The Story
As Told By Alison Hume
The vision and the passion to create cherishing, inclusive community within the city came unexpectedly and energetically. With an open heart and mind wanting to cultivate understanding, compassion and peace. There was drive and a desire to be of service in a different way.
The building
The building was an early step and in some ways the easiest. It was painted and tenderly refurbished with the word “sanctuary” in mind. It was beautiful mahi and each piece of furniture and object was considered and lovingly selected. It is a place to call home during the day for many of us.
The building was blessed by John Allen early on and the doors were open.
The Community
The facilitation of a growing community is what is most important.
It is the people of Cherish that makes this a community.
It developed like this:
Lee suggested our first tenant upstairs, Jane Catherine, and she found 2 other lovely tenants.
Stephanie also turned up, from a contact we shared. This meant we had 4 beautiful therapists upstairs.
Then we could turn our minds to exactly what we were going to do downstairs. Gradually and organically things became a little clearer.
Michelle and Rua came early with their oro mirimiri and Taonga pūoro filling Cherish with the blessings of indigenous voices.
Each week Christopher and Lee took their songs into each room and sang blessings.
Elinor arrived and started to use the downstairs rooms for her beautiful offerings.
Regular meditations began Monday to Friday at the beginning of 2023 and continue to this day.
People have continued to arrive wanting to help out, offer their talents and their unique offerings.
The arrival of Dan Burgess-Milne, who turned up at the door mid 2023 has brought tremendous development at Cherish. His stability, creativity, innovative mind and caring loving heart has been pivotal to the development of the Cherish community. He joined Alison as a very trusted colleague and they have worked together ever since, making decisions together, supporting each other and jointly running Cherish. There has been a wonderful synergy.
The Cherish community has grown tremendously.
Nicole is now working operationally and administratively providing huge assistance. She also has lots of ideas and is fully involved as a volunteer.
Then there is Ross. He has got us on the straight and narrow financially and is applying for funding for Cherish.
Creativity flows here. We find ourselves together in community with a large group of people with integrity, a strong will to play a part, to be of service and full of ingenious and prolific ideas.
The fulfillment of an idea to establish a sanctuary in the city where people can be nourished and supported is still evolving. The development of Cherish so far has taken place over a time of very rapid world-wide change. This has required Cherish to be dynamic and continually evolving. Our vision is robust. We are purposeful and determined.
The Cherish door is open to you. Come join us. You will be welcome.