Spring 2018 Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE... “Thank you CHN”, behind in my research work. Mentally and We hear the extraordinary physically we were exhausted and broken By Kezha Angami but even in such a situation we decided story of Kezha Angami, from never to give up. We reminded ourselves the Eastern Theological that God who brought us this far will surely College, Jorhat, in India. not forsake us. God answered our prayers through our friend Dr Visier, who at that time was Also in this issue: working with World Vision and had been in touch with the CHN Sisters for programmes of welcoming and helping refugees. He Letter from Sister Carol 2 introduced us to Sister Carol and Sister Valmai. I can still clearly remember the 2nd About Nagaland 3 October 2014, when we first came to CHN, Coming from a small tribal state called a place that is truly breath-taking and Oblates’ News 4-5 Nagaland in India, the decision to pursue a peaceful. I remember meeting all the sisters doctoral study in Australia was a massive and how good they were towards us. That Associates’ News 5-6 decision which took nearly four years of day they offered to help us with our Adelaide Associates & Oblates 6 planning and preparation. As my scholarship accommodation and we accepted gratefully. did not cover our living expenses, we Hence, by the second week of the following Reflections: 7-8 explored through a friend Rev. Dr Howard month, we had finally moved into the Being with God Wallace and got in touch with an institution hermitage at CHN. The excitement and the Some sayings of Syncletica that was willing to help us with feeling of relief and security was something ‘Lift up your hearts’ accommodation in return for my services. that both Zhano and I felt after such a long time. It was after coming to CHN that I ‘New in the Library’ 8 However, things did not work out with our could finally concentrate on my research accommodation as expected and, upon work and catch up lost time. We celebrated Editor: Liz Johnstone arrival in Australia, we had to immediately our first Christmas in Australia with the start searching for new accommodation and Sisters of CHN, which was an awesome a job to cover our living expenses. Coming experience. to a foreign land, not knowing what to do and where to get help is an experience we Living in CHN, we have experienced will never forget. countless blessings. One of the many blessings that we experienced is the birth of The first four months of our stay in our first baby girl. Our daughter Avi has Melbourne were filled with hopelessness brought immense joy into our lives and I We are a Community of and despair. I remember looking for believe into this community as well because Anglican Sisters who have been accommodation and jobs every week. she is very much the daughter of CHN as living, praying and ministering in Weeks turned to months, but nothing much as she is ours. She is blessed and lucky Melbourne for more than 125 seemed to be working out. We prayed and to have received all the love of the sisters years. Nowadays, our main continued our search for jobs of any kind. here in CHN for which we will remain ministry is hospitality, offering a My wife, Zhano, managed to get a part time forever grateful. place of spiritual renewal and job for few hours a week in the city at refreshment. Dalton McCaughey Library, which was of I have finally completed my doctoral studies great help during our crisis but wasn’t in Missiology, the study of Christian mission. Community of the Holy Name, enough to cover our daily expenses let I couldn’t have done this without the help of Esther House, 31 Lorna Street Cheltenham, alone the rent. We spent several sleepless the sisters of CHN. They have given us a Victoria 3192 nights thinking about how to find the means space to live and a part-time job to sustain Phone 03 9583 2087 for paying our rent after using up our my family. Without this support I would Email: [email protected] savings. By this time, we had already lived in have been side-tracked in my research work, www.chnmelb.org two suburbs and used up all our resources. because the more important thing for me as All this was affecting me, and I was falling far (continued on page 3) Page 2 CHN Newsletter her joey just outside the door of the Guest Hermitage. The Spirituality Centre continues to be the focus of our hospitality and we are now receiving bookings up to 2021. We are grateful to those people who volunteer to help us especially after a group has left and preparing for the next one. We have received many favourable comments on our hospitality, accommodation, food and the peaceful and prayerful atmosphere of the house. Dear Friends, Our monthly Prayer Days continue and the Prayer Aid booklets We are now experiencing some beautiful Spring weather and have been very helpful to people who are not able to attend. the gardens and grounds are looking beautiful, thanks to Kezha They are available on our website www.chnmelb.org and Colin. Colin Murphy has recently joined our staff to help My thanks go to Liz for her ongoing work with our Newsletter with the gardens, making a big difference. He is married to and Prayer Aids. Liz is also a Probationary Oblate of the Faye, one of our Associates. Community, soon to be admitted as a full member along with In our last Newsletter there was an article by Revd. Glenn Buijs Dennis Mills at the Oblates’ Advent Quiet Day. Our Oblates and about the Jireh Foundation which was begun to assist refugee Associates continue to grow and be very supportive of the families to purchase their own home. The family is carefully sisters and our work. If you would like to know more about our chosen and is responsible for all the repayments. The first Associates and/or Oblates you are welcome to ring Sister Avrill family, who are Sudanese, moved into a house in Clyde North. or Sister Valmai on 03 9583 2087 or check our website. You The eldest daughter, Achok, said “My family felt like outsiders may like to pay us a visit. You would be most welcome but when they first arrived in Australia. Owning a house is please ring that number to arrange a suitable time. important because it allows us to feel like ‘Australians’ It makes We continue to know God’s leading in our lives and those us feel like we are carrying our own weight and doing precious words of Mother Esther something for ourselves, so we can stand in pride and sing “Our future is in the hands of God” ‘Advance Australia Fair.” Sister Hilary, who has been living and ministering in Footscray for many years, is now living with the sisters in Esther House. It My love and prayers is a big change for Hilary. Sister Lyn continues to be involved in Sister Carol CHN ministry with Lifeline and some counselling within her parish in Bendigo. Sister Avrill is soon to celebrate a great milestone - her 50th Profession Anniversary which falls on her 80th birthday: more on that in the next Newsletter. Sister Jean is still a resident at Rosehill and continues her ministry among the people there. Jean has been there for seven years and has seen many changes occur. Sister Sheila is still in her unit at Brighton. I was invited by the Little Brothers of Francis to join them for a few days from October 1st – 5th as they celebrated St Francis’ Day. The evening prior to St Francis’ Day a service is held which is called the Transitus. This service is to commemorate the death of St Francis. It is a very moving and solemn service followed the next day by celebration, feasting and joy. They have a lovely property at Tabulam and it was Board members of Jireh Foundation, Mr & Mrs Bieth, Sisters Carol, Valmai & Gloria, CHN. Picture: Janine Eastgate. amazing to wake each morning to see a mother rock wallaby and SpringPage 2018 3 CHN NewsletterPage 3 “Thank you CHN”, continued from front page a new dad was to provide for my family and make sure We are one of the many fortunate beneficiaries of this they were safe. They have also given me the space to do ministry extended by the CHN. my research in the CHN library as I no longer had a table to work at in the Hermitage with the arrival of our Reminiscing on my journey in undertaking this research, it precious daughter. Moreover, at the beginning of this year took me back over 20 years where God’s hand had been the move into the Lodge was a massive added blessing. It leading me all along, from the day I committed my life for was the most crucial time for my research work and in fulltime ministry. Having completed my Bachelor of the Lodge, I had my own study room. For the next few Theology in 1997, I served as a missionary in Nepal. A few months, day and night, I locked myself inside and years later, I did my Bachelor of Divinity and served as a continued to work. Some of the sisters of CHN have also mission co-ordinator of our church council and as helped in proof reading part of the draft copies of my promotional officer of Eastern Theological College, Jorhat work which has improved the quality of my dissertation.