illumin8 - Issue 21 - April 2011 Cover designed by: Leanne Rhodes

Catch the wave

At the mercy of the tide

The United Nations of Nicci

Hope floods in

Submerged

Defeating your inner Gollum

Earthquake

Email us at illumin8ezine@gmail.com. Use this address to send us feedback, submit testimonies & to ask us to add you to our mailing list.

Visit www.illumin8.co.za to download past editions of illumin8 & check out our latest posts.

For daily inspiration, news and updates follow us on twitter. Visit https://twitter.com/illumin8ezine or go to www.illumin8.co.za.

In ths issue:

I have a personal policy that obliges me to live life without harbouring regrets. Having said that, when I look back on my time in Jeffrey's Bay – almost three years thereof – I do consider it a missed opportunity that I never learnt to surf.

I’d often go to the beach, and I delighted in the smell of the salty sea water and the soothing melody of the waves as they crashed and ran up the shore, only to retreat again. I loved walking on the hard, wet sand as the cold water lapped up against my feet and legs. My early morning walks on the beach presented the occasion for me to watch many a surfer arriving at the break of dawn, kitted out in a black wet suit. I’d watch as they ran, board under arm, though the dry sand towards the great expanse of the Indian Ocean. I’d watch them paddle their way into the deep, my vision of them frequently obscured by the gentle heart-beat of the sea. I’d watch them bob up and down on their boards as they waited for the perfect wave, and when it came, I’d watch them paddle fiercely and then powerfully hoist themselves up on their boards to, seemingly effortlessly, glide along until the strength of the ocean gently released them to the shore. I imagined the sheer bliss and thrill of catching a wave and cruising along with the roar of the ocean drumming out any thoughts apart from the moment.

In writing this, I’m reminded of how annoyed I am that I never went out there and just did it myself. I have endless excuses for why this never materialised,

and while I cannot account for every moment of my time in “Jbay”, I do have many reasons for why I never got round to learning to surf. The opportunity was certainly there, and it was accessible, but I didn’t take it.

Worship is a lot like surfing. Extravagant worship is beautiful. It’s beautiful to watch, but it’s more beautiful to be a part of.

Worship is so much more than just singing songs before the sermon on a Sun-day. Worship is a lifestyle. But the platform for adoring God and worshiping Him in community is given to us most Sundays in church before the sermon. We can criticise the worship leader’s voice, analyse the different instruments and harmonies or reject the style of worship and the tempo of the songs, but all these things steal from us and prevent us from getting wet and getting out there to catch a wave ourselves!

We can examine our surf board and spend hours waxing it. We can read up about the history of surfing and listen to other people’s adventurous experi-ences. We can spend hours jumping up and down to determine which leg is our leading leg. We can sit on the shore and evaluate another person’s board pref-erence or choice of surf style; and we can criticise another surfer’s unsuitable choice of wet suit or his old-fashioned fair. But at the end of the day, there’s the risk that we’ll end up just looking back on a missed opportunity, imprisoned by our own fear (or pride) that prevents us from getting out there and being a part of the action.

illumin8 - Issue 21 - April 2011 Designed by: Rachelle Vermaak

I once heard someone say that you don’t get bad worship, you only get bad worshippers. It’s been a statement that’s really made me think, and many times when I’ve found myself standing in a congregation and beginning to criticize the choice of song or the dead silence as the worship leader searches for his or her music. I remind myself that worship cannot be bad, I am only removing myself from the experience and blaming another for what is actu-ally only my choice to make.

I believe that I will again get the opportunity to learn to surf, and it’s a time I patiently wait for. But when it comes to worship, picking up our boards and running over the dry sand into the vast expanse of God’s presence, we really miss out on a lot by patiently waiting for the ideal occasion somewhere in the future.

The book of Luke (19:28-40) gives an account of when Jesus was entering Jerusalem days before his crucifixion. A crowd of disciples around him were joyfully praising God for all the miracles they had seen. Some Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to rebuke his noisy followers, but Jesus replied, ‘I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

God is worthy to be praised, worshiped, honoured and glorified, and for us it’s a privilege to be a part of His creation that can worship Him. We don’t have to

do it, the stones will rise up if we don’t, but the point is that it’s a privilege to worship Him and the opportunity is acces-sible to us all. We’ve just gotta go out there and do it! Like the disciples who criticised the woman who anointed Je-sus with perfume (Matthew 26:6-13), we too can criticize the worship of others, but we should know that the minute we stand back to judge another, we’ve disengaged from worship ourselves, and we’re just standing on the shore.

God doesn’t want us to miss another opportunity to wor-ship Him, because, although it is God who is worshipped, it is us who are changed. God rewards an obedient heart that’s willing to lay down pride and the fear of others, with a revelation of Himself.

Like surfing, most of us aren’t pros the first (or second!) time and it may re-quire us to lay down a little pride or pick up some courage and take respon-sibility for the depth of our own worship, but the thrill of reckless abandon in extravagant worship just gets better every time. Let us not stand on the shore complaining about an experience that we secretly yearn to personally engage in, in all its fullness. The opportunity is there and the choice is ours, let’s just pick up our boards, get out there ... and catch the very next wave.

illumin8 - Issue 21 - April 2011

By Lucy Rip

I’m not a big fan of swimming in the sea. I love to sit and watch the waves crashing against the rocks, and the sound of the ocean is one of my favourites, but make me actually swim in it, and you’ll find me hanging out with the toddlers in the shallows!

My biggest fear is getting swept out to sea. I’m not a strong swimmer and in the back of my mind I’m always thinking, ‘Those currents are mighty strong.’ In addition to that though, the ocean holds all manner of spikey, toothy, scratchy and poisonous beasties (or so Dis-covery Channel leads me to believe) and I spend a lot of my time scruti-nising each breaking wave to see if I can spot the creature that thinks I look like a tasty snack. Maybe my fear is none of these things though. Maybe this reticence just comes from a bad childhood experience. I do re-member being ‘dumped ’ by one or two waves during my younger (and braver) years. Being churned around and around, with salt water stinging my eyes and making my nose run, all the while feeling completely out of control and at the mercy of the tide, is not my idea of a good time.

So why then, do I find myself living in that place so often? (And yes, I have now moved into the metaphorical realm where there is, in fact, no ac-tual wave.) Time and again I find myself in a state of near paralysis because there is just too much to do! Even writing this article has been hanging over my head for the last week, getting bumped up and down the list of priorities depending on my ever fickle mood. And even as I write it, there is another wave coming ever closer (bringing with it all the other things on that dreaded list) which I know will break over me just I finish this, leaving me, not with a sense of accomplishment, but once again at the mercy of the tide.

The absolute worst part of this scenar-io is that the waves are Lucy-made. I have no one but myself to blame for the eyes-are-burning-nose-is-stream-ing state of affairs. My brain comes up with an idea and I go, ‘Ooo, yes! Let’s do that! ’ forgetting that I’ve said the same thing to seven other ideas in the last week. Then the tenacious part of me kicks in, and wraps itself like a slick of seaweed around the idea, so that I simply cannot let it go until I get it done.

Basically I am being swept along on the tidal wave of my own expectation, feeling as though I have no choice in the matter and just hoping that some-time soon I’ll reach land and can stop fighting.

I have no one but myself

to blame for the eyes-are-burning-nose-is-streaming

state of affairs.

illumin8 - Issue 21 - April 2011 Designed by: Rachelle Vermaak

Hmmm,nice idea.

But the truth is that I do have a choice, and that choice is say-ing ‘NO!’ It’s acknowledging that not every idea needs to be followed through on, that some can just pass you by with a ‘Hmmm, nice idea. Someone (else) should do that.’ It’s allowing yourself to admit that you won’t actu-ally make those scrapbook pages for events that hap-pened five years ago, and that some photos actually can spend their whole lives in a box and be happy! It’s about delegating and allowing other people to help you. It’s about knowing your limitations (yes I’m sorry, you have some to) and respecting them.

But wow, is it hard to say no? There’s a little part of me that mourns every time a great idea is left undone, or a photo is rel-egated to life in a box. I struggle to ask for help and admit that I can’t do it all. But at the same time, I know that I have to be-cause I want to float on the waves and see beauty, not beasties. I want to enjoy projects, not dread them. I need to transform that tidal wave of expectation into a tidal pool, limited and unthreat-ening, something I can dip into and emerge from refreshed.

The ocean is wondrous and magnificent, but it can wreck terrify-ing damage as well. I’ve realised that my expectation of myself is the same. I can use it to better myself, or I can let it ruin my life. But unlike the ocean, with God’s help, my behaviour is something that I can con-trol. All I have to do is tame the tide.

*All I have to do is tame the tide.

My husband and I have been doing a bit of church hopping over the last month, trying to find a church that suits us. We are very fortunate in that Cambridge has a large number of churches to choose from. Their architectural designs, locations, seating arrangements, people and services may vary, but it is wonderful to know that we are welcome in any of them. More than that though, it's a privilege to feel part of something far greater than the structure we found ourselves in, to feel part of the body of Christ. As1 Corinthians 12:12 says, 'The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.'

I've been thinking quite a lot recently about how one can be taken aback by the magnificence of a well-designed church, but how the building itself (although sometimes very impressive and filled with history) is not the Church itself. We are, as the body of Christ. I have heard this many times before but have realised this now more than ever.

In January we went to the Ely Cathedral, which is in a town a few minutes away from Cambridge. It was a breathtaking! We could often do nothing more but stand in awe of what we were feasting our eyes upon. At the same time however, I found myself even more in awe of God. We were standing in an enormous, beautifully designed, man-made structure but somehow could not help but reflect on how much greater the God we serve is. He created the whole universe and everything in it, not a mere building! Although the cathedral was stunning to see, it would not be a church without the people who regularly meet there to worship God, follow His teachings and perform their roles as the body of Christ.

Tales from a South African living in Cambridge. THE UNITED NATIONS OF NICCI

+

'Let us not give up meeting together, as some are

in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another

and all the more as you see the Day approaching.' – Hebrews 10:25

We also recently visited Cromer, a little old coastal town, which had a smaller but nevertheless lovely cathedral. Nearby was a more modest building with an inscription above the door that read, The Meeting House of the Baptist Church. Although the cathedral was lovely to see, the inscription made even more of an impression on us. It indicated that the building wasn't the church at all, but instead that the people who met there were.

I have loved seeing some of these churches and cathedrals. However, I have been more moved by seeing God's church through absolute strangers (to me) sharing in His word and singing with all their hearts to Him. May you be encouraged to fulfill your role in the body of Christ and be an example to others of the true meaning of God's Church, no matter where you happen to meet.

By Nicci Martin

illumin8 - Issue 21 - April 2011

an ark to save them from the waters. In this case the water presents an interesting paradox as a symbol of destruction but also one of hope and a new beginning.

The Bible says in Genesis 7 and 8 that for forty days the flood waters grew, covering the ground and lifting the boat off the earth. After that the water covered the earth for 150 days. Every day, Noah experienced water to the north, an endless expanse of it to the south and it was all he could see from east to west. Water, water and more water covering the life he once knew for five months. Imagine looking out every morning and hoping for land, and at the end of the day having to conclude that it wasn't there. Imagine spending five

Wasn't water just the most fun thing ever when you were a child? I remember being absolutely drawn to it. If there was water nearby, I was right there before my parents could blink, there gazing at the reflection, looking at the fish swimming below and marvelling at the light streaming through it to create incredible shapes. Once in the swimming pool it was a mighty feat to persuade me to get out. Somehow I don't think I'm alone in this tendency. For me, water represented fun, adventure, joy and refreshment. For Noah however, water took on a whole other meaning. We all know the story of Noah and the ark; of how God decided to destroy the evil people in the world with a great flood but showed mercy on Noah and his family by instructing him to make

months in the same place with the same people – a recipe for cabin fever if I've ever heard one!

Would you start questioning, wondering where God was in all of this and why you have to wait so long?

But it wasn't over yet. We read that after this period, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The water was still going down two and half months later and some mountain peaks were visible. After 40 more days Noah decided to

By Leanne Rhodes

Designed by: Leanne Rhodes

release a raven and a dove. When the dove returned Noah waited another seven days, then released it again. This time the dove brought back an olive branch. He then waited a further seven days before releasing the dove again and this time it didn't return. Eventually, 10 and a half months after the flood began, Noah lifted the covering of the ark and saw that the land was drying. Two more months past before, at last, the earth was dry and God told them to leave the ark.

Many times we focus on the faith it took Noah to trust God and build a boat in an arid region, despite of how insane it sounded! But I have chosen to focus on another theme in this tale – hope. How easy would it have been to lose hope on this journey? To leave everything as you know it behind and fully rely on God; to wait day after day and see nothing else but water? But God knew what Noah could handle. Just when it would seem too much to bear, the boat found a resting place on land. That thud, no doubt, brought a rush of hope. Thereafter God gave him a glimpse of mountain tops as a sign that the water was in fact receding. And the dove, bringing back the olive branch, sealed the deal that their new life was indeed ahead.

We have all had periods that have felt like a flood, taking away everything we once knew, or completely overwhelming us. You may be experiencing that right now. I am sure in these times the waiting is enough to destroy all your hope and often the flood is all you can see. But take heart, God knows you better than you know yourself, and He knows that regardless of His amazing works we tend to lose hope. He also knows what you can handle and will give you hope when you most desperately need it. If you are in a flood, I encourage you to remember that God is faithful, so there is always hope.

How easy would it have been to lose hope on this journey? To leave everything as you know it behind and fully rely on God; to wait day after day and see nothing else but water?

I recently had a revelation which I want to share with you.The Oxford Online Dictionary defines a revelation in two ways:

1. A surprising and previously unknown fact that has been disclosed to others.

2. The divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence.

I mean the girl of my dreams would never want to be with me if she knew the truth about me. How could she love someone who had wet his bed or cried in front of the whole school or lied to his parents?

This is convenient as I mean it in both ways described. Now just because I am using a big word like revelation, should not make you think that I am about to disclose the secret of life.But on the other hand, I kind of am!

I had decided that I believed in God, Jesus and even the Holy Spirit. I just had not yet decided that I was ready to meet them! It was sort of like having a big crush on a girl at school, having decided that you like her and that she is the one for you. The only problem is that you do not have the courage to go up and talk to her and tell her how you feel.

At that stage I was afraid of what people would think if they saw me professing my undying love to the most beautiful girl in school. Then even worse, what she would think and the possibility of her rejecting me because of my past.

The events leading up to the climax of my story began at birth, as it tends to, and

culminated again at birth, like it ought to.

Considering being baptised in the name of Jesus is a similar, although in my case, more daunting experience. Knowing all of the bad things that I had done in my life, the prospect of giving myself fully to God was terrifying.

I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I just couldn't keep it in.Unlike the girl at school, God will never reject you if you are trying to follow Him.

In spite of this, I realized that in order to move forward with my faith, I had to drop the baggage that I was carrying.

I once heard that Lance Armstrong had his bike painted with a special paint, so that he would carry less weight up the mountains when the going got tough. Well, being forgiven for your sins and giving your soul a fresh coat is the spiritual equivalent.

So I was baptized at Hatfield Christian Church one Sunday morning after the service. I did not quite know what to expect. I initially just wanted my wife there but she was so excited that she invited our entire cell group and her godparents (who have also adopted me spiritually)! It was as if Jimmy had let the whole school know that I was going to go up to that girl and declare my love.

Then it was my turn and I stepped into the pool. I went down into the water, feeling like the weight of my sins and worries would never let me resurface. I emerged with that weight nowhere to be found.

The water had been the catalyst and I was so glad I had taken the plunge, because I was dry as a bone wrapped in a warm fluffy blanket of forgiveness. I then proceeded to cry like a baby in front of everyone! Despite the fact that the whole of Team Col was looking on, I couldn't help myself.

What's more, if you do what He says, He will pour blessings over you. When I look back on how evident God has been in my life since my baptism, my faith can't help but grow.

So if God is challenging you about following one of His instructions, go ahead and just take the plunge. He won't let you down.

I watched as people before me had all sorts of different reactions to the experience, and as I stood waiting in the wings I worried about what I would look like in front of the crowd.

Designed by: Katy Breytenbach

‘MINE, MINE, MINE!’ I’m sure everyone remem-bers, or has at least witnessed, a toddler throwing a tantrum. It’s not a pretty sight is it? Well to be fair, the little ones are actually

meant to go through this phase of being ego-centric, impulsive and selfish. Its’ all part of growing up. They still have a lot to learn about how to handle situations and express their emotions, and they are just start-ing to come to grips with the environ-ment they find themselves in as well as the people they meet. This is a confusing

time in their lives because they are crav-ing security yet fighting for independence. They start to realize that they have some form of own-ership and that certain things are theirs, but the tricky thing is that they have to learn to share at the same time, which isn’t easy at all. Parents’ little angels become unrecognizable to them during these ‘MINE!’ times as they rant and rave and kick and scream and grab frantically to what they want!

Despite parents’ attempts to raise their children to be polite and share, somehow this lesson can take a while to set into toddlers’ minds. Children say ‘MINE’ with all the authority they have, hoping to have some power or

a say in the matter, yet this isn’t always the case. Par-ents have to try and diffuse the situation as best they can, lay down some boundaries and often take away the toy or gift. No wonder the poor children throw tantrums! Parents are obviously keeping the children’s best inter-ests at heart, but the little ones don’t see it that way at all.

They think everything revolves around them and have not devel-oped an awareness of others’ feelings yet. Why should someone else get what they want? Why should they have to give some-thing away if it belongs to them? This can be a very stressful time for both parent and child, but fortunately it is just a phase and invaluable lifelong lessons are learnt in the process.

I realized two years ago that this Mine, Mine, Mine phase can rear its ugly head at anytime in one’s life in the form of a Me, Me, Me or I, I, I phase. It seems it’s not necessary to be a toddler in order to throw tantrums, be confused and feel selfish … it happened to

me again at the age of 23! One of the greatest gifts I ever wanted, and I thought I deserved, wasn’t given to me (but to a close friend) when I wanted it. This gift would be given to me at a later stage but I wanted to know ‘Why not now?’ and ‘Why in this way?’ It would’ve worked out much better my way … or so I thought. I was in a situation where I felt like a confused, angry and hurt little girl. I felt as though my gift had

been grabbed away from me by someone else, but I hadn’t done anything wrong. I felt as though I was being punished for some reason but couldn’t understand why. No one could understand how I felt either. I cried, kicked, fought, ranted, raved and cried some more. To top it off, I was filled with envy to. This ultimately led to feelings of guilt and as time passed I couldn’t recognize myself anymore.

I no longer felt like a confused little girl who was trying to make sense of her circumstances and keep her head above water, but rather like the worst, ugliest version of myself … a Gollum if you will. The ring, in The Lord of the Rings, enslaved Gollum and caused him to have split personalities. One part of him wanted the power and didn’t want to share it, but the other part of him

tried to be good.

I was split in two minds and spinning in a whirlpool of

hurt and con-fusion.

Designed by: Rachelle Vermaak

I felt enslaved by my emotions and cir-

cumstances. I was split in two minds and spinning in

a whirlpool of hurt and confusion. Here are a few thoughts that continu-

ally raced through my head: Why do I have to share? This isn’t fair! I must

be happy for the person who got my gift. Why did things go this way? I mustn’t show my true feelings and hurt anybody else’s feelings. Why does no one consider my feelings? I must just wait for Gods’ timing. His timing is perfect. What did I do wrong to deserve this? But it’s not that bad … there are much worse things that happen to people. You are being silly! I am cross with God … but how can I be? He knows best doesn’t He? Why do I have to wait for my gift? I always try to be a good person. I’m not a bad person. Why do I feel like I’m the one to blame? I mustn’t hurt my friends and loved ones. Why has this happened? I don’t want to ruin one of my best friend-ships. I must be strong and hide my feel-ings.

It felt to me as though this mess could have been prevented, but I felt powerless; I had no say and no right to have one.

It really is scary coming face-to-face with a situation where you see a side of yourself you don’t recog-nize, all the while knowing that this person is def-nitely not the real you. Thankfully, God looks passed

this and forgives if He is asked to. I don’t think there is anything that weighs upon a person more than guilt, but you can be forgiv-en, that’s God’s promise! He is able to wash away the ugliness in your heart or mind, and heal your hurts simultaneously.

Ezekiel 36:25 says, ‘I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities.’ I praise God and thank Him for forgiving me, for healing me and my friendship and for giving me the most perfect gift, in His time

not MINE! I still don’t know why I had to walk that road or face those circum-stances, maybe I’ll never know, but I have stopped throwing tantrums and am trying to stop making sense of it. I will instead continue to trust that I am God’s little girl and that my Father in heaven knows what is best for me.

Whatever your circumstances, He can do the same for you, just ask Him. He will help you defeat your inner Gollum,

be it jealousy, anger, hate or resentment and will wash it all away for you.

‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all un-righteousness.’ – 1 John 1:9

I will sprinkle clean water

on you, and you will

be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities.

Christchurch City – a city that has been through a lot over the past six months.

On 4 September 2010 at 4:35 am, a 7.1M earthquake jolted the city awake from its sleep. The city was shaken by 4000 more aftershocks of varying magnitudes. Every jolt, made the

people of the city feel vulnerable, scared, nervous and anxious. Many buildings were damaged including the 160 year old cathedral on the square. The lucky thing about this quake

was that no one was in the city, all the night clubs were closed and consequently, no lives were lost. This was unbelievable. There were feelings of loss as the people who lived at the coast and

on the riverside suffered extensive damage to the foundations of their houses and public places, like schools showed damage too. People were not allowed into the city centre for a week. We were

all devastated as people became displaced including people who we knew. Eventually essential services like electricity and water slowly returned to the shaken city.

On the 22 February 2011, six months after the first earthquake an extremely powerful wave washed over the city at 12:51 pm. It was a Tuesday, but this time we were not as fortunate as before. This earthquake

was at 6.3M, and very violent with an extremely jolty sensation. The city centre took a severe knock as buildings fell to the ground in a matter of seconds. There was rubble everywhere, people running for their lives

as the world around them crumbled. Many people just left their belongings in their buildings and rushed out in an attempt to get out of the death traps that were some of the buildings.

This time many more people lost their homes and friends and more people were stuck in situations that were and still are dire (no food, no water, no certainty of job security and no status updates relating to their needs). People's cars

were stuck in the silt and driveways were coated in a thick layer of stinking goop. Sewer lines were disrupted, power lines too with the dangers and problems just continuing as the time goes on. In the early days after this event, the Urban

Search and Rescue teams worked around the clock digging through the rubble to find survivors. The first two days had many success stories but the number of people missing, and injured increased. At the time of writing this 166 bodies have

been recovered from the rubble. Medical staff were run off their feet, but without water many of the hospitals could not offer services to the public. People were asked to remain at home and travel only if necessary to keep the roads clear for emergency

vehicles. Schools closed till further notice, and people were ushered into welfare centres around the city. Bridges were broken in the worst hit areas and orange traffic cones were placed randomly in the roads as the liquification randomly caused parts of the

roads to rupture or fall in like a big sink hole. Food and fuel were made available very early on but many people couldn't get out to access these places. Some were too weak to be moved from their homes which were slowly sinking into the earth.

Christchurch City & the Rude Awakeningby Niki Maritz

Everyone's life had been disrupted, changed, interrupted, and frozen in time as things just stopped dead in their tracks. I cannot use words to fully give an accurate description of these two events. Even watching footage on the television doesn't give the full picture of the sensation of earthquakes.

People can be unselfish: The University of Canterbury was shut for both events and the students were not having classes. Out of their own accord they decided to spring to action for complete strangers – those who needed help in the community. They sent squadrons of people around town to shovel away the silt in people's gardens and to help on every level.

Community is vital and valuable: This city has held it together and worked together to rebuild the city. I have never felt more connected with people than I have from living here.

You realise what really matters: You also learn about the important things in life. A house is just a house, but a friend, brother, parent, aunty, cousin, or any other family member is a treasure. You need to remember that and tell them that they are loved and appreciated everyday because you can never say when it will be the last time you see them.

Never be ashamed to ask for help: People need to realise that they can do more for others and that the gifts that come from helping one another are priceless. Every small gesture helps - even if it's just allowing someone to use your shower, or doing

their washing or even offering them a bed for the night. Do something for someone else and the rewards will be invaluable.

Have a sense of humour and remain positive: Times like this are trying. I am not going to deny that, but a great help is being able to joke about something to lighten the heaviness of the situation, think about your blessings and use them for a good cause. An example of this can be seen in a man who joked about having a new rock feature in his house. Turns out a rock from a cliff rolled right through his home. In this instance, he has put the rock up for auction online and the proceeds will go towards the Earthquake Relief fund.

Be patient with both people and processes: Things of all types take time. Grieving is a process, and things will not feel fine after a few weeks. The immense loss of life, memories, and houses can only be remedied with time and patience. Water services and power services will return and the people are working tirelessly to bring normality back.

There are still many days and nights of frustrations, disappointments and sadness. But doesn't it make you think that when something is destroyed, leveled to the ground and completely changed, there is a hint of excitement about a sense of renewal. Destruction on this scale opens up a new range of possibilities and it brings people together with a new spirit towards rebuilding something special. I maintain that a city is only as strong as it’s sense of community.

DisclaimerPrivacy Statement

Your use of our ezine is subject to the terms set out by this disclaimer. We may modify these Terms at any time without notice to you by posting revised Terms on our sites. Your use of our sites constitutes your binding acceptance of these Terms, including any modifications that we make.

ContentOur e-zine includes a combination of content that we create, that our partners create and that our readers create. You may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display or in any way exploit any of the materials or content in whole or in part. If you would like to request permission to use any of the content in our ezine please email us at illumin8ezine@gmail com.

No warrantiesThis ezine is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Illumin8 makes no representations or warranties in relation to this ezine or the information and materials provided in this ezine. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, Illumin8 does not warrant that: this ezine will be constantly available, or available at all; or nothing on this ezine constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any [legal, financial or medical] matter you should consult an appropriate professional.

Limitations of liabilityIllumin8 will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contact, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this e-zine:? to the extent that the ezine is provided free-of-charge, for any direct loss;? for any indirect, special or consequential loss; or? for any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data.These limitations of liability apply even if Illumin8 has been expressly advised of the potential loss.

ExceptionsNothing in this ezine disclaimer will exclude or limit any warranty implied by law that it would be unlawful to exclude or limit; and nothing in this ezine disclaimer will exclude or limit Illumin8 liability in respect of any:? death or personal injury caused by Illumin8 negligence;? fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation on the part of Illumin8; or? matter which it would be illegal or unlawful for Illumin8 to exclude or limit, or to attempt or purport to exclude or limit, its liability.

ReasonablenessBy using this ezine, you agree that the exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this ezine disclaimer are reasonable. If you do not think they are reasonable, you must not use this ezine.

Other partiesYou accept that, as a limited liability entity, Illumin8 has an interest in limiting the personal liability of its officers and employees. You agree that you will not bring any claim personally against Illumin8 officers or employees in respect of any losses you suffer in connection with the ezine.

Unenforceable provisionsIf any provision of this ezine disclaimer is, or is found to be, unenforceable under applicable law, that will not affect the enforceability of the other provisions of this ezine disclaimer.

This ezine disclaimerThis ezine disclaimer is based on an original template created by website-contracts.co.uk and distributed by freenetlaw.com

Your privacy is important to Illumin8. This privacy statement provides information about the personal information that Illumin8 collects, and the ways in which Illumin8 uses that personal information.

Personal information collection

Illumin8 may collect and use the following kinds of personal information: Information (that you provide for the purpose of subscribing to the Illumin8 e-zine)

Using personal informationIllumin8 may use your personal information to:

? Send you the e-zine subscribed to? Send you promotions regarding up-coming issues not exceeding 3 a month

Where Illumin8 will not disclose your personal information to agents or sub-contractors or any other third party unless permission is acquired from the individual in writing.

In addition to the disclosures reasonably necessary for the purposes identified elsewhere above, Illumin8 may disclose your personal information to the extent that it is required to do so by law, in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings, and in order to establish, exercise or defend its legal rights.

Securing of your dataIllumin8 will take reasonable technical and organisational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your personal information.

Illumin8 will store all the personal information you provide in a private address book.

Cross-border data transfersInformation that Illumin8 collects may be stored and processed in and transferred between any of the countries in which Illumin8 operates to enable the use of the information in accordance with this privacy policy.

Updating this statementIllumin8 may update this privacy policy by posting a new version on its emails.

You should check this page occasionally to ensure you are familiar with any changes.

Other websitesThis e-zine contains links to other websites.

Illumin8 is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of any third party.

Contact Illumin8If you have any questions about this privacy policy or Illumin8's treatment of your personal information, please write to:

? by email to illumin8ezine@gmail.com

This privacy statementThis privacy statement is based on an original template created by website-contracts.co.uk and distributed by freenetlaw.com.

Terms & Conditions of submitting content

When submitting content you agree to:

Presenting information that is truthful, original and accurate

Provide your real name and contact information so that the editors can contact you if your submission is selected to appear in an edition. Thereafter, you may request that names used be changed for anonymity if this would protect the parties concerned.

Sign a document stating that all the content is self generated and where other's ideas, writing, images or suggestions are used, that a reference to them is made.

On submitting the content to be included in a future issue of Illumin8 you understand that:

The articles you submit may not necessarily be used. The editors reserve the right to include content submitted based on their own discretion and the needs of the ezine.

Illumin8 has the right to edit your language use, grammar, spelling and length of the articles but without altering your message and will be sent back to you for final approval.

*