JANUARY and FEBRUARY 2026

Doesn't Isaiah look quite grown up in his high school uniform?

Dear Friends,

The ice and snow that hit the American South didn’t touch us here. We have been enjoying Aotearoa summer vibes. Even as we have settled back into normal rhythms of work and school life after holiday break, we are grateful for the lingering long days and warm temperatures. A word that stands out as I look back over the past couple of months is partnership. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love being part of a team. It has been such a gift to work together with some special people and organizations recently. Praise God with me! With us! And pray with us for continued strengthening of partnerships, working together for the glory of God and the love of our neighbours.

Here are some highlights and updates from us:

• Bible Study. We started back our Bible study for 2026 a few weeks ago. Last week we had seven families represented and 24 people attended! Please pray for Michael, Pauline, Krystal, and I as we lead this tender group. There are many families who face significant barriers in life. Pray for salvation for those who attend who have not yet given their lives to Jesus. Pray for all of us to grow in our love and obedience to God. Pray for our Bible study to be a place of belonging and joy and peace in the midst of the chaos that so often seems to threaten and overwhelm. Also, we have LOVED meeting at the local community house, but we just got word the powers that be may permanently close the community house in June. Please pray that this does not happen! Or that we figure out the next steps (a new home!) for our Bible Study. This is a big request as we love both the actual place (lovely front porch! just a great space for us), and also the location in the neighbourhood (great street views and easy walking distance for several families who already attend). The whole neighbourhood will deeply feel the loss of this community hub if it does indeed close. 

Randwick Park Bible Study

Ames and Nikora reading comics together at the skate park. Nikora and some of her family have been coming to Bible Study, and she has joined FootyGirls as well! 

Bible Study reunion! We got to visit our dear friends Viv and her family who moved away a few months ago.

Every year a local church donates festive food to share with neighbours. I had the delightful job to be the delivery girl! This was such a special day, getting special moments and conversations with neighbours. One neighbour had just lost her mum a few weeks prior, and was deep in grief during the holidays. She said the festive food delivery came right on time, just a way to bring some joy and levity in the middle of experiencing deep loss.

• Reading Groups. I start back with Reading Groups this week. I am thrilled to be doing this again! A praise from one of the students in the reading groups from last year: she is attending the same high school as Isaiah, and her niece is on Jubilee’s soccer team so we have been able to keep up and she is doing well. I have gotten quite close to the family. Please pray for them to come to know Jesus.

It was an honour to work alongside and learn from long time Attendance Coordinator Mrs. Dot who retired from Randwick Park School at the end of 2025.

• Randwick Park Whānau Football. My biggest project so far this year has been to lead “FootyGirls,” an eight-session football (soccer) workshop for girls 8-12 years old. We have partnered with a nearby football club, and have had amazing success with our program! Over 40 girls have participated, and we have our finale this Wednesday. One goal of this programme is to build interest in the upcoming winter season, so we are hoping that many of these FootyGirls register and join the team for the winter. It has been such a joy to see many girls and families outside, laughing, getting to know one another, and learning a bit about football. Please pray that the right girls join the team! There are a few mums and nans I am trying to meet in the next couple of weeks to see if they would like to participate. Pray that God uses this platform however he sees fit. Courage and Kindness are both words that come to mind when I pray for these girls and the women of our neighbourhood. We want to be girls and women of courage and kindness. Ultimately we hope to be courageous followers of Christ. But we want to grow in courage to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult; to be kind to outsiders and those who are suffering or lonely; to have courage to persevere when we encounter obstacles that hold us back from living a flourishing life. 

We begin and end every session with prayer, and also allow the girls to give "shout outs" to each other. It is such a joyful atmosphere, and my co-leader, Kumi, is an amazing woman of God and also passionate about community football for girls.

evening football 

Parents and families getting out of the house, into their neighbourhood, and getting to know one another is a beautiful "side effect" of community sport 

• Fasting. The seasons of Lent and Ramadan overlap this year. What an unexpected blessing this has been already. I find it easier to remember to pray for and have compassion for my M.slim neighbours and friends, as both our traditions are in seasons of fasting right now. Please pray for the M.slim community here in Randwick Park. And pray for the M.slim neighbours in your place wherever that is! Our good and kind God has often met people in dreams and visions during this time. Please pray for my friends Maryam and Omar* (and their five children), that Jesus would meet with them in a dream or a vision, and that He would transform their lives.

* Pseudonyms

Jubilee had sweet baby cuddles at our last play date with this precious Iraqi family.

• Family Life. Isaiah started high school! Michael, Isaiah, Ames and I all went sky diving! We repainted Nova’s room. Jubilee is on a growth spurt! And much more. :)

Nova and Jubilee showed off their Bollywood and Samoan dance skills at their school's Celebration in the Park event.

Nova got a cymbal for Christmas! This adds to the joyful noise of our garage family band!! Nova on drums, Isaiah on bass, Ames on acoustic guitar, Michael on electric guitar, and Jubilee on vocals. Mom happily listens from the house. But seriously, they are sounding good! And this creates some delightful family moments. It also fulfils a lifelong dream for musical and proud Dad. :)

Isaiah graduated from primary school. He received the Mainfreight Scholar Award, a significant honour at his school. Proud parents.

 Jubilee and Nova honouring Isaiah with "lolly lays" during graduation

The graduating Year 8 students haka and dance as part of the graduation ceremony

40th birthday gift from Ames to Dad - a caricature

A welcome and tasty addition to our household... a Blackstone Grill! Michael is already quite the griller! Come visit us and find out! 

"No Man Is an Island" 

A huge highlight of our summertime was friends visiting from the States. Marshall helped Michael create a podcast that supplements his soon to be released book, Reimagining Biblical Politics.

We went to the furthest northern point of Aotearoa, Cape Reinga, with the Wilson crew. Eight kids, four adults, three kayaks, eleven wetsuits, five tents, wet and happy adventures... and a partridge and a pear tree.

We jumped out of an airplane!

Thank you for reading this. Thank you for your love and support. Let us know how we can be praying for you.

Love,
Rebecca, for all of us 💚💚💚💚💚💚