Well, we're back from a week-long field trip to Wellington and Lower Hutt. We spent the week in the city region as part of Sustainable Community Development in an attempt to apply the theoretical to the practical and see how community development plays out in a New Zealand context.
The week was spent hearing various speakers and visiting sites relating to community development in the Wellington region.
A mural of famous All-Blacks Piri Weepu and Tana Umaga who came out of Wainuiomata, a small town in the city limits of Lower Hutt
We were able to meet with the council community development team, various employees from Housing New Zealand, and even motivational speaker Billy Graham of the Nae Nae Boxing Club. We were even invited, to our surprise, to the Hutt City Community Awards Banquet where we were inspired by stories of different outstanding citizens in the community.
The group with Hutt City mayor Ray Wallace. Ray's in red.
The whirlwind week concluded with the USA vs. Australia World Cup Rugby game. Unfortunately, our boys in blue did not come out on top but lucky for us, America is a resilient nation. Boys, as Aaliyah so wisely advises "if at first you don't succeed, you dust yourself off and try again." Also, see Chumbawamba's "I Get Knocked Down"
Don't worry folks, Amy knows
Just a bunch of Yankees. Kudos to Darin, the bald eagle in the back right
And that was the week. It was no doubt a learning experience as this was our first trip to the Wellington region, but we got to meet some cool people, hear some good stories, and see a little bit more of the world.
A special thanks to our brothers and sisters at Te Kakano o te Aroha Marae for hosting us, sharing with us, and preparing a hangi for us! We thank God for you and hope to see you soon.
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