A HUNGER FOR GOD’S WORD

Testimony by 90 year old Emarina Demant

Kia ora koutou katoa. Ko Emarina Demant taku ingoa. Tena koutou katoa. Ko taku iwi ko Ngati Awa, Whakatane me Whakatohia, Opotiki.

I was 15 when I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I became a member of the British Commonwealth Covenant Church in Whakatane. My sister Vena Ratima, came to the Lord first and went on to be a missionary throughout NZ.

My Mother, Meriana Ratima, had become a believer at 50 and was a staunch Christian. She had met some old dears in Tuhoe, who led her to Jesus. My Mother died at 60 years and Vena returned from her mission work in Lower Hutt to care for my Dad. I do pray that my Dad came to salvation through her.

I had seven siblings, and my Mother encouraged us all to become Christians. All eight of us were baptised in the river at Poroporo at the same time. Also baptised was the whānau of Ihaia Iraia, from Poroporo, and we fellowshipped with them. They were a great encouragement to us.

I worked at the telephone exchange at Whakatane Post Office. I came to know the Lord with great eagerness - so much so that I took my Bible to work and read it during my breaks. I didn’t understand it at first, but was eager to learn. I loved my Lord, and took the Bible very literally, looking for the good bits. I realised that I had a lot of growing up to do in the spiritual world.

About 1953 the Kawerau Mill was starting up, and many young men came in to Whakatane. I didn’t realise then how insecure I was spiritually. I was a lost sheep really.

I met Dave Demant, who’d come over from Devonshire, England to help build the Mill. We married at Ruamoko marae in Opotiki when I was 21, and got a home in Kawerau. After our daughter was born, the real turmoil started. I thought I had married someone who loved me but despite his unfaithfulness, I stuck with him, mainly because of my insecurity. I loved him and didn’t want to leave him.

Nine years later we had a son. I always mentioned the Lord to Dave and although I was sad that he didn’t join me, at least he did not stop me from following Jesus. It was by the grace of God that I kept on with my marriage, largely for the sake of my children. Later I learned that a Christian should never marry a non-Christian, but now it was too late!

In 1972 we moved to Te Kaha on the East Coast, and that is when I really got to know the Lord. My husband had come from a fishing village in England, and now started a fishing business at Te Kaha. I worked at Opotiki Post Office and then at Te Kaha Post Office until it closed.

In the 1960’s my mother-in-law and brother-in-law came out from England. Later my mother-in-law came to live with us.

Dave became very unwell, and I can only trust that the words I shared reached his heart. My husband died on 19 December 2019.

I have a 28 year old granddaughter, Erina Demant who teaches locally, living with me and caring for me. In my early years I longed to learn more than the basics of repentance and baptism. Praise the Lord He led me through the waters of baptism along with quite a group of others in Opotiki in 2013. Now my dear Lord and I have very intimate times as I study His Word. I have plenty of time in His presence these days. He answers my requests and has given me great revelations from His Word.

I love to sing praises to my Lord with my ukelele. I’m so grateful for Christian friends Winika Tuira, and Frank and Zoe Grant to fellowship with, as there is no church near where I live.