Getting back into the Game

After 3 weeks in Oz, we have returned to Timor Leste.  For some reason, I found this place to be so stinking hot that I wondered what the heck we’re doing here.  One of those mini-philosphical crises that I try to mostly ignore seemed to become a little stronger.  Possibly related to a very nice and cool late autumn experience in Oz.  Anyway, back to the game at hand … homeschooling is on while managing bub and Cynthia does a fine job.  She also manages to run a weekly art class heartily attended by homeschoolers from various nationalities – Brazil, Canada, America, Kenya and Australia. 

Belle Kria managed to finish a large order of bags for Seeds of Life research department for drying corn seed.  They also arranged the invoicing and receipt of payment – this is a big step as the sort of Timorese we work with are quite shy about walking into a large, sophisticated organisation to request payment.  They’ve also made some very colourful cushion covers using locally woven tais material sewed onto colourful cotton material.  If anyone wants a bright set of cushion covers made with love from Timor Leste just let us know.  ($15 each)

We’ve just passed another independence day – 20th of may, 11 years old.  You know you’ve made it as a nation when you’ve got google.tl (seriously, took a while!).  People are very happy generally.  The locals are enjoying volleyball and tug-o-war competitions.  The government is just about to open a big bridge of the main river in Dili and test runs are happening for a big fountain near the airport (all very important stuff).

We’ve got access to possibly another 800 scriptures which we think are all Acts (had been hiding in someone’s shed in Dili) and Bibles are getting out on the move again.  Here’s Joseph, my new friend from Kenya getting a couple of boxes of Bibles.  He also gets a laptop to go towards his computer classes with uni students.

Xakira and dad doing laps in the back yard.

Serenity and dad doing laps on the Gold Coast.  Life’s all about how many swims you can put in.

Israel going driving in Noonamah during our overnight in Darwin.  Needless to say the further you get from civilisation, the lower the standards for vehicle registration.  Israel is the lighting operator – convenient as an interior light for map reading or spotting possums in the Top End bush.  He wears a seat belt not to prevent him going through the windscreen (there is none) but so he doesn’t fall out where the door should be.

This little beast does actually go.

The Great Oz

We’ve just had three great weeks in Australia.  The first thing we had to do in Australia was to say goodbye to Bethany.

Bethany had just finished high school last year and was brave enough to come to Timor Leste for 3 months to assist Cynthia in teaching the kids.  Bethany arrived in Timor Leste just before the birth of Xakira and was an invaluable help in continuing the home schooling while Cynthia recovered from giving birth.  She became a part of our family.  Perhaps the funniest development out of this was an entertaining style of mail whereby correspondents would communicate on very thin square sheets while meditating upon the throne.  We would like to thank Bethany for coming over and wish her all the best in the future!

In Oz we got to spend time with our family including Tim and Eliza who are dedicated YWAMers stopping over on their way from Scotland to America (must have got lost like only YWAMers can do).  We also spent time with other family members who I’ll neglect to mention so as not to avoid offence of the sort that they’d rather omit to deny.

 

We got to go to Sea World too which was really fun.  Emmy, the Timorese girl came with us to Oz and her one request was to see dolphins doing tricks.  I was at pains to explain that I thought we’d already seen heaps of dolphins doing tricks crossing the sea to the island that she comes from.  But no, Sea World had to be on the list of things to do.  She was amazed to see dolphins and humans working together and leaping out of the pool – spectacular really.  I was just stunned by the jet ski show where one bloke strapped a couple of jets to his back and took off into the air.  Like all incredible ideas, I would have thought of it first, given the opportunity.  Not to be outdone, I showed my son how to drive a truck and fly a plane.

 

 

Coming back to Timor Leste was great for Emmy but a struggle for us.  We  find ourselves wondering what we are doing in this stinking hot place of dust, mozzies and disgruntled traffic.  The great Oz looks very enticing from over here but I am sure these pining thoughts will fade away, especially if God has anything to do with it.

 

Various nutritious meals in Oz…

fairy floss

 ice cream

  little girls