Hello everyone.
I do apologize for not writting as often as I should and hope to get better at it.
Once again I cant believe how fast this year is passing us. it was January 2012 just the other day and now we are about to celebrate Easter/Passover.
I thought you would like to hear some feedback from my trip to Christchurch New Zealalnd.
What a blessing to get on that airoplane and head off on a 31hr flight to the otherside of the world. I settled down into my seat with a comfy pillow and my book for the long haul to Dubai and had a 3 hr wait before boarding again which allowed me to walk through the glitzy Dubai airport duty free and test the perfumes.
Smelling like a perfumery I then settled down for the next leg of the journey to Bangkok and then onto Sydney before the last leg to Christchurch.
My hosts were graciously waiting for me as I headed through the double glass doors with my trolley, and as we drove from the airport to their home they began to show me where there were once buildings, shops and schools that were destroyed by the earthquakes. I didnt really have any frame of reference as I had not been to Christchurch before.
As the days unfolded I began to see the bigger picture and could appreciate the trauma and devestation of the lives lost and the people injured as whole office blocks in the city had come down and shopping centres and cathedrals and homes were destroyed. Family businesses were gone and the centre of the city was fenced off as a red zone, no go area.
Then the story started to unfold.... the September 2010 eathquake caused huge damage and the February 2011 earthquake followed and as Japan had their huge earthquake and tsunami the focus obviously moved to Japan and the tv coverage was centred on the nuclear reactors and Christchurch went off the map.
My invitation to Christchurch was through Every Nation Church which is pastored by Ps Bernhard + Colleen Wewege. I loved every minute that I was with this church. Such stunning people who love God and are building authentic church community.
Everyone of the people I met added such value to my visit and after 12 days in Christchurch my heart was won over.The sound of various birds, walks on the beach, eating meals and sharing stories, the beautiful green countryside and the hope of people rebuilding their lives engraved such a message of love and life in my heart. I will be drawn back time and again to beautiful Christchurch with a mixture of people from different backgrounds woven together through trauma and celebration into a tapestry under the hand of God.
Thank you to everyone of you who prayed for me and those who provided financially and a friend who paid for my airticket and of course my darling husband Lionel who without hesitation released me to go and met me on return at Cape Town International with a arm full of roses and gifts. I am always welcomed home by my husband like a celebrity.
Do remember to pray for Christchurch on the beautiful south island of New Zealand.
May this Easter be a time of encountering Jesus in a new and fresh way as we celebrate His sacrificial gift of eternal life.
Blessings
Rose.
