| Recovering from pneumonia slowed me down through preparation for Peace Week on campus at Massey University in September, but with cooperation from many, we had a super year! So much so that we have a creative team from across the campus working toward next year’s event!
Our focus was the plight and injustice of refugees illustrated by lifejackets in random places on campus. Human traffickers don’t supply life jackets as they cram more people than is safe into each boat, often extorting more money before they allow all members of a family to board.
Shore Community Church hired a new associate minister, but lost a good elder because of a transfer to Australia. We had two good quiet retreats this year with much good feedback.
The church has started an outreach to the homeless in the city, partially facilitated by the van purchased by a few generous donors. Over 40 backpacks full of goods will be distributed for Christmas.
Much of my work involves cups of tea and one-on-one conversations. I have few photos of those, and the ones I do have are not gripping. Likewise with my mentoring of young missionaries. Much fruit, but few photos!
Work with refugee youth and university students continues with lots of laughs, bridge building and learning. Many of the youth are from Somalia, Congo, Eritrea, and Pakistan.
Bridges don’t fall from the sky, people build them, and it’s best if they’re built ahead of time. I’m off to Bangkok in early December to develop networks for the Asia-Pacific region to facilitate alternatives to violence related to religious diversity. Just as I learned during the famine in Zimbabwe in ’91, it’s easier to work through crisis when relationships and trust are already strong.
Pray for me as I seek points of conversation and connection so as to speak of Jesus in diverse situations.
“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NLT |
