For The Poorest

Situated along the coast, looking out through coconut palms and over sandy beaches to the clear blue ocean, the community of 46 families has grown on what would be prime land anywhere else. But this is Patangata, this is the rubbish tip and this is their home.

The rubbish tip is now closed, but at this stage nothing has been done to plough it over, or clean up the area in any way, (there are plans to do so). In the past sorting and 'recycling' this rubbish has been the source of income for most of the local families. Not surprisingly this lifestyle, along with the shanty style housing, lack of sanitation and clean water, brings with it many illnesses.

The Salvation Army has worked among these people for about 4 years now. These days a mobile clinic (a purpose designed bus) visits the community once a fortnight offering medical assessment and basic treatment.

Along with the clinic a community worker offers health, hygiene, dental, mothering and lifestyle workshops at the local schools and in these communities. During my visit I had the privilege of attending the village community discussion facilitated by the Army. Amongst the people that attended was a 75 year old woman that told us that she hadn’t realised that she could attend the clinic, but now she knew, she would be attending to have her blood pressure tested. It was encouraging to hear the people thanking the Army for the clinic, offering their feedback and suggestions for improvements and suggesting topics for further workshops.

Some of the dreams for the future include a Sewing Café where women could bring their cloth and, for a small cost, sew items either for their own families or for sale to raise some income. Other plans are to expand the school health programs, and the playgroup, kindergarten programming.

The Army is establishing some good programs for the people of Tonga – like many other places the limitations are due mainly to a lack of resources.

Sacred Hands

Spread over 400 miles of the South Pacific and consisting of 176 islands, (a few only visible at low tide) the Kingdom of Tonga is the only remaining Polynesian monarchy in the Pacific. Only 36 of the islands are inhabited and the main, and biggest, island Tongatapu is the seat of power with the Royal residences, Parliament and The Salvation Army located in the Capital Nuku’Alofa. (It’s about 134km around the island and there are 45,000 people on Tongatapu.)

As you fly into Tongatapu you notice that the island is completely flat with coconut trees and other tropical vegetation. It hasn’t rained for three weeks so it is dry and dusty and the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables is short.

Tonga is a Christian Kingdom which is reflected in a conservative, reserved and generous people. (On Sunday’s it is illegal to play and work, and there are no sports on TV).

As I drove into Nuku’Alofa I passed schools with male students wearing the traditional tupenu (sarong) and ta’ovala (mat), a common practice for all levels of society and for both men and women. A symbol of respect the ta’ovala is indicative of the attitude of a people for whom family and face are both the foundations and reason for life.

Nuku’Alofa has not begun rebuilding after the riots of November 2006. Some of the damaged and burnt out buildings still stand empty and desolate, (including what was the new site of The Salvation Army’s Headquarters). Other buildings have been demolished and only concrete slabs remain. Many businesses have moved out of town, others have gone out of business.

In the middle of Nuku’Alofa are the royal graves, with the newest grave being that of the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. Yesterday the people called “the sacred hands” were beginning to dismantle the decorations that surround the new grave. These are a group of people from a specific village on the east of the island who have for hundreds of years been the custodians of Royal funerals. They are the only people allowed to tend to a Royal body and grave. Dressed in black and wearing the ta’ovala as a sign of respect they go about their work with reverence.

God Celebrating Culture

The theme was "Follow ME" for the Celebration of Culture that was held on this Sunday past. 170 people, dressed in all kinds of national dress, joined in with the celebrations as members of a number of nationalities led the worship in their own styles.

A group of Zimbabwean women and young Samoan's danced and sang (separately), followed by a Hindi solo from India and a Rotuman Choir. Prayers were raised in Cook Island Maori, choruses sung in Sinhala and grace prayed in Scottish Celtic.

In between all that the children played Simon Says (Follow ME) and sang about the fact that Jesus loves them, and played happily amongst the crowd. It was certainly a lively congregation!

It was also an opportunity for people to give sacrificially to the annual Self Denial Appeal; after six weeks of hearing about the work of the Salvos amongst those less fortunate our people responded with love, and in hope, giving over $5,000.00 to help these ministries.

But of course we couldn't go without an amazing culinary spread: there were foods and smells from every corner of the globe, and plenty of it.

What an amazing sight! People from all nations sitting and eating together: sharing life stories and hopes. The church of God can be an amazing place.

Obscene Selfishness?

They say the week long wedding and celebrations cost about $6 Million and the dress that bride, Erica Baxter wore to marry James Packer cost $100,000.00.

I know that a wedding, and the dress, are special - but isn't that kind of money just a little bit obscene?

Consider that the dress was worn for this occasion only and it's future is probably a special place in the cupboard or maybe eBay. And consider that for the price tag of this one dress The Salvation Army could build about 20 houses in the village of Gituro in Rwanda. Or 5,000 families could be fed for a month. Or we could sink and fit out about 10 wells so that people had safe, clean water.

A wedding should be special - and to do that you have to spend some money - but come on isn't this just a little obscenely selfish?

Maybe James and Erica could give the dress to the Sallies (Salvos) to auction - and give some of the world's forgotten people the chance to eat, drink and live.

Church IS Fun, (and FOOD).

This Sunday (coming) we will be Celebrating God through Culture. We have a number of people from different nations including, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Island, South Africa, Australia, India, Samoa, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, America, and of course Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders.

Some of us will get dressed up in 'traditional' clothing and then we'll worhip together in all the styles represented. We may even try and wrap our tongues around each others languages. Following that we'll participate in that most important of cross cultural startegies - FOOD!

This (The Meeting House - The Salvation Army, Mt Albert) is an awesome place to be. We get the opportunity to experience God through the eyes and lives of so many different worldviews. Many of our church members have such amazing stories: stories of pain, confusion and frustration and yet they continue to celebrate a God of grace and faithfulness.

So it's with this church that is experiencing the thrill, (and chaos) of living lives intent on being transformers in our community that I get to worship on Sundays. (I bet you wish you could join us!)

Thoughts on Transformation

I read an article about Sustainable Livelihoods and Development which suggested that in days past successful community development has been measured by an improvement in economic reality which hopefully resulted in the alleviation of poverty.

There is nothing wrong with that assumption - except that development is surely about more than economics. As important as an increased ability to create income is, maybe it is not always the best method of development, or even the most essential need!

Development is too often limited to a one-dimensional activity; the dream result of a predetermined agenda imposed by a well intentioned but ethnocentric (or even egocentric)professional. Development needs to begin where the people are at, with what they have available and in a direction and methodology they can control - which is why I prefer the word Transformation.

Transformation does not begin with the assumption that some one/thing needs to be different or better. It does not begin or occur in a vacuum. It takes seriously the pre-existing context and seeks to act together to create a new more relevant environment that empowers and benefits.

Transformation is a multi-dimensioned strategy that assumes nothing but operates in a cyclical pattern of listening, waiting and acting. Transformers exist for the other.

The same theory operates in the Church. Too often leaders presume to know the direction and strategy that the church wants. With little or no knowledge of the context they arrive with a predetermined tool kit of ways to fix and develop the community of faith - often ignoring the hopes, dreams and capacities that already exist. Often they assume that their 'pet' strategies are universal and will work despite the context.

The Salvation Army created new sustainable communities of faith because it was not predictable - and because leadership acknowledged that the context must dictate the method (without ever altering the Message). We come unstuck (irrelevant and unsustainable) when we attempt to unilaterally deploy a methodology that seeks to achieve predetermined outcomes regardless of context.

It’s Tonga Next

At the end of this month I have the opportunity to visit the Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga. It’s only a three day visit, but an opportunity for me to see the work of The Salvation Army first hand.

The Salvation Army in Tonga, administered by New Zealand, currently has five worship centres, Court and Prison work, an Addiction Program, two Kindergartens and a mobile health clinic.

Among other work that The Army has done in the Kingdom, we have assisted in the provision of clean water for a local community. The projects that are currently on the books include building a worship complex and officer’s residence, kindergarten redevelopment and equipment purchases to aid in the delivery of ministry to the community.

So, when I get back I’ll put up a bit of a show and tell for any that are interested.