Arnhem Land Adventures

Hello Everyone,

So far this month we have continued to be stationed in Nhulunbuy, which has given us excellent opportunities to explore the surrounding area, and to get involved with different ministries!

Dave starts the day early, and heads off to the MAF hangar for some "manuals and forms" as he completes his induction process as a new pilot. He has been able to visit the surrounding homelands as the "right hand seat" observer. This gives him the opportunity to learn about the location of each homeland, and understand the relationships they have with others nearby.

At this stage he is finishing up with the majority of the preparation stages, and will start his ICUS (In Command Under Supervision) stage next week. In the ICUS stage he learns the routes and gets used to different landing strips while having passengers and working a normal day. After that, he will be flying as the Solo pilot in command.

So far I (Kimberley) have been very busy in and around the community, at the MAF ministry resource centre and on outreaches. In the resource centre I helped with preparing the tracts for Easter, and helped Tiina Higham to sell some resources in the Yirrkala village area. I have also done a few odd jobs for some of the staff members, assisting them with all sorts of odd jobs - such as stitching epaulettes!

I had an opportunity last weekend to visit a homeland and help with an Outreach. This was such a highlight for me, we had dinner around a Yolngu campfire and set up a movie on the projector to share with the village of Dhuruputjpi. We watched the story of Samuel Morris, and African man who after witnessing a miracle sought out more information about Christ to minister to the people in his home village. Many of the Christian Yolngu were encouraged, and we discussed how he was so bold, sharing the gospel with everyone he met. We prayed together that they would have that same boldness, and the passion to continue searching for more about Jesus.

While I was out in Dhuruputjpi, Dave was awaiting the weather forecast to hear if he would be going fishing locally... And he was blessed with an opportunity to go out with "Robbo" one of the engineers, and have some quality bloke time out on the water. After a hard days work trolling through the bay, and learning a hand-line, Dave came home with a bounty that we could share with friends and neighbours.

The final blessing for me, was an opportunity to go and visit Lake Evella, and see the work that Emily Vautier is doing there with the local Yolngu women. She has a small training centre which has a multitude of resources... And a shortage of trainers.

She mentioned to me last week that they had a Massage table, but needed a trained therapist to come and show them... And "where would she find someone to help?" I eagerly offered my services and within a few days of our discussion, I was hired to teach the ladies the basics of massage. 

We had an excellent day, learning together about the human body, the benefits of massage, techniques and different opportunities to use massage to bless friends and family, as well as the opportunity to use it as a trade. Emily has a small hair and beauty salon that is being set up as an Employment Program, to help the ladies get into work. Hopefully the interest in Spa Therapy will grow, and we can offer some more classes again soon!

Please pray for us as we continue to serve the communities, pray that Dave will have plenty of energy as he flies in the hot sun each day and that I will be able to talk easily with the ladies and understand their culture effectively so I can share the gospel in ways that makes sense to them.

Bless you guys!

Kimberley and David Caradus

Hot, hot and hotter!

We have arrived in Arnhem Land!!

It was so exciting to be boarding the flight that would take us to the place where we have been planning for so long... As we landed on the Runway, we were surprised to roll past the MAF hangar while our plane came to a stop at the Gove Terminal. The smiling faces of Brett and Michelle Nel and their two beautiful girls met us as we entered the building, and we were blessed to have them drive us to our new home for three weeks - "the Hilton" of MAF.

After settling in, we awoke to the cheery Red Fulton, who is showing us around the area, and to some of her favourite spots! We went to church in Yirrkala with her and her family, and then had an afternoon with the Nels - I was so grateful for the "proper" coffee Brett made! We are really loving the sense of friendship and community that we have already after only a few days.

Now we have had a chance to spend a little time seeing Yirrkala and Nhulunbuy and getting used to the area... So very soon we will see a bit more of what MAF does!

Till next time,

Kimberley & David

Head in the clouds

Yesterday I had the priviledge of being in the backseat as my Dave was flying. It was an evaluation of search and rescue skills, along with various other things that were all "pilot-speak" (so Greek to me).

As we flew up, over and around the terrain surrounding the Mareeba base I was amazed by the difference in the topography here. Not only is the environment an entirely different colour, but it is so incredibly flat.

About 20 minutes into the flight, the assessor mentioned that the type of grassy bush that we were flying over was very similar to that in Arnhem Land, and I was suddenly so very excited! It is a comparatively short time until we go now... And Dave has just a few modules to complete before we can go! This process has felt incredible long, and yet I know that when I look back it will seem like it passed in the blink of an eye. We have learnt a lot, about each other and the mission we will be flying for, we have seen the power of prayer at work, and we have been able to actively step out of our comfort zones and see how God is there, right in the middle of it all!

Soon we will be in Arnhem Land, and there is a lot of uncertainty... But one thing is certain, and that us that when God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:28-31)

Bless you guys!

Kimberley

Only 8 Days left in Cairns!

I only just realized how little time we have left when confirming our plans for the weekend! This time here in Cairns has been so lovely for us. I can't believe how quickly it is all flying by! Dave has been able to enjoy getting up flying almost every day, and the accommodation at Treetops has been fantastic.

We both have been able to get opportunities to visit some beautiful places nearby as friends have given us rides to see the sights (such as the local wildlife and nature) and we are so grateful for each new experience as we go along. We can't help but feel like this part of the adventure is definitely the "honeymoon" stage! 

The weather here is also a good prelude of what is to come, we have been adjusting to the humidity and heat while still blessed to have the Treetops pool nearby to refresh us at the end of each day, it is also an awesome place to have fellowship with the other people staying here, as a few of them are also preparing to go to the same place as us, it's a great time to get to know each other without the distances of different bases between us!

Soon we will be up in the "great dusty yonder" but for now, it has been great to get through the "technicalities" with Dave's flying, and also sorting out some of the legal, medical and financial bumps in the road while still connected with internet and other facilities (like shops, banks and after-hours clinics!)

I have had opportunities to catch up with friends and family online which has been lovely as this first chapter draws to a close... do drop by on Skype sometime, we love to make time... even if we are 3 hours behind you!

In closing, we are looking forward to our final 8 days here and will be making the most of it... but we also are very excited to be looking at the next adventure as it comes along quickly! Stay in touch and we will write again soon :)

Love you all!

I am often reminded that it's the small things that make the greatest impact on us. Whether its the little kindnesses we receive, or the delights that take us by surprise. I certainly didn't anticipate one of those delights being revealed to me as I squealed with happiness to see that there was BUTTER and MARMALADE in the grocery bag that our neighbor dropped into our house before she jet-sets off to Asia. I had a similar experience when my neighbor on the other side left me a small box of loose leaf tea... and now it's got me thinking. Other than the obvious sign that the normal aspects of a good old fashioned British breakfast seem to delight me, there is something to be said for sharing the things that bring you joy, with those around you.

Having these small surprises in life really boost our mood and help us to see life in a lighter perspective. I am making it a personal mission to attempt to find ways to sneak these small bolts of happiness lightening into the lives of those around me. The first step in this is by simply being aware of them and what impacts them, stirring up their joy and what the bible calls "spurring one another on to good deeds" because its really the small things that help inspire us to keep that joy moving onto others.

It is a few more weeks before we disappear up into the back blocks of Australia, and before we go I am determined that there must be a few ways that I can experiment these little lightening bolts before I go. I encourage you, reader, to do the same! Find some ways that you can shoot happiness-bolts into the lives of those around you, and take the opportunity when it comes. It usually is an unexpected person that receives these... so beware of the joy-wielding power that a simple magazine and chocolate can bestow on a tired out mum, or the grin of delight that movie tickets can bring to an overworked bloke... there are of course hundreds of other ways to do this, but as mine consisted of second-hand butter and marmalade, I am sure that you can get creative and find something that equally suits you.

Bless you all,

K

The Cairns Cauldron...

We have arrived safely in Cairns and begin our orientation today... one small step for the Caradus couple is a giant leap in the journey of our life in mission!

Before we left  NZ we had our parents pray for us and speak words of wisdom over us, the verses I will share with you here today:

"God will hold thy right hand and I will help thee" Isaiah 41:13
We were reminded that we have a faithful, never changing God who is in control. IN every moment, He is caring for us and brings His peace and hope into each circumstance.

I had that one strongly in mind when transiting through the airports and encountering a few little hurdles here and there. God does indeed pave the way and we had a relatively seamless journey - so grateful!

Also the reminder from Numbers 6:24-25 "The Lord bless you and watch, guard and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious, kind merciful and giving of favour to you. (AMP)

This next few weeks will be the time of forming and deepening our understanding of the people that we will be living alongside and serving. It is crucial that we maintain a positive, optimistic and loving attitude throughout all of that learning in order to keep our eyes on the main goal - to love our neighbour.

Well I have to get to class, but will be attempting to give a (close to) daily update throughout our time here. This will make the monthly updates a more normal size as I will get all my excitement and extreme word-giving capacity out day-by-day!

Love,

Kimberley
(with David)

Hammer Time!

As the birds chirp us awake and Dave goes off to the Airport I am faced with a day of tasks!

The majority of my tasks at the moment consist of being on hold for a VERY long time while setting up our Bank accounts in Australia... or trawling the Biosecurity websites for any vital information that we need while packing our crates... as well as ordering said Crates and arranging the International Freighting of them!

However in the midst of all the hustle and bustle there is still time to sit and reflect on the incredible journey that God has brought us on. It's amazing to think that 5 years ago I was preparing for overseas travel that would transform my future from one in the Beauty Industry, into one that involves working with the poorest communities, both in body and in spirit... and Dave was in the midst of Flight Training... he was fixed on the goal of becoming a pilot. 

When we fix our eyes on the goals that God has for us and pursue His plan for our lives we are bound to encounter blessing. This is completely due to the character of God, and His dependency. I am encouraged by the steadfastness of our God. In Malachi 3:6 God says to His people that "He never changes..." and again in James, we are reminded that its because of that unchanging nature we receive "good" and "perfect" gifts that we can rely upon as from our heavenly Father. (James 1:17)

I am very grateful that God has been there all along the way, redirecting us when we go off the path, and guiding us when we are uncertain. Sometimes it's hard to know whether or not we are even close to what God had in mind, when we first knew our souls while breathing life into us... and yet we know that when we call on Him, He is never far away.

So, as we prepare to leave "Godzone" land, and take off to the "Great Dry Yonder" we remember that as God has guided our steps along the way, so He will guide them as we step out in faith into the plans He has for us. We look forward to you - our readers - joining with us as we encounter God in the lives of those we serve. When we arrive, we will be sure to update you with photos, stories and a bit our usual hilarity!

~ Kimberley