Dear !*FIRSTNAME*!
Relationships
Paul, Hilary and I travelled to Hamilton to run an eXtend training day and an all age service. We left Auckland knowing that only 7 people were registered for the training day, but on the day numbers swelled to 30. Because three of us had gone down we were able to offer a choice of workshops. I ran one on prayer with children and a second one on building relationships with children. We had a very good response from people who really enjoyed being challenged about Bible reading, equipped through the workshops and inspired to continue the good work they already do with children. Hilary also shared with me that a woman who had been in my relationships workshop had just never thought of building relationships with children: it was always about just teaching them the Bible.
The quote I have included at the start just reinforced this for me. Increasingly now churches are thinking more about their Sunday ministry to children not just as a Bible education time but a time to build faith. With this is the importance of relationship that help to build faith. For me this is very exciting as the intergenerational model of church is beginning to be considered more and more.
I also ran an all age service, on Fathers Day, at Papatoetoe Bible chapel. I have done this for the past three years and it is always good to be invited back to a church. We had fun exploring the Bible and making quivers with arrows in them to remind the dads of the children they have in their family and what a blessing they are.
I continue to be involved in the Starship Hospital children's’ church about once a month. It is just so amazing to be able to tell the stories of God in the Bible to children and adults who may attend. We continue to need volunteers. Margaret tirelessly leads this ministry each week with Brenda and Claire there almost every Thursday evening.
Camps
Two camps. Nigel ran our first out of Auckland SUPAkidz camp in Invercargill. The them was “Top Secret” with 13 children attending. I phoned Nigel a week after camp to find out how it went and I could hear the smile as he began sharing how things went. To quote him, “I’m hooked!” He shared a number of stories about leaders and children whose lives have changed. Children just couldn’t get enough of the Bible.
 Not to out do Nigel but we had a great camp too. The Auckland SUPAkidz camp, LifeShapers Gym, was awesome. Paul Dadd directed camp and worked with mostly new leaders. Although there were points at which leaders felt far out of their comfort zones the training and support all worked to make for a wonderful camp experience. Three children went home with Bibles who didn’t have Bibles and a number of children asked questions about God and what it means to follow Jesus.
 Home
School holidays have been and gone. Gill took Chris and Thomas and a few friends up to Leigh, just north of Auckland while James and I were at camp. The usual fun was had by all. Now that we are having more good weather days than bad weather days and daylight saving has kicked in the boys are spending a lot of time on our driveway. Scooters, skateboards, bikes, water guns light sabres and sticks are the order of the day.
Gill and I passed the 20 years of marriage mark without any celebration as we were once again doing the cleaning at Air New Zealand Fashion week. We look back and thank God for the years we have had together.
We are now into cricket season and touch rugby. Gill is managing James’s touch side and I am their “coach”. Gill is also going to be the scorer for Chris’ cricket side. All roles that we do not really feel qualified to do but no one else has put their hands up to do them.
photos
of what we have been doing as a family
Tails (Thomas -
4 years old)
I love going to kindy. I like putting on a dress up dinosaur tail when I get there. Myself and a mate chase dad and try to whack him with our tails. Last time we did this he started chasing us. He was too quick and grabbed our tails. We laughed and had lots of fun trying to get away from him.
Interview (Chris - 7
years old)
I got to invite my dad to come to my school so that he could interview me about what I do at school. I just loved showing him a portfolio of all the things I have been doing.
James won second prize at school when he and Mum made a Marae meeting house. Mum helped me make a waka (canoe in Maori) using ice lolly sticks. I love making things.
Hello (James -
10 years old)
Hello! Hello! Hello! Was what I kept saying with another guy who was in my group at camp which irritated my dad and group leader Joel, but was great fun. I also learnt a lot of new things about God at camp.
I have started reading the Bible from the beginning. I am halfway through Exodus and have asked Mum and Dad some tricky questions.
|
Break
open your words, let the light shine out Psalm 119:130 
