Xenia

Welfare

Eleven years ago Xenia found herself on a plane from Auckland, pregnant and with absolutely no idea where her life was heading.

A woman on the plane told her about The Salvation Army, and Xenia visited her local centre as she attempted to set up a new life on her own.

The Salvation Army initially helped Xenia get settled with food parcels and emotional support. When her son was born they also assisted with baby clothes, blankets and other practical assistance. ‘They helped me out so much,’ she says. ‘I don’t know where I would have been without them.’

Two years ago Xenia found that she required help in a different way. Her new relationship had turned violent, and she needed support to get back on her feet after choosing to end the relationship.

‘In the last two years The Salvation Army has been there for me during a bad situation,’ she says. ‘They saw what happened and guided me along. And in the end, I got out of it with their help.

‘I love the saying, “Christianity with its sleeves rolled up”,’ she continues. ‘They didn’t carry me. They walked beside me—and that is a huge difference.’

After once again taking positive steps forward in her life, Xenia began volunteering at her local Family Store for an hour a couple of times a week. Two years later, Xenia is there every day.

‘I work here with these people, and it’s just like working with family,’ she says. ‘I used to volunteer here just to get out of my house, but it’s not that anymore; now it’s just to be here with my family. It’s a huge family, just an amazing family.’

Because of the assistance she received, Xenia now wants to help other women in domestic violence situations, helping them to believe in themselves and to become strong, beautiful women as a result.

Faye

Welfare

When Faye’s husband had to serve home detention, she knew she couldn’t support him and three children on her income alone, but didn’t know where to turn for help.

‘I saw in one of The Salvation Army magazines about how they help people,’ says Faye, ‘so I thought I would go down there to have a chat to someone to see if they could help us.’

Faye got as far as the Army’s door but kept turning back, worried that she would be judged or that no one would want to help her. She finally got up the courage when things at home just got too tough. ‘Sometimes you just need to ask for help,’ she comments.

Faye met with a Salvation Army counsellor that afternoon to talk through her situation and receive help with food and budget management. Her husband later attended a Salvation Army anger management course as part of his sentencing.

‘My husband really didn’t want to take the course,’ says Faye, ‘but by the second or third week something just clicked. It was like he all of the sudden realised: “I think they must be trying to help me.”’

After his home detention finished, Faye’s husband really turned his life around. He began working two jobs, while Faye took on a weekend job to help pay the bills and get them back on their own feet. Both Faye and her husband are active at The Salvation Army centre and are so thankful for how far they’ve come.

‘My husband is always conscious of consequences now,’ says Faye. ‘He’ll say that if he hadn’t gone to that course he wouldn’t be where he is today. It’s made him think about his life and how he affects us as a family.

‘At The Salvation Army the people just see you for who you are. They understand,’ she continues. ‘They all knew my husband did something bad, but they would still look at him like a person.

‘Nobody’s perfect, but what The Salvation Army is about is if you’re willing to put your hand up and say you’re willing to do something about your situation, they can help. I won’t forget what they’ve done for us.’

For many families, paying the bills and putting food on the table will be even more difficult in the coming months, as the cost of power, heating and fresh produce increases during the winter period.

Noeline

Christianity 101

I became a Christian in 1994. I lived a few doors down from The Salvation Army. I was the drunk person who gave them a hard time when they had services on their property before the hall was built. Now I’m their treasurer.

I was well known to the women’s refuges. Emotional abuse took me there with my kids. Now I help people who are going through emotional abuse.

One day I got out of the refuge and went straight to the Mongrel Mob pad. I drank from 11 that morning until seven that night. Then I found myself following what was like a wall of light. It took me straight across the road to The Salvation Army. I remember going inside, sitting down in the dark hall and crying. I had a feeling God had done something in me and that it wasn’t just a dream. When I got home, my husband told me I looked sober.

I had been visited by the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs). They gave me lots of books but no answers to the questions I was asking.

I kept on looking at the Salvation Army church. One day I saw this guy, Wayne Moses, mowing the lawn in gumboots and a singlet. I was so surprised when he said kia ora and told me he was the minister. Then he just listened to me. I found myself walking up my driveway in another daze.

My next talk was with Wayne’s wife, Harriet, and she gave me a Bible. It looked so simple, not colourful like the JW books. I read ‘The Parable of the Sower’ and it answered all my questions. The part about seed going deep into the good soil … I thought, ‘So I can be good!’ And that was my start.

The Mob used to pay me to store their stolen goods, but after talking to Wayne and Harriet I didn’t want their stuff at my house anymore. I had the Mob take it all out. They weren’t happy, but I thought, ‘That’s one good thing.’

A friend took all the JW books away and I was left with the Bible. I just read and read. Matthew 11:28, where Jesus promises his rest, really spoke to me. I thought, ‘I’m going to have that rest!’, because I was so tired of it all, the abuse and the drinking.

I found I could say ‘no’ to my husband when he got angry, because I hadn’t said anything before. We hadn’t talked—I was so fearful before. My husband didn’t have a good childhood. I had parents who tucked me up in bed at night with a kiss, but he didn’t. I see the pain that he has and so I pray and hope for the Lord’s timing in my husband’s life.

I thank God for changing me—no more alcohol, no more refuge! My faith has made me stronger for life.

Somaly

Somaly came to Sanctuary House because she had nowhere else to go: alone in New Zealand at 20 years of age she found herself forced to live on the streets after a living arrangement with an acquaintance ended abruptly.

‘I was sleeping on the couch,’ says Somaly. ‘But my friend and I had some arguments and I didn’t feel safe there. I knew I couldn’t live there anymore, even though I had nowhere else to go.’

Somaly came to New Zealand when she was just 17 to live and to work while gaining a degree in hotel management. She fell in love with the country and took English classes at local community centres to prepare for her study. During this time she was directed by an agency to attend a Salvation Army life skills programme for youth called Equipt to help her find a job, manage her budget and prepare for studying in New Zealand.

It was during this six-week course that her accommodation with her friend fell through, leaving her on the streets, looking for alternative accommodation on a tight budget: ‘At the end of the day I just couldn’t live there anymore, so I talked to the director at The Salvation Army who said I could come live here.’
Somaly became one of the first young women to move into Sanctuary House, an accommodation and emergency support home for young women aged 15-23. There she and others received help in CV writing, finding a job and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in a positive environment.

‘It was so comfortable to live here at Sanctuary House,’ says Somaly. ‘It meant I could concentrate on getting a job and getting enrolled in school and not have to worry about where I was going to sleep.’

Somaly now works full time and is enrolled to start hotel reception and hotel management courses at the end of February. She found her own flat after two months of living at Sanctuary House and couldn’t be more thankful for the help she has received.

‘Some people aren’t going to look at you twice when you are poor or hurting,’ says Somaly, ‘but here at The Salvation Army they never mind; they will be your good friend.

‘If I couldn’t have come here, I don’t know where I would have gone,’ she continues. ‘I would have been really scared if I would have had to be by myself with no one next to me. It is so nice to have this place here to help people just like me who are struggling.’

Many young women throughout New Zealand encounter homelessness through various circumstances. Sanctuary House can cater for up to four girls at a time with two places reserved for girls referred from Child, Youth and Family and the remaining two open to community or local court referrals.

Hayden

Employment Training

‘I wanted a better life for my family,’ says 20-year-old Employment Plus graduate Hayden Bain.

Six months ago, I was expecting my first child and had adopted my partner’s two-year-old daughter. My life had been going down the wrong track for a while and the prospect of responsibility saw me want a better life for my family. I’d been trying for over a year to secure full-time employment. My work history wasn’t great, and I had debts and responsibilities that were becoming more and more difficult to sort out.

I was grateful to find work at The Salvation Army’s Maunu Gardens in Whangarei, where I joined a great team. It was the first time The Salvation Army Employment Plus had put this programme together. I wanted to work, not just do another course. We started with a blank paddock and turned it into something amazing that we’re all proud of.

I was encouraged to learn new skills—we were able to gain certificates in wheels, tracks and rollers. I also achieved my full licence and forklift licence. I gained leadership skills when I was given opportunities to lead the crew. I discovered I was valuable and that others respected me.

The crops were grown to support The Salvation Army food bank and its community meal. A few of us went to the meals and it was awesome to see our veggies being enjoyed! We met people from other parts of The Salvation Army and made friends with some of them.

My partner Trish gave birth to a handsome baby boy and together with family support and encouragement, our life is looking brighter. My self-confidence and self-worth has grown a lot. I made poor choices in my past, but today I do not have to live in the shadow of them.

The garden job was for six months, and I’ve since moved into full-time employment with the possibility of management training in the future—and I am ready for the challenge.

I want to thank those who believed in me when I could not. I want to encourage The Salvation Army to carry on with this programme and to continue to develop real work opportunities for people just like me. This has been a great chapter in my life.

Tahiwa

Welfare

Tahiwa found growing up hard. Her father’s abuse led her to run away from home after her first year of intermediate school, leading her to a life on the streets until her early 20s.

‘I lived on the streets from a young age for what felt like a really long time,’ says Tahiwa. ‘I ran away from home and I brought myself up. I just found things too hard.’

After having her first child at 20, Tahiwa found she needed stability and managed to move off the streets. Though she began to get her life back on track and even completed some study, she watched her bills mount. Her financial situation became unbearable after the death of her mother and the added burden of funeral costs.

‘I was in a really bad place. I ran out of money before my pay day all the time because I had so many bills to pay and a family responsibility,’ says Tahiwa. ‘I was pretty well broke. I never had anything.’

About five years ago, Tahiwa’s doctor suggested she go to The Salvation Army for help with budgeting. Tahiwa visited her local Salvation Army Community Ministries centre, where she met with a Salvation Army budget counsellor who helped her come up with a budget plan. Tahiwa also received food parcels and parenting advice to help her with her desire to better look after her family.

‘After I met with the counsellor, things have gotten better,’ says Tahiwa. ‘There are still some times when it gets too much, but I don’t overspend anymore and have started to pay off my debt.’

Since coming to The Salvation Army for help, Tahiwa has started giving back to her community. She helped head up the Adopt a Family Christmas programme, is always willing to help stock the food bank and considers herself fortunate to lend a hand to an organisation that has given her so much.

‘Because of how much I have been helped, I always said that one day I would be the one giving my time back,’ says Tahiwa. ‘I’ve loved working both with and for The Salvation Army. I thank God for them being here. I don’t know where I would be without them.’

Lesley

Welfare

I am one of four children, but in my childhood I don’t remember very many happy times. My father was associated with the Headhunters motorcycle gang, and our life was like Once Were Warriors triple times. We were physically, emotionally and mentally abused.

My mum, though, was a staunch Catholic and the one thing I do remember, is that she always told us Jesus had died on the cross for us.

I was 12 when Mum finally got the courage up to leave Dad. We moved in and out of refuges, but Dad would always track us down. He put hits out on us, and we had to change our names. Dad told my mum, ‘If I can’t have you, no one can. I’ll kill you.’

When I was entering my teenage years, I was sexually molested and this affected me badly. I turned into a horrible young woman; I didn’t really want to be alive. I got heavily into marijuana, and was back and forth between my mum and dad. Just after my first son was born, I spent three months in jail on drug related charges.

Life really hit rock bottom for me a few years ago, when my beloved mother died. She was my best friend, and I nursed her through two years of cancer. I was her tono—the one who did everything for her. Just after my mum died, my oldest son went missing for three months. In all the stress, my partner began to get abusive to me.

With just the clothes I had on, I took my other three children and went to a refuge. I took an overdose and woke up in hospital. But the refuge took me back, and I was blessed to be given a home through Housing NZ. I cried out to God, ‘Lord, please help me find my child.’ Not long after, the police brought my son home to me.

I was going regularly to The Salvation Army in Waitakere to get help for food. One day, someone called me and asked if I would like to fellowship there as well. I was still missing my mum, so I decided that I would go to church on my birthday.

I went that day, and have been there ever since. It was three years ago that I started journeying with the Lord.

About a year ago, I felt that I had to hand over my Māori culture to God, and he gave it back to me. I was asked to be involved with the national Māori Ministry and help lead the Auckland area, where I was involved in launching the ‘I’ll fight’ haka at Congress last year.

The Lord taught me how to forgive my dad when he tried to beat me again, and I felt like I was an eagle flying. After that, my father came to the Lord, and he spent the last days of his life fellowshipping at Waitakere Corps. My son is journeying with the Lord too.

I am now a soldier in The Salvation Army, and have just taken up a position as the Court and Prison Officer/Police Diversion Coordinator at the Auckland District Court. God is using everything that I have been through, to touch other souls. I pray for his presence everyday, and he has filled me with joy.

Mark

Employment Training

Mark Greer was at rock bottom when he came to The Salvation Army Employment Plus Centre in Cambridge.
 
A quiet and reserved person, Mark had applied unsuccessfully for numerous jobs over several months. He felt his age was the reason he was struggling to get work.

About being unemployed, Mark says, ‘It sucks. It’s demoralising [and] you feel like a piece of dirt, busting your gut and you don’t even get a job. You don’t want to be a statistic and there seems no end in sight.’

The Employment Plus team at Cambridge began working with Mark straight away. And while he had lost confidence in his ability to find a job, they knew he could do it. Work-based trainer Fiona Hume says, ‘We work with many people who have
great skills and are keen to work, but just need that extra help to get into a job.’

Mark was put onto the centre’s WorkNet programme, where he received the tools and knowledge to help him plan his working future. He was also helped to see work from an employer’s point of view, to better connect with potential employers.

WorkNet helps people update their CVs and gives them a chance to practise interview skills. It also teaches job search skills: how to identify where jobs are, what jobs might be most suitable and what qualities and skills will be required. All of this builds confidence in job hunting and helps people find a good job that suits them.

Workshops further strengthened Mark’s self-belief. When he was ready to get out and start looking for work again, he found job searching a far more positive experience. And he had his Employment Plus support network behind him, cheering him on.

While it took several more weeks to land a job, Mark was sure he would eventually succeed. He is now happily employed as a team member at Bunnings Warehouse in Cambridge.

Employment Plus was invaluable, Mark says. ‘It helped me market myself better to the employers—and I realised I had a lot of skills.’

Mark recently celebrated his six-month anniversary at Bunnings and is far more positive about life these days. ‘The future is a lot brighter for sure!’ he says. ‘[Employment] gives you the confidence to get out of bed in the morning. You know someone values you and you are a productive member of society.’

Being in employment certainly suits Mark, says Fiona. ‘Mark has totally transformed from a shy, quiet introverted man to one with a ready smile, who’s more confident and great with customers.’

Reon

Welfare

Reon began counselling at The Salvation Army, using his own life experiences to help people

Reon works as a counsellor at a Salvation Army centre, helping people through their abuse, addiction, suicide and family issues. People trust him, he says, because he can understand where they are coming from. ‘After all,’ he says, ‘that used to be me.’

Reon grew up in a violent home, running away from his abusive stepfather when he was just 12. He was in foster homes throughout his teenage years where he was introduced to drugs and alcohol and became suicidal.

‘I had a lot of hatred and laid around a lot of blame for all the stuff that was happening,’ he says. ‘I have scars all down my arms and was feeling so low.’

Reon ran away again, this time to the streets where he spent the next 13 years in and out of his own abusive relationships and suffering with addiction.

It was then that an attack outside of a pub landed him in hospital for three months and sparked the realisation that he needed to get his life back on track. Reon met a nurse who would later become his wife and started a work placement at a local Salvation Army centre stocking the food bank. There his life changed course.

‘While I was on my placement my wife encouraged me to do a counselling course,’ he says. ‘I hadn’t done any schooling, but the institution ended up accepting me because of my life skills and experiences.’

Reon passed all of his papers, receiving a Level 6 Diploma, and began a counselling service through The Salvation Army centre. He plans to complete a Post-Graduate Degree in the near future.

‘This has been the best move I have made in my whole life,’ he says. ‘These people are feeling like I was: that there is nothing. It helps for them to have somebody that has been in their shoes, knowing what they’re feeling and going through.

‘I don’t want to walk back,’ he continued. ‘I don’t want to go backwards. I have been in hell and I have come back. Now I am sharing my story with people to give them hope in their lives too.’

Tania

Welfare

Five years ago Tania suffered a major medical setback, leading to endless medical concerns, piles of unpaid bills and an abusive partner.
‘Everything was gone in a puff of smoke,’ she says. ‘I was financially choking and my partner was so upset I couldn’t work that he became abusive. I felt that suddenly the world was over.’

Tania filed a protection order against her partner, meaning her two daughters were forced into respite care while Tania spent three more months in hospital for major surgery. During this time Tania’s partner forcefully took one of their daughters from respite care, adding stress to Tania’s already fragile state.

‘I already had to leave my young girls with strangers, and then this happened,’ she says. ‘I just got so mentally depressed because it seemed like there were no answers.’

Upon her recovery Tania came to The Salvation Army because she didn’t know where else to go. With no money, needing to renew her relationships with her young daughters and no foreseeable source of income, Tania knew she needed help.

‘I came to see a budget advisor,’ she says. ‘I just kept coming in and they offered me support and taught me how to manage my budget and get my life back together.

‘Coming to The Salvation Army really brought me around to realise that there are other people in the world like me,’ she continues. ‘I’m not the only one who has had tough times.’

Tania got her budget in order, meaning she and her daughters could manage on Tania’s invalid benefit as Tania began to pay off her debt. She also participated in The Salvation Army ‘Positive Lifestyle Program’ and the local community’s ‘Living Without Violence’ course, both of which inspired her to help other women.

‘I really want to be a facilitator so that I can talk to other women who can’t see outside what their lives are now,’ she says. ‘I want to be able to tell them that I’ve walked it—I’ve been where they are and I am so blessed to be here today.’

Tania is thankful that she is in a much better place than she used to be. ‘I used to call what I’ve been through “the black area”’, she says, ‘but we got through it and I can call it “colourful” now. I am just so glad I came to The Salvation Army. They helped change
my life.’

Dennize

Welfare

After attending a local Salvation Army youth programme through his school, Dennize’s son Fred got his whole family involved

Dennize remembers clearly when Fred first heard about The Salvation Army through SportsLife, a programme run at his local school combining sports and mentoring. After he found out The Salvation Army could also help his family, he brought them along to the local Salvation Army Community Ministries.

‘My son came to me one day after school with a piece of paper in his hand,’ says Dennize, Fred’s mother. ‘He told me, “Mum, you just have to ring this number!”’

Fred and his three sisters began attending youth programmes, events and camps at their local Salvation Army centre, while Dennize and her husband received assistance with budgeting, counselling and occasional food parcels.

‘We have a lot of fun,’ says Fred’s sister Fiona. ‘I really like being able to meet all of the different people, and I don’t feel like I need to get into trouble. All our friends come here, so we can just have a good time here instead.’

‘My children love to come to The Salvation Army,’ adds Dennize. ‘They love to have relationships with not only the youth but also the adults who help them with different things.’

Local Welfare Team Leader Jason has worked with Dennize and her family over the years: ‘Whenever someone comes through our doors, it is about building a relationship with them,’ he says. ‘It has been so good to see the whole family, especially the kids, get involved and make positive changes in their lives.’

The help and fellowship Dennize and her family received from The Salvation Army immediately spurred in them a desire to give something back.

‘I like being able to see how happy people look when we can give them something,’ says Mary, Dennize’s youngest. Fiona adds, ‘It feels so easy to help people because someone else helped us too.’

Dennize became the chef for the local Salvation Army centre’s community meal, held once a month. She creates a theme for each meal, and Fred, Fiona and Mary help her prepare the food after school.

‘I love to work for people in this community,’ says Dennize. ‘I want to share my talent with everyone and help The Salvation Army come together with the community and eat as a family. We want them to know that if they need help, we are here.’

Salvation Army youth programmes offer a positive influence in the lives of young New Zealanders. We are proud to see how this brings families and communities together.

Anna

Welfare

Anna struggled with mounting debt for years before asking The Salvation Army for help. Now she does everything she can to give back some of what she’s been given.

Anna came to The Salvation Army four years ago for help with her family budget. As a solo mum Anna was struggling to make ends meet, finding school expenses, winter clothing and other daily needs too costly.

‘I needed help with my budgeting,’ says Anna. ‘Things like school camps were unaffordable to me. I would rather have food on the table, and these things add up.’

Anna met with a budgeting advisor at her local Salvation Army Community Ministries who helped her create a strict but achievable plan.

‘I hadn’t realised that the Sallies could help me like this,’ she says. ‘The budget advisor helped me make a budget that fits our needs, making sure that we can make it work each week.’

Astounded at how the Sallies were able to help her, Anna began helping others. She volunteered during Christmas, sorting toys and food for families in her area and referred at least seven other women to meet with a budgeting advisor. Anna also worked in the food bank, handing out food parcels and giving advice on how to make family-friendly, healthy meals with the food provided.

Empowered by a heightened sense of community Anna then offered the back yard of her home as a community garden to supplement the food parcels with fresh fruit and vegetables.

‘The Sallies just helped me in so many ways—I wanted to give back,’ she says. ‘All I could give back was my back lawn, and all I am is the water sprinkler, but this is definitely a start.’

With help from the local council, Salvation Army Community Ministries, and Bunnings Warehouse, the garden became home to 12 plots and over 300 plants, all of which are used by the Sallies for healthier, fresher food parcels.

‘I have no idea about plants,’ says Anna, ‘but I like being able to give people a little something extra. I know where people are coming from—I’ve done the hard times! But now I know that The Sallies can help. I want other people to come to know that too.’

It’s all about ‘Community’ and the Sallies whole-heartedly support, and wish to thank, all those who want to give back to their community after being helped themselves.

Leigh

Welfare

Leigh couldn’t imagine sending her kids back to school without adding to the increasing pile of debt she and her husband faced while living in her mum’s garage.

‘We had debt that was unimaginable,’ says Leigh. ‘My husband and I were fighting all the time about money. Getting the kids back to school in February we were required to buy uniforms, books, school camp—it was just impossible. We had to get ourselves sorted.’

They went to the Sallies for help, having become associated with The Salvation Army through a morning play group and since then regularly attending their local Salvation Army centre.

Within a year they began to pay off debts, work out payment plans with the local school and had even saved enough money to rent their own place.

‘We stuck to the budget for a year and we now rent a house,’ says Leigh. ‘We are now our own family unit for the first time ever and this is the first year that we have come out of Christmas with less debt than when we went in.’

Because of Leigh’s diligence with their budget, she was able to help implement a budget plan at the local school, enabling other families struggling with debt to pay off school expenses such as fees, stationery, uniforms and camps in weekly instalments rather than lump sums.

‘It’s not so stressful having the kids go back to school now because we can actually afford for our kids to go,’ says Leigh. ‘So now I just do what I can to help other people out.’

Along with maintaining payment plans for school fees, Leigh is also part of a group of friends that help each other with such needs as school uniforms and home-baked bread. Leigh is also now involved in running a weekly playgroup at the Salvation Army centre.

‘My kids go to a lower decile school, so a lot of us are in the same boat,’ says Leigh. ‘So if we have extra we always share. For me it’s just part of being able to give back.’

Leigh also says that being able to budget into the new school year and begin to pay off her debts has changed her life for the better.

‘Since the Sallies helped us put our budget in place, mine and my husband’s relationship is a lot stronger and we are a lot happier. Before we just existed. Now we live.’

Te Rangi

Welfare

Being young and pregnant with your first child is daunting at the best of times. Being homeless as well is a chilling prospect.

That was 21-year-old Te Rangi’s life eight months ago: nights at a shelter for women and days spent wandering the streets.

Having lived in more than a dozen Child, Youth and Family foster homes since she was three, her first experience of flatting ended abruptly when she was thrown out after becoming pregnant.

‘I don’t connect with my family so I didn’t have support there,’ she says. ‘Yeah, that time was tough,’ she says.

Te Rangi came to The Salvation Army when a flat became available at one of its supported housing units. This typically accommodates mothers for three months—usually enough time for them to ready themselves for a new life with their children.

Salvation Army social workers quickly realised that if Te Rangi was to establish a viable future for herself and her baby, she would need to re-evaluate the direction of her life, learn new life skills and build up the support networks most of us take for granted.

She commenced counselling and started a Salvation Army-designed programme dealing with emotional issues such as grief or loneliness, and developing skills like assertiveness and goal-setting. She also worked with a budget advisor to prepare her for the day she would run her own household as a single mother.

Beryl, a Salvation Army support accommodation supervisor and advocate, prepared and supported Te Rangi as she negotiated long-term rental accommodation, a new and formidable experience for the young mother.

She introduced Te Rangi to the support group Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) to help her build up a circle of new friends and support. Te Rangi also widened her network by joining a local church.

Today, Te Rangi is the proud and doting mother of a four-month-old daughter and the house-proud tenant of her own home. The Salvation Army helped furnish Te Rangi’s new flat and will provide ongoing food parcels and mentoring until she is on her feet. She is also continuing with Salvation Army counselling.

Beryl says Te Rangi’s early life failed to prepare her for adulthood, but she knows the future she wants for her daughter and now knows how to get it. ‘No obstacle is too great—it’s about mindset, and I can see a good future for Te Rangi,’ Beryl says.

Te Rangi is now looking ahead for the first time and will mentor other young mothers at the Salvation Army flats. She also plans to study.

Lineti

Youth & Children

Lineti Sifa attends Nuku’alofa Corps in Tonga. She is also a Salvation Army-sponsored child

I was brought up in a Christian family and have been in The Salvation Army my whole life, knowing who Jesus is and how amazing it is if he becomes your best friend.

I am a corps cadet [Ed—corps cadets is a Salvation Army youth discipleship programme]. Being in corps cadets is such a great privilege, for I get to learn how to live my life according to God’s ways and to keep a very close relationship with Jesus.

God has done many great and wonderful things for my life, and it’s such an amazing thing for me to experience his greatness.

I’d like to share one of my blessings with you: I happened to be one of 20 fortunate girls who were chosen to represent Tonga in the Under-20 football team for the Oceania World Cup. At first I really wanted to be in the team, although there were plenty of great players trying out. I was also kind of worried, seeing how it could interfere with my studies and other responsibilities. 

But I told God one night, ‘It’s all up to you. Whatever you think is best, I trust in you.’ God had just added another bridge for my future, because he said, ‘Yes.’

I was so shocked when I was told of this news that I sat back and thought, ‘How in the world did God do it?’ I was all mixed up, but I remind myself of how big and awesome Jesus is. Everything is possible to him!

A verse from Isaiah 40:31 encourages me (another great thing about corps cadets is that we learn about journaling—writing your daily walk with God):

‘But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed.  They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.’

No matter how irresistible the devil is and how tough things are, hang on to God’s words and put your trust in him! Call on him and he’ll be there for you, even when you least expect him.

Charity

Accommodation

Abandoned by her husband with little more than the clothes on her back, Charity was in the depths of despair when she came to The Salvation Army.

Charity spent the first few nights of her sudden separation camped out on the porch of her former home in a North Island city.

‘In December, my husband moved out. He left me standing in the driveway. I had nowhere to stay so I had to plead with him to take her [daughter] until I could find a stable place to live.’

With no family in New Zealand for support, she followed her husband and daughter to their new home in a small rural town to be near her daughter. After being served with a trespass order, Charity was moved on by police and spent several nights sleeping in a utility shed at a sports ground. Because she had no money, she did not eat during that time.

Charity and her daughter moved to New Zealand from Zimbabwe four years ago to join her husband who had secured work here. She obtained a work permit and returned to her profession of teaching. But unknown to Charity, she had already been divorced in absentia in a Zimbabwean court.

When Charity first arrived at The Salvation Army, lost and confused, its social workers arranged emergency accommodation. They helped organise a Work and Income New Zealand benefit for her while she awaited a new work permit, and provided food parcels to tide her over.

The Army arranged for a Zimbawean-born social work student who had spent time as an intern at The Salvation Army to work with Charity. Staff also helped organise a lawyer and supported Charity in her efforts to regain custody of her daughter through the Family Court.

By her own admission, Charity is a different person to the woman who turned up on The Salvation Army’s steps four months ago. She volunteers teaching new migrants and has started to think about a future for herself and her daughter in New Zealand.

‘Before I came [to The Salvation Army], I didn’t know what was going on for me but now I have a much more positive attitude and I can look forward.’

Mareea

Welfare

Tragedies like the death of her child, the breakup of her marriage and the passing of her parents within six weeks of each other finally caught up with Mareea last year.

The last of her three children leaving home and being unable to find work because of her health were catalysts for an acute bout of depression that left Mareea imprisoning herself in her bedroom for 24-hours a day. To add to her problems, her house was burgled and vandalised.

While she was seriously ill, Mareea neglected to keep contact with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) and her benefit payments stopped, throwing her finances into crisis and worsening her depression.

‘I had some past traumas I hadn’t dealt and my children leaving home had left me feeling I’d been dumped, to the point where you feel worthless,’ Mareea says. ‘So I gave up on the world, stayed at home and lived in my bed – I wasn’t eating or taking care of myself.’

Today, Mareea has her life back and is a vibrant and energetic community volunteer, thanks largely to her own will power and the help of The Salvation Army.

When Mareea arrived at The Salvation Army, an advocate was provided to help her deal with WINZ and ensure she received the payments she was entitled to.

Food parcels were provided as a stop-gap and Mareea and a budget adviser worked out a strategy to get her out of her financial predicament.

‘From the first moment of coming to The Salvation Army, [my advocate] was able to help me with any issue, and for me that was a big uplift,’ she says.

Mareea began volunteer work in The Salvation Army food bank and later used her administrative skills to work in the office. She now also does volunteer work five days a week, coordinating the growing Maori arm of the local Salvation Army, organising community meals and administrative work. She has even encouraged her children to help out.

Mareea says her work routine is both satisfying and helps keep her depression in check. ‘When you’re able to go out there and make a difference in someone’s life; well, that’s what encourages me and keeps me on target,’ she says.

‘The Salvation Army has helped me climb out of a black hole.’

Cate

Welfare

The former primary teacher suffered a head injury at work six years ago, but thanks to a large reserve of determination and courage—along with help from The Salvation Army—Cate is leading a fulfilling life.

She is now on the road to becoming financially independent, but her gains have been hard won.

‘I actually had to learn the alphabet again from scratch,’ she said. ‘From my teaching I knew the first way of learning the alphabet was singing it so that’s what I did, and I learnt to spell again by playing scrabble with my mother.’

Cate first became involved with The Salvation Army when she asked them to draw up a budget for her as required by WINZ so she could register as a sickness beneficiary.

Salvation Army staff were then influential in helping her get back on her feet.

They provided the encouragement and guidance for Cate to get to the point where she has completed her qualifications as a Speld tutor for those with learning difficulties and now sits on an advisory panel for Child, Youth and Family.

The Salvation Army also came to rescue in the form of providing advocacy.

Dealing with government departments and fielding batteries of questions can be arduous at the best of times, but with her injury, Cate found the process exhausting and highly stressful.

‘That advocacy has been absolutely invaluable,’ she says. ‘Before that I would go in and leave in tears every time and then home to bed because I would have such a headache.’

Other instances of The Salvation Army stepping in for her include a staff member negotiating the cancellation of a contract Cate had been persuaded to sign by a door-to-door salesman—something she says she wouldn’t have done before her accident.

From early on, Cate had signalled that she was interested in volunteer work once her health had stabilised. She now helps run a cooking course for woman clients of The Salvation Army, showing them how to prepare nutritious and cost-effective meals—skills she says have been lost to many younger women.

Anna

Welfare

A single mother with literacy difficulties has gone from struggling to keep her family’s head above water to starting a new life as a teaching professional.

Anna came to The Salvation Army two years ago for budgeting advice following the separation from her partner. She had inherited debt from the relationship and was finding it difficult balancing the household books.

Anna had already been running a tight household budget. The Salvation Army helped Anna draw up a new budget that left her with $20 disposable income. The Salvation Army then helped fill the gap with regular food parcels.

But Anna says that The Salvation Army’s life-changing contribution was its encouragement and emotional support.

At 15, her teacher told her there was no point staying at school and advised her to leave and take a job at the local supermarket, which she did. But she still held onto her life-long dream of becoming an early childhood teacher.

The Salvation Army encouraged Anna to undertake adult literacy classes.

Since completing the literacy course and computer training last year, she is now working her way through a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

‘The Sallies gave me lots of self-confidence, a shoulder to cry on and let me talk through my problems without judging me,’ Anna says.

‘A few nice comments and some cheering—c’mon you can do it—can make a world of difference to how you see your future.’

She no longer receives food parcels and successfully juggles full-time study and raising two daughters with work as a part-time teachers’ aid.

Major Karen Hayward, who worked with Anna, says, ‘Anna survived incredible circumstances incredibly well but she came to us with little self-esteem—she had no idea she was such a bright cookie. Now she’s gained a level of self-confidence, her options are open.’

Anna says: ‘I didn’t know anything about The Salvation Army before I came here and I felt a bit ashamed. But if it wasn’t for the food parcels helping me out and the support and the new ideas I got here, I would probably would still be sitting around thinking about what I would like to do.’

Tip

Youth & Children

Tip started doing drugs after school with his friends as a way to deal with his parent's separation and to have a bit of fun. But that soon spiralled out of control and led to Tip having a run in with the law.

‘My drug use got heavier and heavier with time, and I had no money and had no job,’ he says. ‘So my mates and I ended up robbing the dairy; well, trying to rob the dairy. We got away from that, but then one of my friend’s missus, she knew that we were doing it, and she went and dobbed us in.’

Tip and his friends were released on bail, but after partying hard that night a couple of them got caught driving under the influence and ended up having to serve their time. Tip got off pretty lucky.

‘I didn’t know how to deal with it all, so I started coming up here to Faraday Street [the Salvation Army’s community centre],’ he says. ‘I would come up here a couple of times a week, just helping out, doing stuff for them, keeping fit.’

But because Tip had been using drugs and alcohol for so long, his self esteem really suffered and his identity took a big hit.

Karl Foreman, leader of the Whakaoranga programme in Napier began noticing a difference in Tip almost right away: ‘You can see a real difference from what Tip was. When you came in here, bro, you were pretty lost, aye. No self-esteem, you were depressed. Now I see in Tip a champion. He just has so much potential, you know?’

While coming to Faraday Street during his stint on home detention, Tip started boxing through a programme there called ‘Lord’s Gym’, and since then has continued training and recently competed in the Golden Gloves in Taupo this year, coming second in his division.

‘Doing boxing up at Faraday helped me gain heaps of confidence,’ he says. ‘I managed to come off all the drugs, slowly work through depression and find something that I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to be a professional boxer. That’s the dream, but I’m not sure yet where the track will lead me.

‘I loved coming up here,’ he continues. ‘No one cared where you came from or anything like that, aye; it was good to see who people were and to be who I was instead of walking around trying to do what other people want me to do. It was really good to work through my stuff, obviously with their help.’

Because of his positive transformation at Faraday Street, Tip passed through his parole hearing without a hitch and was able to keep out of jail. Tip is now 19 and is working full time doing roofing, which he really enjoys. He continues to come up to Faraday Street once in a while to have a quick spar, chat with Karl or to hang out with the guys who are going through the same things he did. He’s totally clean and has an awesome dream for the future. God is going to take him somewhere epic and use his story for great things.

Bert

Court & Prison Services

Three years ago Bert walked out of prison and into the care of The Salvation Army—and he hasn’t looked back.

In prison, Bert decided to embark on a new path that would lead him away from crime and prison for good. He was accepted into a Maori focus unit aimed at helping Maori prison inmates understand the value and origins of Maori culture, and how it can help them build new lives on the outside. It was there the graphic arts and design graduate began to learn Maori carving.

He also came in contact with The Salvation Army through its prison chaplains.

‘Being incarcerated for quite a while and trying to break out of my old lifestyle, it was good to know there were people out there who cared for me, who loved me without standing in judgement,’ Bert says.

He was released into the care of The Salvation Army through Operation Jericho—a prisoner reintegration programme overseen by Prison Fellowship New Zealand. The programme involves churches taking selected, recently-released prisoners under their wings and mentoring and supporting them in overcoming the social and economic barriers faced on release.

‘I came straight here from prison and they (The Salvation Army) welcomed me with open arms—with love and caring. Who would not want to be a part of that?’ says Bert. The Salvation Army provided him with supported accommodation and then with food and furniture when he moved into a flat.

In the three years since his release, Bert has steered clear of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. He says his quality of life and peace of mind are a far cry from earlier days. He is now an active member of the Salvation Army church, helps take its kapa haka classes and is looking to provide mentoring and support for other released prisoners.

Bert has done volunteer work for The Salvation Army and is working towards setting up a business based on his graphic arts and design talents.

‘They gave me pretty much all I have. Words are nothing without action, and the Army shows every day that it works for the neglected, the poor, the abused.’

Liz

Welfare

Liz and her five dependent children were facing eviction when she finally told The Salvation Army of her plight.

Recently separated and with no family for support, Liz struggled for a year with high rent, rising living costs and spiralling debt before seeking help.

Behind in rent, the family was sent an eviction notice two years ago. ‘I thought I could get through it single-handedly, but it all came tumbling down like an avalanche,’ Liz says.

Making little headway in securing a Housing New Zealand house, she finally approached The Salvation Army two weeks before she had to vacate her house.

‘Admitting my situation—having to say we were about to become homeless—was huge,’ she recalls. ‘I was actually embarrassed I had got myself into that position—that I wasn’t able to look after my children singlehandedly. I also had to explain to my kids that it was okay to accept help.’

The Salvation Army quickly put the family into one of its emergency houses, and a Salvation Army budget advisor began to work with Liz on a strategy to tackle her debt.

A strict budget meant Liz was left with only $80 a week to feed, clothe and provide utilities and health care to a household of six, but The Salvation Army helped with regular food parcels and second-hand clothing.

It also helped negotiate a more permanent home for the family with Housing New Zealand.

Liz admits the last couple of years have been a continual struggle, but she now has a full-time job and is well on the way to becoming debt-free.

‘It’s been a really horrendous time in many ways, but I’ve made sure my kids’ basic needs have been met, particularly their emotional needs,’ she says.

A qualified chef, Liz runs cooking classes in her spare time as part of a Salvation Army life skills programme and is preparing to start a second course in another part of town. And as a further way to help others in her community she also helps cater for The Salvation Army’s community Christmas dinner.

Peni

Court & Prison Services

I want to share what God has done to bring me through the hardest times.

I was a rebel soldier during George Speight’s coup in Fiji in the year 2000, a leader of rebels from the North.  One week after we surrendered our guns in Labasa, I was arrested and sent to prison for two-and-a-half years. After I completed that sentence I was charged with arson during the coup. I was again convicted and imprisoned for one year, six months.

I want to thank God for choosing Salvation Army people like Captain Jare and Brother Lekima to come and visit me every Saturday during my time in prison. Because of them I know and love God’s plans for my life! I also thank God for The Salvation Army in Labasa, which gave me correspondence courses that taught me to dig deeper into the Bible.

When there were three months left for me to serve, God spoke to me in my cell. He said to me, ‘I will change your clothes to be new clothes and … [put] shoes on your feet to travel and teach my Word from place to place.’ I couldn’t believe that would be possible and cried out to God, ‘But I am guilty! All my family know all the history of my life and knew that I wore very dirty clothes. How can I be clean?’

I asked God to show me where to go and to help me to understand what he had said. But sometimes we have to wait for God’s answers, which come in his time. Just before I was released from prison God said to me, ‘Peni, only the Word that I teach you will wash all your dirt away. Just read the Bible, my Word, and ask the power of God to take you through life.’

God has given me a new start and I now serve him with great joy. I go back to prison to share the Word of God with other prisoners every Saturday. I am involved in open-air meetings around Labasa, and I attend Salvation Army meetings every Sunday. I am looking forward to starting preparation classes to become a Salvation Army soldier.