Our neighbourhoods and cities are desperately in need of – lovers; people who build deep, honest and genuine relationships with fellow neighbours, and who actually know the faces of the people who are overcoming struggles. Here are some short stories about the journey towards well-being, about current issues and the people behind them…
What Makes People Change (Pt 1)
Written 2012
I’ve often wondered what brings about change in someone’s life. Around me I see so much struggle as people try to place themselves in life. Sometimes there isn’t enough grip to be able to stand straight. What makes people change?
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What Makes People Change (Pt 2)
Last month, I asked the question – “What makes someone change?
”Have you heard the saying – ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ But, if you feed the horse plenty of sugar or lots of salt, it’s going to need and want water. While this analogy isn’t perfect, it does help when we are thinking of ‘change’. People, like horses, will change for the better, if they have a serious dose of sugar (awhi, encouragement) and/or salt (pain).
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The Taonga in Two Worlds
Last Wednesday night, while I was walking back through the Skate Park after visiting a neighbour, I stopped to chat with a few of the youth who were skating and joking around. They asked many questions about the amazing development that was happening with the Skate Park. As we stood surrounded by piles of dirt, bulldozer tracks, deep holes for drainage pipes and fenced areas they wanted to know when the new Skate Park was going to be finished.
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Speaking Truth
Last week, our youth leaders were dropping their youth home after a great night out with about 20 teenagers. Those in the van loved the night, plenty of laughter, lots of jokes and banter. But gradually the conversation turned to mocking and words with a sting. One of the youth girls, a fifteen year old, who had become a target of the mocking, pushed back with a loud statement, “So, do you feel more powerful now after saying that? Does it make you feel better than me?” Silence quickly followed in the van. She had spoken truth, and her words silenced what could have become an ugly situation.
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Miracle A, Miracle B
When we first came to Manurewa and told people that we were moving into Randwick Park, we were surprised by their responses, “people like you don’t want to move into those areas”. Others said, “be careful” A community worker thought we wouldn’t last long, “just like all the other church do-gooders!”.
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Friendship
Most mornings we share a daily time of UNOH Common Devotions and Communion. Recently we’ve read Matthew 28 and pondering about the meaning of Easter. Today we where confronted by this important question –
What does ‘fruit’ look like when God’s full resurrecting power is accessible and involved in our personal lives, in the lives of our neighbours and in the life of our community?
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A glimpse of the Kingdom
Sometimes, we get a glimpse of what the Kingdom is like, a taste of heaven on earth. Here are a few recent stories and small reminders of what is to come…
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