Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 6
Hi to all
It is with mixed feelings that we write this last newsletter from Winton. We have made many friends who will be hard to leave. God has blessed us greatly and even at the camp fire last night we met people that had connections from NSW. One lady had been to school in Parramatta at the same time as Ian but had attended the sister school. Her husband was the cousin of Helen who ran the CMS bookshop in Parramatta’s.
Saturday we had the opportunity to look after the children of Helen and Sandy. Helen had to drive 200km to Hughenden to pick up her son who was of the bus returning from boarding school.
Sunday, we have great fellowship with Rev Dennis & Lois, Frank & Pauline (Nomads) over lunch on our verandah – this is the new name for our annexe. Ian has been very sick with the Winton flue but is staring to come good so not much has been happening. Yesterday we just popped down to Longreach – 400km round trip – to pick up Ian’s cousins from Brisbane. To day is a lovely day not too windy so we had breakfast on the veranda with them.
Monday was Lion’s & Lioness’s at respective Pubs. Our dinner was better then the boys.
Tonight we look after the girls again while mum goes to pick up their eldest daughter.
Friday is the opening of the BHP Photographic Competition exhibition and should be a great showing and after Dinner at the Gregory Hotel followed by a home grown ABBA show at the Winton Club. It’s all go.
Saturday is the Rodeo.
This Sunday church is having an evening service in our honour followed by a BBQ.
Pray for us all as we say good by to each other and safe travelling for our return.
See you at church on the 3 October.
Ian & Judy Neal
BCA Co-workers Winton
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.
Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 4
Hi to All
Today’s temperature is to be 31 degrees.
Could you pray for a young lady we have met that God will help her to be strong in her faith as she faces each day and that she will find inner peace with her demonds.
There is also family we are connecting with, (mum, dad and 5 children. The two older ones are at boarding school) who are doing it tough. Pray that we will continue to get close to them and give them friendship support and that the husband will get more work. Praise God that Ian was able to help the husband move earth moving equipment from one bush camp to another.
An older lady we have had conversation with, we feel is observing us and how we interact with people. May we break through the surface and be able to listen sensitively to her life story. A story that we feel has been full of disappointments and hardship.
Another older lady keeps everyone at arms length by being exceedingly busy. May we be able to let her know that we are not a threat.
Thank you for your prayers so far. God keeps opening doors, pray that we keep listening.
Pray for Rev Dennis and Lois Quinn who have just returned home tired from a long drive back from Bribie Island BCA Conference. On their return have learnt that Dennis needs to drive 360km to Boulia to conduct an funeral that will not be straight forward because of cultural issues. Give thanks the Ian will be able to keep Dennis company on this drive.
Not long after our arrival a BCA Nomad couple, Frank and Pauline arrived. Frank has been doing great maintenance work on the church property whilst Pauline has been keeping the Quinn’s dog and yard in shape. They are a lovely couple who we have enjoyed getting to know and build a friendship with.
Now for the newsy stuff.
- We are tired, we have been out for 5 nights in a row.
- Some of the evenings involved ballroom dancing, Victorian Variety Bash barbeque,the Lion/Lioness dinner and having people over.
- We helped cater for 450 people at the barbeque, they cook 650 pieces of Steak and we had 27 bowls of trifle.
- Yesterday we went with people to Opalton and today we are going with a group to Lark Quarry. These both involve long days in the car.
- Tomorrow, Wednesday Judy is going to 60 & Better group for craft, visiting in the afternoon and Thursday is Ladies fellowship at the church.
- Wednesday Ian’s going to see if he can help with moving the equipment again, just to get alongside and support.
Could you pray for the tiredness we are both feeling
Ian & Judy Neal
BCA Co-workers Winton
Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 3
Hi from the Neals on Wheels
Thank you for your prayers.
Ian’s talk in church went well with him feeling very relaxed – that was a direct answer to prayer. Unfortunately there were not many at church as the minister was away so a few felt it a good opportunity to take the Sunday off. Still those who attended had a good time of fellowship. We are feeling very comfortable living here in Winton and are doing our best to be part of the community.
The Lions meeting went well with Ian getting to know some of the men in town, we hope to meet more as we help cook for the Bash Car Rally that arrives Friday 20 August. It was very interesting to go to the QCWA luncheon, Winton group’s 80th Anniversary with the opportunity to meet more women of Winton and some of Longreach. Ian was asked to say grace. We won our first prize ever, a basket of CWA goodies.
At the gymkhana last Saturday we spent time talking with locals getting to hear their stories. We have discovered that a significant reason why a lot of men in the community are apathetic to church is that they were sent to a Church of England boarding school in Charters Towers and were forced to go to church or chapel every day and twice on Sunday. They tell us that they had enough church at school to last the rest of their lives. We need to pray that God will soften their hearts and make them receptive to the Gospel message.
God works in many ways, Ian was prompted to ask an elderly lady at church if she would like to go to the rugby league that afternoon, it was the semi final with Winton playing Longreach in Winton. She was delighted as her grandson was playing. Del is an interesting lady of mixed blood, Irish, Maori and Aboriginal who has had a stroke and left quite disabled but with determination. She has been Shearer’s cook, it was a hard life. Saturday we are going to Lions Change Over Dinner and will get to know people better.
As part of the Senior’s week celebrations a ecumenical service was held yesterday with 20 seniors attending. this enabled us to meet people from the local Catholic church and the Winton Christian fellowship.
Please pray that we will continue to find ways of being involved in the community as it is through this we can get to know people and have an opportunity to talk, break through the crust and share the gospel message with them. Continue to pray for the workers at the caravan park as we become more connected to them through daily conversations.
Ian & Judy Neal
BCA Co-workers Winton
PS Thanks Philip for the Church news letter as it helps us pray for what’s happening at home.