MPA in our Correctional Facilities

BELOW ARE STORIES FROM INMATES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY OUR LESSONS.

To Maori Postal Aotearoa

1. I’m writing to thank you for being a part of your lives through the lessons that you sent me. It is so comforting and enjoyable to have good friends like you at this time in my life.

2. I would love to receive the Lord Jesus into my life. I already feel a lot closer to the Father with doing the MPA studies over the last three years and daily Bible readings. I pray a lot and talk to the Lord all the time. I have learnt to forgive and not judge people. I’ve also done a lot of work on myself and really understanding who I am now. I’ve done wrong and hurt people. I have a healthier mind now.

3. I have received Jesus as my personal Saviour and I trust in him because he says in Hebrews ’I will never leave you or forsake you.’ I believe that 100%.

Masterton

I was looking forward to Matariki this year, not because of the extra day off, but more an extra day to be able to delight the tamariki in our local park with a balloon and get ‘hope’ into little hands.

We hit Masterton’s Queen Elizabeth II park for an hour or so. I admit I was rather tired, and I was actually looking forward to getting through Matariki. Somehow, no matter how low you might feel before you go or how exhausted you might be when you finish, the tamariki have a magical way of cheering you up, just with their beaming smiles!

The balloons we use depend on the day. Sometimes we twist animal balloons and pop a rubber band on the balloon, which is then placed on the child’s wrist. At other times, we use round balloons with rubber bands attached to balloon ties. Both methods mean balloons are ‘hand’s free’.

On Matariki Saturday I grabbed all my Tamariki A Ihowā and both types of balloons before heading out the house, unsure which I would use. Upon arriving, I realised to my horror, I had a huge problem - I only had five ties for the round balloons and possibly another five that needed preparing. “Easy fix” I thought, “I’ll use my animal balloons”. I rummaged around in my bag and to my horror had left them behind! I had no choice! I would have to work with what I had. I was hugely disappointed with myself for this glaring over-sight.

Within minutes of sitting down, three tamariki arrived that I had met before. The oldest was Hunter. He asked if I needed help. I was working alone and it was a busy playground - boy, did I need help! He was my miracle! I got him pumping the balloons, while I tied knots and drew faces on the balloons. We reached the end of the ties, so I rummaged through my box - lo and behold, more ties!

It was evident Hunter could be better used in other ways, so after a quick lesson, I got him (who was just 8 years old) to tie the bands to the balloon ties. Every time we ran out of ties I would rummage through my box, and find three or four ties. This happened again and again even though each time I was 100% sure there were no more ties left.

Finally we ran out of ties, I could not find one no matter how hard I looked!

I was distressed to see tamariki lining up knowing I would disappoint them. I decided to get Hunter to draw on the balloons as there was nothing else left for him to do. I gave him my box filled with pens and rubber bands.

Whilst I was busy and unknown to me, Hunter rummaged through my box and to my utter astonishment, found five ties! If I didn’t know beforehand, I knew now - God had gone before me. He had miraculously provided all the ties that were needed!

Then Hunter was called away. He had spent all his time with me at the playground, forfeiting his opportunity to play and run around. I had been more than blessed by his presence.

There were just five tamariki left in the queue. Each got a personalised balloon and left happy, and so was I. I was glad to go but before I could another child arrived.My heart saddened. I had no more ties - not one! The box had run dry! I was about to send the boy away with a balloon straight from the packet when a wee boy rushed at me, pushing in front. He said, “I don’t need this” and handed me a balloon tie. He didn’t know it, but he was an instrument in God’s hand. With that, this last boy got a balloon with a happy face and his name written inside a heart - just like all the other tamariki.

Māori Postal Aotearoa supplied us with all we needed for the Light Glow that lasted three nights. We were able to bless hundreds of tamariki over those nights and many whānau.

The last and busiest night was Saturday. Where we stood we were packed in like sardines, which worked to our advantage for much of the night. We were flat stick giving out Tamariki A Ihowā, karakia posters, colouring pages and calendars for two solid hours. By 8:00pm we were done, and the crowds had all but gone. It was a successful weekend and we pray it will reap an eternal harvest, both now and in the future.

We hope that next year we will be able to attend again, representing Māori Postal Aotearoa in the same capacity. We would like to get to the other Kahungunu Matariki Light Glow events in Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke and beyond.

- Haydee Muir

That comes from the Bible?

Everyday expressions you probably didn’t know come from the paipera tapu.

Our karu are very important parts of our tinana. They are sensitive and need special care and protection. We may need to wear mōhiti or goggles at times.

In the old days the pupil was known as the ‘āporo’ of the karu. The expression ”He is the āporo of someone’s karu” came to mean that this person was very special to someone else – dearly loved and cared for.

“Tiakina ahau, ānō ko te whatu o te kanohi, hunā ahau ki raro i te taumarumarutanga o ōu pākau.”

Ngā Waiata 17:8

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalms 17:8

In the Paipera Tapu, King David, who wrote those words, was asking Ihowā to protect him and keep Him safe from his enemies. And God did so, just as He treasures and protects all who put their whakapono in Him.