Saturday, May 26, 2007

Mission Day 8 (Part I)- A Big Hole



Friday morning the team headed out to the mine for a tour....



a big hole

big fashion statement

BIG

big trucks, roads and machinery
big environmental impact


did i mention big trucks?
(A disassembled mining truck on the back of a semi-trailer should give you an idea of the size of the machinery used. This shot was taken on the way back from Karijini National Park on the Monday - all other shots are from the Friday morning mine tour. The truck had a police escort and took up both lanes of the freeway.)

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Mission Day 7 - High School and Chinese Food

A Red Goanna photographed at Karijini National Park.

Thursday filled me with some excitement and also trepidation. We were heading into the high school for the day.

I had hung out with some of the teenagers throughout the week which was good. It meant that by the time Thursday rolled around, I knew a few of the kids who would be there.
I had some trepidation because we were under quite strict guidelines about what we could and couldn't do and say. In NSW we are truly blessed that we are able to go in to schools and teach about the good news of Jesus. In WA (much like many other states in Oz), we were only granted entry into the school if we agreed to teach on certain things. We were teaching on the meaning of Easter. We weren't allowed to pray or lead in prayer or make any attempt to call for a response.
I MC'd with one of the guys and shared my story about what Easter has meant for me and how it has changed my life. I struggled with the restrictions as I would normally call for a response. But it made me appreciate all the more what a privilege and opportunity it is to share the gospel with teenagers.

We had been warned that the high schoolers were a pretty rowdy bunch and were often rude and don't listen. The minister of the church we were on mission with is also the chaplain at the school. He said that he had been to events where the kids talked throughout the entire program. All in all, I have to say that they were pretty good. In fact I was amazed.

But the most amazing thing was God reminding me that it is his work, not mine. By the time the third seminar group had rolled around, I was feeling on a bit of a roll. But the group wasn't all that responsive. In fact as I was speaking there were a group of girls in the front row who spent most of the time giggling and whispering. Needless to say, I walked away from that seminar feeling a little flat.
We were due to have a lunch break before the last group.
As I was trudging along to get some lunch one of the guys on team came up to me and said: "how good was that"
I said: "yeah, it was ok. how was your discussion group" (we broke them up into discussion groups after the talk)
He said: "one of the girls in my group said to me: 'I really believe now. I'd heard the stories before, but I'd never really believed, and that girl spoke about it like it is real. I think I really believe it now"

How humbling. We can walk along thinking and planning and making sure everything is perfect, but it surely is in our weaknesses that God is working.

We got through the day and later that night a few of us went to the Chinese Takeaway for dinner. The food was great (albeit a tad expensive like everything in Newman). But it was a highly amusing evening. I think it is the only time I have eaten Chinese out and not been able to get chopsticks and was served chinese tea in coffee mugs!!

This lovely meal was supplemented by some extra protein consumed today and was followed by a trip to the Purple Pub AKA Animal Bar. It was more mellow than expected. One of the boys consumed a beverage by the name of Emu Bitter (I wasn't game) and Chookie had an amusing experience trying to find the mens room. Three different guys sent him on a wild goose chase which landed him standing outside of the ladies!

--
Fly Count: 4

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Mission Day 6 - Guns and Girls

Wednesday of mission and we are past the midpoint.

The Bishop came and spent the morning with us. He talked to the team about ministry in the North West. I can see the desperate need for people to minister in the diocese of North West Western Australia. I also see how there is very little chance that it would be someone like me who would be the one to go there. I can see the need, but I also learned that 90% of churches cannot even afford a minister, let alone think about putting a woman on staff. Their are places for co-workers or tent makers, but seeing as I don't have a teaching degree or such, it is unlikely that there would ever be a need for someone like me. (although Big Bazza was trying to convince me that he could get me a job in the mine given my previous history of working in education and training of apprentices)

All in all, a an educational morning.
We spent the rest of the day either in prep for the high school seminar the next day, or the primary club that arvo.
I spent the arvo giving out helium balloons at the shopping centre (the shopping centre consisted of a woolies, rockmans, chemist and a chinese takeaway!) and talking to people. It's amazing how many big burly mining men were willing to take a helium balloon and have a chat. It was heaps of fun, and I got to invite lots of them to the shooting later on the day.

So right on dusk half the team headed out to the gun club (on Gun Club Road) and went clay target pigeon shooting.

It was a heap of fun. My instructor told me I was a natural with a shotgun. I don't know whether that is something I should be pleased or disturbed about.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Education for life or Permanent Scarring?

I interrupt my regular updates on mission to bring you a moment from my day.

Every Tuesday night college has a dinner. There is a creche provided for the students attending dinner. Other students are rostered on to help out at this. Tonight was my turn to help out.

Picture this:
within minutes of parents signing their kids in, they start screaming. A room with around 20 or so toddlers and 4 adults (me and 3 guys). I return one of the kids even before the dinner had started as he was so distressed. I return to find another kid screaming. One of the blokes hands toddler N to me after he had been screaming for about 20 minutes. It takes around 10 minutes (quite possibly one of the longest 10 mins of my life) to settle toddler N. For the next 30 minutes, every time I try to move from sitting with him on the ground he starts screaming again. By this time, IronOrr and I were anxiously awaiting 7pm and the parents return - but it was only 6:30.

So I'm sitting there quite happy to wait the next 30 mins out - just as long as toddler Boy N didn't start screaming non-stop again (he kept crying intermittently every 2 minutes).

WHEN, toddler Girl A and Girl B walked up to the bloke next to me and announced that they both needed to do poos. The blokes look at me and say: "you're the only girl, its your job" to which I replied: "I'm sorry, but I don't do toileting, we can get their parents".
Toddler A looked up at me and said: "I really need to go poo-poo. --- NOW"

So carrying toddler N, still upset every time I moved, I took A and B to the bathroom.
Having never participated in a child's toileting before this time, Toddler Girl A gave me instructions as to what I was meant to do (ie, hold door shut, get toilet paper for them and help wash hands)
Thankfully one of the blokes who has kids had told me that if they are old enough to go to the toilet they don't need you to wipe - phew!!!

But here I am standing in the bathroom, on one foot, holding N on hip with one hand, holding one door closed with one hand, whilst holding the door next to it closed with my foot.
I get them both flushed and washed and return them to creche, only to have toddler girl AS tell me that she also needed to do a poo - arrrgggghhhhh - Lord help me!
I got her fixed up and returned. Toddler N's dad had been found and relieved me of this burden.

Almost immediately, toddler girl Am started screaming, so rocking and patting her back, we starting singing nursery songs which eventually soothed her.

7pm came - finally!
parents arrived, and I almost start crying.

There is a reason why I want to do youth ministry and not children's ministry.
I never thought the day would be here so soon when I would have to deal with another person's poop.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Mission Day 5 - Yellow School


There are two primary schools in Newman - yellow school and green school. For the life of me, I can't remember what their real names were (probably Newman South and East or something like that). They get their common use name from the colour of their T-Shirts.
Apparently there is a bit of tension and jibing that occurs between the students at these schools. At kids church on the first Sunday, one of the team members described the kids' interaction a little like the Jets and Sharks from West Side Story!

Tuesday morning we went into the yellow school to explain the true meaning of Easter. It was a blast. And from all records it was the first time that there has been any Christian input into the school since it was founded.

I wasn't directly involved in the running of the program, but the whole team got to go along. I had some good conversations with some of the teachers and staff at the school. It was so encouraging to speak to people who are so open to hearing about the church and what it was doing.

Tuesday night we had a dialogue meeting at the church. I was roped in to be on the panel. IronOrr gave a talk about heaven and then the floor was opened up for questions. It it not an area that I have had a particular amount of experience in and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being on the panel and answering questions.

God has been very gracious to me this week.

--
Fly Count: still 2 (no extra protein consumed today!)

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Mission Day 4 - Swimming & Night Clubs


Monday was our team day off. Some people from the church packed us into 4WD's and we headed on a 2 hour drive to Karijini National Park.
We walked down a gorge and went swimming in Circular Pool and Fern Pool. It was beautiful, amazing and relaxing.



We got back late afternoon and some of us headed out to the youth event that was planned for that evening. I was speaking at it. It is the first (and will probably be the only) time that I have given a talk in a night club.
There were some awesome conversations had with the youth. I was struck by the lack of inspiration or drive from the youth. Many can't see their way past ever living in a mining town. And I can understand why. I mean, why bother going to uni when you can get a job driving a truck for 100k a year.

It also hit me how they long for relationships. Their parents are often working ridiculous shifts and hours. So much so that they often go days without seeing them.
I spoke of God's love for them and his longing to have a relationship with them.

My heart breaks for the struggles that many of them are facing.

--
Fly Count: 2

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Mission Day 3 - Sunday Services



I was rebuked!
I have been involved in music at church for years. And I have always felt the tension between wanting it to sound good and realising that it isn't a performance.

Don't get me wrong. I do think that we should always strive to do our best in what ever way we are serving God, but there is also a point which can be stepped over when it comes to shifting the focus away from glorifying God and onto ourselves.

Basically some of us joined with some people at the church and we helped out with the music on Sunday morning. At the time I thought it sounded ok, but not particularly extraordinary. So when I overheard several people comment on how fab the music was after the service I was rebuked about my attitude toward music.

I love singing and making music, and it has been a great encouragement to me to be reminded again about the focus that music (and anything we do at church) should have.

So Sunday morning was a rebuke and Sunday evening was an eye-opener.

Sunday evening we went to the Martu church. There are two main Indigenous people groups who live locally and the Martu (pronounced Mardu) are one of those two groups. Talking with some of the Martu people over the week were certainly one of the highlights of this mission trip.

Martu church was very different to any church service that I have been to in Sydney to say the least!!(singing time at the Martu Church - the smoke at the top of the pic is from the BBQ which was fired up just behind me)

I had some great conversations with some of the kids and while many of the adults didn't open up that night, being there was an opener for when I saw them later in the week.

The people who are ministering in Newman are doing an amazing job. I praise God for BCA and their commitment to sending people out to preach the good news about Jesus.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Mission Day 2 - Prepping around


(KC and Ton Ton preparing the memory verse for Kids Church)

Saturday morning we woke up and the time change kicked in. It was great thinking that we'd had a 2 hour sleep in (not so great this week). The first thing I noticed as KC and I walked to the church from our billets was the heat - and the flies. The Auzzie salute came out in full force over the week. I learnt pretty quickly that you can't really walk with your mouth open or talk while you are walking - I swallowed a fly!!

We spent most of the day prepping things for the week to come.
During the week there was a great deal of helium balloons which lead to a variety of entertaining moments.

One of the highlights of the week was getting to know the members of the team that previously I hadn't had much to do with.

Saturday evening saw KC and I back at our billets house. We went next door and met the neighbours. They had prepared some traditional Thai dishes and it was delicious. KC and I tried to engage in some conversations but it was a little random.
We did however learn some interesting things about living in a mining town which is pretty much run by 1 or 2 major companies.

Fell preparing me a soy coffee (a very important part of the day!)
--
Fly Count: 1

Mission Day 1 - First Impressions


Leaving Sydney airport we had 2 flights. Sydney/Perth, then Perth/Newman and we arrived.

The first thing that struck me as we got out of the plane and walked down the tarmac was the heat. Sydney was cold when we left, so were the planes and our time in Perth airport. Walking across to the Newman terminal saw most of the team taking off protective layers of warmth.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed and very excited about the week ahead we went to baggage collection. I wonder what they do when it rains? This little shuttle cart brought our bags out to the roadside where we picked our bags off the back.

There were so many things out of what I was used to but that was my main reason for wanting to go on this mission.
As we stood by the road waiting for our luggage to be unpacked from the plane, there was something else that was strikingly different. It wasn't the red dust, the heat or the time difference. As I looked into the carpark there was a complete lack of cars other than 4WD's or Utes. Work cars - definitely not city 4WD's. But an intriguing feature on these rows and rows of 4WD's was that they all had a 3m pole with a little orange flag and beacon atop. They looked like rows of giant remote controlled cars.


I was to find out later that these flags and beacons are to help prevent the cars being run over by the mine trucks which because of their size have an extremely large blindspot.


--
giant is an apt way to describe much of life in Newman.
More posts to come.

Monday, May 07, 2007

back from the west

I'm back. Tired and weary but encouraged. We arrived back on the red eye this morning. I don't fly particularly well so I didn't sleep on the Perth/Sydney leg of the journey. But that doesn't matter as I am back now, and it is time once again to hit the books.

Newman is remote and this pic captures just a small portion of that. The two nearest towns are Port Hedland (452km away) and Meekatharra (417km away). Some of the boys on team drove to Hedland and back on Saturday for one reason or another. Between Newman and Hedland they only saw one building - a roadhouse.

More updates and pics to come but sleep beckons.