Exploring the Area

We have been out on the ocean, exploring around the island on Dave's day off... Through still waves, through choppy waves, with great wind, and with a light breeze... While very aware that there were sharks and crocodiles around the boat, I was acutely aware that I didn't want the boat to sink!

And it reminded me of this passage from Mark 4:

"... And a great storm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. He said to them, "why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

It's amazing how often we think that we are in dire peril. That our lives are falling down around us, and that we are doomed... Even if it is as ridiculous as the coffee machine breaking while guests are over. We can all feel that cold panic rising over us, and it can give way to anxiety, fear or worse.

I have been reflecting on how when we know our Saviour is there, that we can feel safe regardless of our circumstances, we need only have faith, to drive out that fear. I think that a part of strengthening faith that dispels fear, is to focus on the right things. If I focus on scary waves or on the buffeting of our small boat, I become afraid. If I look to the horizon and see the stunning shimmering sea around me, the gorgeous blue sky and hear the birds chirping from the mangroves and trees, I'm suddenly too in awe of the beauty around me to be worried about a little bouncing of the boat on the waves. Life is much the same, if we focus on the things that scare us, or hold power over us in some way, we are afraid for the future... When we acknowledge the beauty and blessings around us, we are filled with hope and contentment, and the worries fade.

I'm discovering more and more that Milingimbi is a rare treasure, filled with beauty. A small island surrounded by good fishing and filled with friendly faces. Many of which are delighted when you come back from fishing... Asking about how your trip went... In fact a "swarm" of young boys usually plead for a fish until you have to shoo them all away (unfortunately 1 small snapper won't cut it with several boys that want a fish each!) usually after you say no, they take off to the shop to get a coke and a chocolate bar, and sit contentedly in the shade as they watch you haul the boat onto the trailer and head home.

Village life is a steady kind of hum. I helped with selling Christian resources under a tree with Janneke, the other MAF wife here. We sold heaps of bibles, sold out of children's colouring books, and sold lots of DVDs, which is encouraging as many were the Easter story in their language. We met some more "Balanda" (white people) at a BBQ and Dave has a great time harvesting coconuts off a tall tree around at the other MAF house. He discovered that a 30 foot bamboo pole with a knife attached was a rather successful technique!

In other village news, this past week we have had a funeral, of a lady who was quite young, but had been ill for some time. Dave has been very busy flying in family members from the surrounding area to attend. I was amazed that the whole village knows within moments, and then they all play their part to support the family. Massive bundles of fake flowers were toted down to "bottom camp" and we have heard the insanely loud noises and smelled the smoke as the local people follow their customs to bury the dead. We have been praying for the Christians who are involved, that they will be able to pay their respects, while still holding their faith strong - a funeral is a time where many previous negative habits and patterns of behaviour can come back strong as grief is dealt with. Some may not do anything much for weeks and weeks as they wait for all the funeral ceremonies to be over.

Well, I will write another blog next week, as this one has become rather long!

Bless you all,

Kimberley & David

Marvelous Milingimbi

Last weekend we had the joy of packing our things once more and boarding a little GA8 to head off to Milingimbi. This is our new home for the next placement period that we have with M.A.F. 

If you want a super thorough blurb about the island, check out the Community Arts Centre page: http://www.milingimbiart.com/about.html 

In short, Milingimbi is a small island off the coast of Arnhem Land, it is close to the halfway point between Darwin and Gove. It has much milder weather than Nhulunbuy, most days sit around 30* with nice sunny skies and the humidity is lessened by the breeze off the ocean.

The community is small, but busy, with about 100 houses, and 1,000 people there is always something going on in the background. On our first night here a church service started up at about 11pm on a Friday - and that's pretty much how it is around here. Church happens when it can, where it can... And although we couldn't attend (As Dave has a very early start at the airport) it was so encouraging to hear the local people worshipping The Lord.

On Anzac weekend we had an opportunity to go out on a scenic boat ride with the Don Family, they are the other pilot family based here on Milingimbi. Janneke and Rene took us with their boys around the southern half of the island. I saw my first crocodile in the wild, it was about 2m long, which is apparently a small one around these parts... A reminder not to go swimming!

David has been flying under ICUS, (in command under supervision) and will do so for another few weeks. He has visited many diffferent locations, and has been building relationships with the local Yolngu. At the moment a normal daily interaction goes: 

"Wawa (brother) what's your name?" 

"David" 

"Yol, David, so you are new pilot here?" 

"Yes, I am" 

"Ah, and you will be good with flying us today???" 

Hehe, the locals take a bit to realize that a "new" pilot doesn't mean that it's the pilot's first time flying a plane! From their perspective they can't see the years of training, then the testing and preparation that goes into getting the job in the first place. Once they see Dave in action they relax, and are very happy to arrive at their destination. 

Often it is a few days before he picks them up again, and it is encouraging when they remember him and are glad to see him again, climbing aboard with a cheery "Hello Wawa" and big smiles.

I (Kimberley) have mostly been unpacking so far this week, arranging the small house to suit us and figuring out how the power and water works. My day at the moment is mostly about familiarizing myself with the township, visiting the different facilities around and meeting a few people here and there. Most people are quite shy, so I only really meet people through other people like Janneke giving an introduction.

There are lots of dogs down our street, which makes for an interesting walk to Janneke's house. If I don't have Dave with me I take a big stick, which usually keeps them disinterested in me.  Often they won't even bother barking if you have a stick... Especially in the midday heat, where they will just sleep under the trees.

So, in summary we are settling in well. Milingimbi is a really nice place, with friendly people and a nice climate. Lots of sand flies - but they are bearable - and a stunning beachfront, with a shimmering sea beckoning Dave to go fishing.

Bless you guys,

Kimberley and Dave

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