Hope

Everyone is made in the Image of God, everyone reflects something of His Image and this is worth celebrating. Celebration comes in many forms and shapes, from a hug, to parties and large events. These stories reflect how we celebrate God’s beauty at home and in the community…

Greening our Streets

In our neighbourhood, I find myself standing on the street berms, peering down the roads devoid of trees. Our Manurewa neighbourhood cries out for Mother Nature’s touch.
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It takes a Village 

Last week, I received a text from a local resident, “Dave, there was a kid graffitiing the building and he walked down your street”. Following this message I went to watch the security video, I quickly identified the kid. It was Richard, a kid who rarely attends school. Thankfully, I had met his nana through a friend of ours and so I was able to visit her and have a quiet word.
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A STORY OF PĀTAKA KAI

Something that COVID19 brought to our attention were the kai needs (food insecurity) of people in our neighbourhood. NZ has 1:5 children living in poverty (1) and Randwick Park is one of those places where poverty is very real. In response to Covid, UNOH was able to create three local part time jobs, who we have called  ‘Street Activators.’
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Seeing God in the Unexpected

It was a warm spring morning; I had no car, so I’d decided it was a great day for a walk. Leaving early, so that I could make it on time to my doctor’s appointment, I set off. Five minutes down the road a car pulled up and I heard a shout, “Matua (uncle), do you want a ride?”
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It’s tough not to be the wanted one

“Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted is going to happen!” (Jonah 4:3). written by Heather Oulton, a 25 year old who lives with us in Randwick Park.
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Prison of Fear

Imagine living in a house and being too scared to leave; fear of being robbed, fear of losing what few possession you own, fear of the possible violence that could erupt at any time from neighbors that surround you.
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A thousand years in seven days

Tonisha Rohe (19 year old member of Warriors of Change) recently returned from a trip to the slums in Manila with 11 other Manurewa locals. During her two week stay she lived with a slum family and this is her reflection of that experience.
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Foolishness towards a new Wisdom

Story One.
A while back our local Liquor Store wanted to increase its trading hours. We discovered this and were furious. No way did we want the liquor store to stay open for longer hours. Liquor already does enough damage.
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Invite to Opening

If you are in Auckland on the 27th of August, we’d love you to attend the opening and naming of our new building in Randwick Park.
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More than just a food parcel

As the last rays of sunshine trailed their way down our ramshackle, state house fence palings, I worked hurriedly to bring in the last pieces of washing. The lonely howl of a siren echoed in the distance and I could hear the rumbling of a police helicopter on its way.
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Place of gratitude

It’s been a while since I last wrote. It was 5 months ago when I sent a note that dad had past. I want to say thanks to the many people who sent kind words, they meant a lot and they touched both Denise and I deeply. Sorry I wasn’t able to reply to many of them. I just wasn’t in the space to do so.
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Vision in leadership

Hi my name is Kata, I’m 17, just finished by final year at Auckland Girls and in my 3rd and final year with WOC
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.
— Reverend Theodore Hesburgh.
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Unfolding Hope

If you live in Auckland, you will know that this time of year is crazy weather wise – four seasons in one day. Last week, was one of those days. But this day was different. From my house, I could see bulldozers on the park, shifting dirt. Wow, wow, wow, three years of submissions, community meetings, consulting with Council, media, talking with designers and architectures and now the hours of talk has turned into work – bulldozers, diggers, trucks and workers. Any little boy loves to watch big machines doing ‘mans work’ and so I walked down, the little boy in me excited.
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