Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 5
Finally there is time to write you of our happenings in Newman.
Firstly we wish to thank you for your support, prayers, letters and emails. It is also so good to hear of news from home. It will help us when we return to fit back in. We are now ½ way through our time here and as we look ahead at all there is to do we realize that time will run out on us fast.
As I sit here typing this to you I become aware that for us it is like living in a foreign land as we here very little news from the rest of Australia. Judy also heard yesterday that the 1st year here is the hardest for your health as your body adjusts to the new climate, that is, you often get any germ that is going in town, I guess this is the case with Judy, Judy’s bad luck.
Sunday – 31st July was a busy day 9am was church to start followed by supervising the Lions Jumping castle at the Local Mulla Mulla Markets (held monthly). Midday was the Sunday school picnic in a local park. This was followed by afternoon tea at some new friend’s home finishing at 5pm.
Monday – 1st August craft was cancelled owing to sickness at the home we attend. Ian went off for his time with B and Judy settled into a quite morning at home but this was not to be, the phone rang. A few weeks ago Ian had offered his help to a couple from Lions who own a café in town, i.e. if ever you are short handed I’ll come and wash dishes. Her husband had needed to go to his dying mum’s side and she was left to run the business. Newman like other areas of Australia has been plagued with a virus that has been hitting people hard and as a result staff had called in sick so she was short handed. Unfortunately Ian was out and Judy took the call, hearing the ladies plight Judy could not say no and so started a week of working for love. She worked 4 out of 7 days. Ian was called in to help on 1 ½ of those days also. Judy started as dishwasher but progressed to a short order cook and table service. On the days he worked Ian was the dish hand and washed up. Might I say it was very tiring physically!
Tuesday – 2nd after working we had a visit from J & S, M needing Judy to measure her for her wedding dress as her mum who lives in Perth is making the dress. We were then due to go to the Inland Mission peoples van for coffee before our Lions meeting needless to say Lions didn’t happen, we just ran out of time,
Friday – 3rd we took A & B out for our 2nd attempt at climbing Mt Newman. This time we found the correct road leaving the car in a small clearing and started our climb. The 1st part was very steep but then it decreased to a comfortable climb whilst the distance was only 1.5 km it took us 1.5 hours make it to the summit, I think this says it all.
Saturday – 4th was the men’s breakfast at church but the only men that went were the 3 Ian took from the caravan park, no-one from the congregation went. Very disappointing but that seems to be the way it is in Newman.
This was Judy’s last day of working and enough was enough.
Sunday – 5th after Church we organized a barbeque at the Caravan Park with 11 attending, it was a lovely time of fellowship. Those attending were a mixture of Christian workers and non Christians, a great opportunity to witness.
The next week was more normal with the usual activities and the drop-ins for coffee. Wednesday was lunch with A & B at Capricorn Roadhouse. Thursday we used the church and the overhead projector to trace the designs on the backdrop fabric ready for painting. We missed Bile Study that night as we had a more important task to perform, that was to talk with our son Tim who rang just having returned from 3 weeks in USA.
Friday 12th At this stage we were feeling rather worn out so decided to stay home all day.
God is so good as during the last couple of days we have had phone calls from home that encouraged us greatly.
Saturday 13th it was all hands on deck to paint the 3 back drops for the Ball as it was only 1 week away.
Sunday 14th God is still showing his hand of encouragement to us. After church we had been looking at the new lamb that had been born at the Lions Animal Park when our friends pulled up beside us in their car and invited us to join them for lunch. The local Battalion had had a service to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan at the local cenotaph this was to be followed with a barbeque at the Barracks; yes we have Barracks in Newman. It was such a lovely time of relaxation a time to recharge our energy. To say thanks we provided coffee.
Monday 15th was craft as usual
Tuesday 16th saw our friends arrive for 2 weeks. They had been the Nomads in Winton last year whilst we were there and it was so good to have them with us again. They have spent 2 months this year in Kununurra involved with building and maintenance work. There arrival gave us just the excuse we needed to do some site seeing. After lunch we took them for a drive around the town
Night time was Lions as usual and it’s all stops out for the ball and festival.
Wednesday 17th well we have a wet day in Newman so it’s Coffee and then a drive to Mt Newman. What a glorious view!
Thursday 18th was to be a day out with friends but owning to the weather and the possible condition of the road it was cancelled. The roads here turn to slush in the wet and you don’t drive on them for this reason as well as the fact that it will churn them up and cause them to be even more rough with big ruts. Not to be beaten we all gathered in the annexe and had our picnic there.
After bible study it was off to the Recreation Centre to start setting up the hall for the ball.
Friday 19th it’s ball day and the start of the biggest weekend Newman has all year, so it was off to the hall to set up.
We arrived home about 5pm and who should call in but a friend whose life choices are causing many issues. This is what being a career is all about; all Judy wanted to do was rest but instead sat and listened to her. This is also when you need to ask for God’s forgiveness and grace as all you want to do is not what you are doing.
The ball was a great night with Ian having to pick the Belle of the Ball and Judy the Beau of the Ball. It is an occasion for the locals to get out of their dirty orange and navy work gear and dress up to the nine’s, Judy would not have been out of place in her mother of the groom outfit. We had a live band called ABBASOLUTELY, they where surprisingly good. We finally got to bed at 3 am Saturday morning.
Saturday 20th was a very……. slow start followed by coffee with 9 people in the annexe, it was lunch and then off to the drags which are held at the airport. (They closed the airport for the day)
That night was the speedway but we chose not to go as Ian was tired and Judy was not well. Glad we didn’t as others said it was a bit boring.
Sunday 21st after church it was off to the festival at the local oval with all the usual carnival, side show alley and local displays. Part of the local display was Art, Craft and Produce from the community. Judy put 3 craft and 6 photos into the exhibit and came away with 4 ribbons, 3rd for craft plus 2nd and two 3rd places for photos. Judy also became the official photographer for Loins taking picture of the Lions Skin cancer bus and crew plus a photo of the pilot and the plane they all came from Perth in. We had a farewell tea with J & S our truck driving friend who are returning to Perth in search of more work.
Monday 22nd was horse racing at the local track but we chose to have a day out with our friends and neighbour’s, 6 of us in all. We drove into the wild blue yonder of East Angeles and Three Pools it was a great day of fellowship. At three pools 4 of us had a great climb down to the bottom and back again, the gradient was approx. 45o it was again great for Judy to achieve this feat.
Tuesday 23rd was home day with Margaret coming for tea. Margaret is a woman from church who is getting married on 31st December 2005 and Judy is helping with the wedding from this end. Her mum is organizing the wedding from the Perth end.
Wednesday 24th and it was time to write another letter for the Martu Christian Fellowship.
Thursday 25th home again how nice but again God had other ideas our lady in need called in leaving a couple of hours later after much sharing tears and prayers.
Friday 26th we had our usual adventure day out with A & B taking F & P along for the ride to Kalgan Pools where a yummy barbeque and fine chatter was enjoyed by all. On our return we had a lovely formal dinner with a young family we’ve met at church. The best gift they gave us was to be part of a family for an evening with singing by the piano and listening to the daughter play her beginner pieces on the piano.
Saturday 27th one of the young girls (6yrs old) from our family of the previous night came to help me ‘clean my house’. When she saw the size of my home she decided there were better things to do. It was a noisy and tiring few hours with little brother and sister also visiting but was nice that they wanted to come to Granna and Uncle Ian’s place.
Sunday 28th unfortunately Judy woke up ill again with a tummy bug so Ian set off for church alone.
Monday 29th was Craft and tea in the mess at the caravan park called ‘ac’s dinner’. It reminds us of camp with canteen style food but plenty, all you can eat.
Tuesday 30th was a very big day for us Before
again working on the church yard with Ian mowing for 3 hours (it’s a big property) and Judy taking 5 trailer loads to the rubbish tip. It was a good opportunity to practice reversing and by the end of the day she was on waving terms with the bulldozer driver. We also cut down some trees that had been dead for a while. It took both of us 6 hours.
Wednesday 31st Big rest day
Thursday 1st September Back to the yard for Ian to finish of the edges and remove the last of the rubbish, Judy was involved with making 4” cakes for CWA father’s day stall on Saturday.
Surprise, surprise, Ian was not well that, night so stayed he home from Bible Study.
Friday 2nd Ian seems to have the bug Judy had on Sunday so has rested all day which has meant that Judy has finally been able to finish this newsletter. Sorry it is so long but will try to write sooner next time. Tonight the CWA are getting together to ice and decorate cakes for the CWA father’s day cakes stall.
We will be out of contact next week as we head off with our tent under our arm for a little holiday. Firstly it will be 2 nights in a CWA house at Port Hedland it pays to be the secretary of CWA. Now I need you to ponder for a while on the importance of staying in a house, a toilet under the same roof and more than 2 rooms to move around in as is the case with a caravan and annexe. We will also be able to sit and look at the sea, pause again and ponder, sitting and looking at water. When you live in Newman, it will be pure joy.
As we go into this weekend one of the reasons for coming to Newman will be made public, Annie and Brian’s time of ministry in Newman will come to an end. Praise God for his grace in giving us the ability to minister to and support them through this time, we ask for his continuing grace for the weeks ahead. Their daughter has taken the news of moving to Perth very well. Pray with us that the congregation will also accept it well. Pray that for all it will be a time of encouragement.
Continue to pray for us as the weather heats up (it’s now reaching 30/31oC each day) that we will learn to live accordingly and remember to drink lots of water.
Praise God with us for the friends we’ve made and the fellowship this bring.
Thank you again for the contact from home even though we aren’t always able to reply individually.
Praise God for the fellowship we’ve had with our friends over the last 2 weeks and pray for their continued safety as they continue around Australia on their way home.
God bless you all and know that we think of you and pray for God’s guidance in you lives.
Regards from Ian & Judy
‘Neals on Wheels’
BCA Co-workers Newman
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