Church Newsletter

Getting to know You! By Billy Northup, Membership committee

Avisa and Cheryl Tuiqere have been attending worship services at Shelburne United Methodist Church for about 3 1/2 years--and are members of our church. Avisa and Cheryl did a bit of "church shopping" before they settled in Charlotte and grew fond of our church. Avisa grew up Methodist and Cheryl grew up going to Reform Church.

Even though that’s a Q (without a U) their last name is pronounced Tooey-Garay. More and more people are starting to learn that "Junior" is more common than "Avisa" when addressing Avisa...er... Junior. During hymn sing requests recently Reverend Smith managed to call on Avisa but then followed by asking "Junior" which two verses shall we sing?

Our whole church family knows Avisa and Cheryl very well but I dare say we all know Daniel (2 1/2 years old) and Apryl (13 months) even better! They have literally grown up in our church, attend regularly and have great firm handshakes. Whenever the Tuiqere family rides up Shelburne Road Daniel exclaims... That's Pastor Greg's house! As they pass the parsonage ... They love their time in baby fold and their time with the Marcus kids. They attend Nadeau's Playschool in Williston. Natalie Smith has come to visit and baby-sit in Charlotte this summer a few times!

Avisa was born in Fiji, moved to New Zealand when he was 10 years old and came to the United States in 1999. Cheryl grew up in Utica, New York.

The sport of rugby is a HUGE part of the Tuiqere's lives and life story. The reason Avisa came to the USA was to play rugby. There was no higher level of competition than he had already attained in New Zealand so he was looking to "move up" and had always wanted to play in America. One day in New Zealand Avisa and his best friend (and" best man") had posted their Rugby Resumes on the internet and a couple days later a Long Island New York team organizer phoned them, arranging accommodations and pay to play rugby here. (Avisa first stayed in Hawaii for 2 months when he heard the temperature in New York!)

The Tuiqere's met through rugby! Cheryl had always been an athlete and throughout high school. While attending the Pharmacy School at University of Rhode Island she started playing rugby and played through college. She and some teammates went to Newport RI to see some top-level Rugby Teams play. (After having played the first game) Avisa refereed the second game---his referee "uniform" was a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops-- with dreadlock hair. The next time Cheryl saw Avisa she certainly remembered him well!

They moved to Burlington because of Cheryl's job at Kinney Drugs-- she knew she wanted to work for Kinney and had heard great things about the Burlington area and had friends here. She works in Long Term care with nursing homes, group homes, and assisted living. Avisa is a property manager with the non-profit Champlain Housing Trust.

Avisa played rugby in Burlington for 3 years but had to have back surgery so he is now coaching. Burlington is a very solid and active rugby community with many college students settling here for jobs (and rugby). Middlebury College is a perennial national rugby powerhouse.

Cheryl's parents have a lake summer home in the Fulton Chain of Lakes in the Adirondacks (8 lakes) and the Tuiqere’s spend much time there. They have some small world stories with others from our church that visit and connect in that area. Daniel likes to "fish" but doesn't actually use a hook. He takes good care of the ducks there with bread.

Daniel starts to get excited on Friday nights because Saturday is "Rugby Day", plus he gets to visit the Farmers Market (and maybe even dance to Dr. Mead and his band), and Sunday he can come see Beckham and friends in Baby Fold.


	The Beacon

	Getting to know You! By Billy Northup, Membership committee Avisa and Cheryl Tuiqere have been attending worship services at Shelburne United Methodist Church for about 3 1/2 years--and are members of our church. Avisa and Cheryl did a bit of "church shopping" before they settled in Charlotte and grew fond of our church. Avisa grew up Methodist and Cheryl grew up going to Reform Church. Even though that’s a Q (without a U) their last name is pronounced Tooey-Garay. More and more people are starting to learn that "Junior" is more common than "Avisa" when addressing Avisa...er... Junior. During hymn sing requests recently Reverend Smith managed to call on Avisa but then followed by asking "Junior" which two verses shall we sing? Our whole church family knows Avisa and Cheryl very well but I dare say we all know Daniel (2 1/2 years old) and Apryl (13 months) even better! They have literally grown up in our church, attend regularly and have great firm handshakes. Whenever the Tuiqere family rides up Shelburne Road Daniel exclaims... That's Pastor Greg's house! As they pass the parsonage ... They love their time in baby fold and their time with the Marcus kids. They attend Nadeau's Playschool in Williston. Natalie Smith has come to visit and baby-sit in Charlotte this summer a few times! Avisa was born in Fiji, moved to New Zealand when he was 10 years old and came to the United States in 1999. Cheryl grew up in Utica, New York. The sport of rugby is a HUGE part of the Tuiqere's lives and life story. The reason Avisa came to the USA was to play rugby. There was no higher level of competition than he had already attained in New Zealand so he was looking to "move up" and had always wanted to play in America. One day in New Zealand Avisa and his best friend (and" best man") had posted their Rugby Resumes on the internet and a couple days later a Long Island New York team organizer phoned them, arranging accommodations and pay to play rugby here. (Avisa first stayed in Hawaii for 2 months when he heard the temperature in New York!) The Tuiqere's met through rugby! Cheryl had always been an athlete and throughout high school. While attending the Pharmacy School at University of Rhode Island she started playing rugby and played through college. She and some teammates went to Newport RI to see some top-level Rugby Teams play. (After having played the first game) Avisa refereed the second game---his referee "uniform" was a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops-- with dreadlock hair. The next time Cheryl saw Avisa she certainly remembered him well! They moved to Burlington because of Cheryl's job at Kinney Drugs-- she knew she wanted to work for Kinney and had heard great things about the Burlington area and had friends here. She works in Long Term care with nursing homes, group homes, and assisted living. Avisa is a property manager with the non-profit Champlain Housing Trust. Avisa played rugby in Burlington for 3 years but had to have back surgery so he is now coaching. Burlington is a very solid and active rugby community with many college students settling here for jobs (and rugby). Middlebury College is a perennial national rugby powerhouse. Cheryl's parents have a lake summer home in the Fulton Chain of Lakes in the Adirondacks (8 lakes) and the Tuiqere’s spend much time there. They have some small world stories with others from our church that visit and connect in that area. Daniel likes to "fish" but doesn't actually use a hook. He takes good care of the ducks there with bread. Daniel starts to get excited on Friday nights because Saturday is "Rugby Day", plus he gets to visit the Farmers Market (and maybe even dance to Dr. Mead and his band), and Sunday he can come see Beckham and friends in Baby Fold.