Thoughts from Sheryl

In the next few blog posts, we will hear from some members of our church family.  Enjoy a brief background and details about each person, along with hearing how the four week imposed lockdown due to COVID-19 has affected them personally.  Our hope is to draw encouragement and strength from each other as we point towards Jesus.

"For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as your are already doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

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Sheryl with husband Lachlan after a 4 day hike in the Tararuas.

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​Hi, my name is Sheryl.  My husband Lachlan and I met in Wellington and spent our first year married in Lower Hutt before finding ourselves here in Taupo, which we love.  We didn't know anyone here when we arrived and so were keen to get connected through a church.  It wasn't too long before we visited Church@109 and felt so welcomed right from the get go that we settled here. Now we have friends who we met through church connections, friends at Church@109, and a welcoming place to worship and fellowship (on Sunday's that I'm not working!!).

An aspect of the lockdown I have enjoyed is the amount of quality time Lachlan and I have been able to spend together as well as all the long phone/video calls to our friends and families. We've made new connections with our neighbours, explored more of our local streets on foot and learned what the hot topics are to talk about with our three and four-year-old nephews. 

I've been thankful throughout this lockdown that I had to go to work, I think four weeks at home with only the odd trip out would have felt a lot longer!  I'm a Police Constable so the work hasn't stopped.  Things were different from the get go, lots of hand washing, rubber gloves and feeling like the 'Fun Police' when I've had to explain to people just how limiting essential travel was during level 4.  It's obvious that people don't call Police on their best days, but it was difficult to see how many people commented on how the lockdown had contributed to them needing to call the Police - whatever the matter was.  It's certainly made me appreciate on a bigger scale just how important social connections and getting out of the house are for our mental well-being - especially for those who for whatever reason don't have the means (or motivation) to keep it up without work. 

A verse that has been on my mind the last few weeks comes from Luke 6:45 "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."  It's been a strong reminder that I need to keep being filled with what is good, specifically God's word.  I know going to church is a big part of my spiritual journey and so I hope to see everyone again soon.