“It shows how the district is drying out, and people are reminded about the Restricted Fire Season now in place, which means almost every fire in the open has to have a permit,” the senior firefighter said.
This year pastors Norm and Jess McLeod led a team of five church members on an eight-day tour to support poor Hindu, Muslim, Communist and Christian communities.
The church has worked with local government to build seven houses for widows and orphans of different religious backgrounds and worked with a private school sponsorship programme.
Hundreds of children have graduated including more than 30 who have escaped the cycle of poverty by obtaining Bachelor’s degrees and gaining employment.
Today the school, in Andhra Pradesh, has about 500 students.
The church sponsorship provides two meals a day, two school uniforms per child, all schoolbooks and homework tutors.
Pastor Norm McLeod said their work brought social transformative change “on a very real and practical level to thousands of people in these poor communities”.
This year Pastor McLeod provided leadership seminars and training while others raised funds to provide 350 lunch containers for Indian mothers to provide food when they or their husbands are working in the fields.
The House of Breakthrough team visited villages around the area every day, “bringing a Tairāwhiti taste of aroha,” he said.
Successful Gisborne cruise season continues
It’s five from five for the Gisborne cruise ship season after the National Geographic Orion made another port of call here on Tuesday - her third visit of the season.
