Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 6
Thank you to all for your prayers and support. We have had questions as to how the congregation took the news of A & B leaving. We believe it went well! We felt the move will be helpful for A & B as they will grow in their ministry skills. A is struggling a bit with the whole thing. B is being positive about it, although change is always hard. Remember A in your prayers that the transition will be OK and she will receive nurturing from L in Perth, WA. Pray also, that a house will become available for them to live in.
The weather is consistently 30/31oC although as I write this to you there is a nice breeze and the day is lovely. Yesterday we had no breeze so we spent some time in the van with the air conditioner on to cope. Unfortunately Judy is sick again, it seems that Newman does not agree with her health at all, Fortunately Ian has been OK. Please pray for improved health for Judy so we may use these last weeks well in serving our Lord.
Sunday 4th We left after church for our time away in Port Hedland. It went well although the CWA house was different to what we had in our minds eye. We spent three nights and 2 full days in Hedland attending Church on Sunday at 5.30pm in South Hedland and tea with the minister and his wife. It was good to do some shopping for ourselves and others in Newman. The rest of the time we rested and threw ourselves into salt water. You can’t call it a swim as it was a deserted beach and we were not sure of currents and such so decided to just get wet. It was great to have this time of refreshment as we were coming home to a busy time.
Wednesday 7th September we left Port Hedland and traveled to Wittenoon Gorge expecting to spend the night in our tent but on arrival discovered that it was different to Karajini as you drove into the gorge therefore there was not the hiking to do, also asbestos is quite evident on the ground, just interspersed with the stones on the waterhole edges not to mention the very large pile of asbestos tailings that have been left after mine operations were stopped. Still we had a picnic by a lovely waterhole and left. On our way out of the gorge we chose to follow a disused road up a dry creek bed. It was very exciting as we explored our way. After about 5klms we got out our map and with the use of our GPS realized that we were going the opposite way to the way we needed to go. Ian also heard our daughter-in-law, saying “does anyone know where you are” and the answer of course was no, so we turned around and headed for the road out of the gorge. We love to explore the unknown in our car so the GPS Judy bought before leaving Sydney has been very useful. Wittenoon is where we saw a wonderful show of Sturt Desert Pea, Old Convent and Church.
On our way home we called into Wanna Munna Waterhole to look at the aboriginal art that is found there. We left there on dark so when we arrived home it was late so we emptied the car and went to bed.
Thursday 8th saw us tidy up, wash and get ready for the arrival of (B & J) the minister and his wife from Port Hedland also M & N from Sydney. We were to host M & N for the weekend as they looked at Newman with a view to ministering here next year. They are a young couple with 2 children, girl 2yrs & boy 4 yrs. B & J arrived at lunch time for 24hours & were also here to meet M & N. After picking up M & N off the plan we had tea at “AC Diner” this is the mess in our camp for the mine workers. The next day was the morning with R from Hedland for them and the afternoon with B from Newman. B & J left for Hedland after lunch. In between the 2 commitments the Neals put on Lunch for one and all.
Friday Night 9th we were invited along with our neighbours to another neighbour’s 59th birthday party at the local Chinese Restaurant. Ian and our Neighbour, where the only men to have Australian wives. All the rest were from Thailand. There are a lot of women from Thailand who live in Newman
Saturday 9th we decided we should give M & N a good look at Newman and its surrounds. First it was Mitre11 that is the recycle section of the tip, all who visit Newman should complete their education by a visit to the tip. Then it was up to Radio Hill to get a bird’s eye view of Newman
Then off to Mt Newman, Silent Gorge, Ophthalmia Dam, Round Hill and home. Quite a trip but they seemed to love it, especially the wild flowers that are all coming out. Unfortunately we broke a windscreen 5 km out of town. Saturday night was a wonderful dinner at the Seasons Hotel/Motel with the BCA Tour bus group.
Sunday 11th we had the pleasure of having our congregation swelled by 45 people, the BCA Tour bus group. A smashing good morning tea was put on by the ladies of the church and great fellowship was had by all. After church M & N felt rather tired and in need of some R & R so we took them to Kalgan Pool for a picnic lunch. It was a lovely relaxing time but unfortunately on the way home we shredded a tyre and the boys finished changing it in the dark. After a quick tea of soup at the van M & N went home.
Monday 12th it was up early to take M & N to catch the 8.05am plane. It was then off to say goodbye to the BCA Bus Tour group. Then off to the chemist for Judy as her gut has not been right since she had the tummy bug a couple of weeks ago. It was very interesting as the chemist explained that sometimes these bugs can cause a Lactose intolerance afterwards so it is no Cappuccinos for Judy for a while to give her gut a rest, in fact it is no dairy for three weeks. The rest of the day was trying to recover from what was a very busy few days.
Tuesday 13th our car went in for a new tyre and came home with 5 new tyres. Apparently we had run out of tread on all the others. During the morning Judy was to go to R’s place for craft and Ian his usual weekly time with B, but after falling of her bike and Ian accidentally putting the pedal on the wrong way (instead of at 180o they were at 270o which makes it impossible to ride) Judy decided that perhaps she wasn’t meant to go and so stayed home with Ian & B.
Wednesday 14th Unfortunately Judy woke up sick with a head cold and so stayed home all day with the air conditioner going. It was hot and there was no breeze.
And here we are Thursday 15th Ian has been keeping himself busy with a variety of things, Welding, washing our very dirty car, visiting G from Lions, Mowing lawns around or van. Judy did go and visit with A today as she was having 2 other women from our church for a cuppa and a chat. One of the ladies has just moved into town with her husband and children and it was a chance to get to know her. Tonight Ian is at Bible Study but Judy is has stayed home as she plans to go to bed early after she has finished this letter to you.
Could you please pray for us as the end of our time here comes quickly that we will be able to complete all that God wants us to do. Pray for improved health for Judy and that Ian will not succumb to Judy’s germ although he has been feeling fatigued from the increasing heat.
God bless you all
Judy & Ian
“Neals on Wheels”
BCA Co-workers Newman
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