Below is a blog from Erin Winget. I was planning to write a blog, but she beat
me to it so I thought I’d share it with you!
me to it so I thought I’d share it with you!
I want to introduce you to Carl. I learned to say his name with an Aussie
accent. Listen: “Caaal”. Long a. Otherwise with my American accent his name
sounds like Carol and believe me, Carl is no Carol.
accent. Listen: “Caaal”. Long a. Otherwise with my American accent his name
sounds like Carol and believe me, Carl is no Carol.
Carl was a guy that we contacted because someone stumbled on his website. He seemed like he was doing good stuff with Aboriginal communities so I was
lucky to get a hold of him via Skype. He invited Mark and me to join him on
visiting some of the communities that he ministers to on a regular basis in the
outback of the Northern Territory. Sweet! Mark and I flew to Cairns to meet up with Carl
and his family. The next day the three
of us flew to Darwin to take care of some business and then head out into the
outback. On Saturday we packed up Carl’s
LandCruiser with all the essentials including extra diesel (because where we
were going there was no filling stations), camping gear, water, canned goods
and some perishables that we kept in a little fridge.
lucky to get a hold of him via Skype. He invited Mark and me to join him on
visiting some of the communities that he ministers to on a regular basis in the
outback of the Northern Territory. Sweet! Mark and I flew to Cairns to meet up with Carl
and his family. The next day the three
of us flew to Darwin to take care of some business and then head out into the
outback. On Saturday we packed up Carl’s
LandCruiser with all the essentials including extra diesel (because where we
were going there was no filling stations), camping gear, water, canned goods
and some perishables that we kept in a little fridge.
About two hours into our journey we made our final stop to fill up the LandCruiser
and the road turned from blacktop to smooth red dirt. It then turned from smooth red dirt to rigid,
bumpy red dirt and then to occasional deep sand where Carl had to get out and
lock the hubs. We crossed riverbeds and
looked for crocodiles (for real!) and water buffalo. As we drove the cadence of Carl’s voice was
steady as he told of the Aboriginal people, their history, stories and customs. As he talked his dedication and passion for
these people to know and understand the Gospel was obvious. If you ever meet Carl you won’t have to ask
him about his heart for these people – you’ll see it.
and the road turned from blacktop to smooth red dirt. It then turned from smooth red dirt to rigid,
bumpy red dirt and then to occasional deep sand where Carl had to get out and
lock the hubs. We crossed riverbeds and
looked for crocodiles (for real!) and water buffalo. As we drove the cadence of Carl’s voice was
steady as he told of the Aboriginal people, their history, stories and customs. As he talked his dedication and passion for
these people to know and understand the Gospel was obvious. If you ever meet Carl you won’t have to ask
him about his heart for these people – you’ll see it.
We arrived in Owenpele around 6:30pm and met a group of people hanging around
one of the first houses you see as you drive into “town”. There were two long necked turtles lying in
the dirt, their necks obviously broken. They
were on the menu for dinner and we got to stay long enough to see Edna
(pictured below) partially cook them over an open fire. As curious as I was to taste the turtle, I am
a little glad we decided to try and make it to another village, Manmoyi, before
it got too late and before the turtle was done.
one of the first houses you see as you drive into “town”. There were two long necked turtles lying in
the dirt, their necks obviously broken. They
were on the menu for dinner and we got to stay long enough to see Edna
(pictured below) partially cook them over an open fire. As curious as I was to taste the turtle, I am
a little glad we decided to try and make it to another village, Manmoyi, before
it got too late and before the turtle was done.
We reached Manmoyi about two hours later under the cloak of darkness but were
greeted at the first house we saw by a group of people sitting out under a
blanket of stars. They were happy to see
Carl and plan a fellowship for the next day. We were given the key to the three room school
house to sleep in and I sure was grateful to lay down that night and get some
rest. Even though we had only traveled a
few hundred kilometers that day, being in Manmoyi felt like the middle of
Africa.
The Aboriginal communities are very
isolated and most are not even reachable by car between December and June
because the wet season brings the rivers over their banks, making large
sections of road impassable. The people
can live their whole lives cut off from the world with no jobs and just
sustenance from the government. Being in Aboriginal communities feels a million
miles away from the bustle of the coastal cities, even though you’re only a
half a day’s drive away.
isolated and most are not even reachable by car between December and June
because the wet season brings the rivers over their banks, making large
sections of road impassable. The people
can live their whole lives cut off from the world with no jobs and just
sustenance from the government. Being in Aboriginal communities feels a million
miles away from the bustle of the coastal cities, even though you’re only a
half a day’s drive away.
I look forward to returning to Australia to partner with Carl and minister to the Aboriginal people alongside my squad. Please help me get there!
