La La Land

Sometimes it is easy to forget that we have just been on the Tiwi Islands.
Everything is so 'in order' here.

Well.... apart from us that is, we are still having lots of change happening, we need to move in a few weeks again, and as yet we have no firm place that we will go to.
We have been offered a rumpus room and a place for the caravan, the room is just large enough for a bed for Jude and I and a lounge-ish space.
If we take that we would share with the caretaker at Marrara, who lives on the top floor.
And some dogs.
And some chooks.

The bloke is tamed.

We also would have people in the caravan in the build-up, and that would not be nice.

The other place offered today is with Karen Kidd, closer to Darwin city, where we stayed for a few days when we first left Picker.
That is further from the kids school, and would take 20-25 mins to get there. Karen's husband is sailing a boat from Tas to Darwin, and is now caught in the Q'land storms, and has to wait until the weather clears before he can set sail again.
Where will we go?? Who knows as yet.

On the Tiwi College front... well.
Now I don't have to censor it! Remember this is private info!

We had the pleasure of having staff from TC here this weekend, and that was great.
It is obviously extremely difficult there now. A combination of less teachers (hey...that's us) and stress is making it very difficult for those who remain.
In the mix of teacher quota numbers was the Principal, who said he would assist the teachers on afternoons to have a break (as one is legally entitled to) but there has been no assistance at all in the classroom, same as last year. The teachers are way stressed and not happy. They have no breaks all week, after pick-up, until the students leave on Fridays.
Discipline seems to have gone out the window, with students openly walking around smoking etc. Some night the students were out of their homes all night, I am told.
This week one girl threw a stone which badly damaged another girl's ear, last week one student threatened to cut a staff member's throat (and was expelled). All reports are bleak, with many more losses than wins it seems. Most of the house parents are due/desiring to leave at the end of term in a few week, and this will be a HUGE problem for the school. Replacing them is very difficult.
I am also told that the Indigenous Teacher Aides have not been there for three weeks now, as the Hospitality area of TC has been closed and they would have to cook for themselves now. Apparently this is too hard for them to do, so they aren't coming back! Sad, they are good blokes as well.

My good mate Bernard, who is 70 years old and retired and a respected Elder is still there, working away, much to the shame of the younger TAs.
Even he was hit in the mouth by a girl last week, which is unbelievable, and incredibly disrespectful. This fact alone staggers me.
We love these people, but they really need to have some control over their children for this to succeed, which appears shaky at the moment. Please remember them/pray for them as you are inclined to do.

Please also remember us as we try to find a place to live, it is VERY expensive here, not uncommon to spend $500 a week on a small house, or $700 if you want a bit bigger place etc,
Our place in Burnie would be worth a fortune here.

So, that's it so far.

We continue to pay for and get ready for Vietnam, which looms close now. That will be some more picture ops I am sure.
Until next time, CU
Len

Hmmm

I don't think anyone is reading this now??

The eighth commandment

It's amazing how living here has altered my (Len) thinking.

In Tas the only black people I saw lived in Hobart except for a couple of friends in Burnie.
Certainly not enough to make me really think that Australia is not pretty much all white.

Here is different. They say that the N.T. black population will be the fastest increasing group in the next few years.

I read a story of one Grandparent talking about when the Christians first came.
They taught them the commandments.

The eighth one is 'You shall not steal'.
'They had already taken our land by then'.

We still have it, mostly.

Hmmmmmm

3 Weeks in Darwin... how are we travelling??

Hi, Jude here.
I don't usually put these comments on to the Blog but had some time up my sleeves. Len is working at Marrara Christian College now in a full time position, mostly music but some emergency teaching for other classes too. This week he has been given lots of indigenous classes to take and he has quite enjoyed those, no swearing and they call him "Sir". I have had a fairly easy teaching load, in the 3 weeks of term I have only done a 1/2 day on a year 8/9 class at Palmerston Christian School, where Sam and Jess are attending. I do have a few days booked in already for Marrara during May, but there certainly hasn't been the huge rush on relief that we had been assured of when we left Tiwi. It is great that we were given the full time position for Len because otherwise money would have been getting very tight. (God knew!)

Sam and Jess have settled in quite well to their school now. Back into that routine of uniforms, lunches to pack, homework deadlines to meet. There is something I really dislike about all that, but at least it gives us some structure. I have been busy working on a photo book of our family's time on the Tiwi Islands, can't wait to see the finished product!! At times I have been feeling very much at a loose end, missing the Tiwi kids terribly and the sense of excitement and doing something worthwhile. There is such a lack of community over here, we don't really know many people and those we do are scattered here and there. There is something to be said for small communities!!

I guess right now the excitement and something worthwhile that I am doing is being a mum and a wife. I thank God for the different phases we move through and learn through. Len and I celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary this year. What a wonderful 20 years of adventures, serving God in many different ways, roller coaster rides, beautiful children and now grandchildren. Not sure how we might celebrate in June, but the journey we are in the midst of is like one big celebration!!

In 7 weeks we will be sitting in Ho Chin Minh City, Vietnam and we will also have moved out of this house. We only had it for this term. Now that we have agreed to stay till the end of the year - because of Len's job - we need to find somewhere else for term 3 and 4. God has put everything in place regarding home, school, work, finance and furniture so far so he has something prepared we have no doubt. Worse case scenario is that we could live in our caravan for a while, it arrives next Sunday which is very exciting.

The time in Vietnam is racing up very quickly and we are hoping the swine flu thing doesn't change anything by that stage. It has been good to have some free time recently as there has been a lot to do finishing off passports, visas, travel insurance etc. We are there for 12 days and it should be fascinating. It is Sam and Jess' first time out of Australia so they are both apprehensive and excited.

Some may be wondering what next for us now that we are staying up here till the end of the year.
Well we are not sure, but are very much keeping all options open. We bought the caravan and have always intended to travel throughout Western Australia before heading home. Whether we do that over the Christmas holidays and be back ready for school to start 2010 or we wait and travel for part of next year is still unknown. One thing that is known is that there are 2 things constant in life, God (who doesn't change) and change. What is waiting around the next corner? Not sure, haven't turned it yet...

Going fast...slowly

Tomorrow we head to Howard Springs area to look at a church there, then a BBQ or Pizza lunch with the Smiths, our long time friends here.
Sam and Jessie are enrolled at Palmerstone Christian School now and have their uniforms ready for Monday, and Sam played his first game of cricket in the A grade under 15 team for Palmerstone Cricket Club. He bowled two overs, for one wicket and three runs. A great effort, he hasn't sprigged shoes yet and they play on a great turf pitch, so he had to bowl spin, with one fast ball, as he slips too much if he runs in.

I have had someone look at the Hilux, which looked great at Picker but very dirty here, so I spent 3 days cleaning it up and nearly went too far yesterday and felt pretty spent an a bit ill because of it all.

I now need to wait for the confirmation call from Marrarah to see if I actually show up on Monday for work.

Will get back to you.
ONYA,
Len

Good Grief, Charlie Brown

I can't believe that it's only a couple of days since I last posted (I accidentally typed 'pisted' by missing the 'o' and thought it looked funny. Don't know why I wanted to tell you that, just did, OK!).

So much has happened. We are at 30 Kakadu Parade, Palmerston, NT 0832
It is small-ish but great.

We have so many people who have rallied around us and donated furniture etc, it is great. Yesterday I spent the day collecting furniture and speaking again to the Principal of Marrarah Christian School, he has offered me a full time job, if I stay 'till the end of the year.
It would be 50/50 music and relief or in the music room repairing and getting things organised etc.
The music dept is a bit sad and need someone to show the way forward. I think I would like that.
Jude would pick up ome relief work as we needed it.

I have someone interested in looking at the hilux, which is great, and all is moving fast here.
If we stay sam and Jessie would be required to attend a regular school, which I think would be good for them. Mind you KSA is GREAT.
Judith and I can't do Sam's algebra!

So, more big decisions to make.

We went to the Darwin Baptist Church on Sunday and he said he could not sleep the night before he had to preach, and he changed his topic.
His topic came from Psalm 5 which say something like 'Crying comes in the night, but joy comes in the morning'.
He reckoned that ther was some one in the meeting who had a rough time of it lately, but to let them know that there would be joy in the morning.

We felt like it was for us.

And there has been.

Another matter....

My eldest daughter Michelle is on the front page of the Tasmanian 004 phone book!
Here is the pic they used.

Until next time,
CU later, Len

M.I.A.

Hi all.
Today we leave for the next adventure.
Our new home in Palmerston.

I am unsure when we will have internet as of a couple of hours from now.

Please contact us via mobile phone.

Jude is 0408 569 753
Len is 0418 585 660

I also have a chat with the Principal of Marrarah Christian School later today, so I may get work there, we are still unsure if it will work, given our intention to not be here for too long.

Perhaps we have to stay in Darwin until...... well who knows??

Bless ya all.
Love
Len

Life - Post Tiwi

Here we are in Darwin.
We have been staying at Mirambeena Resort with the Salters for a few days and now we are at the home of Karen Kidd, who generously allowed us to stay for free. It is beautiful. We have our own marina, but unfortunately not a boat.
On Monday the 13th we move to Palmerston, just south of Darwin, where we will rent for term two, then hopefully we will still afford to be able to go to Vietnam mid year.












Leaving Tiwi was very sad.
This is a picture of our stuff leaving on the barge, we left on the ferry. Confused yet?
We travelled by minibus to Paru, opposite the town of Nguiu, and boarded the ferry with Patrick and Thomas Salter who had spent two days on the island with us. Partick was great to have around in the business of leaving and the emotional ups and downs we had as well.
The night before we left we had Bernard Tipoloura (a Tiwi Elder whom I love) around and it was great to speak with him and let Patrick watch the genuine Tiwi culture show through. He is 70 Y.O. this year. That is quite a feat for any Indigineous person.
He is also 6 ft 4 inches tall and has a goatee. He calls me 'Bro' and we joke that no one can tell us apart except our mothers.
He is very black.







This is picture of us, can you tell who is who (most can't!).


He gave me one of his family names, which is pronunced 'Poomp a roo', but has some amazing spelling, I wrote it down but it is packed away somewhere at the moment, so I am unable to share that with you.
This is an honour, and I might like to be called that instead of 'Grumpy' for the granchild/ren.




On the ferry we were very upset.
It was a perfect day, smooth water and warm weather.
Just as the ferry pulled out of Nguiu we had a student hand us a plastic bag which contained a woven basket in it.
This turned out to be a present from Bernard and his partner, Lynette.
We rushed to the back of the ferry and Bernard's car was there, with Lynette waving to us. We waved, but emotion got the better of us both and we shed a few tears.

Everyone saw us upset and then we noticed that the news of why we were given a present from an Elder, and why we were crying spread like wildfire around the ferry.

Very embarrassing.

During the voyage we had many come to us and touch our arm and say thanks for what we had done and wishing us well etc. It was very moving indeed.
In some ways it was the best way to leave, slowly saying goodbye, rather than the 18 minute flight to Darwin.

I (Len/Poomparoo), have been feeling the weight of providing for my family in unknown circumstances, yet I also am sure of God's provision for us as well. A contradiction I guess, but that's the way I feel.



I gave Bronwyn Salter the ochre look.



Today (Saturday, 11th April) I had a call from a teacher at Marrarah Christian School who wanted to know if I had work or not.
Not, was the answer.
As I type this I have just had a missed call from the Principal of Marrarah, who will call later.
They have a job for a music teacher available and sound pretty keen to speak with me.
It seems that they have some rock band stuff but not a lot of music lessons at the school and are wanting someone to get it into shape.
Sounds right up my alley, and at a very good time as well.
So, I might have a job already by the time you read this!!

It's like riding a roller-coaster.

Our newly purchased (well 1/2 purchased) caravan arrives at the end of the month from Queensland.
The loose plan is at the moment, work until mid year, Vietnam, hit the road down W.A. and return to Tas next year if I get work that is.
Then again, who knows where and what we will be up to then.

We hope to sell our two vehicles we have here, after I do a fair bit of work on the Hilux to make it not look so 'Melville Island-ed' and purchase either a Landcruiser, Prado or Jackaroo which will pull the caravan for us.

Family have recovered fairly well to the trauma, and all are quite settled at the moment.
Sam has had a few 'moments' and his grade 8 algebra is not helping!!!

At the school. We fear a bit for Bevan French and family, and Wayne Vincent the Vice Principal, as they are the two remaining teachers at Picker last year and it will be very hard for them now.
We also worry about the management of the school there, and it seems to have all the malaise that I have seen in other Christian schools, sadly.

(I always seem to type 'teh' instead of 'the'. Drives me nuts fixing them all the time! I may have missed a few.)

So, stay tuned. Never a dull moment here.

Thanks so much for the prayers and emails of support that some have given. It really helps.
Love to you all.
Len and family.