Australia – God’s Movement at Ingleburn High School by APNYI Admin
This story is from Jackie Blue, a high school math teacher in a school in south-western Sydney. Jackie has been on a temporary placement there for the year, but has been a channel of God’s Spirit moving mightily in that place, including the establishment of a dynamic Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) group. Please pray for Jackie as she wraps up her ministry there in the next few weeks, that God will raise up leadership from within the student body, faculty, and elsewhere, to work with the Spirit in His transformation of individual lives, as well as the community as a whole. I’m sure Jackie would appreciate your prayer, as well as your encouragement. Let’s also pray for others across the District and Field also involved in school chaplaincy ministries: Glen Wilson, Shane Faataape, Troy Wilson, Glenn Stanley, Trevor Thomas, and, I’m sure, others, as they invest in the lives and spiritual growth of young Australians.
- David Harris
On Saturday 11th November 2006 at 11:00pm a Year 9 student from Ingleburn High School was hit by a train at Macquarie Fields Station. David Toleafoa was taken to hospital but passed away at approximately 7:00am on Sunday morning.
On Monday morning, members of staff were called into an emergency meeting at 8:35am where several teachers heard about the tragedy for the first time. I didn’t know David personally but the news hit everyone, including myself, very hard… Ingleburn High School was a mess…
I spent much of Monday trying to offer some sort of comfort to students who were close to David – some of whom were actually with him at the time of his accident… It was an incredibly helpless time… My first period of the day was free, I spent it in the Passive Area of the school with Year 9 and several teachers, walking around to different groups, listening to their hearts, comforting them, some of the girls just crying on my shoulder…
My second period is a shared class with another teacher so he took the class and I remained with Year 9 outside. I didn’t really need to say anything to anyone, I just sat and listened mostly… and in the midst of all this, His still, soft voice asked me to run a time of prayer…
I spoke with the Year 9 Adviser and asked if she would let some of the students know that I’d run a prayer time under the trees at recess – to pray for David’s family and friends and our students and teachers who needed comfort. She said that she thought that would be a wonderful idea. We started to walk around and let the some of the groups know – probably about 100 students all up.
When the bell rang at recess, it started to rain. I walked over to the area I had told the students, and a few people followed. There were about 20 of us. The Year Adviser and about 6 other teachers walked over too. The Year Adviser suggested I wait a moment to see if anyone else was going to come. And then they came… well over 200 students gathered together in prayer, in the pouring rain…
I had to stand on a table and yell so everyone could hear me… it was one of the most phenomenal experiences I have ever been involved in… used in…
So… we prayed… then I climbed down from the table and without a word, I walked back to the staffroom.
Since Monday, several people have been talking about that prayer time – God is moving at Ingleburn and I just wanted to share a couple of other things that have happened since that day.
* Yesterday… a student came to the staffroom door and asked if her friend could borrow my bible…
* Yesterday… a girl named Kimberly in Year 9 came to ISCF for the first time. Kimberly, three boys from Year 8 and I spent lunch time singing worship songs that we will be sharing at the school Variety Night in a few weeks and also at the local Carols by Candlelight.
* Today… a boy in Year 7 came to the staffroom door and asked if I could pray with him and ‘his boys’ at lunch time – as it was David’s funeral today and they hadn’t been able to attend. Approximately 30 Year 7 boys and girls attended that prayer meeting…
God is moving. Please pray for Ingleburn High School. Pray for the Christian teachers, counselors and youth workers – and of course the Christian students at the school – He is using us. Pray that we would all continue to make ourselves available to be used as He leads us.
And please… pray for me… I only have another 5 weeks or so at this school. It’s going to be hard to leave this place… I need prayer… Jenny, Craig and I will be putting together an outreach concert here before school is over for the year – please pray for that. But mostly, please pray that God will somehow use the relationships I’ve been able to build with these young people to lead them to Jesus – even if it’s just planting the seed. Please partner with me in that prayer…
Much love and peace to you all,
Jackie
LUPE TOLEAFOA wrote on 05.14.07 at 13:03
http://www.bebo.com
HEY THERE,
YOU DONT KNOW ME BUT IM DAVIDS YOUNGER SISTER LUPE
I DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY BUT I WILL REMEMBER YOU IN
MY PRAYERS AND INGLEBURN HIGH SCHOOL
I DONT ATTEND INGLEBURN I ATTEND MAC FIELDS
HIGH WITH MY OTHER YOUNGER BROTHER HIS IN YR 7 AND
IM IN YR 9 I LOVE THIS PAGE AND KNOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE
CARE 4 MY DEAR BROTHER I DONT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY
BUT GOD BLESS AND STAY STRONG AND I WILL REMEMBER YOU AND INGLEBURN HIGH
IN MY PRAYERS…TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS INGLEBURN HIGH..
LUPE TOLEAFOA wrote on 05.14.07 at 13:08
http://www.bebo.com
RIP DAVID GUSTAVE PATRICK TOLEAFOA
YOU WILL BE LOVED AND REMEMBERED
BY FAMILY AND FRENDS
LOVE YOU NOW AND FOREVER
LUPE xoxo
Shyla Manns wrote on 05.15.07 at 9:29
http://www.myspace.com
R.I.P David. . . . .
ii didnt know yooh at all but yooh will alwayz be in my heart!!
Shyla Manns wrote on 05.15.07 at 9:33
http://www.myspace.com
hey there david RIP and take care up there
and now dat ur up there ur now looking down on LUPE and ur FAMILY
and FREINDS and we miss you dearly frend
rachel roberts wrote on 05.15.07 at 9:37
http://www.bebo.com
R.I.P DAVID TOLEAFOA
YOU WERE SUCH A GUD FREND AND I WILL MISS YOU DEARLY
ITZ STILL SO HARD TO BELIEVE YOU ARE GONE JUST SO U NO IM TAKIN CARE OF LUPE AND EVERYONE IN MAC FIELDZ MISSES U SOO MUCH XOXOXOXO
R.I.P DAVID TOLEAFOA UR ALWAYZ IN OUR HEARTZ I LOVE U SO MUCH UR WERE THE BEST GUY EVER XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
LUV U LOTZ
LUV RACHEL XOXOXO
Brian Woolery wrote on 05.24.07 at 18:58
Hey Lupe! I’m so glad that you found your way to our website! Know that we have been thinking about you and the loss of your brother and we are so sad with you. Know also that Jesus gives us life and hope that not even death can stop. Keep visiting the site and let us know how life is going!
Bill Compton wrote on 06.05.07 at 7:06
http://yahoo.com
Hi Jim. Photos i received. Thanks
Daphne wrote on 07.22.07 at 18:33
I cried when the train pulled into Macquarie Fields railway station and I seen all those flowers and comments written on the temporary wall.
GOD is with us every second of our lives.
Elizabeth Tali wrote on 01.23.08 at 10:25
I am so sorry that it took me this long to answer to all your beautiful comments that you put on this site on regarding my older son David Gustave Patrick Toleafoa that past away on the 11/11/2006 i was so moved by all the beautiful and lovely comments that beautiful and kindhearted people have left for my son and also our family, what makes it a bonus is that the love of God is always with anybody that truly believe that nothing is impossible with God what is difficult with men is always like a cloud that appear and disappeare in thin air and i truly believe as a christian that God is always with my family and also friends and people that was touched and deeply moved by the loss of our beloved son and big brother David Gustave Patrick Toleafoa.
Letisha Faolua wrote on 03.23.08 at 15:30
Wow!!…God is truly moving around us in the world, and knowing how much ppl are showing their sympathy towards the loss of my lil cuzn David really touches me.Through what my family faced from his loss really broke my hart.Knowing that the one person i turned to has now left Earth and was watching over me was juss the biggest heart break of them all.David was the most wonderful person that i shared tears and laughter with and i truly do miss that and juss knowing that i am neva goin to hear his voice agen is sumfing that i am truly do miss most. He maybe one of the naughty boy’s in our dear family but once u see the affection he shows towards the younger ones it really moves me becos he was the most loving and caring one out of us grandchildren.He is most definately missed everyday and i kno that those who loved him juss hav to stay strong and be glad that God is with us and he is now in a better place.
And to my dear cousin David: it has been the hardest times of my life especially juss watching u take ur last breathe.Juss looking at u on that bed in hospital was so hurtful and hard for us all. I know u had many challenges u wanted to face and how much u juss wanted to make ur parents proud.Yes i kno i always promised u that wateva u tld me i wud keep to myself and that if we eva had problems we wud always have eachother to turn to. And so we did we kept it like dat even tho at tymz we were very secretive but we managed to tell everyfing and wen i lost u i felt as if i had no-one else to talk to anymore and i wud always juss cried myself to sleep wishing u were here for me to tlk to.Sometimes i wud feel ur presence and juss tlk to the air thinking that ur listening to me and i know u do.But wat i miss most is saying ur b’day wishes over the fone!!..well i really miss u and u are always and foreva will b in my hart!!i luv u..
and to those who have thought bout him and dedicating this page to him i thank u…this is very thoughtful and touching for us all…
take care
God Bless
elizabeth tali wrote on 05.16.08 at 9:27
http://gods-movement-ingleburn-high-school
Hellow again and talofa lava to you all. First of all i would like to tell this person whom ever you are and where eva you live whom without any of my son david’s permission to enter into my son’s bebo page and screw it all up please i am asking you as a mother of this deceased boy who died tragically in 2006 this was the only thing he left behind in this world for his family and friends to look at and remember him by,you know what you really tear my heart apart youre not only ruined my son’s memories you also destroyed my son’s loving heart that he express his true self to everyone that he loved. I am not asking you i am begging you please as a mother if you love your own mother like how my son david loved me his mum please have a kind heart and try to put everything back to where it was just like how my son left it before he was taken away from me and my family. Whatever grudges you hold against my son please please let it go and let my baby boy david toleafoa rest in peace then our family will have peace. You have no idea what we are going thru everyday without my son, please david forgive whomever didi this to your page i dont know who it is but i already know how smart you are you already know who did it. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND I HOPE TO SEE U SOON IN HEAVEN PARADISE. REST IN PEACE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL OH AND SAY HELLOW TO GRANDMA AND YOUR GARANDPAS FOR ME AND YOU DAD also your brother and sisters we love you and we all missed u every day.
elizabeth tali wrote on 05.16.08 at 9:36
http://gods-movement-ingleburn-high-school
I truly thanks our father in heaven for his blessing and his tender love and mercy upon me and my family, even though we are sad everyday for the passing of my son david we r so greatful that we are serving a mighty god, his our councilor and comforter in time of need.
elizabeth tali wrote on 05.22.08 at 12:14
http://godsmovementiningleburnhigh
the world is amazing with the love of god really help and support me and my family throughout this whole ordeal that we are dealing with each and everyday of our lives. to my son david i know that u r watching over us 24/7 from up above and how i know it is that i can feel your presence when you visit us in spirit and i would like to thank u for that my boy and u r neva to b 4gotten u will always be remembered in my heart untill the day we will meet again in heaven paradise. For me as your proud mother u r still my hero till tha day u were born till tha day you left us and went to heaven. It is a great priviledge to this website to say thank u to Jackie my son’s teacher at ing high.
elizabeth tali wrote on 05.28.08 at 8:43
talofa lava to u all, at da moment i am just sitting here thinking about my baby son my guardian angel that went to heaven and left me heartbroken everyday. All i wanted to say to u my precious guardian angel i love u and i missed u heaps.
Loren Sparks wrote on 07.24.08 at 12:51
HAy David
just was writting this comment jus to say R.I.P and we will all see you very soon….you will always be in our hearts for ever………
take it easy ……
XxX
RiP TavIta Toleafoa
Brian Woolery wrote on 07.25.08 at 9:49
It’s been so great seeing family and friends come here to remember David’s life. This is for you all. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (in Jesus), so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Know I’ve been praying for all of you who loved and remember David. I pray that Jesus would give you that peace today and great hope! You all are great!
Anonymous wrote on 07.31.08 at 6:34
Rest in peace brother
Emmaaaaaaaaa wrote on 12.07.08 at 21:51
Missing you so much david.
miss the times we all chilled out . in the holidayz.
Lovee Youu .
R.I.P David.
Tim Reynolds wrote on 12.08.08 at 8:34
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/321/RipOff0321145.htm
Nice post. Thank you for the info. Keep it up.
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Filipo wrote on 09.01.09 at 8:38
Hey peepz im davids cousin jus wanna say i miss you bro me n da boys still fink about you man n we never will stop finking about you. There will be that time wen we meet again luv you man. hi lupe luv you 2 make sure you stay safe n if you need anything jus let me noe aiight tell lucky i sed hi n your mum n dad ok thanks
R I P DAVID G TOLEAFOA