Dear family, brethren, and friends,

The flight from Manila to Brisbane, Australia scheduled for 11:35 P.M. Friday flew at 12:30 A.M. Saturday and landed about 7 hours later.  Fortunately, I slept several of those hours.  Two hours later I boarded the plane for Auckland, New Zealand, which landed about 5:30 P.M. local time.  Ric and Kyle Halnas met me and brought me to the house of Ronnie and Nina Salunga who are always gracious hosts.  Seeing these brethren and other saints here on Sunday was indeed a family reunion!

The Lord’s Day brought together 14 worshipers at the Meadowood church of Christ meeting in the Salunga’s home in Auckland with 7 more joining us online from various places who could not be here.  Our theme through Thursday is “Family Life: A Biblical Perspective,” following the general outline of 7 chapters in L.A. Stauffer’s workbook by that title.  Everyone was provided a copy of the workbook to facilitate further personal study of all 13 chapters.  Today’s topics were “Family Life: A Biblical Perspective,” “God’s Design in Marriage,” and “Love Your Wives.”

After the last sermon, I opened the floor for questions and discussion focused on the challenge, “How can we grow to be more like Christ in our love for our wives?”  The sermon lasted about 40 minutes, but this discussion continued for about 1 ½ hours.  There was a healthy acknowledgment of the difference between male and female natures, how we perceive things, and how we approach each other.  Since husbands must learn to lead with love, the primary responsibility for the success and happiness of the home rests on us.  We must take the initiative to embrace this challenge of becoming more unselfish by focusing on our wife’s welfare.

I did not know I would be preaching up such a storm, but the most serious storm to hit New Zealand in a century will arrive in full force tomorrow.  Cyclone Gabrielle will dump about 15 inches of water, over an inch per hour in some places, with 100 m.p.h. winds.  The Salunga’s house sits on high ground so will not flood, but emergency services are getting ready for severe damage.  Most of Auckland is closing down now, but the brethren did not want to cancel tomorrow’s service.  They suggested that anyone who feels safe should come and those who need to stay at home can join us online.  Anyone who sends the Salunga’s an email request can receive an invitation to join us any day through Thursday (send to rgsalunga@hotmail.com & to nina_salunga@yahoo.com).

The wind and rain have been gradually moving in all day.  After the P.M. service, there was a lull in the rain, so I walked for 1 ½ hours, knowing that it may be a couple of days before it will be possible to walk again.  The fresh air coming in from the sea is refreshing to walk in.  But the wind was so strong, and gusting, that I had to brace myself at times.  A light rain shower caught me, but the strong wind dried my shirt and pants as quickly as the rain drops hit.  My clothes never felt damp and I came home in dry clothes!  Who said you cannot teach old dogs new tricks?

Please pray for this storm to pass without endangering the saints on the North Island of New Zealand.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

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