** some pictures may be too graphic for some. 🙂
This month in Australia we are staying at a Christian Outreach Center. The “ministry” here is very very unique. We are here supporting a local pastor whose perspective of missions is “finance ministry”. Basically, he runs businesses in order to generate income to support missionaries around the world. His little congregation of about 70 members (on a really good day!) sends over 2 million dollars to missionaries around the world each year. They support like 400 pastors in various countries! It is NUTS! But super cool. So this month ministry has looked like playing a supporting role to him and his businesses, church and whatever else honestly! We have mulched and landscaped their new facility; helped in the kitchen of a hostel they run; facilitated testimonies, worship and communion during church; built relationships with non-believers; folded pamphlets for finance seminars; cleaned; and get this, I even gutted a pig!!
So, one of the businesses they are starting in order to raise money for missions is a slaughter house. They are going to kill, package and sell their own meat. So, on Saturday Pastor Merv took us out to his farm where they have cattle and pigs. They don’t have a license yet because they haven’t built the slaughter houses, so everything killed on their property has to be consumed by them- they can’t sell anything yet. Right in front of us they slaughtered two cows and four pigs.
While the pig was hanging from the hooks, the butcher taught me the technique for cutting open its belly without cutting its bowel and getting poop everywhere, which spoils the meat, and then he actually let me do it and pull all its guts out! Haha. All in a day’s ministry work! (have you puked yet?!) Next weekend we will cut the meat off the carcasses and use it for the meals prepared at the hostel. Fresh filet mignon and bacon anyone?
While the pig was hanging from the hooks, the butcher taught me the technique for cutting open its belly without cutting its bowel and getting poop everywhere, which spoils the meat, and then he actually let me do it and pull all its guts out! Haha. All in a day’s ministry work! (have you puked yet?!) Next weekend we will cut the meat off the carcasses and use it for the meals prepared at the hostel. Fresh filet mignon and bacon anyone?
Jamie, best butcher in Australia! Mulching . . . or the end result of our efforts.
Aboriginal Pastor Jeffrey and son Matthew. Please pray for Matthew. He is not a believer . . . yet!
cute little piglets on the farm.
Damien, the most hardworking frenchman I know!
after I gutted the pig . . . all in a day’s ministry. (video coming). our new friends: Nick, Butcher Jamie, and his girlfriend Holly.
