News

Church Family Gathers Around Expecting Mother In Need
2021-12-08

Over the past few months, we have all become aware of friends and family who so desperately would love to return to New Zealand; but due to limited MIQ spots, this has not become a reality.

We heard of one family who needed a miracle. Shirly was 32 weeks pregnant with her second child, while her husband was stuck overseas with an MIQ emergency allocation rejection letter and no way home.

Leemar, one of our ARISE Team Members heard about the situation the family were in and wanted to help:

“When we first heard Shirly’s story we reached out to her. After talking with her and listening to her situation we shared her story with our Life Group. Unbeknownst to her, we began arranging a meal roster. One of the Life Group leaders also offered to look after her toddler and assured her that she had a ‘family’ in Wellington now.

Days before Shirly went into labour, her husband was granted a spot in MIQ. And a few days after their beautiful, healthy baby was born, Shirly’s husband was released from MIQ and was finally able to see and hold his newborn baby.

While Shirly was still in the hospital, she was visited by the members of our Life Group who brought meals and kept her company. Shirly never felt alone. The meals kept coming even after Shirly was discharged, and she could not believe that strangers from all over would travel to provide meals for them.

One thing I am very proud of is that the Life Group worked as God designed it — to provide a community for those who need it and to receive them into the family with no conditions or requirements.”

It is in times like these that we need to band together to help and support one another!