Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 3
For some there will be repeats in the newsletter, sorry but I am now feeling more settled and getting into some kind of routine, also having a proper land line phone helps with motivation as the frustration using the mobile phone was very bad. This is also a general newsletter. Well here goes.
Hi from us to you.
Firstly I think we are starting to settle in. Ian has bought a small washing machine for us and it is installed in our annexe. This makes life so much easier. As far as the economics go, it costs $3 per load and here in Newman you are washing a lot as a result of the red iron ore dust. The WA government will give us $150 rebate as we bought a 4 star water saving machine, we also got a $50 discount as a result of the Retravision sale. How good is that! We have also had an offer to buy it when we leave so we think we could be in front financial. God is so good.
The annexe walls are now secure with wood battens under the poles to hold the flaps from the walls down. We weren’t unable to peg it down as we have a cement slab. Oh what joy to have a cement slab and not red dust outside our door, now if we get a big wind the annexe won’t blow away.
I think I am starting to recover from being sick and my energy levels are improving. On the whole I think we are adjusting to life here in Newman. In fact we quite like the place. The people are very friendly and we have already made some friends.
Now back to the beginning of our Newman experience.
We arrived in Newman on Saturday 11 June around 5pm just as the sun was setting. Knowing that our light was fading we groaned as a gentleman appeared from the caravan behind our site. Those who caravan will know this feeling but to our surprise he didn’t interfere by telling us how to reverse onto the site but helped move a very heavy cement block out of the way and greeted us with “It will be great to have neighbours again.” What a welcome to Newman! The next morning we set off for Church. Brian and Annie Fyffe, the minister and his wife were away at a children’s camp so we made ourselves known to those present. We introduced ourselves and sat with a man, let’s call him Wayne, who unbeknown to us was also a visitor and so our first challenge started. Wayne we discovered had attempted to sleep the night under a large mine truck outside the visitors centre as he had nowhere to go and had very little money. After consultation with another couple at church we felt God’s prompting to take him home with us and try to organize a safe venue for the night. After picking up his bed roll and bag from the Tourist Centre where he had left them that morning, we took him to the caravan park with us. Wayne was a man who had had a hard life, being on the street since he was 12.
Wayne needed to wait in Newman till Monday for his lift to arrive that would take him to work on a nearby property (100k away). On arrival at our caravan park we bought a cake of soap and suggested that he have a shower. There was only a tent site available at the caravan park as all else was full so Ian put our 2 man tent up so he would be comfortable and we brought him home for lunch. During the course of conversation we became aware he had not eaten for a couple of days. For Judy it was a little like Jesus feeding the 5000 as we had not shopped since Ceduna in SA, a week previously and were fast running out of food. What could we feed this man that would fill him, well thanks to rice and a small packet of frozen vegetables and some meat we all had a hearty meal with some left over. Then came tea, so again we looked in the cupboard. (Woolworths was closed until Monday). We found we had eggs and a small amount of bread for dry toast as there was no margarine left. We washed it down with Ian’s famous coffee. Breakfast was just coffee and lunch was peanut butter sandwiches. Isn’t it amazing what you can do with so little, during Monday afternoon Wayne was picked up and we haven’t seen him since although he has said he will call when next in town.
God is so wonderful the way he provides for us. Here we were new in town having left family and friends behind only 10 days previously and at one point on Sunday afternoon we had 4 new friends sitting on the cement slab outside our van having conversation and coffee.
If you are a regular reader of the Real Australian you would remember a couple of issues ago I wrote an article about Lorraine (real name Jannette) the lady who drove a mine truck, well she arrived that day to live in the same park as us. What a joy it was to meet up with her again.
Monday we met and were made to feel welcome by Annie & Brian Fyffe.
Tuesday was tea with Jannette, Scruff and Amanda.
Wednesday we were stirred early by an SMS from Brian Roberts and Paul Dew (BCA officers) who were in town and knew of Ian’s coffee so decided that they should have some to start the day. During the morning it was coffee with Brian and Annie Fyffe and that evening it was tea out with Brian R, Paul, Brian and Annie.
Thursday we were going to bible study at the rectory and the Fyffe’s kindly invited us for tea before hand.
What a 1st week! But it had not finished yet. Whilst Ian was setting the van up he tripped over a wire. What should it be but a phone cable. During our travel across Australia Judy had commented on how great it would be if we could get the phone on as she had had lots of problems downloading emails and here we were with a phone cable on our site. After talking with locals Ian called at the Telstra line office where he met a man just about to go out for the days work. He kindly organized with Ian to come and check if the line still had power. (It turned out that this man was also a Christian who attends the Baptist Church) He called later that day checked the line and had coffee before going on his way. He rang Telstra and returned a week later to install the phone and again had coffee. So 10 days in Newman and we had a landline phone. Whoever said Telstra was slow.
We have been so encouraged by the many ways God has blessed us as we have stepped out in faith for him and await to see what is next..
Week 2:
Sunday we were blessed to be able to listen to Brian’s sound biblical preaching. Lunch at Margaret‘s place, a young lady we had met at church, she is in Newman teaching at 1 of the 2 primary schools. She is fresh out of University doing her country placement
Monday was Judy’s 1st visit to Rebecca’s house for a morning of sewing-quilting with Annie and another Judy who is here from South Africa. (There are a lot of South African’s working in Newman we have 2 families at church and our Telstra line man was also from South Africa)
We have been in charge of the church property this week whilst the Fyffe’s have been to Exmouth for a deanery meeting, whatever that is. Our duties included going each day to see if any goods (cloths and household items) had been left outside the church for the night markets the church holds every 3 months. Also Ian fed their cat. Anyone who knows Ian knows he is not fond of cats but here he was dutifully caring for the Fyffe’s cat.
Tuesday Night was our 1st Lions meeting which includes the Lionesses.
Wednesday we went to a Youth for Christ performance at the high school and started delivering “Challenge” newspapers at Brian’s request around places in town for people to pick up and read. eg Hospital waiting rooms, Takeaway places and Hair Salons etc.
Thursday we went with George from Lions to learn how to feed the animals at the Lion’s animal park so that we can be put on the roster. What interesting things you get to do in the country.
On Friday we conscripted Jannette and Scruff into helping us pick up rubbish around the church property. The rubbish is a constant problem as a result of the nomadic people in town dropping rubbish wherever and the result is that it blows where it will. As the taxi rank is opposite the church property, you don’t have to think hard to know where the rubbish ends up.
Saturday we where able to catch up on things that still needed doing to make us more permanent.
All this is interspersed with conversation with people and guests for a meal or coffee.
Week 3
Sunday was church as usual except for what God had in store. On arrival at church Esther talked with us at church yesterday and asked us to visit David and the area where the Martu (pronounced Mardu) people meet for church. Martu is the local indigenous group but we have 3 skin colours groups and it is this which causes problems.
We after church went to the Martu church and had a look around the property, I did what I do best and took many, many photos of the property from all angles. These photos are to be used in working out how volunteer groups can work to improve the state of the property. The property is in a very bad condition David, who is a missionary from Korea, is a man with a vision, he has learnt the language of the indigenous Martu people and has song books and I think bible in the language.
David’s long term vision is to have the property back to some of its original beauty so that people will again wish to hold weddings there as was the case before. This would also bring in valuable finance for the church.
Monday afternoon we helped the Lions club members pick up rubbish along one of the many storm water drains for an hour. Whilst doing this we had occasion to talk to a group of aboriginal people sitting in the grassy drain as they do.
Tuesday, car service day and writing this newsletter to you. That is all that was planned. What ended up happening was that we spent most of the day either talking with or helping Tony our neighbour down the street. In fact he stayed for tea with us and left at 8pm. So much for a quiet evening at home God had other ideas.
Praise God that Tony feels so comfortable with us that he could share more of his life’s journey with us. Praise God that he has learnt to control his temper. Praise God that he has such a great love for his son who lives on the east coast.
Janette and Scruff are on their shift routine i.e. Seven 12 hour days, seven 12 hour nights and then 7 days off. God keep them safe at work and give them good rest in-between. They are unable to return to Perth next break so Lord, be with Janette as she longs to be with her children in Perth but is unable to travel there during their next break.
Continue to pray particularly that God will work in the hearts of Jannette, Scuff, Tony, Peter, Mal, and Cassandra, opening opportunities to talk more deeply with them about our faith and why we have that faith. There should be no doubt in these peoples mind as to where we come from regarding our faith it just would be good if they could be more questioning.
Pray that we will continue to be sensitive in hearing God’s prompting each day.
Give thanks the way God sustains Brian and Annie as they minister to the community of Newman.
Praise God for the love he is giving us for the Indigenous people of this town.
Wednesday we have had lunch with David and Esther Kim. This gave us a chance to talk about their vision for these local people. How to help him ……. Just pray for the resources to improve the Martu church property to a usable state and the David & Esther will not lose heart.
Bishop David Mulready and his wife will be with us this weekend, may it be a wonderful time of fellowship and renewal for the people present.
Thank you for your support and prayers we look forward to hearing from you.
Regards from “Neals on Wheels” Ian & Judy
P.S. We now have the ability to watch DVD’s so if you have any you think would be helpful for us send them over.
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