Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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   I have been constantly amazed at how GIsborne has come to accept my team here and to show a lot of interest in what we are doing. We have been asked to tea, invited to play basketball, and even invited to a traditional Maori Funeral known as a Tangihanga (Tangi for short). We were told that strangers are usually not invited to these gatherings, so what an honor it was. This is where we met The Rock wearing a skirt…..aka Fatu….but I’ll explain later.

   The Tangi is basically the process of embracing the funeral rights before the body (tupapuku) is interred. After the body has been cleaned, oiled, sprinkled with perfume, and dressed up; it is placed in the Marae (traditional Maori meeting place). The tupapuku is never left alone so family takes turns staying with their beloved and the coffin is always left open. Mattresses are set up everywhere in the Marae so visitors can stay for as long as they want. 
   When we arrived for the Tangi, we went through a greeting known as the Karanga (call of welcome). This is done by the women in a singing matter. The service consisted of speaking about the deceased, singing, and then paying respect to each family member. Afterwards we were invited to nice tea (dinner) in the banquet type of room.

   The tupapuku is left here for a couple days as the Maori believe that the spirit does not leave until the buriel. This fulfills the Wairua (spiritual being) where the deceased is released into the care of the already dead. A lot of wailing may occur as they mourn.

   The next day was the actual service where eulogies are performed and singing occurs. The family walks out with the body while people perform an amazing Haka (youtube this…amazing!) in a kind of farewell. The floorboards were literally shaking and you could feel the adrenaline run through your own blood. They then take the tupapuku to a cemetary for buriel followed by a big feast of celebration.

   We happened to meet an awesome family at the funeral who invited us for Tea (dinner) later that night. They are Fatu (The Rock) and Parehuia Ehari; and there sons are Brian (13), Ereatara (12), and Ulalei (3). The Ehari’s have an amazing story of redemption and obedience to God. They became believers about 15 years ago at a business convention. It was later when they learned absolute brokeness and dependence in God, after a horrific car accident. Parehuia was close to death and lost their unborn child. They made a pact that day to fully trust God and pray hard. Next they quit their high power jobs, moved to a small community outside of Gisborne to become teachers, and also started a great ministry (Roar Ministries). They hold conferences and other types of programs for the local kids.

   Fatu really wanted us to minister to his boys, as he and his wife want them to persue something like The World Race. The dinner was awesome and we all prayed together which was the best dessert ever. Fatu and Parehuia are genuine, obedient Christians who God is going to use to make a huge impact on this place. There boys have already made the sacrifice to trust their parents and live a life away from the normal kid things.

   So, I initially called Fatu The Rock, because he really looks like the US actor….kind of like he stepped out of a Steven Seagal movie. Now I see that it might of been a prophesy over this man I hadn’t met yet. Fatu is strong (mind, body, and spirit). He speaks God’s word with passion and truth. I see him creating a rock slide bringing God’s grace and hope to the lost all around. Even to his home country of Samoa. Please lift this family up in your prayers and pray for the ears to hear them.

P.S. The local paper interviewed Team Ginosko about The World Race and wrote a pretty good article. We were told that “religious” articles aren’t often posted and rarely is Jesus’ name used in the headline. Pretty Amazing!