Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 5
Hi to all
Thank you for your prayers, emails, and letters they are so encouraging to us.
First – thank you for your prayers for the young lady Judy has spent time with. It is lovely to see the growth happening in her life and the way she is learning to deal with her demons (ref. 3rd Newsletter).
Second – we also prayed that the husband of a family we’ve got to know would get more work. His wife told us yesterday that work is coming in, some of which is close to town, that means he can come home at night which is good for the family.
Praise God for answered prayer!
Pauline (BCA Nomad) & Judy are really making themselves locals, they are doing morning tea or smoko as they call it in the bush at church on Sunday.
We have been VERY busy in the last week.
Friday was visiting a property where we we able to help out. Not only do they run sheep but Jim is the Australian Sheep Dog Champion so they had 26 dogs in total. 60km driving, not much!!!
Saturday was the Western Muster in Hughenden. This is a gathering of clergy and lay people from all denominations. Taking in Mt Isa – Townsville – Charters Towers – Richmond – Winton – Hughenden and all places in-between. It is held once a year and this year’s discussion was “How can we reach the Young in country towns”. We had a young lady from the district come and talk, she also answered questions. Times of discussion were also held throughout the day. It was great and we learnt lessons that can also be used in the city. We would like to say that what Tim Adams and the group are doing at Pendle Hill High is spot on, so support them with all your might. 400km round trip.
Sunday after church we went with Dennis and Lois Quinn (the Minister) to Boulia, 360km for their monthly service. As the school had a snow excursion on and someone else was sick we had no people at church. The result was that the 4 of us had a time of fellowship over God’s word. The example of this would be that the church was open and being used on that Sunday even if no one came. After staying overnight in Boulia, Dennis and Lois taught scripture in the local school which is mainly aboriginal. We played tourist whilst we waited. Boulia’s tourist attractions are amazing, we could have had more time there, we only had 2 hours. After smoko we set off home but didn’t arrive until after dark. Why you ask? Well we called into two properties on the way to teach scripture to the children and fellowship with the parents. It was so educational to see distance education in action and meet a governess at one of the properties. It seem that you either hire a governess to teach the children and then mum can help run the property or mum teaches the children and you hire a roustabout to help with the property. Of course we also stopped at Middleton Pub, that is all there is at Middleton, just to say hi and the men got involved in conversation with some locals over a beer, that is the locals had the beer. You need to take all opportunities that God brings your way. Judy found it amusing when we turned off the road and through the property gate as she asked “How far from the front gate to the house”. The reply came, That was the back gate and it’s 30km”. 900km round trip.
Tuesday it was up early again and off to a local property where a Dinosaur dig is taking place under the guidance of Queensland Museum Paleontology Department. It was on this property that a thigh bone for a “Sauropod” was found. Australia’s largest Dinosaur. Whilst we were there they uncovered a large vertebrae and were excavating gently for more. Judy got to dig, not for bones but to undermine a bone encased in plaster ready for removal. Whilst she was doing this she discovered some small plant fossils which she was allowed to bring home. Ian was given some rock with minute bone fragments on them to take home. They weren’t worth while for them to .170km round trip.
Wednesday was craft and fiddling around town it was so nice not to be in the car all day again although it was very windy and quite unpleasant. Dust you see gets everywhere.
Today Judy is helping someone learnt to use a computer, hasn’t God got a sense of humour. Guess it is all about levels of ability. Helen knows nothing, Judy’s knows a little.
We would be interested to here how Craig & Emma’s wedding goes on Saturday. Hope the weather behaves.
We are coming to the close of our time here and it is with sadness that we will depart. We have 10 days to go. It will be good to see our friends and our family again.
Judy has been doing what she does best….... We have 185 photos developed and loaded onto the computer with 4 more rolls to pick up next week…........think we need a digital, it would cheaper.
God bless you all and remember we are always in his care.
Ian & Judy Neal
BCA Co-workers Winton
P.S. Sorry this was late this week but as you see we’ve been busy.
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