Of Mice and Men!

G'die Mites, (a long a clipped short followed by a long i !)

Well, despite all your encouragement, I did not learn how to (comfortably) drive in Brisbane. About the time I felt at ease with it, the hospital leased a brand new red sporty car for Gene. I was pretty sure they would notice any prangs or bingles, so after a brief country drive or two, I willingly moved to the passenger seat. Now that we’re down to one car in the States I may forget how to drive completely.
An historic event occurred during our visit this time: the government, through newly elected Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, made an official apology to “The Stolen Generation”. Between 1910 and 1970 about 100,000 Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their families by police or welfare officers. Most were under 5 years old and usually of mixed Aboriginal and European descent. There was rarely any judicial process. The main motive was to “assimilate” Aboriginal children into European society over one or two generations by denying and destroying their Aboriginality. Between 10-30% of all Aboriginal children were removed. They are known as the ‘Stolen Generation’. You might wish to rent the DVD “Rabbit Proof Fence” to give you a better idea of this traumatic time.

Last week we had our first US visitor—my cousin, Kathy, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa. I think that she will give our little tour “agency” a good recommendation, so book your time soon before we fill up.
One of the highlights of Kathy's trip could have happened any place, but it happened here where the animals are unique and brave. We were driving to a koala sanctuary, going about 60K/hr. when all of a sudden this little mouse appears running on the outside of the car right beside the driver’s window. His little ears and whiskers were blown forward and his fur was standing on end as he somehow managed to get from the front-seat window to the back-seat one before he finally decided it was safer to be a pedestrian (he was wrong). Can’t imagine where he came from!!
After six visits here we’ve learned something new about Australia—EVERYTHING closes on Good Friday!! We had 8 people coming for dinner that night and had planned to pick up some groceries after our “church at the park” service. There were even chains across the car park entrances! We had about decided on pancakes and scrambled eggs when we spied a very small IGA that was open. They had no fresh raw meat, but did have some tasty rotisserie chooks (chickens), which we all enjoyed very much! It was a wonderful evening actually, as Sonia (the Buddhist girl from Shanghai) heard the Gospel told again and again, as our other guests shared what God had done in their lives. All were in their 20’s and most were first-generation Christians, at which she was rather amazed, thinking ALL Westerners are Christian. I think this also helped with her own feelings about, “What will my family think if I become a Christian!?” I have received a real blessing from meeting with Sonia the last few weeks. A “tool” I had nearly forgotten about was presenting the Gospel through The Wordless Book. We even made “wordless bracelets” out of a leather strap and pony beads I had brought from the States a few years ago. Here’s the website if you’re unfamiliar with the “book”: http://berean.org/bibleteacher/wb.html Just buy some blank pieces of colored paper and then tell the Story. A good tool for language barriers or with children.
Gene is also discipling some guys at 6:30 a.m. a couple of mornings each week; helping Sun (from Korea) with English; sharing with Pathology Registrars, and leading the men/boys’ James study in the evening while I meet with the gals.
(to the right is one of the registrars sharing a "Barbie"---most of the food had already been removed from the grill ! )
Our time here has flown quickly (again). We return to Anderson Tuesday night 2 April. We’ll miss all our Ozzie friends, but look forward to reconnecting with old friends in the Northern Hemisphere. “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, the other gold.” So, for now, you “golden oldies”, g’day!!