Joe Huang writes...
A Good Samaritan in Italy
It was March 1992 when Christine and I decided that we should make a good use of our break between quitting my first job as a researcher in engineering and starting theological study. We embarked on a grand tour of Europe: eleven countries in twenty eight days. Not only was this the very first trip to Europe for us- actually first to anywhere abroad - but also we adopted a semi-DIY style of tour. The travel agency arranged the accommodation and transport and we needed to find out where to eat. So, the whole adventurous plan made us both very excited and nervous. It went all well, until we were on the way from Graz (Austria) to Florence. We made a terrifying discovery that our cash and travellers' cheques were inexplicably gone. We started to panic because our credit card limits were almost depleted and if we did not recover these travellers cheques, the rest of the trip was looking gloomy. Worst of all was that we were now in Italy and the Italians whom we spoke to did not speak English. We were fairly panicked as we tried to get the call through to Citibank in Rome. We just got nowhere. As we became increasingly desperate, the tour to those beautiful Italian countries became dismal torture. Then, miracles happened.
At a motorway stop, as we continued our unsuccessful attempt to get our call through in a shopping area, a lady, with her husband and two young daughters, approached us and asked, in English, whether we need help. Afterwards we found out that she is an American and married to an Italian. We were so overjoyed and almost wept. In the following twenty minutes, not only did she help us place the phone call we were trying to make, but she also actually tracked down the exact person from whom we could seek for help when we arrived Rome. As we were anxiously waiting and she was having the conversation on the phone, her Italian husband, standing there with the young girls, was apparently getting impatient, and murmured something to her. We could easily guess what's going on there and felt very awkward. We immediately apologised to him for all the trouble caused. At that moment, the lady suddenly stopped the call and spoke to him, with a soft tone of slight protest: "This gentleman needs help!" With these words we were utterly heartened, to such extent that we afterwards held her hands to say thank you, never wanting to give them back. We also so relieved that we totally forgot to ask her name.
Even now, this happening, even brief as it was, is still vivid and it has become deeply engraved in our memory. Every time when Christine and I think of that nameless perfect stranger's genuinely kind and warm deed, we are abundantly encouraged with the prospect of how far our humanity can reach. In a very deep and delicate way, she gave us a perfect lesson about the true meaning of the Good Samaritan. We are not naïve. People , including ourselves, can be devious, deceitful and/or with double-standards, even in the name of 'community'. And we are not inexperienced of the risk of getting hurt by helping others. But the memory of that incident is so strong that it persistently inspires and compels us to try to do the same. After all, there are Jesus' words, "it is more blessed to give than to receive."
TUESDAY 3rd
Community Worship
11:15am-12pm
Spirit Then & Now
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
George Wieland
Facilitated by Hamish Baxter & Brendan Lambert
After Dinner Mints
Stephen Munn
Professor Stephen Munn is the Clinical Director of the Liver Transplant Unit at Auckland Hospital. He trained and worked as a transplant surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in the USA before returning to New Zealand in 1997 to set up the liver transplant programme here. Stephen is also a member of Northcross Community Church on the North Shore.
WEDNESDAY 4th
Carey Prayer in the Chapel
12:40-1:00pm
Praying for the college, community, country and people.
THE PRIOR APPOINTMENT THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Why does our trust offer such immense pleasure to God? Because trust is the preeminent expression of love. Thus, it may mean more to Jesus when we say, "I trust you," than when we say, "I love you."(Brennan Manning)
Semester 1
WORKING TOWARDS SEMESTER TWO
For returning students (distance or onsite)...please remember that the enrolment deadline for semester two courses is Wednesday 25 June.
And on the money front - fees for semester two are due Friday 11 July.
If you have not decided on courses and need to talk this through please connect with Russell Thorp (Dean of undergraduate Studies) or Neroli Hodges (Registrar) sooner rather than later.
Text Books
The list of text books for Semester two courses is now available online at www.carey.ac.nz/textbooks
WEEKLY WORSHIP
Please note that Community Worship on a Monday ("PRIOR APPOINTMENT") has changed!
Visit the chapel anytime Monday through Wednesday for a self-guided time of prayer and reflection. Follow the instruction with the display.
ART WEEK...4-8 August 2008
Create a piece of art to display or bring in something you already have...photography, painting, sculpture, etching, carving...you name it, there are plenty of options.
Worship focused around an artistic theme, a guest artist, practical displays, some really great prizes, an opportunity to ooh and aah at lots of talent
Diary it now and watch for more details!
@ THE LIBRARY
Late nights at the library from Monday 16th June until 9pm!! 6 nights in total!!
TE REO COURSES
We have the possibility of being able to offer a free Te Reo (Maori language) & Maori culture course onsite at Carey in the second semester. The course is run over ~12 weeks and timeframes are open at this point. However before we confirm this offer we'd like to gauge how much interest there may be.
If this is an opportunity you would be keen to take up, please let Rachel know or write your name on the sheet on the dining room noticeboard by 11 June.
10 ways the 'Cultureflow' programme will help.
* This will eliminate 50% of your worries about cultural correctness.
* Can improve your pronunciation 100% in eight weeks.
* Gives you what you need to know about the language.
* It will give you practical ways to pronounce Maori language properly.
* It will show you how to introduce yourself in Maori.
* Has revision to help you understand each section.
* Has audio CD to assist pronunciation and learning.
* Is accompanied by the first ever interactive Maori language CD-ROM that contains the whole programme including many other additional features.
* Has an advanced level programme that you can graduate onto.
* Has already been used in trials and approved by many users.
EVALUATION FORMS
Please remember to complete your course evaluation forms for this semester by 27 June and hand or send back to reception. These forms are found in the front of your workbooks - this is your chance to give us feedback ☺
DOULOS SHIP IS COMING TO AUCKLAND 10-30 JUNE
The Doulos will be docked at Princes Wharf and will be open to the public to tour and enjoy its onboard programmes organised by the crew. Entrance is Free
Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 10am-10pm
Sun-Mon: 2-10pm
See flyer on noticeboard for details of events and programmes taking place or the website www.om.org.nz/doulos