Restoration and Rebirth Down Under
The Heritage New Zealand community purchased Mohaka River Farm with hopes to build a campground where visitors could choose from a variety of activities. Two years ago, a cyclone tore through the area with devastating results. Although the community has worked diligently, with much help coming from other communities, much still remained to do. The largest project: Sediment swept up by the cyclone had made the road into the property unusable for large campers, which they call caravans.
This summer David and Tori Salmeri, Michael and Deborah Ballerino, Nehemiah Borman, David French, and John and Grace French and their family all traveled to New Zealand to finally finish the property restoration. They also helped Brother Ralph and Sister Fleur Lattimore to finish building their home.
A friend and neighbor of the community, Tim, has a heavy equipment business. He took two weeks from his schedule and donated the use of his equipment so the farm could re-grade the road. They removed over seven yards of dirt from the road.
After a lot of cleanup, everyone pitched in to plant trees, shrubs and bushes.
The community was grateful for all the practical help in property restoration. But they were even more excited about the rebirth God has been bringing in their community.
A Christian couple from China, Dele and Bella, are acquainted with a couple currently visiting the church in Texas. When Dele heard what God is doing in their lives, he tried six times for a U.S. visa and was denied. But he was able to obtain visas for his whole family to visit New Zealand.
Rachel Rimmer, from New Zealand, shared, “They were overwhelmed to feel the presence of God in our shared worship and fellowship. They could not explain it to their friends without bringing them here! So three Chinese families visited us recently, and Dele and Bella have stayed with their children here in New Zealand. They have been able to bottle feed lambs, ride ponies, and feed us gourmet Chinese food—all a far cry from their tiny apartment in China, where the children attended school and school functions ten hours a day.”
Dele and Bella and their family were able to attend a baptism this month. Boone Wayman, son of Brother Jared and Sister Tressa was baptized, as well as Leah Nap. Leah had been visiting the New Zealand community for about a year. She is now returning to the Netherlands after encountering God in a powerful way.
Twins Ari and Zara Lattimore were also baptized this July.
Several young people and families from New Zealand are traveling to Wisconsin this month. A year ago, Brother Jared, Sister Tressa, and their daughter Annalise Wayman traveled to India to encourage and support the church. Brother Zach Herbert with his two boys Isaiah and Carter were also visiting. The Lord drew Isaiah’s and Annalise’s hearts together, and they will be married October 11.
God continues to build His church, as young people are born again of water and Spirit, as He binds our hearts with other believers, and as young people begin new families.
