At school things where not much better, I did have friends on and off. I remember my best friend in primary school was Jason, he had a visual impairment. Generally I was bullied by lots of kids, was always the last to be picked for sports teams etc. this added to the rejection I felt at home.
My Mum and me never really got on to well, and the gap widened after my Dad moved out. For some time Mum always talked about Dad in a bad way. Your bloody father this and that. Deep down, I did hate Mum and blamed her for Dad moving away. I never felt appreciated, I never seemed to measure up to the standard she seemed to set. This made me bitter and twisted inside. (I have now come to realise that I may not have been an easy child to cope with, due to the fact I have a slight Asperger's and related tendencies. For more about how I grew up with Asperger's click here).
My relationship with my Dad has always been Good, I was glad that he stayed around for my Brother and me. He always taught us to love and respect our Mum. When Adrian and me where old enough Dad explained to us that it was not our fault that Mum and him broke up and made us look on the positive side.
Adrian and I stayed with mum and spent alternative weekends between Mums and Dads. This was until Dad heard that I had hit mum in one of our fights. I spent my High school years living with Dad. (Shortly after this Adrian was accepted into Dilworth Boarding school).
While Adrian spent his weeks at Boarding school, I went to Avondale Collage. I was still rejected and picked on. I believe that Gods hand was with me and he Gave me another friend Garry. We where in the same class and hung around together. we where both picked on at school it was so bad. One day a rumor stated that spread around allot of the kids in our year. This continued until one day, I believe God gave me this idea, I told Garry that everyone must be jealous of our good friendship and that we should say to them "whatever you don't know what you are talking about, we are just good friends". we did this and soon after the rumors died down.
One thing I am thankful for is that Mum encouraged me, and my brother, to do was take up playing a musical instrument. see My Music Ministry page for more info (click here) I thank Mum for giving me the opportunity and God for giving me a gifting in music.
I remember when was 12 or 13, when Dad was staying in a Christian Community in Avondale, Auckland. There was a Lady Jackie, who was visually impaired, she was always an encouragement to me with her gentle spirit. One day she invited me to the Christin Ministries With Disabled Trust (CMWDT) (now they have changed there name to Elevate: Christian Disability Trust) (website here) National Labor Weekend Camp. I asked Dad and he said it was ok so, Jackie arranged everything for me. This Camp dramatically changed my outlook on life. Here where people who where so awesome in their worship to God, and the first thought was, "How can they praise God like this their disability is not going to go away. If i sprain my ankle I would say how dear you God for letting me go thru this pain, and that would go away in a few days". This was the only camp I was able to attend during My high school years.
Many years Later in 2002 I was staying in a Christian youth hostel, one of the girls Bronnie, who also stayed there, looked after a young girl with an intellectual disability for a friend on weekends. I used to go out with them and do some things at times, this was fun. The girl one day told me I was so good with looking after the disabled person, and as i was not doing anything at that time, maybe i should get a job doing that. Wow I thought how amazing I never thought of that, but I did not know where to turn. I rang the only place I knew the CMWDT Ministry. They said funny you should ask that, why not come to our drop-in center. and that's what i did. They encouraged me to do some study in this area, and i found a free one year course in Care of the Elderly. I also started attending another of the groups under the CMWDT the Christian Fellowship For Disabled (CFFD). I was so helpful there willing to set up and do the things that needed to get the job done, and lived it to.Then one day the people on the committee at that time decided to ask me if i would like to join them which i gladly jumped at the chance. I have been on that committee since that day in 2003 I have never looked back. Currently (in 2010) I am no longer formally on the committee but I am helping to establish a new Ministry they are setting up called Friends of CFFD Auckland.
You have been reading something of My life and My Testimony. I hope you enjoyed getting to know me.
