An Anniversary well spent.

Saturday, the 20th of August was our one-year anniversary of living in Barunga, so we decided to celebrate by swimming at the Mataranka Thermal Pool, about 80 kms away. W'e had a great time swimming together, and then enjoyed a lovely picnic dinner of ham & cheese sandwiches. When we were ready to leave, it was dark. Jared's key had come off of his key-chain because it broke, and was unable to be put back on. So we were holding a loose key. I (Cheri) put the key into our blue swim-bag in order to keep it safe, and then when we got to the car, the key was gone! We had no idea where it could be. We went back to the eating place, looked around the dinner tables and couldn't find it anywhere. A lady was kind enough to let us borrow her flashlight to go back to the swimming area, and prayerfully, find the key. We searched up and down the path and at the swimming place, and the key was nowhere to be found, even after many silent prayers and a few spoken ones as well. Jared went with two men back to the car to try and break in, in hopes that I had my key in my purse, which was in the car. While he was gone, the kids and I were standing near the campfire by the tables. Bethany somehow managed to fall on some concrete steps right there, and immediately started crying quite loud. When I went to her, I saw quite a bit of blood coming out of her mouth and a huge scrape on her chin. Poor girl! So we went down to the bathrooms where I helped Bethany to spit and drink water. Some kind ladies came and gave Bethany a nice cold glass of water, as well as some numbing cream for the pain on her chin, and some paw-paw cream for it as well. Then they asked the other kids if they were hungry, and Alice said "yes," even though we had recently eaten -- and a little while later they came back with a big plate-ful of french fries, called "chips," freshly made. It was great having such kind people looking out for us in our time of need. Since my key was not to be found in the car, we realized we were stranded in Mataranka for the night, so we went to book a room. They are pretty pricey, so we asked if we could have a dorm room that backpackers use -- and the one that would have fit our family, they couldn't find the key for. So they gave us a nice cabin to use for a discounted price. Stil $115, but much cheaper than it would have been otherwise. That was a blessing :) Poor kids didn't get to bed until 10 pm, after we found our way to the cabin in the dark (since we weren't planning on "camping" we hadn't packed any flashlights ourselves, nor did we have changes of clothes or anything -- us girls only had our swimsuits, with some clothes over them!) But praise the Lord we had a good place to stay the night, instead of being in the car for a night, or something like that. Poor Bethany woke up quite a few times, crying out in pain from her mouth injuries. We didn't have any pain medication, so all we could do was try to comfort her and give her a drink of water. Alice woke up a couple of times too, with a headache. We were all cold, as the cabin had enough beds but no blankets for the kids beds -- one extra for us, which Bethany was allotted, and on Alice and Cameron we put a towel each. I do not understand why the establishment did not provide adequate blankets. Anyway, by the morning the kids had migrated over to be with Jared & myself in bed, so we brought Bethany's blanket to put on top, and that provided a little extra warmth for us all. :) One nice thing was that there was a Gideon's Bible in the room, -- very nice since we hadn't brought one (as we weren't planning on staying the night). This morning we prayed again for our key to be returned to us, and first went to the office. The key was there! Someone had turned it in! We believe that God is sovereign, and there must have been a reason He did not allow us to find the key the night before. Why? We have no clue. But it was an easy find this morning, praise Him! So to celebrate, we went swimming again and are now back at home, and Jared is currently making pizza. No matter what happens, even if life makes you feel helpless and like you may be stranded like we were, remember Isaiah 26:3-4: "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." I love those verses, specifically verse 3, because it's a promise and has proved true in my life that no matter the situation, as I trust in Him, He gives me peace. Also, the more well-known verses found in Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Pics from our trip "out west" to the Kimberley!

Our Trip to the Kimberley was both fun, and trying at times. :) We saw a lot of really cool stuff, like the "mini Great Wall of China". One evening, driving to one of the cities along the way, Hall's Creek, Cheri said, "Jared, I didn't know this road was corrugated." I said, "It's not, Cheri Dear. Pull over."


By God's grace, a man and his wife who had just driven through the Australian desert drove past us. They helped me (Jared) change the tire, just after I had prayed, "Lord, please help me do this." and Cheri had prayed, "Lord, please send help for Jared." The couple helped us change the tire, and he had a pump to get air in the spare tire. PRAISE GOD!While we were in the Kimberley, Alice had her 6th birthday at a swimming pool, with friends from the camping area in Kununnura, where we spent 4 days for a Christian convention. It was a blessing.Margaret, our team leader, was able to present at the convention, and we were also able to make some new connections with pastors and Kriol speakers all along the way during the trip. And then...
And then we had another flat. (Bobala!) This time I was able to change it myself, but I left the car running, and the car battery died. (Double bobala!) We were about 50 km from the nearest town, and it was 8 pm, and dark. We had all our camping gear, but really didn't feel like camping on the road. So, we prayed as a family that God would send someone to help us jump the car. Within 5 minutes, a road train (a semi with 2 trailers) came down the road, and we flagged him down with our flashlight. I asked if he could give us a jump, but he didn't have his cables. ("Sorry, mate.") He then radioed another oncoming roadtrain, and that fellow could help us! So, with the help of 2 road trains, we were back on our way! Praise the Lord!


We were blessed to see the Bungle Bungles! These are sandstone "mini mountains" and are REALLY cool! What an awesome God we serve.

And, no trip would be complete without a third flat tire only 78 km from home. :) (I was getting pretty quick at changing flats by this time...but also tired.) It was 3:30 am.

Cujo's Chair.

About a week ago, we completed a "mini" discipleship course in a neighboring community about 4 hours drive from us along a dirt road. I learned a TON of things on this trip, and had some interesting interactions! But first, let me tell you about Cujo's Chair.

Our team was staying with a family (camping in their backyard) who was preparing for a funeral. Traditionally, when someone passes away you don't show pictures of them or say their name; it may bring back painful memories and make family mourn even more. The family members may have a name they use for that family member who died. In some communities I was told, there is a special name to use for someone who has the same name as the person who died. This is to help avoid causing more family sadness when they hear the name of their dearly departed.

So, I was especially listening for that "special name" to be used, though I couldn't remember what it was. The first morning I went in the house to take a shower, and while waiting to get in, I sat down in an old chair.
"Don't sit there! That's Cujo's chair. Here, sit in this chair over here." Now, my brain started thinking... "Who is Cujo? Is that the name they use for their Grandpa who just passed away? Would me sitting in his chair really upset them? I guess I won't sit there."
As I took my shower, I was thinking, "Who is Cujo? What are the traditions here?" When I was finished, I asked a girl if it was okay to sit in the chair, and she said the same thing, "That's Cujo's chair. You could sit in it, I guess, if you wanted to. But he might have gunna-ed in it. Our immune systems are strong, so we can handle it. But I don't know if yours is strong. Maybe you've got a strong immune system. You can sit there, if you want."
My next thought was, "OH! That poor old man must have been very sick--he couldn't control his bodily functions, and went in that chair!" But I wasn't satisfied with my answer yet, and so I decided to ask the owner's wife about it.
"Oh, you can sit in that chair, but Cujo sits in that chair, too. It's probably dirty. Sometimes my husband sits in that chair. It would be okay if you want to sit there." So I asked the inevitable question.
"Who's Cujo?"
"Im blanga mibala dog."
WHAT? "HE IS OUR DOG."Cujo's chair. (and a bunch of DELICIOUS bulligi!--beef)

Here's a video from Alice's Birthday. Swimming! :)

They are learning to swim. Good stuff.