November in Northland and a few other things.

Moirs Point Christian Centre There are definitely worse places you could spend a November than in Northland. We have been lucky enough to be working at Moirs Point Christian Centre in Mangawhai. 

Having worked in Christian camps for over 10 years, Roy and I both love the fact that he can now use his building skills to support those same camps. We really enjoyed, in this instance, the opportunity to support a camp where there is only one couple (Ben and Mel) on staff. 

The main aspect of the job was to give the staff house a small renovation by replacing all the windows with new double glazing and installing a new kitchen in the staff house. But there was plenty going on elsewhere with some new cladding being done on parts of the house and garage, as well as painting a fence and part of the camp dining room exterior.

For the first two weeks we had a large team of people to help, staying in motorhomes and the amazing camp lodges with us. There was a great community feel and it was good being able to spend time together outside of work hours as well. We enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with old friends (Pete and Anne Wilson, and Ken and Eileen Ogden) and to get to know some other regular MMM supporters, Moirs Point supporters and their staff better.  It is always good having our trusty Irish COVID refugee, Ronnie, around to help too.

Our kids enjoyed getting to play with the other ‘camp kids’ who live onsite and their dog called “Fudge”. They were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to use some of the camp activities including the burma trail, kayaks, water slide and archery. One night our family even did a mission across the estuary to a bird sanctuary on kayaks. 

In week 3, the camp had some groups booked in, so we moved offsite to stay with Dave and Robyn Osborne who we worked with at Totara Springs Christian Centre in Matamata from 2005-2009. It was great to be able to reconnect with them. Gabrielle loved getting knitting lessons from Robyn and enjoyed spending her afternoons with their 6 year old granddaughter, who lives next door to them, and swimming in her pool - a very special bonus. Ronnie was able to stay with us at the Osborne’s in a caravan and Ken stayed at a nearby caravan park, so it was a smaller team but still great to have their help on the job in week 3.

In week 4 we were back staying in the camp lodge for Roy to do all the finishing touches on the job, keeping ahead of Ben’s parents who came to help with a few days of painting.

At the end of the fourth week, Ben and Mel had a weekend family celebration they wanted to attend, but had a couple of self-catered groups in camp. I enjoyed being able to pull out a few skills from my bag of tricks of ‘Hosting and instructing’ to help make the way possible for them to spend time with their family, enabling them to get away for the weekend while we held the fort at camp. The kids loved being able to look after Fudge, making comment that they miss having pets while we are on the road so much.

Teaching Fudge to play on the roof

Sightseeing

A month in Northland gave us plenty of opportunities to explore a region none of us have spent much time in before. So many learning opportunities, our kids' geography is getting pretty awesome. We swam at the beach in Paihia and Waipu Cove and explored glow worms at Waipu Caves. We learnt about NZ history in Russell and visited the first church in NZ. We got a tour of the Waitangi Treaty grounds, complete with a great cultural show. Josh commented that it was interesting to get a better understanding of the treaty. We had previously visited here briefly on our honeymoon, but there seemed to have been lots of improvement over that time including two new museums. So visiting Waitangi and the Bay of Islands in general was an excellent learning experience on New Zealand's history for our whole family and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a NZ destination.

We also explored Mangawhai, learnt its history at the museum and played in its sand dunes. Then we checked out the Kauri museum to learn about how the kauri was milled and just how big they used to be. We then had to visit ‘Tane Mahuta’, the biggest living kauri tree in NZ. The kids have even named the small kauri tree behind our house ‘Tiny Mahuta’.

Kauri trees have been something we have been learning a lot about this year and how people are trying to protect and conserve them for future generations both in the Coromandel and Northland. Back in the day the kauri tree was very prevalent in both these areas. 

Every place we visit Josh is always very keen to know and visit the best local fishing spots. He even had the opportunity to see a fishing drone in action in Mangawhai!

Spot the children (who are actually a long way in front of the tree)

MMM retreat

Just before our trip to Mangawhai we had a weekend away with the MMM team, their families, the board, and their wives at CYC Ngaruawahia for a retreat. It is extra awesome for us that Brian Glass (who we worked with at Totara Springs and then later at Teapot Valley Christian Camp in Nelson) is on the board of MMM so we got to spend the weekend with him and Christine too.

It was a really good way to get to know the extended MMM team better, have some real conversations and some great fun, teaching and worship together. Roy and I ran a games night on the first night that was a lot of fun. Some challenging ideas were put to us about how we intend to work when we are in Fiji. We definitely want to work with the Fijian people and not do things that we could teach them to do themselves. 

Weekend in Tairua

We have recently had the opportunity to go back to Tairua for the official ‘unwrapping’ of the St Francis church building and their first church service in their building in over eight months. It was great to be a part of the reopening and a very special service of renewal on the Sunday morning. We stayed in the same bach we had spent six weeks in and the kids all loved being able to spend time with the neighbours again. Gabrielle in particular watched movies next door until late at night and then woke up in the morning to get dressed and go straight back out to play… even before breakfast. Kelepi got to take the family back up Mount Paku and Josh got to spend some time fishing on Paku wharf, a well spent weekend by all. 

The 'Unwrapping' in Tairua

Future plans

At this stage we are still kind of in limbo and kind of have a plan. We have committed to stay in NZ regardless of what happens with borders until the end of April. This way, jobs in NZ can be planned around Roy being available and able to put his skills to the best use. If everything goes to plan with building consents, Roy will start a 3 month job in February at the Hamilton Samoan AOG. This would also mean as a family we would be in one place for 3 months, which feels like a bit of a record.

We are still looking at and praying about the right timing to start our work permit applications to go to Fiji. Ultimately we could apply now, but if we get the permits approved and borders still aren’t open our time will start ticking away on them without being able to enter the country. Usually it is a lengthy process that we would need to allow for, however it’s anyone's guess how long that could take now. We also have to all submit medicals less than 90 days old as part of the application process. We are still enrolled at our GP’s in Waikanae, which has made the most sense since we have been on the move. But this makes the timing of when to take our family to get medicals a bit more complicated. So to those that pray, we would appreciate your prayers on the right timing of when to get medicals and when to start the application process… let's be honest… we would much rather be in Fiji by next winter.

Sometimes it feels like we are doing a complete round of spending time with everyone we know in the North Island before heading to Fiji. If it sounds like we have done a lot of moving around, we have. The kids are pretty awesome really in the car, but long car rides aren't that much fun for anyone (you can only play so much I-spy!) so it is always a bit tedious. 

Another typical moving day

Paeroa

As I write this blog, Roy is in the middle of a two week job back in his home town of Paeroa at ‘The Carehouse’, a centre that runs a large variety of programmes and is a ministry outreach of Paeroa Cooperating Parish. They recently came into ownership of the building after leasing it for years and are currently undergoing several maintenance and construction projects. MMM’s part is to insulate and reline the ceiling in the hall which is LARGE and HIGH! So Roy gets to play on scissor lifts and scaffold all day, hoping to do as much of the 150 sheets of plywood as possible, but there has been lots of prep work so far.

The kids and I decided to stay in Pirongia where we could sleep in our own beds and the kids can play with their own stuff. So far it has also meant lots of baking as it is harder to do that sort of thing when we are away from home. 

The project at 'The Carehouse' in Paeroa

What else gave the kids been up to?

We have now completed 6 months as Full Time Volunteers for MMM and 6 months of homeschooling! It has been a journey. It has been cool seeing the kids have the time to follow their interests and excel in it. Josh has been loving his reading, drawing and anything about fish or fishing. He could tell you just about any fact about any fish, I am sure! He has also mastered a few good recipes in the kitchen. 

Some of the art Josh has made recently, I wonder what is on his mind?

A kowhai and pohutakawa tree, inspired by a walk along the estuary

Gabrielle is very social and has been great at making new friends easily… although she misses those friends too, it’s a tricky one for her. But we are grateful for the internet to keep in touch. She has been super busy writing Christmas cards lately, putting a lot of effort into making them perfect. She has a great imagination and creative mind. She loves to sing and still likes to play the keyboard and is currently mastering some Christmas songs. She can do anything she sets her mind to! 

Gabrielle learning the art of knitting

I feel sad that Caleb isn’t getting ready to start school soon, I am sure he would love it and thrive, but he seems to be doing just fine without it too. His maths is constantly amazing people; he loves to talk numbers and equations, he is also quite good at teaching himself to read. He did quiz us the other day, “What is bigger than Tane Mahuta?” The answer wasn’t skyscrapers but, “Jesus is the tallest thing! And God… they’re actually the same height.” He is full of personality and loves making friends wherever we go.  

Making the most of camp activities in Mangawhai

I often see the kids do things like talk to shop assistants as they buy something on their own and I think, they wouldn't have done that 6 months ago. Their confidence and resilience is definitely growing and we are thankful for all the opportunities they are getting. 

We continue to be grateful that our needs are always met and are so appreciative to all that support us whether it’s with a phone call, encouragement, prayers or finances. We are aware that we couldn’t be a part of the work that we do without a team behind us. 

Remember you are always welcome to join us on future jobs. Just get in touch and we would love to have you around whether it be for a few days, weeks… or longer!

If you want to hear a bit more about MMM, the organisation we volunteer with. Check out their latest magazine here.

So as we come to the crazy season in what has been a crazy year, we pray that you will be able to take the time to stop and reflect. Remember that there is a God (that is bigger than Tane Mahuta!), who chose to leave the perfection of Heaven to be born in a stable, walk this Earth and die on a cross, so that he could have a relationship with you! 

Don't forget to sign up to our blog, or check out any posts that you have missed here.

Love Rachael, Roy, Josh, Gabrielle and Caleb/Kelepi 

Some bonus photos

The finished kitchen installed in Mangawhai - a team effort

A kayak trip over the estuary to the bird sanctuary, something that was on
Caleb's bucket list we ticked off

They love stones, they love beaches, so it's a no-brainer of what to do while
waiting for the ferry in Russell.

Did we mention the snorkelling trip at Goat Island?