New residential retreat for Northland, a rural haven in the midst of native bush with healing animals and a community veggie garden
Northland
WST is establishing a new rural retreat near Dargaville, Northland, to help those struggling with life. The old Arapohue Bush Camp is 22-acres of land with buildings and native bush, located 16km south east of Dargaville and 58km west of Whangarei. The team is restoring the buildings and establishing the Arapohue Retreat; a safe haven for those in need.
Wild Side Charitable Trust (WST) was formed in 2017 and has a solid board of trustees and advisors. In the past year, the Centre Directors, registered tradies and volunteers have been restoring buildings and infrastructure. They have created a large community veggie garden and orchard to feed, not only future guests, but divert surplus to nearby foodbanks.
In preparation for the retreat opening for residential guests in the near future, the Trust is working with other local organisations serving the needs of Northland. We hope to work with other agencies like Te Ara Oranga, Te Hā Oranga, Timatanga Hou (Dargaville detox), Northland DHB Mental Health & Addictions Community Services and Arataki Ministries Mental Health Services... because TOGETHER, WE HAVE THE ANSWERS.
I am the Spokesperson and one of the founding trustees of the Wild Side Charitable Trust. The Arapohue Retreat is my vision to help those struggling with life issues in NZ by establishing a healing rural retreat in Northland.
WST will purchase the Arapohue Bush Camp property, 22-acres of land in Northland, restoring buildings needing repair, and introduce a 6-12 month residential rehab and recovery programme to help addicts and their families.
Arapohue Retreat April overview... 19 May 2022
Cottage re-roof (at last!!!)
The Lodge tidy-up has begun
Two new salvations in one day!
Team strengthened
Welcomed a new guest
Thanks to some very generous donors, the women's respite Cottage new roof and spouting is finally underway. Thanks to Mario and team from Northland Scaffolding, and Ben Zeier (Ben the Builder) doing the building repairs.
Thanks also to Craig Sullivan, ColourPro Painters, Whangarei for waterblasting the old Cottage weatherboard, spray-painting with new grey wood stain and painting the trims.
Massive thanks to our hard-working volunteers for clearing out the old Lodge shearing shed (took 4 people a whole day). It was full of borer-ridden old wooden furniture and old machinery (3 trailer loads + the tractor load!). Even the dead rats had borer! Thanks very much to Gavin Carey for taking care of business with his trusty tractor and trailer. Bob and Lucy kept an eye on the burn pile for us.
Two people were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit last week, praise God for His love, grace and mercy, and we welcomed a new guest.
This is what it's all about, making an eternal difference in people's lives.
Encouragement from the visit of Phil Paikea (Ruakaka) of Safe Man, Safe Family sharing his testimony with David and Marie Curle, and Ray and Jan. The team was strengthened and activated by the prophetic ministry of Lisa Pickering (Whangarei) pictured with Ray having a look around.
Your donation or grant THIS MONTH will help meet these urgent needs:
Insurance: Would you help us to pay the following premiums:
Pump and water filter shed, full replacement premium, $209.92
Okahu House (men's accommodation), $642.44
The Cottage (women's accommodation), $688.26
Dargaville House (volunteer accommodation), $1,534.23
The Farmhouse (currently the main office), $1,834.54
Pillow and mattress protectors: For hygiene, to protect the bedding for guests $400
Wifi: hardware and installation for Farmhouse, Dargaville House and The Cottage $1,455
Arapohue Retreat vehicle: We need to recover replacing the retreat's ute clutch system, fly wheel and engine mount $3,967
Okahu House (men’s accom): The roofing, spouting and downstair ceiling and interior paint are completed but we now need to cover the restoration of the inside of the top floor, plus painting the exterior $9,565
PLEASE PRAY about what you, your family, your church, your trust or your organisation could donate THIS MONTH to help us meet the urgent needs listed above. Thanks for your prayerful consideration and support and a heartfelt THANKS to our faithful volunteers for their hard mahi and big hearts.
If anyone has donated and would like a free copy of Janet's book, The Wild Side, please email janet@thewildside.net with your courier address and we would love to send you a copy.
Thanks so much to our precious supporters who partner with us to provide an invaluable service to some of the most traumatised amongst us who are out of options.
Kind regards and many thanks,
Ray & Jan Curle on behalf of the Arapohue Retreat team
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts at Arapohue for your very generous donation. Every dollar goes such a long way here, and this will really help with the exterior building repairs and staining for The Cottage. Your tax receipt will be issued at the end of the financial year. Blessings, Jan, Ray and the A-team
Many thanks and much appreciation to you both for your very generous donation for Arapohue Rural Retreat. This will go toward building repairs needed to the Cottage building for the roofing to be done. Blessings, Ray and Jan and the Arapohue team
Thanks so very much for your wonderful donation Diana. You are helping us make a huge difference. Your donation has purchased two pillows for retreat guests. Thanks so much.
Thank you Dave and Lynaire! Your very generous donation will go toward re-gibbing Okahu House ceiling. We thank you for partnering with us to get this accommodation ready for men reaching out for help. (keep your receipt which would have been emailed to you from Givealittle to claim your tax back). Thanks and blessings, Ray, Jan and the WST team at Arapohue
Thanks Allan! Your very kind support goes a long way helping people at Arapohue. Keep the receipt emailed to you for your tax rebate. Blessings, Ray and Jan
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