God gives faith to go on

Vaine Paretoa believes she would not be living the life she is today had she not found faith. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Without God Vaine Paretoa does not know how she would have coped with all of life's curve balls.

What she does know is that she has an extended family who offered her nothing but love and support when her son died two weeks ago.

Tauniva Paretoa was 27 and one of Vaine's three sons born with special needs. He was laid to rest last week after several days of visits at the Harvest Centre on Malfroy Rd.

"He died Saturday morning at 2am and their ministry began then," Vaine said, of pastors Dave and Jill Moore. "We have felt the love of the church. The nurturing and giving of food. We feel fully supported. The morning my son died they came into ministry and they have worked with us. They have a heart for people."

Vaine said she did not attend church prior to 1997, when she joined Charisma Church - the pastor then moved to Harvest and she went with him. But, like many people who are worshippers these days, she felt a pull.

"I couldn't do stuff on my own any more. I needed something to sustain my life. I found the Lord through other people and that's why I'm in the Lord to this day.

"I've not given up. I don't think we would be the kind of people we are today. I don't think we would have been able to work through all of this. We would be a mess.

"We get up and we keep working."

Tauniva was admitted to Rotorua Hospital on March 23, initially with dehydration. He died at 2am on March 28.

"That week we were in a lot of meetings with the doctors. We had to make an informed decision to let him go. It was hard but, when your faith is in God, making this decision, you are in peace.

"We know God has got our back.

"My husband stayed with him in hospital that night, I went home to sleep. I woke up in the early hours and knew something wasn't right. Pare had gone to sleep around 1am and we know Tauniva was waiting so we wouldn't see it happen."

She said she had been touched by those who are her church family, but she had seen how the Harvest Centre experience had touched others, including those in her own family.

"I'd recommend this church to anyone who is looking for somewhere to go, who needs nurturing or counselling - a place and people to love them."