Run Luke Run

Luke has spent Friday and Saturday participating in the Wellington College 40 hour runathon in aid of World Vision. It is an annual event mostly organised by the boys and is one of the top school fundraisers in New Zealand.


The event started at 6 am on Friday and Luke wanted to be there for the start so got up at 5 am. The boys could choose how long to run for and got credit for their team for every 800 meter lap they completed. The teams were all sponsored by local businesses and the boys were also encouraged to get sponsorship from family and friends. The funds are for a world vision project in Tanzania to provide water to help a village towards sustainability and self sufficiency. Any further pledges can be made to Luke via email!


Luke ran 20 km before school on Friday and another 20 km in a block covering morning break, PE and lunch. He went back on Saturday late morning and ran another 20 km and then returned in the evening to do another 20 km.


Some of the later laps involved more hobbling than running but at the start of his 100th lap the announcer on the PA at the checkpoint shouted "Go on Luke, run Luke run!" and off he went.He was pretty happy to finish his 100th lap as that was the target he had set himself.


He was certainly one of the youngest and went one of the farthest. 80 km in 40 hours is the equivalent of two marathons which is pretty impressive. He was one of three prizes awarded by the prefects for outstanding effort.


A loud school haka was performed with an hour to go and then the very last lap was the "Undie 800" at 10 pm which all the remaining boys, including Luke, ran in their underwear. I decided to spare you pictures of that! (but it did take his total to 80800 meters).


The previous weekend I was at Chosen valley in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland. I was speaking at the Papakura East & Hunua Presbyterian Church camp. I have been open to investing in churches that have a desire to reach out to their community and have ministry that is worth supporting. I believe in encouraging the good wherever you find it and in investing in indigenous work rather than just starting alternatives.


Geoff New, the minister and his wife Ruth are a great couple and wrote after the weekend to thank those who support us here. I pass on his kind words for your encouragement.
“Nigel was recommended to me by one of New Zealand’s most canny Christian leaders. Nigel was essentially described as a “must have” speaker! So for our church camp this year we invited Nigel to come and minister to us. Without any doubt Nigel’s ministry was the most significant we have had in eight years of church camps. His exposition and application of the Word of God was timely, energising, inspiring and motivating. The people were exhilirated by his messages. His messages were revelatory and their relevance for where we are at as a church is extraordinary. The result is a heightened sense of God’s faithfulness and call to us as a people of God. Thank you all for your part in enabling us to experience the Kingdom of God in our time and generation. We are in your debt!"


Craig has started guitar lessons at school which he is enjoying and has a new teacher who he also likes. He is playing touch rugby after school on Wednesdays. This has been a good sporting weekend with the Hurricanes beating the Highlanders, Scotland winning the Calcutta Cup and the Black Caps trouncing England.


Jamie's cricket team has had a good season winning 12 of 13 matches. Jamie is averaging 10 with the bat and has taken 14 wickets. Last week the opposition needed 6 runs to win and Jamie came on to bowl his first over. The first ball was blocked, the second went for 3 but then he took a wicket with his third ball and with the very next delivery bowled their last batsman.


Ailsa has been enjoying listening to some D' Mains services online and is getting back into the swing of helping at school and the bible study group has split in two as it had grown. Life seems to get more busy as the boys get older. We also miss some of our younger recent visitors from Linlithgow, Amsterdam and Newcastle.