New Zealand and Hurricane Gabrielle

Kia Ora, friends!

It's me, Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher. I teach Theology at Loyola Marymount University. Over the last 20+ years, over 250 students from the University where I teach, both Graduate and Undergraduate, have gone to Aotearoa/New Zealand for Summer Study programs based there.

One of our primary hosts (and for the Theology Graduates - our PRIMARY host) has been the Maori Anglican Church, and especially Archbishop Donald Tamihere and his family and staff based in Gisborne, on the East Coast of the North Island. They take us to Maori Carved houses, schools, and churches, and introduce us to indigenous leaders, and we have experienced privileges that few New Zealanders themselves have experienced. We have learned about Maori Indigenous Christian Theology from the people themselves.

Friends, Our New Zealand "home" has been hit hard by Hurricane Gabrielle - including our beloved town of Gisborne and the entire beautiful coast line that we travel up and down when we visit. For example, we always go to Tolaga Bay (remember the long pier?) - and Tolaga Bay was hit hard.

In short - we have lots of friends there! Many hundreds of people have lost homes, and some have sadly been killed, as a result of the devastation. I am relieved to report that all our friends (Don's own family and staff and friends) are all safe and sound - but they all know families that are not safe and sound! It will be a long clean-up...and some folks are going to need help.

I want to start a campaign, however modest it may be, to raise some funds - especially those of us who have been directly involved with the New Zealand programs - and send them to the Archbishop. We know Don, we trust Don, and we know that he will use the funds for people who need them.

There is no fine print here, my friends - every penny we raise will go to the Archbishop's office for relief. It may not be a huge amount - but we simply want to say to our Maori family: We remember you - and you are in our prayers.

Let's help them out. I've set an initial modest goal of $3,000 total - if we get more, great.

Thanks for helping with any amount you are comfortable with.

Daniel