Cook Island Putokotoko Camp Labour Weekend 2009

The evidence of the success of any event is always mirrored on the faces of participants. Glowing and smiling faces were all around the camp on the final morning. People were very reluctant to go home and there were long goodbyes and promises to meet again in 2010. While some were busy promising to keep in contact by exchanging emails and phone numbers, others, who had travelled far, were pencilling in their diaries the next camp and making arrangements when to book for flights to get cheap fares.

This happened because God visited the campers. The teachings led by Bruce Fraser (Otago/Southland Synod Mission Adviser) were challenging, revelational, and easy to follow. This was very helpful for the older people, for whom English is sometimes a little difficult for them. However campers reported that Bruce was very easy to follow and to understand.

Bruce was able to weave through the text (Mark 1:14-20) and topics given him (listen, learn,discern.decide); the out-working of the Holy Spirit; the inter-action between Jesus' call to two sets of brothers and their response to 'follow Him.’  Bruce was also able to help his listeners to work through how their own calling was similar to that of the disciples mentioned in the Biblical text. From this teaching and the understandings received it was very easy for the campers to embrace the Holy Spirit as He ministered and moved among them. The result being, people were set free and healed; faith renewed; relationships with God and each other were also restored, resulting in people being hungrier to learn.

Since the beginning of this ministry among Cook Islanders in 2003, the numbers attending the camps has been steadily growing. It is now at the stage that a bigger venue is needed. The potential to grow even bigger is realistic, provided the focus remains on teaching and making biblical truths relevant and in context for the Cook Island mindset. Jesus Christ must remain the central focus which is the sole purpose and reason for having these camps each year. This has been the success of this camp to date. All the wonderful things taking place during the week-end are fallouts from this desire to help our people know and enjoy Jesus Christ.

Camp 2009 was special with the North East Valley (Dunedin) and St Andrew’s (Invercargill) Cook Islands’ congregations joining the camp for the first time and staying for the whole weekend.

Camp started on Friday evening about 7.00pm. A group from Hastings arrived on Thursday, but not coming to the camp until Friday afternoon. They were among the first to arrive at Waiora Scout Campsite on the outskirts of Mosgiel. A group from Christchurch arrived later in the afternoon with the Invercargill group arriving before the start of everything. The campers were welcomed at 8pm after everyone was settled and had tea. This was followed with devotions and with information of what was to happen during the weekend.

Saturday began with a prayer meeting at 6am followed with breakfast at 7.30am. Then devotions and the study sessions taking place through out the day with lunch and refreshment breaks in between sessions. Of course, while the adults were having their own study time, the youth and the children were also having theirs outside in the grounds of the camp.

Cultural entertainments took care of the evening where all kinds of items and dancing took place. Such was the hilarity that a person with no church background would have struggled accepting that it was a church gathering. There was so much fun and laughing that when midnight came some people were still singing and laughing.

Sunday, being the Lord’s Day, began with an early morning prayer time. Breakfast and the worship service followed. Bruce Fraser was able to come back to the camp to speak at the morning service which was led by Rev Tekura Wilding and included Communion.

The children and the young people enjoyed the leadership of Rev Tokerau Joseph, Mama Tangi Joseph and First Church Youth leader Ben Bates. They took the evening service on Sunday where they shared what they had done and learned from their own sessions.

Spiritual ministries were taking place everywhere. People with experience in spiritual ministries were busy. Because of this, people keen to learn were encouraged to participate. Training and teaching took place, while at the same time manifestations happened, they too were explained.

Many spiritual things that happened at the camp were new and foreign to some Cook Islanders. This excited them and they were keen to learn. Many had never experienced the manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon their own lives let alone on others. So for them it was a new thing. Something to be learned, enjoyed, and shared.

So when Monday afternoon came and it was time to leave, the parting was difficult. But all were keen to come again next year and they promised to bring their friends.

This is just some of what happened over the weekend.

It is important for Putokotoko not to forget the Otago/Southland Synod, for the blessings of a grant of $2,500 to help with camp costs and expenses, and releasing Bruce Fraser as our guest speaker. Our heart-felt thanks to Bruce and the Synod for your enormous help. We pray that you will continue to partner with us in this most important work of our Lord Jesus Christ within the Synod area. Thank you, very, very much.

The Rev. Tau BenUnu on behalf of the Rev. George Kopa, Chairman of the Putokotoko Committee