MMMNew ZealandNEWS

MMM New Zealand NEWS
Issue 4 2015
Standing
on the
Shoulders...
CONTENTS
Moirs Point
Project
p3
Projects
p4
40 Years Strong
Conference p6
I’m a MMMer!
p7
Letter from the Director
CONTACT
DETAILS:
NEW ZEALAND
1 Kane Street
Pirongia 3802
Phone and fax: +64 (0)7 871 9161
Email: mmmnz@mmm.org.nz
Web: www.mmm.org.nz
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE
International Director
Ross Henson
PO Box 925
Eltham
Victoria 3095
Australia
+61 430 072 593
mmmidross@gmail.com
Web: www.mmminternational.org
AUSTRALIA
5/621 Whitehorse Road
Mitcham
Victoria 3132
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)3 9837 2700
Fax: +61 (0)3 9837 2799
Email: admin@mmm.org.au
Web: www.mmm.org.au
HONG KONG
PO Box 269
Shatin Central Post Office
Shatin, New Territories
Hong Kong
Phone & fax: +852 2605 4813
Email: mmmhk@mmm.org.hk
Web: www.mmm.org.hk
SOUTH AFRICA
PO Box 30221
Sunnyside 0132
South Africa
Phone: +27 (0)87 980 0048
Mobile: +27 (0)83 566 4874
Email: neil.eichstadt@swissmail.org
THAILAND
PO Box 103
Bandu
Chiang Rai 57100
Thailand
Phone: +66 (053)705 595
Email: mmmthai@mmm.org.au
There was a good representation of New Zealand MMMer’s at the 40th Anniversary
celebrations of MMM in Australia in October. It has been quite a few years since
MMM Australia have held a conference and the MMM Kiwi’s had a wonderful time
catching up with old friends (old, as in some of us have been around MMM a long
time but, yes they are also getting older) and meeting new friends -people involved
in MMM Australia that we pray for regularly but had not met.
You can read more about this in Ave’s article on page 6 but for me one of the
outstanding points was shared by one of the guest speakers, Rev Bill Brown
– Senior Minister of Syndal Baptist Church. He reminded us that branding is
important. He challenged us personally with “What is your brand? We all have one.
You may not know what it is, but others do!”
Wow, what do I present as my brand? I surely want it to be one of being ‘like
Christ’. My brand contributes to what people think of Christians, Christ, God. I not
only want to be ready to give an answer for my faith, with gentleness and respect
but to live my faith with gentleness and respect to make the brand strong.
On a ministry level, MMM is a fantastic
‘product’. But the strength of our brand is
not on what we have to offer, but in how we
present it. It is the collection of our individual
brands that also creates MMM’s brand and I
believe the MMM brand is strong. Thank you for
contributing to this strength.
Blessings,
MMM Alliance Board and National Leaders,
Howard Robinson, front row far right.
Howard Robinson
Mission Awareness
Tour Ndola, Zambia
An opportunity to experience mission in zambia
A Mission Awareness Tour combines serving, with visiting missions and
experiencing culture.
Estimated Dates: three weeks between June - August 2016
...To express interest contact the MMM office...
MMM is
People
Printed by: FusionPrint, 24 Norton Road,
Hamilton
Practical
spiritual
ZAMBIA
PO Box 73624
Ndola
Zambia
Phone: +260 (0)974 998368
+260 (0)955 103343
Email: mmmzambia.office@gmail.com
December 2015
International
Ministry
Vision
Mission
To see the Church empowered and equipped with
adequate facilities appropriate to God’s mission
MMMNZ exists to enhance the spread of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ through the ministry of building, both
Cover: MMM Founder, David Dawson signing
the memorial display wall at the MMM Australia
‘40 Year’s Strong” conference
2
2
people and facilites to serve Chrisitan work and
workers in God’s global kingdom
MMM New Zealand News
Moirs Point Project
It’s a cup of tea!
Jarrod and Katy Alexander and
their children, Brooke, Rylee and
Maia have been accepted to work
with MMM in the new year and following a year working
with the New Zealand team will relocate to lead MMM Fiji. Their first New Zealand
project was the Moirs Point Christian Centre project. The following is from their Blog:
Alexandersoffthegrid.weebly.com
Willing Workers
Well we embarked on our first NZ mission with MMM in the last week of the school holidays. It was ideal
really as it meant the kids and I could go and also we got my sister Anna and her husband Jamie (also
a jack-of-all-trades) and their four kids to come with us and turn it into a bit of a family working holiday.
Such fun! We spent the week up at Mangawhai Heads where Jarrod and co built a huge deck on a new
lodge they had positioned at Moirs Point Christian Centre. Funnily enough, Jarrod’s Uncle Hugh used to
run the camp and he had been there as a kid.
It started off well and the kids were very excited to be sleeping in bunk beds all in one room (much more
excited than the parents were!) We arrived on the Sunday night and had tea with a few of the other people
who had come to work. On the Monday the boys set to work and Anna and I set to looking after 7 kids when I say looking after, I mean having a vague idea where they are while we drink cups of tea in the sun.
Haha - not quite but close. It was great to get to know Barry and Jocelyn a bit better and they had their
lovely granddaughter Rebekah there, who was in hot demand with the kids - they fought over who got to
sit beside her, who got to have her in their car, who sat on the swing beside her, who was in her team for
the game….you get the idea! The Stevenson’s became “Uncle Barry and Aunty Jos” and the kids really
enjoyed playing games with Aunty Jos and racing around camp and up and down the giant waterslide. We
also found a great playground down the road which the kids had a fantastic time at.
We were upgraded on Day 2 to the Lodge so it was lovely to be in a house and have all the mod cons
again. A big highlight for Anna and I was having “Aunty Wendy” there. Wendy is an incredible woman
who came for the whole week to cook for us all. And boy did she cook! I couldn’t believe the amount
of amazing food that came out of that small kitchen. From delicious date scones for morning tea every
day, to hot cooked lunches, home baking for afternoon teas and hearty dinners that had all the workers
like Oliver, holding out their plate for more. She was an inspiration to all of us and we felt so spoilt and
blessed that we had to do literally no cooking for an entire week - oh the luxury! We did offer to help of
course, but she shooed us away and told us to sit down if the kids were happy and playing because she
had it all under control. There goes that cup of tea again ahhhhh.
Kids Kan!
Wonderful Wendy
On the work front, the boys enjoyed getting the deck done. Jamie even had son Noah helping out one
day! It was a pretty mammoth effort as the deck was HUGE but it was definitely well worth it. And what
a gorgeous spot to be working in! Jarrod enjoyed getting to know some of the guys he will be working a
lot with next year. The weather held out mostly but the winds were pretty full on - their faces were silky
smooth by the end of the week from all those exfoliating sand blasts they got.
So all in all, a great week, great people, great food, great weather and a great introduction to working with
MMM. Roll on January!!
As well as two huge decks being built onto the newly relocated lodges and
one lodge being painted inside; over the four week project the team relined the
kitchen and when the relocated lodges didn’t arrive as scheduled they cleared
blocked drains, painted the exterior of the bunk rooms, disassembled old bunks,
assembled and installed the new bunks. Well done team! Phewl!
Talented Teams
Mission Guest
House Project
Nuku, Papua New Guinea
Building a home for short term missionaries
The project is to construct a two bedroom kitset house on steel
poles with a deck. Three week project. Four builders required to
work with locals.
Dates: End of February –beginning of March 2016
...Cost $2,500 Approx...
Issue 4 2015
3
Serving those who serve....
Full-time staff members
currently working on NZ
projects: Alan and Rosina
Mitchell, Ian Cross and
Barry and Jocelyn Stevenson
(sometimes!)
Children’s Bible Ministry Camp
Children’s Bible Ministries have
a fantastic facility at Raglan for
running children’s camps and
have done so for many years.
With amazing sea views and a
ten minute walk to the beach
it was an idyllic place to work.
The project was to replace 11
windows and five doors with
modern aluminium ones. The
first job was to remove the old
windows, and then pack the old
piles to level up the building.
Then the new doors and windows
went in. There was a great team
of helpers, leading the project
were Alan and Rosina Mitchell,
the willing servants were Ian
Cross, Graeme Roffey, Barry and
Jocelyn Stevenson and Graham
and Colleen Stokes. They had
some inclement weather (doesn’t
the sun always shine by the sea?)
but a few tarps kept the team
dry and able to keep working.
There was great hospitality from
Patrick and Heather Watson, the
cooks and Roger Humphris, the
awesome Manager with a dry
sense of humour, to keep the
team all in line.
- Rosina Mitchell
MMM Camper
The time has come
to do some work on
the MMM campervan
which has a case
of leaky house
syndrome! Otherwise
a great campervan
to be used by those
interested in trying
out the mobile
lifestyle before
investing personally
in a campervan. A
wonderful asset but
it had deteriorated
over the years which
Alan and Rosina
Mitchell discovered while using it
on the Katikati project earlier in the
year. They woke up in the morning
with wet pillows! It also had a
generally damp aroma pervading
the inside. So, after taking off some
of the outer cladding and finding
the plywood lining sopping wet, the
decision was made that it was time
for some TLC. The week most of the
MMM team went to the Australian
conference, Alan and Rosina spent
4
Temuka Baptist Church
Fine weather is what you require when
it comes to re-roofing and that’s just
what the team had when in Canterbury
recently, on the Temuka Baptist Church
project.
The team of Andrew and Glenys
Mackie, Bart and Muriel Gilmore and
Stan Zwies assisted by a local builder
spent a week and two days replacing
the rafters, roof and internal guttering.
The project went smoothly with the
team only being held up one afternoon
due to a damp roof.
- Bart Gilmore
the time stripping off the outer
cladding then removing all the wet
plywood. Now the camper was
pink, not white, as all that was left
was the styrofoam insulation! Once
the cladding was removed, it was
obvious that water had been leaking
and running down the inside for a
long time. The camper will be reclad with new aluminium cladding
and will be spick and span again
very soon. - Rosina Mitchell
MMM New Zealand News
There is
room on
the team
for You!
Timaru Christian School
A note from the South Island Team Leaders
Andrew and Glenys Mackie:
Timaru Christian School has approximately 100 students
up to year 8. We went to the assembly at the start of term
and could not believe how well behaved the kids were,
outstanding. Glenys had the job of using the year 8’s as
apprentice painters on the classroom block we are fixing up
and modernising: Mayhem ensues but, she claims, “It was
fun!”, go figure. Blessed to have a cheerful and entertaining
volunteer team helping: Bart and Muriel Gilmore, Neville
and Pauline Stewart, Michael Thompson and Stan Zwies.
Of course the never ending supply of kai from parents and
staff made our three week stay a pleasure, this constantly
reminded the team how much our work is appreciated, we
love doing this stuff. (See below, one of the many thank you
notes from the kids!)
Prayer needs. 1) We can confirm that planning & prayer is
directing us towards serving in Vanuatu next year. Pray God
will continue to open the “doors” for Vanuatu for 2016 and
for clear direction for the right organisation and right jobs.
2) That we finish well with MMM. [end of December] 3) That
what we are doing now will enrich people’s lives and God’s
name will be honored. - Andrew Mackie
Yes, sadly for MMM Andrew and Glenys Mackie, who
have very capably led the MMM South Island team over
the last eight months, are moving on to other ministry
opportunities that have stirred their hearts. MMM
extends its heartfelt thanks to them for their dedicated
leadership.
Cambridge Baptist
The team were looking forward
to being back in Cambridge,
having enjoyed the antics of
Tom Hinnet, Rod McCracken
and Bruce Shute who
entertained the team with their
dry sense of humour at the last
Cambridge project earlier this
year. Also on the team were
the great team players John
Langhorn, Peter Mellais, Merv
Taylor and Ross Porter all from
Cambridge. The MMM team
members were Alan and Rosina
Mitchell, Ian Cross, Graeme
Roffey and Brian Sullivan. They
extend their thanks to the wives
who catered so diligently and
well for the team. The project
was to replace the rotting deck
outside the existing auditorium
and to build a new large covered
deck out from the morning
tea room. This was necessary
as after church there are too
many people to squeeze into
the morning tea room, so a
covered deck is a great solution,
which will allow the overflow
to spill onto the new deck. The
alterations the team have done
will be a great blessing to the
church. - Rosina Mitchell
Issue 4 2015
5
40th Anniversary Celebration
Standing on the shoulders...
of those who have gone before
MMM Founders; Murray Kay, John Walder, David
Dawson, Gordon Blowers.
so we can see a vision of the future
- Terrence Baxter, MMM Australia CEO
A bloke with a broken ute axle sitting on the side of the road in the middle of
outback Australia in 1975 is where the MMM story begins. That broken axle gave
Arnold Long the opportunity to tell his rescuers Gordon Blowers and John Caton about the
Kramer Memorial Chapel he was trying to build all the while trying to minister to the people
of Alice Springs. Gordon saw getting the church built as something he could help with. He
went back to Melbourne, shared the need and took a team to finish the church. And that is
the humble beginnings of Mobile Mission Maintenance as it was so named after completing a
number of similar projects
23 Kiwis attended the ‘MMM 40 Years Strong’ conference at Belgrave Heights Convention
Centre, Melbourne, Australia. The MMM Alliance countries include Australia, Zambia, Hong
Kong, South Africa, Thailand, and New Zealand. There were representatives from all these
countries except for South Africa. It was a wonderful time for the MMM family to learn
together from God’s word.
There were reports from all the MMM Centres including Australian State Managers from
New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia. Also throughout the
conference there was the opportunity for attendees to sign a “brick in the wall” of the
display that will hang in the MMM Australia Board room as a memorial. Pictured is Bruce
Alchin signing “the wall.”
As the MMM International Alliance Board was meeting following the conference, this meant
the conference attendees were able to enjoy hearing daily devotions from the International
Alliance Board Members.
John King was the first of the International Board members to give a devotion and
made the great statement: “We don’t make monuments we make a difference.”
Annette Hill, Chair of the International Board challenged attendees during her
report that: “If God has blessed us, how much more can we bless others?” Felix
Muchimba is the chairman of the MMM Zambia Board and he spoke on 1 John. He
made the comment, “It’s not how long you live, but how well you live before God.”
drawing on the text 2 Tim 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.”
The conference was blessed to have two surviving founding members present.
The four founders were Murray Kay, Gordon Blowers, John Walder and
David Dawson. David and John attended the conference on the Saturday.
David (pictured) recalled how Gordon Blowers, when asked to speak, would
frequently share on Mary anointing the feet of Jesus, saying: “She did what
she could.” Not a bad line for someone in MMM.
You would think with such a great line up of speakers and so many folk to
meet and catch up with, the evening speaker would not have a chance at
holding people’s attention. Not true! One of the guest speakers Bill Brown,
held our attention with the story of Onesiphorus, suggesting perhaps he could be the patron saint of MMM. Why?
Because Onesiphorus didn’t give up easily, he stuck around, helped and refreshed Paul (2 Timothy 1: 15-18). He also
made the notable comment “Vounteers don’t get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”
That could well end up on a MMM banner somewhere soon!
As well as the weekend conference, a fundraising dinner was held the following Friday night. These events were such an
encouraging time with many great speakers and challenges, it’s not possible to cover them all, but suffice to say those
attending left invigorated, challenged, encouraged and blessed.
MMM has travelled a 40 year journey from a bloke on the side of the road with a broken ute axle to an international
ministry; May we indeed stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before so we can see a vision of the future;
keep moving forward! I’m a MMMer, are you? - Averil Robinson
6
MMM New Zealand News
People
I’m a MMMer
Lyndon Bell the New South Wales State Manager wrote and shared this poem as an
introduction to his team report he presented at the MMM 40th Anniversary. We love it!
Let me share a little secret, to help fill in the gap,
Grab that paint brush, paint the eaves, and I’ll tell you
where it’s at.
Up here on the ladder, is where I like to perch,
with a brush in me hand, hammer on my belt -this is
how I serve the church.
You see, God made all different shapes and sizes,
Preachers, Theologians, architects and philosophers,
Some have great intentions and some visionary plans,
But I’m an MMMer, I prefer to work with me hands.
I don’t need no alarm to get out of bed,
I work for the Lord, he’s my boss,
I’m first to clock on and last to clock off,
This worksite is holy ground, it proclaims the
message of the cross.
But every day, at half past ten,
We down the tools, yes its morning tea again,
We grab a cuppa, come before the King,
We read his word and talk to Him.
It stirs my heart, refreshes my soul
Despite the heat or the the bitter cold,
We’ll knock this job over, with a day to spare,
Yes I’m an MMMer, in my Master’s care.
Some of us are glaziers, sparkies and plumbers,
Some are teachers, Professors and mothers,
It matters not what you’ve got
All you need is a nail bag, and a love for the lost.
Toyota, Nissan, or 5th Wheeler or Jayco,
Whatever takes your fancy, even a Winnie-blimmen- bago,
As long as it gets there - that’s the nuts of it,
Whatever the make -you’ll still wash the dust off it.
Blimey it hot, I can’t wait for lunch,
Its got to the stage, paints drying on me brush.
It’s better than Katoomba, up in the hills,
Where you work until your bones start to chill.
You see I’m an MMMer, whatever the weather,
We bless those who serve, and we do it together.
Well you’d better stop talking, you’re slowing me down,
Quick pick up the pace, Team leaders doing his rounds.
He’s there to check we’re doing our best, quick get off the ladder and stick on a vest.
He keeps us safe, which is really important,
If you’re in the wrong, he’ll call Ian Dawson.
But it’s the people we serve, that really gets me,
Out here in the outback, slaving in ministry.
No latte’s, glitz or glamour’s, they serve regardless, as Christ’s ambassador,
Sometimes you wonder how we can help in these
lonely places,
But when the jobs done, you should see their faces.
Well 40 years service, is quite an innings.
Still serving today, just as in the beginning.
So many faithful servants, too many to rate,
Hundreds of projects and buildings, all over this state.
You’ll learn on the job, all sorts of skills,
You’ll get fit and strong -you may even get off your pills.
When you knock off you’ll feel sore from head to your feet,
Rest assured, a labourer’s slumber is sweet.
Quietly, confidently, without any fanfare,
We’ve been serving the Lord, and those in his care.
While the buildings will fall and require a mend,
We’ve invested in heavenly treasure, which pays an eternal dividend.
Watch out Mate, you missed a bit,
Brush it again it’s got to look neat.
You see we help each other, giving a lift, or helping hand,
But just don’t tell me how to reverse my caravan.
Using my hands to bring Christ’s love,
Empowered by His Spirit, that comes from above.
You see I’m an MMMer, and I stand tall,
Cause no one else is interested in painting this wall.
We serve in the cities, suburbs and scrub,
Broken Hill, Woodenbong, even the old Blayney Pub.
We drive huge distances, a long way from home,
Camper trailer, tent, caravan or motorhome,
Fiji Bible College Project
Lautoka,Fiji
Help the Fiji Bible College grow their vocational Training work
Finish block work walls of the Vocational Training Center classrooms and construct roof. Renovate and add to an existing
house to create additional accommodation for students. Two weeks. Dates: April 2016, Cost $1,500 approx
Issue 4 2015
7
Upcoming Projects in NZ
8
MMM New Zealand News