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Tupu Whakarangi
TANIA’S STORY
SCARED TO DIE?
IN THE COMMUNITY
Jesus died for me and forgave me. I forgave my father and my mother and I received Jesus as my Lord.
I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing ... I know my Master is there and that is enough.
Read stories from our local communities in Wellington, Murupara, Taupō, Rotorua and more!
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ISSUE 242 | WWW.MAORIPOSTAL.CO.NZ
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Contents P — 04 Maunga with Meaning
P — 14 Keen for a Change
In the Paipera Tapu, we read that some maunga were important places where Ihowā chose to speak to the people of Israel.
Bobby, “Do you believe that Ihu Karaiti died for
P — 07 Tania’s Story
P — 15 MPA in the Correctional Facilities
It was at this service I met the music team – a lovely bunch of crazy Christians.
impacting all across Aotearoa’s prisons.
P — 08 Scared to Die?
P — 16 MPA in our Communities
“Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side”.
P — 09 Tamariki, he mea homai na te Ihowā Children - A gift from God. Our hope is that you show your tamariki the greatest of love and lead them to the Jesus of the Paipera Tapu..
There came a moment when I asked your sins”?
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Stories from our local communities in Wellington, Murupara, Taupō, Rotorua and more.
P — 23 MPA Equipment Upgrade We have gone from 77,786 resources distributed in 2017 to 136,295 in 2021.
Tupu Whakarangi
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Editorial By Howard Goold
I have been doing some reading in the book of Kenehi and saw for the first time a wee difference in the Creation story, that I had never seen before and want to share with you. In all the early parts of Creation we read Ihowā SPOKE the word “Let there be light, let there be land, etc”, and in this way the rā, marama, whetū, moana, ika, manu, kararehe, and rākau were all made. When it came to making tāne, Ihowā didn’t say anything, and this was my new bit of news. He carefully HAND CRAFTED Adam into the being he had designed; He scooped up some of the earth He had made earlier, created Adam in his own image, in the image ofIhowā he created him and then breathed into him the breath of life.
cares deeply, gently wiping away tears from one of the most vulnerable and senstive parts of our body. So, in the beginning of the Paipera Tapu we read that Ihowā made us with His hands. In the middle of the Paipera Tapu, we read that we are hidden and protected in His hands where no one can ever remove us. At the end of the Paipera Tapu we read that those mighty, gentle, protective hands will one day wipe away every tear from your and my eyes. One of the sad issues with social distancing is that we must not touch anyone outside our bubble. This is one of the quickest ways to break down relationships. Ihowā knew that a touch is often the clearest way to say, “I aroha you, and care for you. You are motuhake to me.” He wants us to be sure of that from the start to the finish of the Paipera Tapu. There is no greater aroha than the arohaIhowā has for us.
This Breath of Life never went into any other part of creation that had already been made. In Ngā Waiata 8:3 we read that Ihowā made the universe of whetu with His fingers, ”Ka titiro ahau ki āu rangi, ki te mahi a ōu maihao, ki te marama, ki ngā May you feel the aroha of His hands in whetū, i hangā nei e koe” but He made your life today. tāne with His hands. Now that is really motuhake. In Te Kawenata Hou we read of many places where the touch of Ihu Karaiti on the pohe, the mate, the māuiui, and the needy demonstrated the great aroha of Ihowā in the personal, gentle touch of His hands. In Hoani 10:29, Ihu Karaiti says to His disciples, “Ko tōku Matua, nāna nei rātou i hōmai ki ahau, nui ake i te katoa; e kore anō rātou e taea e tētahi te kapo atu i roto i te ringa o tōku Matua.” There is no safer place for us who believe in Him anywhere in the universe. At the end of the Paipera Tapu, we read that “Ihowā will wipe away all tears from our eyes”. What more tender and comforting thing could there be than someone who
Hongi
The literal meaning of “hongi” is the “sharing of breath.” It is made up of two very little special words. The first is “ho”, which means the exchanging of the breath of life from one to another when you touch each other’s nose. The second word is “ngi” which is the acceptance of that gift that we give each other. Māori believe the gift of life came from Ihowā, the God and Creator of this universe who gave man the first breath of life. As you touch noses with each other, it is to pay respect to the Creator who gave us life and to acknowledge each other for the life that we are gifted by Him.
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Maunga with Meaning Mount Ruapehu From mankind’s earliest beginnings people have had a fascination with maunga; and why not? Their size and beauty fill us with wonder. They can appear mysterious when their tops are hidden by clouds. From early times people have thought that there are three regions of physical or spiritual existence – the heavens, the earth, and under the earth. So it is not surprising that men regarded the mountaintops as places where their gods lived, or places where they could be nearer to their gods in the heavens. For example, the ancient Greeks believed that Mt Olympus was the home of all their gods, who lived in beautiful palaces and spent their time either feasting or fighting. Zeus, the god of the sky and thunder was their ruler. Mt Fuji in Japan is an active volcano and is regarded as a holy mountain, the home of the goddess Sengen-sama. The Fuki-ko sect hold annual fire festivals in her honour. The people of Nepal call Mt Everest, the world’s highest mountain, Sagarmatha “Goddess of the Sky” or “Holy Mother”, and the people of Tibet call her “Goddess Mother of the World”. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania is the tallest mountain in Africa. Its peak is covered with snow all year round, and it is also usually covered in mist. So it is understandable that for thousands of years the local Chaga people thought that it was the home of god whom they called Ruwa. They were afraid to make him angry by climbing the maunga, and
even today the deaths of any mountaineers are attributed to offending Ruwa. There is a story that Ruwa created a beautiful garden for the first people to live in and in it was a yam tree from which people were forbidden to eat. (Doesn’t this sound a lot like the story of the garden of Eden in the Paipera Tapu?) Aotearoa has also been blessed with many magnificent maunga. Aoraki (Mt. Cook) is the tallest mountain in Aotearoa. The Māori legend goes that Aoraki and his brothers were sailing in their waka around Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, when they hit a reef and their waka started to tip over. So they climbed to the high side but the freezing south wind turned them all into stone. Today we see Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, the Southern Alps, which were said to be formed from the waka, and the peaks are the brothers, Aoraki being the tallest. So this mighty maunga Aoraki has great meaning for the Ngāi Tahu iwi. The maunga of the central North Island – Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngaruahoe – also have great cultural and spiritual meaning for Māori, and there are many legends about their formation too. According to early belief the mountains were once warriors and gods. Other Aotearoa maunga of great traditional significance to Māori are Mt. Hikurangi in Tairāwhiti, East Coast which is the first place in Aotearoa to see the sun each day, and Mt. Taranaki which legend says originally stood
Tupu Whakarangi
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close to Tongariro but they fought and He decided to believe the promise Ihowā Taranaki retreated to the coast, carving out had made to give him many descendants the Whanganui River as it went. through Isaac, and he laid his tama on the altar. Ihowā was pleased with Abraham’s In the Paipera Tapu we read that some faith and he stopped Abraham and provided maunga were important places where a lamb for him to sacrifice instead. Ihowā chose to speak to the people of Israel. For example, Ihowā commanded Hundreds of years later, one of Abraham Moses to climb Mt. Sinai although the rest and Isaac’s descendants, David, became of the people were ordered not to go near king of Israel. David’s son, Solomon, built a the maunga, and they were afraid to do so magnificent temple on Mt. Moriah, which because the maunga shook and fire and was by that time known as Mt Zion. It is smoke came upon the summit as Ihowā where the city of Jerusalem stands today. came down to speak to Moses. There Ihowā gave him the Ten Commandments and he But the most important event in the Paipera came down the maunga safely to tell them Tapu took place just outside Jerusalem. Many what Ihowā had said. believe it was in the same area Abraham took his tama to be sacrificed to Ihowā. This is when Ihowā took His own tama, Ihu Karaiti, and sacrificed Him as an offering to take away the sins of the whole world. The sacrifice of Ihu Karaiti was enough to pardon the sins of all people for all time if they believe and trust Him – and that includes you and me. We deserve to be punished for offending Ihowā by our sinfulness, but Ihu Karaiti was willing to take our place so that we might be forgiven and have our sins wiped away. Not Moun t Sinai only that, because Ihu Karaiti is the tama of Ihowā, He rose from death and He promised that we also could share His eternal life if we In Kenehi chapters 6-8 we read about the accept Him as our Saviour and Lord. time that Ihowā flooded the earth because of the wickedness of mankind. Only Noah The Paipera Tapu tells us in: and his whānau were saved in the Ark and 8:4 tells us that when the waters started to Roma 6:23 "Ko nga utu hoki o te dry up the Ark “came to rest on the maunga hara he mate; ko ta te Atua ia i of Ararat.” These are in present day Turkey. Moriah is another mountainous place that has been very important in plan Ihowā has for the whole world. He chose Abraham to become the pāpa of His chosen people Israel, and Ihowā promised that through his whānau eventually the whole world would be blessed. Abraham believed Ihowā would give him a tama to start this whānau but he had to wait until he was one hundred years old before Ihowā kept His promise. You can imagine how precious that little boy Isaac was! However, when the tama grew older Ihowā wanted to test Abraham’s faith. He asked him to take Isaac up Mt. Moriah and sacrifice him. What a terrible choice Abraham had to make! Should he obey Ihowā or not?
homai ai he oranga tonutanga, i roto i a Karaiti Ihu i to tatou Ariki."
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What an amazing offer! All we have to do is understand and confess that we have sinned against Ihowā, believe that Ihu Karaiti died on the Cross to take our punishment, and ask Him to become our Saviour and Lord. From that moment we are forgiven, our sins are wiped away and we become members of the whānau of Ihowā because the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. The promise
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Ihowā gave to Abraham that tou Atua!” his whānau would bring blessing to the whole world How beautiful on is fulfilled through Ihu Karaiti the mountains are and is passed on to us.
the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!
No one knows the exact time when Ihu Karaiti will return The mount of Olives but we need to be ready There is one more maunga because Ihu Karaiti said, “Na, in the Paipera Tapu that has ka hohoro taku haere atu.” special significance for us all today -- the Mount of Olives. Liz Silcock It is situated just across the valley from Jerusalem. It is where Ihu Karaiti often went with His disciples, and it is there that He spent the night in prayer as He struggled with the thought of the suffering and death that lay ahead of Him. After His resurrection from the dead it was from the Mount of Olives that Ihu Karaiti ascended into Heaven, leaving His disciples to take the good news of salvation through Christ into all the world. It is to the Mount of Olives that the Paaipera Tapu says Ihu Karaiti will one day return. Then He will judge the sins of the nations and reign over all the earth. Ihaia 52:7 says, “Ano te ahuareka o nga waewae i runga i nga maunga o te kai kawe i te rongo pai, e kauwhau ana i te maunga rongo; e kawe mai ana i te rongo whakahari o te pai, e kauwhau ana i te oranga; e mea ana ki a Hiona, Ka kingi
Mount Cook
Ihaia 52:7 says, 'Ano te ahuareka o nga waewae i runga i nga maunga o te kai kawe i te rongo pai, e kauwhau ana i te maunga rongo; e kawe mai ana i te rongo whakahari o te pai, e kauwhau ana i te oranga; e mea ana ki a Hiona, Ka kingi tou Atua!’
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Tupu Whakarangi
tania's Story
Jesus, giving my heart to Him under the lights of the stage.
It wasn’t long afterwards that my mother took us out of church, and so my Christian life was brought to a halt instantly. I had always struggled with my identity. I looked Maori but I was raised European. I always wanted to find that identity and I found it playing sports. This changed my My brother and I were born into a mixed confidence in myself as I achieved in this race family. Officially (like many kiwis) I’m space well. half Maori and half Scottish/Irish. I married, had children, and my husband My early memories as a child were of my who wanted to go to church, talked me father’s alcohol abuse and violence. I didn’t into going to a Sunday church service. It know Jesus then, who He was and that I was at this service I met the music team could talk to Him when I was frightened. – a lovely bunch of crazy Christians who were excited about Jesus. Somehow God One day my mother, after a terrible engineered my arriving once again on the beating, announced that my father would stage at church. I remembered Tarore; I not be coming home again and we were remembered Jesus. I asked Him, “Where not to speak to him again. I was five were you when I was young and being years old and all I knew was fear. I feared beaten?” He replied, “I was with you in your he would take us away. I searched and room. I held you in My arms. I comforted watched everywhere for him – before you’ He showed me the Father’s heart, climbing onto the school bus and exiting that Jesus died for me and forgave me. I it, and on our walk home. I protected my forgave my father and my mother and I younger brother from it. This shaped my received Jesus as my Lord. thinking and I was a very reserved, quiet girl. Often when I heard my mum and dad arguing I would disconnect my mind. I would “tune out”. I would hum a little tune in my head and imagine a different life. From age 5 to 8 years old I remember my mother met a Christian couple, who volunteered to drive us to Sunday School. This started a discovery of the Bible and its wonderful stories. My brother and I had no idea that the Henderson Baptist Church was going to put on a performance for the families of the church. This was about Tarore, a Maori girl of 12 years old who, through her death and love for Jesus, the Gospel was spread among the Maori tribes and brought reconciliation and transformation by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. My brother and I loved the story. I played Tarore and, as we practised the play, fell in love with
He replied, "I was with you in your room. I held you in My arms. I comforted you." I went to Bible College and studied the Word of God. Now, 30 years later, I share Jesus to the lost. I believe the Bible is God’s written Word for us. I have experienced first-hand God’s healing power. He healed my heart and he restored my soul. I know that no matter what will come, to be absent from this body is to be present with my Lord. I do not fear my death, I know my Lord will be there, and I pray that as long as there is breath in my body, I will be obedient and share Christ.
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Scared To Die? A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me, what lies on the other side?” Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know...” “You don’t know? You’re a Christian Man and don’t know what’s on the other side?” The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough.” Unknown
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Tupu Whakarangi
Tamariki, he_ mea homai na te Ihowa Ihowā says this about our tamariki –“Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of one’s youth.” Psalms 127:3-4
"Nā, he taonga pumau nā Ihowā ngā tamāriki, ko ngā hua anō o te kōpū tāna utu. E rite ana ki ngā pere i te ringaringa o te tangata kaha te whānau o te taitamarikitanga" Nga Waiata 127:3-4 Yet at times, our tamariki can seem anything but a gift. They are very precious when young but as they grow they can be very trying - developing their own identity, insisting on having their own way, arguing for independence while holding out their hand for money, bordering on rebellion, and can generally give a lot of grief to their parents. So sometimes parents want to give them back to Ihowā and say – “they are your problem Ihowā, you said they were a blessing but right now they are anything but a blessing!”
heartbreaks we suffer, all in the cause of nurturing our tamariki to be good and faithful to Ihowā and man. AROHA IS VITAL FROM PARENTS: Most times our tamariki are a wonderful blessing. They really are a precious gift from Ihowā. When Mums get frustrated with their kids, aroha shows through and wins out in those trying times. And none displays aroha more than a Mum. She wakes each day to feed, clothe, protect and care for her own tamariki and others too if they are around. Loving tamariki is something Ihu Karaiti did and that aroha is naturally in a mothers DNA.
In Mark 10:13-16 Mothers were bringing their tamariki to Ihu Karaiti because they wanted Ihu Karaiti to bless them. But the disciples were chasing the mothers away, telling them not to bother Ihu Karaiti. Ihu Karaiti was very displeased with his disciples because Heaven was made up of people who were like tamariki in their simple trust and belief in Ihowā. Ihu Karaiti said “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God, and He took them up in His arms, put Have you ever been at that point with your His hands on them and blessed them.” tamariki? If so, then this article and others to come in following “Tupu Whakarangi’ "Tukua ngā tamarikinonohi kia magazines,” is to encourage you not to give haere mai ki ahau, kaua hoki up and to bring guidance for you from the Paipera Tapu. The Paipera Tapu has lots to rātou e āraia atu; nō ngā pēnei say about parents and tamariki for Ihowā hoki te rangatiratanga o te is the creator of life, families, parents and Atua." tamariki. He knows exactly the trials we Māka 10:14 face, the difficulties we encounter and the
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Well you may say, that was for the parents back then. Out of aroha for their tamariki, they took their tamariki to Ihu Karaiti. What a privilege was theirs to do that. We too have the same privilege and can bring our tamariki to Ihu Karaiti. How, you might ask? Ihu Karaiti is on every page in the Paipera Tapu. When we read the Paipera Tapu we are not only reading about Ihu Karaiti but we are interacting with him. The Paipera Tapu is a powerful living book. It is alive to those who read for themselves and when we read to our tamariki we are showing them who Ihu Karaiti is. That is how we bring our tamariki to Ihu Karaiti today. Our hope is that you show your tamariki the greatest of aroha and lead them to the Ihu Karaiti of the Paipera Tapu. Ihowā showed us the greatest act of aroha anyone could ever show – he sent Ihu Karaiti to this world to die on a cross to pay for our sin, and so the greatest act of aroha a parent can show their tamariki is to introduce them to the Father’s expression of aroha toward us – Ihu Karaiti. GUIDANCE IS VITAL FROM PARENTS: If tamariki are a gift from the Lord, then why does it not always go smoothly? Why do some tamariki run off the rails? “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of one’s youth” Psalms 127:4
"E rite ana ki ngā pere i te ringaringa o te tangata kaha te whānau o te taitamarikitanga." Nga Waiata 127:4 Parenting is the hardest task it seems. It is a 24/7 job and a parent needs to take on the role of a warrior to keep their tamariki safe as they grow to young adults, as the verse describes. A parent, a warrior? Surely that is not what comes to mind when thinking about parenting, but it certainly fits the scene parents are facing today. The environment our tamariki live in is a battle field. The temptations, pressures and evil influences that our tamariki face every day range from drugs, addictions, sexual abuse, illicit sex, selfishness and even greater is the pressure and inbuilt tendency to rebel against authorities - even parents. The role of a parent to lead their tamariki through those pressures is enormous, and at times it seems impossible. It is like a commando warrior leading his army through a mine-field. He wants every soldier to follow exactly in his footsteps for if they don’t then they will step on a mine, or be in danger of abduction by the enemy. Our tamariki are like that. They rebel and break rank and either step
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Tupu Whakarangi
towards wrong doing, so protection, correction and guidance needs to happen continually. When a parent takes their role seriously and as Ihowā intended, then they are building the tracks for their tamariki to run on. They are teaching their tamariki to follow in their steps and to recognise the traps and field-mines that have been set. Parents are given a new born baby with a blank control centre and it is the parent’s wonderful privilege to build into that pure mind - to teach and example the foundation blocks for life. When good practices are exampled, the mind of the tamariki is being instructed for the good. There is no guarantee they stay on the track or never step on a mine, but at least you did a parent’s role and showed your tamariki the way. You gave them more than a chance. They can and often return to their home values. Your guidance of them will have bought some values to them for their protection.
on a mine or are captured by undesirable forces, and there is often permanent damage. Parenting is tough and every parent needs incredible patience, aroha, grace and a divine wisdom to lead their tamariki to that safe place of maturity where they themselves are able to safely take responsibility for their own lives. To ensure they remain the wonderful gift that Ihowā intended, here are a couple of pointers. TAMARIKI ARE A PURE GIFT: When tamariki are born they are pure. Their mind is clean and ready to be influenced a blank slate. It is up to the parent to build all the basic truths and beliefs that are the foundations of a good and healthy life. Such a plan of parenting means they are also to protect the minds of their tamariki from taking in lessons that are wrong, evil and bad. The
human
nature
naturally
bends
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Teaching values from the Paipera Tapu is again bringing your tamariki to Ihu Karaiti. He is the greatest captain, protector, shepherd, and saviour. TEACH YOUR TAMARIKI DIVINE WISDOM: If Ihowā is our creator, and he is, then it is vital that we teach our tamariki from the Paipera Tapu about Ihowā. There are many things to know, but here are three that are important. THE FIRST DIVINE TRUTH is that Ihowā can be known. He is not some mystic person that we can’t ever know. Ihowā has revealed His holy and perfect character to us, in and through his son Ihu Karaiti. If you want to know Ihowā then read about Ihu Karaiti for he came to reveal and show Ihowā to us. Ihu Karaiti said to his disciples – “Whoever has seen me has seen the father” John 14:9
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A SECOND DIVINE TRUTH is that no-one is perfect. Our tamariki need to know that they and their parents are not perfect. We are not holy for our tendency is to do wrong and make mistakes and actually do the opposite to what Ihowā teaches us. When they understand that, then there is encouragement to turn to the Paipera Tapu to seek instruction and direction in life. They will know that to be selfish is wrong, for they themselves are not perfect so they turn to the one who is perfect for help.
Parents are to continually read the Paipera Tapu and turn to it to help them through life. When tamariki see the parents doing such a thing, they gain the confidence to do the same. It is teaching them to look to Ihowā for help and to obey His instruction in the Paipera Tapu. Ihowā desires that we always turn to Him for help and in doing so show our tamariki that: a) they themselves are not perfect "Ko ia kua kite i ahau kua kite and need Ihowā hoki i te Matua" Hoani 14:9 b) they are setting a good example and one that the tamariki will In this uncertain world that is full of evil, follow abuse, and confused values, tamariki need c), that they trust and believe in to have something to align their values what Ihowā’s instructs. with. Ihowā has perfect and unchanging values that He has taught us and they are to When tamariki see the instructions set by be a solid foundation for life for everyone. Ihowā worked out in their parent’s live, When we teach our tamariki those values they will see how wrongs are made right, we are doing what Ihowā wants us to do. how repentance and seeking forgiveness We are giving our tamariki the upbringing is important when one has done wrong, that Ihowā designed us to give them. We and how broken relationships are healed. are building the best of foundations into Such things are vital for our tamariki their lives so that when they enter the to see first-hand so that they will have battles of life and face temptations they confidence to follow in the same steps have a solid foundation to stand on. when they experience life and when it goes wrong. When tamariki are in times of chaos in their own lives, they will remember what truth A THIRD DIVINE TRUTH is to know who Ihu and peace is and how it is to be pursued. Karaiti is. He is the ultimate expression of They will know what is right and wrong aroha to us. He is the way for us to have a for it had been taught to them before right and full relationship with Ihowā. It is they entered the battles of life. They will vital that our tamariki know about Ihowā remember that this is the path Dad and as the one who aroha them perfectly and Mum walked and they will follow in the that Ihowā is a holy God who hates sin. same steps. There is no greater privilege Sin is missing the mark or not reaching than to teach your tamariki divine truths the perfect standard that Ihowā himself about Ihowā. When you do that, you are attains. teaching divine wisdom. So who can ever have a relationship with
Tupu Whakarangi
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Article by Russell Hohneck
Ihowā seen as we have all sinned and missed the mark? Sin separates us from Ihowā and Ihowā desires us to be right with Him, but there is no way we can ever be right with Ihowā through our own efforts. This is where Ihu Karaiti, the Son of Ihowā, becomes the solution.
When we trust and believe that Ihu Karaiti died for us then Ihowā can forgive our sin. It means we are accepted by Ihowā because we have the life, death and resurrection of Ihu Karaiti given to us by Ihowā. Now that is the best exchange that can ever take place. We give Ihu Karaiti our sin and he gives us his perfect life, which is eternal life. To take your tamariki to Ihu Karaiti and teach them who he is, is the greatest aroha gift you can ever give your tamariki.
Ihu Karaiti was the sacrifice for sin that Ihowā accepted. But why a sacrifice? Well Ihowā is holy and right at the beginning of time, Ihowā spelt out his standard and said to Adam and Eve, “if you sin you will surely die.” Adam and Eve did sin and as tamariki of theirs, we too are sinners – Continued in the next edition of Tupu death is our lot. Ihu Karaiti came to rescue Whakarangi. us from that eternal death and separation from Ihowā, by dying in our place.
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Keen for a Change Names in this article have been changed. I was just leaving one of the pods after a Bible study with a small group of men when I heard from behind me, “Hey mister. Why don’t you come over to see us?” As I looked over in the direction of the voice, I saw a young man walking up and down along the bars like a caged lion. I couldn’t meet with him then so I yelled back, “I’ll see you this Wednesday”. I’d been in that particular pod many times in the past, but this man was new. From a distance I couldn’t recognise him. Wednesday came so I made that man my first port of call. When entering the sterile zone, I could see him over the far side of the courtyard. He saw me almost at the same time and immediately walked towards me. I checked with the guard and he let the man out and we sat down together in a room. Bobby was a serious young guy. No smiles, just deeply troubled and wanting help. As we introduced ourselves, I remembered him from a one-off previous group study I’d had in another pod. I opened my Bible at chapter one of John’s gospel and asked if he’d like to read some verses. He began.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. HE was with God in the beginning".
As he made his way through the chapter, I began to ask Bobby some questions. Who is this person called the Word? How could He be in the world He made and not be recognised? What does it mean, “in the beginning”? Why did the Word become flesh and live among us? Why did His people not recognise Him? How is it that some received Him and others didn’t? How does a person become a child of God? For one and a half hours we talked about this one called “THE WORD”. Bobby was understanding and I could see that the Spirit of God was helping him see who Jesus was. Not just a man, but the Lord, the Creator and the one who came to save him. There came a moment when I asked Bobby,
"Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins"? He replied, “Yes I do”. “Do you want to receive Him as your own saviour”? “Yes I do”. And so, Bobby bowed his head and thanked Jesus for dying for Him and then asked Him to be his saviour. From when Bobby accepted Jesus as his saviour, he began his journey of discovery. The Bible became his kai and although struggling in his old ways, his new life began to shine. His decision to trust in his saviour was evident. Now the process of transformation could begin. Submitted by a Prison Chaplain
MPA in our Correctional Facilities
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- Postal Aotearoa Maori in our Correctional Facilities SPRINGHILL CORRECTIONS CHRISTCHURCH WOMENS he has renewed my spirit to FACILITY PRISON the point that I care about others more than ever “I have never ever read or “I have just moved to a new before, and love to spread spelled anything in my life prison and a few of the girls the good news about our as I could not as I left school are in the Maori unit. Can Lord Jesus.” at a young age due to being you please send me some raised in a crime, alcohol, studies to share with them, MANAWATU PRISON drug, sexually abusive family. and also some karakia “Mō I know I need to change so Ngā Kai” posters that I can “Thank you so much for I am asking if I can please put on the tables for the girls the study books. They are receive the Lord Jesus into to say before meals?” really helping me know and my life and get help to stay trust the Lord. I had a rough on track? I want to now give WHANGANUI PRISON upbringing in state care and my life to God and want to be lost all my faith, trust and a new man and walk with the “I am thoroughly enjoying hope but now I have turned Lord and be a better father the studies and all that our to the Lord and building a for my kids and family. Thank Lord Jesus Christ offers to better future. The studies are you and can I be a member believers.He has not only sure a great help to pick me of Māori Postal Aotearoa?” changed my way of thinking, up and keep me going.”
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MPA in our Communities
- Postal Aotearoa in our Communities Maori
Wellington
Maori Pos
We had your poster, enlarged, and in our church window leading up to and over the Christmas holiday period. On 11 December we had a Reach Out activity in front of this window on our busy street, Mansfield St. As I’ve mentioned before, it sits in an intensive housing area with 350 Council flats at one end, and busy Newtown shops at the other, so has lots of foot traffic. We had arranged with Domino Pizzas to supply us with 20 hot mini pizzas every ten minutes from 11 am and this was offered to passers by, together with a bag containing a soft drink, your MPA calendar and another gift. There was a separate little gift bag
in our Co
for any children with their parents. We also had some seats placed outside and several sat while they enjoyed their food, or took it home. All this was very well received, as you can imagine. The area is very cosmopolitan housing people of a number of nationalities, and as our small assembly has 5 nationalities, including Indian, Zambian and Maori, who were offering these gifts, they were well received. We continue to pray that God will bless this witness, and particularly His Word contained in your calendar. We plan to display each month’s page of your calendar in this window, and our prayers will follow that through the year, God willing. Marty Fraser
MPA in our Communities
- Postal Aotearoa in our Communities Maori
stal Aotearoa ommunities
Murupara
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and grateful we truly are for all your support, for all your hard mahi you have done for us in 2021 in helping us to provide 7 townships with the word God, honestly it has been amazingly beautiful seeing the ATUA our father in heaven working through us to help others.. because of our LORD JESUS CHRIST your mahi in blessing us and praying for us and providing for us all here people are turning to God and repenting. Whanau are wanting to karakia more . Through the holy spirit working in us all we were all able to share the word of GOD to his people. I have people near and far wanting to share their testimonies and how GOD save them and how our LORD JESUS CHRIST has made them a new creation in him. I have had the privilege to talk to kaumatua and kuia and how they use to get the rauemi when they were kids sent to this area. GOD is making an impact in the community of Murupara and the surrounding areas.
Just wanted to say a very huge thank to you and your team for sending resources to our local community of Murupara. Because of a very successful turnout to all our kirihimete booklet giveaways through out the week we decided to do a free Jamie Delamere prezzie giveaway for all the tamariki that got a free kirihimete booklet. Thank you so much for blessing our community and our surrounding areas with a way to share the word of God around. We wanted to let you know how thankful
Reach out to us: Contact maoripostal.office@gmail.co.nz with your story about Maori Postal Aotearoa being in your community!
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MPA in our Communities
- Postal Aotearoa in our Communities Maori
Taupo and Rotorua A friend from church (Riverbend Paipera Tapu Church) and I took 4 girls (aged 9-15) for a 2-night outreach road trip, staying with welcoming friends who used to live in Hastings.
and enthusiasm of the children, who enjoyed the sight-seeing side of it but saw that the more important part was giving out the Gospel.
The girls enjoyed the road trip so much We spent much time in Taupō and that we set a date for another one. This Rotorua, had great fellowship, visited time we did a one-night trip to Ōtaki. Paipera TapuWorld, swam in 3 lakes and, along with others, gave away about 500 We had 8 stops in towns on the way, where we gave out over Paipera Tapu calendars from Māori Postal 300 calendars between us. Aotearoa. We teamed up with a lady from the Roosevelt Rd Chapel Indian fellowship, who had time off work the same days we One man the team met both days, and were there. each time he asked for more calendars to She picked up 4 kids from her group, so we were a happy bunch of almost a dozen of us for sight-seeing and distributing literature. I was encouraged by the energy
give out to his friends. He appreciated the Gospel page in it and said that it should be at the front! They prayed for him the first day and on the second day he shared how God had started to answer some of
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MPA in our Communities
- Postal Aotearoa in our Communities Maori those prayers already. It was neat seeing the girls pray for and then take opportunities to talk to people and offer to pray for them. Another man, when he realised I was a Christian, asked me to pray for him and his sore leg. The other lady who came shared the Gospel with 4 people in Palmerston North in a short time before lunch, and one in particular was very close to trusting in Jesus. Please pray for these people. As well as the outreach side, we enjoyed fellowship with believers along the way, a few swims, a bit of training in conversation skills and some sight-seeing around Ōtaki. There is some amazing history in that area from early missionary days in NZ, so we visited the Rangiatea church and I shared the story of men like Katu, Te Whiwhi and Octavius Hadfield who eagerly spread the Gospel in our land many years ago. Two other adults and I did a day trip to Wairoa as well, where the calendars were well-received and we had many conversations
with people enjoying the summery day. We didn’t get to share the Gospel in depth with many people there but we were able to pray for some people and encourage them to trust in Jesus.
lady waiting for the bus. She said it was an answer to prayer, as she had been wanting to get one but didn’t want to walk a few blocks back to a shop to find one. We talked a bit and I shared the Gospel with her and prayed for her. She was very grateful and touched by our conversation I was thankful to be used by God as an answer to prayer and a messenger to her.
One was an older man with an arm full of newspapers. “Keeping up with the news?” I commented, which led to a long conversation with him. He has a lady from a local church who keeps Maria Henderson an eye on him and helps with lawns and things like that. I felt that we were just a link in the chain as we listened to him and prayed for him, because God was obviously at work in his life. He was visibly moved after my friend’s prayer and hesitated before going on his way; he said he was glad he had met us. Back in Hastings, I have been giving out calendars too, and they are wellreceived. One Saturday afternoon in Flaxmere I found several people there who gratefully took one as they each said they have been needing to get a calendar! Another day I gave a calendar to an older
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MPA in our Communities
- Postal Aotearoa in our Communities Maori
Masterton We live in an ever changing world but Māori Postal resources have been a game changer, for me. one thing never changes, we are called to bring Jesus to a lost world. Now more than ever we must adapt and change like Suddenly we had a book that was flying out of our hands. Kids cannot get enough we have never done before. of the colouring and Tamariki A Ihowā. Before Covid, my friend Mike and I have None of our other resources can match been attending major community events, this. - AMP shows, Golden Shears, Daffodil Festival, Christmas parades, etc. We would One December Saturday morning I pump balloons and give out gospel tracts, drove to Henley Lake. There were cars including the Maori Postal ‘Tamariki everywhere and absolutely no where A Ihowā’. These last months we took to park. What was happening? I prayed advantage of the free bilingual calendars. “Lord I really need a park”. Within seconds, And with many events cancelled took a car pulled out. The Lord had provided a them to op shops, food banks, doctors miraculous car park! What was going on? surgeries - wherever we could get them I soon figured out it was a waka ama - a in the door! To my utmost surprise, just waka racing festival. working 50 to 150 at a time, we got up to This was an exciting find! I had wanted to 2000 into our community. go for years, but it always seemed to slip We continued with our ministry in our by, without my knowledge! I saw lots and local park. Since 2015, although terrified, lots of people on the banks of the lake, I began making animal balloons in our watching waka crews fight it out for first park and started sharing the gospel to place on the water. These people; adults children. My friend joined me in my quest and children, were from all over the North Island, perhaps further. to share the word.
MPA in our Communities
- Postal Aotearoa in our Communities Maori
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My “gospel bells” went off. I had some tracts on me, and the rest were in my car. As we walked, I gave away the Maori Postal calendars. It truly was exciting! The people I approached were thrilled to get a calendar.
Christmas Eve we had an invitation to do balloons (and tracts) at a private home laden in Christmas lights. We had never done this before. It was a bold move for that household to extend the invitation to evangelise their viewers. We worked in the light at first, and then in the dark until I then rang my gospel buddy. Despite the we were done! Our hands fatigued, but fact he was working, I told him HE HAD TO spirits high; the clock ticked over 10pm, COME! As the Lord says, “Preach the word! and we called it a night. Even at that late Be ready in season and out of season.” hour, people were still arriving with their children to see the lights. In three hours, "Kauwhautia te kupu; tohea i 170 balloon animals had been created, ngā wā pai, i ngā wā kino" and almost as many Tamariki A Ihowā had 2 Timoti 4:2 gone into the hands of young children.
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We were out of season. This was a rare public event for Covid times and not one we had expected! Even so, just as God had given me a miracle car park, now he would do the same for my friend. We found a spot, behind a roped off area and got busy making balloons and giving out the ‘Tamariki A Ihowā’, plus the odd calendar. There were smiles all around. It was now time to move on, we found another spot by a food truck and kept going.
The command of Matthew 28 still remains, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”.
"Nā reira haere, meinga hei ākonga ngā iwi katoa" Matiu 28:19 If you keep your ears open, your eyes wide, hands to the ready, you will see the Spirit move through your life. Haydee Muir
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Tamariki A Ihowa Fill out the enrolment form on the back for our bi-monthly Kids Magazine and make sure to check out our previous issues online: www.maoripostal.co.nz
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www.maoripostal.co.nz
Tupu Whakarangi
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Maori - English Index Aroha - Love Hoani - John Ihaia - Isaiah Ihowā - God Ihu Karaiti - Jesus Christ Ika - Fish Kararehe - Animals Kenehi - Genesis Koha - Gift Marama - Moon Manu - Birds
Mate - Dead Māuiui - Sick Maunga - Mountain Moana - Sea Motuhake - Special Ngā Waiata - Psalm Paipera Tapu - Bible Pāpa - Father Pohu - Blind Rā - Sun Rākau - Trees
Tama - Son Tamariki - Children Tamaiti - Child Tāne - Man Te Kawenata Hou - New Testament Waka - Canoe Whānau - Family Whetū - Star
Tupu Whakarangi
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Equipment Upgrade During the last five years, the demand for resources are steadily increasing. We have gone from 77,786 resources distributed in 2017 to 136,295 in 2021 - an increase of 60,000 resources. As our outreach grows, we are in need for an upgrade in our equipment and would love to partner with you to purchase a new printer for our head office of MPA. This printer has the ability to handle the increase of publications, trims and produces a completed end product therefore shortening the time it takes to get our resources from us to you. If you would like to help financially towards the purchase of this printer, you can donate via our website: www.maoripostal.co.nz you are also able to view how we are tracking. Thank you for your heart to help us grow and we cannot wait to see what God does in 2022. Blessings, Malachi and Char Williams (National Directors)
Want more information? Contact maoripostal.office@gmail.com
If you or your tamariki would like FREE Bible Lessons please fill out the form below and send to: Māori Postal, PO Box 10, Wanganui 4500 or go online to our website: www.maoripostal.co.nz
ENROLMENT FORM
DATE:
CONTACT INFORMATION NAME:
LAST NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH: ADDRESS: CITY: POSTAL CODE:
TAMARIKI INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE) NAME:
LAST NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH:
NAME: DATE OF BIRTH:
LAST NAME: