We had a particularly busy and fun end to February by taking part in a witnessing trip to Waiheke Island, the second largest island in the Hauraki Gulf and situated about 18km from Auckland. It’s New Zealand’s most densely populated island, with a permanent population of around 8000, but this can rise to 30,000 over the summer months. There is a small congregation on the island – currently only about 16 publishers – so they only get around the territory about once a year, which meant that the injection of 12 pioneers from Central was really welcomed! It was like going on a Scotland preaching trip really but with absolutely amazing weather and no horizontal rain!! (Carey and Luke - the place looks gorgeous in the sun!)
View of Waiheke from the boat
Laurie and Kathleen
Once we started on the territory, we then found that we were just as warmly welcomed by some of the local residents! On our 2nd door, Michelle and I rang what has to be one of the best doorbells in history (made from an old turn of the century fire alarm) and a lady opened the door with the words ‘you must be the visiting Jehovah’s Witnesses from Auckland – have a cold drink!’. Her husband was the local fire chief and as we had witnessed to one of the trainee firemen 40 minutes beforehand whilst getting a coffee, news of our arrival had already spread! Although not really interested as she was a staunch Catholic, she encouraged us to carry on “preaching the good word to the people of Waiheke” and so we enjoyed our drinks and moved on!
Jasmine and Kaila
A spot of beach witnessing!
Enjoying the sun with Kathleen
At times witnessing could be quite tiring - as you can see most of the houses on the island have very steep drives so as to make the most of the views, and even the postman used a little scooter to get around easily... sadly we mostly just used our legs!
Delivering the mail
MZ, Jessamy and Jasmine with the mainland in the background
Over the course of the weekend we had lots of nice conversations and placed a fair amount of magazines and books, so we were able to pass on lots of calls to the congregation. We were also able to enjoy the lovely scenery and make time to get to the beach for lunch and an after the ministry swim each day!
Over the course of the weekend we had lots of nice conversations and placed a fair amount of magazines and books, so we were able to pass on lots of calls to the congregation. We were also able to enjoy the lovely scenery and make time to get to the beach for lunch and an after the ministry swim each day!
Breaktime!
Lunch in the shade with some of the locals!
Brendan cooking dinner via lamplight!
Further excitement was caused on the trip come Sunday morning when we were woken by a phone call from the branch office informing us that a tsunami warning had gone out and we were all being placed on alert! The earthquake in Chile had triggered the warning as far as New Zealand and Japan (I had never thought of Chile being anywhere near New Zealand as they are on opposite sides of the map but it was pointed out to me that actually there is completely open water between the two countries if you actually fold the map round into a globe!) and whilst we were all staying in houses on high ground, the Kingdom Hall is low lying and at 10.30am (when it was due to reach us) we would all have been in the meeting! Of course I tend to think if you are going to be killed in a natural disaster the Hall is probably the best place to be, but sadly it was all a bit rubbish and there wasn’t even a small tidal surge to get excited about! I would have also liked some air-raid style warning alarms to go off too as I think that would have given a greater sense of urgency and impending doom, but it really wasn’t to be! Still, at least we can say that we survived a tsunami (sort of!!).
Further excitement was caused on the trip come Sunday morning when we were woken by a phone call from the branch office informing us that a tsunami warning had gone out and we were all being placed on alert! The earthquake in Chile had triggered the warning as far as New Zealand and Japan (I had never thought of Chile being anywhere near New Zealand as they are on opposite sides of the map but it was pointed out to me that actually there is completely open water between the two countries if you actually fold the map round into a globe!) and whilst we were all staying in houses on high ground, the Kingdom Hall is low lying and at 10.30am (when it was due to reach us) we would all have been in the meeting! Of course I tend to think if you are going to be killed in a natural disaster the Hall is probably the best place to be, but sadly it was all a bit rubbish and there wasn’t even a small tidal surge to get excited about! I would have also liked some air-raid style warning alarms to go off too as I think that would have given a greater sense of urgency and impending doom, but it really wasn’t to be! Still, at least we can say that we survived a tsunami (sort of!!).
The congregation
The little Kingdom Hall
The witnessing team in the van!
The group shot, with some of the local brothers and sisters at the back
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