in 1951 he lost his father and things began to change at home. David’s mother became very protective of her family and wouldn’t let her children socialise with anyone other than in the church. Every Sunday afternoon they would have Sunday School and his family would drive around picking up the other children for the 3pm class in Ngaere.

David was an adventurous teen who wanted to get out and meet other people and do things that were not permitted by his mother. He had been brought up with Christianity all his life and once school finished he decided he’d had enough of it...