Some of the team that helped stock 20 drums heading to Tonga for relief.
Churches, ministries, families, and individuals from around the CCCNZ movement are working together to support relief and recovery efforts in Tonga after the recent volcanic eruption and tsunami.
Amatakiloa Gospel Church is in Mangere East, Auckland, and many church members have been waiting to hear from loved ones who live along the coastline. Pastor Ofa Fatafehi says he managed to reach his brother on Wednesday night, and at this stage the focus is on getting basic food supplies in as soon as possible.
A team from the church met up at Gilmours on Thursday to pack 20 drums with necessities like flour, sugar, rice, bottled water and milk powder to send over. Each drum will be labelled with the name of a family and they can collect, use, and distribute as they need.
Each barrel also has copies of a commentary on the book of Romans in the Tongan language, written by former Mission Partner to Tonga, Graeme McNae, who continues to support and serve Tongan communities in Auckland.
Some of the team at Gilmours gathering supplies to fill the drums.
Drums were loaded with non-perishable supplies for families in Tonga to use and distribute.
“The whole world knows about Tonga,” remarked one of the ladies volunteering. Pastor Ofa said he was sure all the family of Amatakiloa, even though they couldn’t be here because of work, are thankful to the Lord” for gifts to help Tonga.
Elder Masita Taufahema says one of the most important things people can be doing is praying, “please pray God will save everyone in the nation—from the king to the ordinary citizen”.
GC3 is also encouraging people to pray for people as they recover and rebuild, that Christians would have “remarkable opportunities to speak of the love and comfort of God in the midst of the devastation they are facing”.
GC Aid is receiving funds for the providing of second tier relief to the Tongan communities. They write: “We plan to work with the committee overseeing the local assemblies there in the distribution of the funds we collect, as they respond to the needs of local communities by providing care and counsel to them”. This includes supporting the team from Aotearoa, New Zealand in sending the drums.
The drums will be going on a container with other bulk needs going by ship on Monday.
If you’d like to contribute to the ongoing effort to support our Tongan brothers and sisters please send your gifts to GC Aid – 06 0729 0522196 00, including ‘Tongan Tsunami’ as the bank particulars. All donations to this project will be issued receipts qualifying for tax credits.
