Fantastic Easter services across our three campuses. Good Friday in the East would have had over 1000 attend and the South was also standing room only. Marilyn and I went down to Mangakino for a week after the Friday service but by all accounts Sundays were great services also. It is always interesting to read in the media at this time of the year about church numbers declining and Christianity dying. I don't think the writers get out of their offices to see what is really happening. 2000 years after Christ's death crowds still flock to worship their risen King.

Unfortunately at our holiday place in Mangakino I was cutting some branches off a tree over hanging our fence. I forgot it was a tree I had a bad reaction to about 20 years ago and my face swelled up like a watermelon. I sent a photo to Bruce Page my doctor and he didn't recognize who it was. After a week it is on it's way down but unfortunately I have had to pull out of going to Lower Hutt to welcome a new church into Elim – Discovery Elim Christian Centre. John and Sue Lewis and their team have built a great church with pre-school facilities and are joint-Proprietor in a Christian School. Clinton Kelleher will cover for me and Chris Bethwaite will also attend. Danie and Suzette and family were part of this church when they lived in Wellington and Henry and Nellie Thom who were Elim missionaries in Malawi and Elim Wellington, are part of the leadership.  For me joining Elim was like coming home where I belong, I am sure it will be the same for John and Sue and the church members.

On April 15 we opened the climbing wall in the gymnasium. There are seven climbs each one named after those who lost their lives in our terrible college tragedy two years ago. Murray our principal and the students put together a very reflective yet positive program that will give a lasting memory. Take some time to go and have a look. It was good to have our new Member of Parliament Jamie-Lee Ross present for the occasion.