Ok, So this week has been a pretty tiring, helpful and busy week with new staff orientation traning. I have worked 12 hour days from Monday to Thursday. Monday to wednesday was for the new staff from overseas where we had a lot of cultural training. We looked at the treaty of Waitangi (when the Maori's signed a treaty with the Brits) and all the cultural ramifications from that. We learnt some Maori and also a bit about some of their history and beliefs. On Tuesday lunch time, we went out for Yum Cha which is kind of a chinese version of Tapas. I feel I was very adventorous trying chicken feet!
All I can say is NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!
All I can say is NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!Wednesday mornign started with Val (head of student ministries) winding up the cultural section before we had a time of prayer. She played us a song called 'Welcome Home' by Dave Dobbyn - a famous Kiwi singer who became a Christian a few years ago. The words to the song were as follows:
tonight I am feeling for you
under the state of a strange land
you have sacrificed much to be here
'there but for grace...' as I offer my hand
welcome home, i bid you welcome, i bid you welcome
welcome home from the bottom of my heart
out here on the edge
the empire is fading by the day
and the world is so weary in war
maybe we'll find that new way
so welcome home, see i made a space for you now
welcome home from the bottom of our heart
welcome home from the bottom of our hearts
keep it coming now - keep it coming now
you'll find most of us here with our hearts wide open
keep it coming now - keep it coming now
keep it coming now - keep it coming now
There's a woman with her hands trembling - haere mai
and she sings with a mountain's memory - haere mai
there's a cloud the full length of these isles
just playing chase with the sun
and it's black and it's white and it's wild
all the colours are one
so welcome home, i bid you welcome, i bid you welcome
welcome home from the bottom of our hearts
welcome home, see i made a space for you now
welcome home from the bottom of our hearts
from the bottom of our hearts
It was quite a big moment for me, recognising that i was genuinely welcome here and accepted. I look forward to embracing some of the differences in culture and enjoying some similarities. Missing family and friends whilst knowing I am in the place God has called me for now.
The rest of the week we were joined by the new staff who were either kiwi or had lived here a long time. We looked at fundraising which was helpful and our roles together with TSCF. It was such a helpful week and with Monday and Tuesday off work I have time to recover physically, reflect and relax.
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