Part of our beginning journey here in the Kimberley region of Northwestern Australia is to meet, listen, and discern where God is already at work.
Christian Aboriginal leaders who are walking this journey with us are helping us see what areas need to be strengthened and fortified. These leaders have expressed their concern and desire to see the next generation of Aboriginal young people delivered, discipled and trained to be strong Christian leaders themselves. Alcohol and drug abuse has become the means of numbing the pain and hopelessness rampant in this culture. The weight of despair in the Kimberley region can be seen in a suicide rate that is more than double the rate (percentage wise) found in other regions of Australia.
Please pray for Mark, Matthew, Siobhon, Garry, and Dena as they have formed an Aboriginal Advisory Committee to help us discern a way forward in connecting, discipling, and resourcing for God’s Kingdom work to grow stronger in this Kimberley region. HIS timing is Perfect!
THANK YOU to the hundreds of you that pray for us daily, weekly and when God brings us to your minds. Those who are faithfully supporting us financially help us to be here in Broome and the other ministries where we have been asked to serve: here in Australia and on the Asia Pacific Region.
Click on the first button if you would like to support us for a one-time or monthly basis. Button two leads you to our Stories page on the www.RobandCindyNorth.com web page to read our monthly newsletters. Button three leads you to our contact page where you can sign-up to receive the “NORTHern Journey Down Under” newsletter when it is released each month.
How do you start a new work? Start small and find out what is happening in the community.
In a city like Broome where the tourist population swells to 50,000 people May to Sept (Their winter – so think Florida) from the normal 15,000, the questions asked are…”Where are you from?”, “How long have you been here?” and ”How long do you plan to stay?”
With the help of Mark Cox, we designed the business card above and started off with a Bible Study on Sunday afternoon from 2-4pm. Cindy and I spent the rest of our days getting to know and encouraging other ministries happening in Broome and finding out how to complement and not compete with other ministries.
Itchy Business
A million microscopic mosquitoes, other bugs, high heat (95F) and humidity (60 to 80%) have been the theme for our 6 weeks in Broome.
The picture above is the impact of the multiple bug bites Cindy and I have endured. The “Bug Bite Thingy” was a gift from our son Quinn and daughter-in-love Amanda, who had great forethought of what one of our needs might be as we ventured into the great unknown of the Australian outback. The tool creates suction that pulls the venom or toxins out of the bite and helps relieve itchiness. After the suction procedure comes the use of a tea tree oil roller on the skin which will dry out the bite area.
Along with many bites, we have both broken out in hives which have interrupted a few nights of sleep. One teaspoon of Vitamin C-Salts in a glass of water helps reduce the inflammation which also helps relieve that itchy feeling!