Been home in QLD 3 days from our recent tour of NewZealand which turned out quite different from former tours mainly because I became afflicted with severe pain in both my knees and arms plus swelling in my fingers which made it almost impossible for me to play guitar. However it became one of the most rewarding tours for us where we were ministered to more than we were ministering ourselves.
HOKITIKA – Living Waters Festival.
Having learned of my condition the organisers arranged a wheelchair and special accommodation changes accordingly and over the next four days we were treated as VIPs.
What stood out about the organisation was it was more like a family than a working group and the love and respect they had for each other made it such an honour and pleasure to be involved with them.
The theme for the festival was Song And Testimony and that’s exactly what was delivered from the stage. People traveled from all over the country – and a couple from Australia – and songs and testimonies were shared throughout the weekend by worship-leaders to former outlaw Bikers to longtime church goers to former atheists, agnostics and blatant Christian haters. All now sharing how Jesus had met them and given them an invitation to follow Him. The church service on the Sunday was the closing event and was attended by many members of the local churches and we all agreed that the name of Jesus was exalted in the neighbourhood.
As we look back we still can’t remember who was actually in charge, but it was perfectly run and we were absolutely blessed.
So from Ainsley and I a huge thank you and GOD BLESS THE TEAM.
CHRISTCHURCH.
It was proposed that we would spend a large portion of the next two weeks recording parts of an album we were working on but owing to my newly acquired condition and a couple of local emergencies that was cancelled and most of the attention was focused on “Healing For Steve”.
Over the next fortnight we were inundated with visits, prayers, prophecies, words of knowledge, painkillers, lotions, diet advice, and food as well as lots of laying on of hands which was very much appreciated by me as my pain level was rapidly rising and I was having trouble sleeping. Through it all Ainsley was an absolute Angel especially during times when I was having moments of faith fatigue which I’m ashamed to admit happened often.
By the time we left to come home our faith levels had risen considerably and it was sad to leave our much loved friends who we had spent much of our younger days with.
Special mention must be made to our hosts who bent over backwards to make our stay comfortable and treated us with undeserved favour while balancing their own family, jobs, extra activities and, most of all, their two dogs.
I know they would be embarrassed if we named them so for the sake of discretion let’s just call them Jason and Becky Fazackerley!!!
Another special mention to Yvonne Smith for ringing Air NewZealand requesting special treatment which they gave us from checking in at Christchurch airport to the carpark at Brisbane airport. Such a blessing.
And now back home in Queensland, we look to a vast improvement in health with faith and a big THANKS to everyone and most importantly TRUST IN GOD.
Steve and Ainsley Apirana.
